Located in Taipei, Reale Cucina Italian is the sister restaurant of the well-known Italian restaurant "Bicchierino." It received a lot of anticipation even before its opening. I visited this time with high expectations, especially since I am a huge fan of Bicchierino, particularly impressed by the chef's style and desserts. Moreover, the decor is similar to that of Bicchierino, continuing a consistent minimalist elegance. However, this dining experience turned out to be somewhat of a "high start and low finish"...

First, there is a service charge of NT$100 for water per person, which offers either sparkling water or room temperature water. Although this is not uncommon in high-priced Italian restaurants, one still hopes that the overall service and food quality will provide a matching experience.

The first dish was "Pork Lard,"
a very special appetizer that is quite rare in typical restaurants. It has a smooth texture and a rich, oily flavor, but the saltiness is extremely high. Eating it alone can be too overpowering; it's definitely best to share it, with one piece per person being just right—otherwise, it could lead to kidney problems!

Next came the "Fried Seafood."
The frying technique was indeed commendable, with a crispy exterior and tender interior. The selection of ingredients was also sincere, including swordfish, cuttlefish, and shrimp. However, the overall portion was a bit small, making it insufficient as a sharing appetizer. Although the texture and aroma were up to standard, there weren't too many surprises. 🍤

For the main dish, I chose the "Bacon and Egg Paccheri Pasta."
The sauce was extremely thick and overly salty, making my mouth feel fatigued by the end. The paccheri pasta itself had a nice elasticity and could hold the sauce well, but the overall flavor was too heavy and lacked layers, becoming monotonous over time and missing the balance one expects from pasta.

Fortunately, the final dish, "Tiramisu," was a redemption for the meal.
The on-table assembly had a visual effect, with the rich scents of coffee liqueur, almond liqueur, and orange brandy perfectly blending with the moist mascarpone cheese and soft ladyfingers, making it hard to stop at just one bite. It was the only highlight of the day that I could say, "It's worth having again!"

In summary, Reale is still quite far from Bicchierino, and perhaps I chose the wrong dishes. I originally wanted to try the "Olive Oil Ice Cream," which was truly memorable at Bicchierino, but the overall main course and appetizers didn’t meet my expectations, which deterred me from that thought. Maybe my expectations were too high, and my comparison was too strong. First-time visitors might find it quite good, but for those who are familiar with "Bicchierino," this meal inevitably feels a bit disappointing, and such a price point should offer a higher standard.

Overall Review: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Dickson's Fooday Mouthwatering Review #281
This time, I visited a newly opened Italian restaurant near Ren'ai Road and Ren'ai Circle!
It's said to be a branch of a well-known Italian restaurant originally from Hsinchu.

Since the store is fairly new, there aren't many reviews online, so Dickson definitely had to come here and give it a try!

Overall, the food was quite good, and the ambiance of the space was also nice. It’s very suitable for dates or group dinners. In terms of the dishes, there were basically no major pitfalls; it’s pretty standard and tasty Italian cuisine.

If you're looking for a new Italian restaurant for a date or gathering, you might want to come here!

Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Price: 🌕🌕🌕🌘🌑

⭐️ Food Section
👉 Pork Lard $290
I chose the pork lard served with bread as an appetizer. The flavor was quite fragrant, and the bread choice complemented it perfectly. The olive oil topped with the pork lard was delightful!

For friends who usually explore Italian flavors, you must try this dish! After all, the bread itself is already really good!

👉 Squid Ink Pasta $480
The squid ink pasta is also one of their signatures. Although it was marked as having three chili peppers for spiciness, it didn’t taste spicy at all, which was a bit disappointing. However, the pasta itself along with the toppings was quite delicious, especially with the abundance of sakura shrimp, which enhanced the overall flavor! Moreover, the seafood broth paired with it gave the squid ink pasta a nice seafood taste.

I think this pasta is worth trying among their offerings, but it’s not a must-try!

👉 Bacon and Egg Tube Pasta $420
I found this bacon and egg tube pasta to be pretty standard without any particular highlights. The bacon was somewhat salty, which could make the dish a bit overwhelming. Nevertheless, the tube pasta itself was quite good.

If you enjoy various types of Italian pasta and other dishes, you may want to give this tube pasta a try!

👉 Passion Fruit Italian Ice Cake $280
Their ice cake was impressive in the dessert section. It was accompanied by a variety of nuts, and the texture of the ice cake was well-managed, making it quite palatable to finish within the time frame.

This dessert is something I think should be prioritized!

👉 Fried Olives $280
The fried olives were stuffed with lamb. However, I struggled to grasp the overall texture, possibly due to my own resistance and unfamiliarity with olives. Even though there was lamb inside, it didn’t enhance the overall flavor very much. The dish still centered around the fried olives, and the lamb flavor was not very pronounced.

So personally, I’m a bit reserved about this dish. I might skip it next time. 😂😂😂

👉 Butcher’s Braised Oxtail $1200
This was the only main dish I ordered that day, and the braised oxtail looked quite hefty, served amidst yellow ingredients.

The amount of oxtail wasn’t very much. A key component was the corn cake, which I had never tried before. The corn cake was richly flavored, especially paired with onions and other seasonings, making it something you could enjoy as a staple.

As for the oxtail, it felt more like a side meat ingredient. The oxtail had other sauces to pair with it, and overall, the eating experience felt a bit disjointed, as if the oxtail and corn cake were separate.

However, I think both ingredients were quite tasty on their own. Although there’s not much oxtail, if two people order this main dish, I think it’s still acceptable.

I didn't order many dishes this time around, so I feel like I missed out on many signature options. My initial experience here was decent, but nothing particularly impressive stood out. However, each dish's presentation and plating were rather nice. I think I’ll come back next time to try more classic dishes, as there are many appealing options on the menu waiting to be discovered.

So I’m willing to return! After all, the dishes I tried were above average.

In terms of food, I think it's quite good, but nothing blew me away. I look forward to trying more items next time!

If you’re interested in Italian cuisine, this restaurant, which came all the way from Hsinchu, is definitely worth a visit!

⭐️ Atmosphere Section
The store's decor feels quite new and is clearly a newly opened establishment. The sign outside is simple yet maintains a charming atmosphere. The dining space inside is quite spacious, and the decor leans towards a warm style.

The number of tables inside is sufficient, accommodating around eight to nine groups of guests, with table spacing that isn’t too cramped. Therefore, I think it's very suitable for couples on dates or gatherings with friends.

⭐️ Service Section
The restaurant provides table-side ordering, and the staff is very friendly, explaining each dish when it arrives at the table. I think this kind of service is essential for higher-end restaurants nowadays.

Thus, I find the service to be quite good! 👍

⭐️ Price Section
Considering it’s an Italian restaurant in Taipei, I find the prices here to be quite reasonable. Whether it's pasta or main courses, they’re fairly priced and not burdensome.

Though the portion size of each dish isn't very large, the pricing is acceptable. Therefore, I think the prices are reasonable and meet the standard.

⭐️ Overall
As a well-known Italian restaurant in Hsinchu, I believe many have high expectations for it. Based on my first visit, I think it’s worth trying more dishes for further review.

Since I didn't experience anything particularly striking during my first visit, I still think the meals here have great potential. Plus, the dishes ordered at other tables looked quite appealing.

Considering the overall environment and dining experience, I think this is a nice place to dine. Therefore, I recommend everyone to come and give it a try!