【Foodholic Niko @ Taipei】

This restaurant is really hard to book a table! I finally managed to get a reservation!

"Literary | Fire | Place | Cuisine" is located near Xinyi-Anhe Station, about a 2-minute walk from Exit 2. The decor inside and out maintains a consistent wood tone, using wooden furniture that gives a warm feeling.

Why is it so difficult to secure a booking? Because there aren't many seats, and it's closed on weekends, so typical office workers can only dine on weekday evenings. Dinner reservations open for a limited time and get snapped up quickly (they release two weeks of reservations at a time).

There is a minimum consumption of 600 NTD per person, and you must bind a credit card when booking online. If you no-show, you will be charged directly. When making a reservation, you can choose your main dish ahead of time, as some limited main dishes may not be available if you decide to order them on-site.

Cheese Zucchini $200
The zucchini is cooked perfectly and well-seared, making it very juicy. Although the cheese sprinkled on top may not seem like much, the aroma of the milk is sufficient; it bursts forth as soon as you take a bite. I highly recommend the nut sauce that comes with this dish; it's delicious, though I couldn't identify what kind of nuts were used, I licked it clean. The only downside might be the portion size, as it was gone in an instant after being served.

Garlic Roasted Potato Chunks $150
I personally think this dish is somewhat ordinary, primarily tasting the original flavor of the potato, with subtle hints of butter and garlic, as well as Italian herb flavors. The portion is also not large.

Pan-Seared Duck Breast $550
The duck breast is quite tender but requires some chewing; it’s not the melt-in-your-mouth type. It’s good either on its own or dipped in a bit of the mustard seeds provided, although the mustard seeds don’t add much to the overall flavor. The roasted vegetables were very delicious and fragrant!

Grilled Iberico Pork Chop $650
First, let me say this dish just beats the duck breast! The lean and fatty parts of the pork chop are evenly distributed, making it soft and tender without being too fatty. Dipping it in the apricot apple sauce is refreshing and not greasy, it’s really delicious! The sauce does enhance the dish significantly. The vegetables served alongside are also very well prepared!

Overall, I found the dining environment comfortable, and the food was commendable, though the portions are indeed small. If you want to feel full, you should order a few more dishes. I would be quite willing to return!