revisited/western: i still recommend NONZERO

NONZERO
& MONOCLE SHOP TAIPEI
No. 5, Alley 4, Lane 27, Ren Ai Rd, Sec. 4
(02) 2772-1630

MRT: Zhongxiao/Fuxing

website: nonzero.com.tw

hours: 11:30AM - 8PM

$$

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted. smaller seating area and limited menu

Visit reviewed: 5/11/2015
Previous review: 12/2007



It's been a long time since I have been to Nonzero (over seven years), so when a friend who was "eating clean" asked to meet there, it was a good opportunity to try out their current menu. I had also heard about its recent revamp turning half of its dining space into a Monocle Shop. Where there used to be a huge table for shared seating and a section for take home veggies, is now an assortment of colorful home goods, notebooks and accessories for "high end global lifestyle."

Nonzero's menu is also notedly different than its previous typical Taipei set menu where soup and desserts are included. Nonzero now serves "comfort food from around the world" that's "healthy and delicious" as well as friendly to solo diners. With less than 10 menu items to choose from, like masala vegetable stew, lemon thyme fish with roasted potato and beef bourguignon, there's a flavor profile here that's rare in Taipei.

 

Nonzero lunch set NT$500 meal of the day, quinoa rice or bread, salad and americano or Aveda tea. The meal of the day was stewed lamb. The lamb was tender and I like this better than the off the menu Malaysian curry chicken which had a strong spice that I didn't love.

The rice was a quinoa rice blend, so it wasn't completely quinoa, but maybe more palatable to those unfamiliar to quinoa.

Off the menu special- Malaysian chicken curry (NT$350) which was slightly spicy and had large chunks of potato.

Lemon thyme fish with roasted potato (NT$550) was very light, but healthy with thin strips of zucchini wrapped around the fish. I liked the roasted baby potatoes that came with the fish too. Fish was fork tender and fresh. 

Nonzero's menu might not be for everyone, but those looking for distinct flavors can probably tell from the menu and photos if it's for you. At the very least, Monocle fans can browse the shop. Next time I go, I want to try the desserts- the cherry clafoutis, lemon cake and the strawberries with balsamic strawberry compote.