CLOSED/italian/spanish: i strongly recommend FORCHETTA

CLOSED a/o 2014

FORCHETTA
4, Alley 127, AnHo Road., Sec 1
(02) 2707-7776

Lunch 12pm to 2pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm

$$-$$$

Kid friendliness: no kids or babies that night. didn't spot any high chairs. sort of a lovely dinner retreat for grownups. get a babysitter and have a romantic evening out, or maybe have an early dinner before the dinner rush.

Visit reviewed: 10/18/2007

First, you have to know that I'm a sucker for a beautifully plated dish. Maybe it's from watching too much Top Chef, maybe it's from eating too many family style Chinese meals, but something about how someone can make a little tower of food look like art that you almost don't want to disturb the contents to eat it. It's almost magical.

Second, I don't like pretty food that doesn't taste good.

But Forchetta doesn't disappoint by giving you pretty and not tasting pretty. It looks pretty AND tastes delicious.



The bites of steak I had left me wanting for more. Maybe it was the smaller portion from our set menu course. Maybe it was the tenderness that made me want to keep chewing and chewing until it dissolved in my mouth. Maybe it was just THAT good. From start to finish, our meal made my mouth water from the minute the waiter put each plate in front of me to the minute I left the restaurant (with the exception of the wee-too spicy for me pasta with chicken).



I have to give credit to our friends who discovered this Italian fusion bistro with a modern romantic setting which opens out to a little patio that you would not expect to find in a little alley in Taipei, but if you've lived and eaten here long enough, you are sort of not surprised. Our friends were the ones who asked the waiter to ask the chef to put together a set menu of the chef's picking (and treated- so sorry for not knowing/noting the prices for each dish). From glancing very quickly at the menu (in both English and Chinese, entrees averaging around NT$800), you could put together the same yourself, but I don't know if the portions we got that night were set menu portions or standard menu portions.

The chef/owner has worked before at VVG (Hao Yang) and Cosi O Cosi and you can sort of see the evolution. If you like the food at either of those places, consider Forchetta a more grown up version. It seemed like the night out for adults as the tables quickly filled up with nicely dressed groups of Chinese and English speakers- I'm not sure how many were walk in and how many were reservations. The other tables also lingered from 7pm past 10pm, still having conversations after we left.

Besides the steak, I really enjoyed the buffalo mozzarella, house made sun dried tomato salad (in the top picture) topped with a bit of lemon foam and a fried won ton skin strip, as well as the sauteed abalone in a bed of foamy mashed potatoes. A lot of things seem to be imported (like the mozz) and the proscuitto which the waiter said comes from a particular part of Europe (I think he said Spain.)

Also, I've never seen this before, but I suppose it's a unique way of combining the flavors of bruschetta without the mess- they took the toasted bread, give you a half tomato to gently rub against each slice and spread some garlic mayo ontop. The result is a do-it yourself mix of flavors and textures that is addictive.



While I don't usually like to eat quail (the small bones and size freaks me a out a little bit), I couldn't help but to try a bite of the perfectly crisped skin and juicy meat.



The meal ended with a rose flavored berry mouse, lemon sorbet and chocolate cake that once again looked almost too pretty to eat. But I did and the refreshing icyness of the sorbet was a good contrast to the richness of the chocolate.



I was going to just blurb a little bit and tease with some pictures because it's 3am in Taipei and I'm really tired and I thought blogging would cure my insomniai, but I ended up writing about the whole meal. I couldn't decide if I should strongly recommend or do a regular recommend with just one visit, but I just couldn't stop thinking about the food and with a long list of other places to blog about, I chose this one, so hopefully if you visit Forchetta, their plates will look and taste just as pretty for you and leave something for you think about even if you have insomnia.

CLOSED-dessert/american: PS CAFE

(CLOSED- read comments sections for reader reviews)
PS CAFE
No. 181, Dun Hua S Road, Sec 1
(02)2776-0970

hours: 1pm- 12 midnight

$

Kid friendliness: coffeehouse by day, lounge bar by night- not the kid friendliest place with smokers and hipsters drinking their coffee in loud music.

Visit reviewed: 10/11/2007

Looking for a new place to have some afternoon tea, I was tempted by someone online who declared that PS Cafe's brownie were the "best in the world." So why not give it a try at NT$100.

When I got to Dun Hua South Road, I spotted a tall office building with the address that I written down. Confused, I peered inside and the guard asked what I was looking for. I said, I was looking for a restaurant. PS Cafe? He pointed me through the building and making a left onto the alley parallel to Dun Hua where I spotted the small patio. If you know where Haagen Daaz is on Dun Hua, then it's sort of "behind" it.

PS Cafe is pretty tiny, but with cozy lounge seating and a full drinks menu for coffee, lattes and alcohol, with a strange assortment of snacks and dishes for its food menu- including such items as paninis, lasagne, poutine, nachos, popcorn and hash browns (all for under NT$200).



The service is friendly enough, though I think two of female servers were bored and putting on their makeup at one of the tables while everyone was being hosted by the guy server. They were happy to show us a sample of the nachos when we thought about getting something salty after eating something sweet, and they had made one for the other customers (microwaved shredded cheese w/ meat sauce atop of corn chips, btw. I miss goopy nacho cheese out of a jar). I'm curious about the other foods on their menu- though the servers seemed to be putting everything together themselves, so I think they microwave/reheat everything rather than cook it.



But back to the brownie. We ordered one brownie to share (NT$100). They were out of vanilla lattes, so I ended up with a decent milk tea (NT$150) and my friend got a latte (NT$100). The brownie was served warm, but was more like a dense cake than the traditional fudge brownie. It was still a good solution for a chocolate craving- dipping each bite into the whip cream on the side- but I couldn't help but to think that it wasn't a brownie. For those who prefer cake-like brownies, it probably won't bother you a bit.

PS Cafe is a good alternative to Starbucks or the nearby Haagen Daaz to chill with friends after work or shopping, or for a late night snack since they are open until midnight. It wasn't too crowded in the afternoon and if you didn't feel like coffee, you could get a drink with something a little extra instead.

italian: CASA DELLA PASTA

CASA DELLA PASTA
23, Lane 233, Tun Hwa S. Rd, Sec 1
(02) 2771-7869

website: capasta.com Chinese w/ English for menu

12 pm to 2 pm for lunch
6 pm to 9 pm for dinner
closed Sundays

$

Kid friendliness: lots of crowded booths and boisterous atmosphere with lots of choices at affordable prices. did not see a lot of room for strollers or high chairs though. maybe call to check when you are making reservations.

Visit reviewed: 10/1/2007

It's not an understatement to say that Casa Della Pasta offers a LOT of different pasta dishes. But strangely enough, my favorite thing there was the chicken pita. With light pita bread (perhaps made with the same dough as the pizza), caesar style romaine and dressing and grilled chicken, the combination was a light, refreshing and satisfying entree, especially at NT$170. I think the crumbled bits of bacon really made it just right.



The pasta dishes are equally affordable from NT$95- NT$190 with hearty portions piled atop of the plate. You can choose from spaghetti or penne pasta and then choose the sauce- many variations of a basic cream or tomato sauce- along with a few pesto, olive oil and garlic or special sauces. I think we've been conditioned to pay about US$10 or so for a plate of pasta- which if you think about it is super super cheap to make. So with plates at Casa Della Pasta averaging US$3-6, it's a decent night out without having to eat at the food court and they don't skimp out on the portions because of the price.

From sampling the dishes around the table, the red sauces seemed to be a bit salty that night. I wasn't alone in my opinion of that the bolognese spaghetti and the pizza suffered from an extra pinch of salt that took away from the otherwise decent flavors. I didn't get to sample it- but the cream sauce with tuna seemed popular- maybe a Taipei Italian version of Tuna Helper?



There are eleven 7 inch pizzas available from NT$140-180, from the plain cheese to the more unique mushroom and anchovy or pineapple smoked chicken, as well as a calzone. The pizza was just okay- with the too salty sauce and too thin layer of cheese. I couldn't even really tell what the toppings were.



It's a popular place with locals- we squeezed in with our friends who had prior dinner reservations on this occassion on this packed night- so you can either call to make your reservation in advance or chance a wait. The atmosphere is casual yet more date-night friendly than the even more casual Bellini Pasta. The menu is in English and Chinese, with a handful of appetizers and salads, with the main focus on pasta and pizza and other mains like pitas and gnocchi available, as well as specials like lasagna and risotto available only on Saturdays.



It's not too hard to find- an alley away from Dun Hua Eslite and across from Ginjer Bakery. Just look for this sign if you are going at night.



PS Weirdly enough- there is another Casa Della Pasta with a strikingly similiar menu on Bei An Road and casataipei.com , but I'm not sure if the two are related or not, or maybe used to be and are not anymore? On the business card, it's not listed.


other locations:

7-1, Lane 11, Zhongshan N Rd, Sec. 2
(02) 2567-8769

136, Zhongshan Rd, Sec 1
(02) 2954-6133

CLOSED! bakery/breakfast: DUNKIN DONUTS

DUNKIN DONUTS
Miramar Mall, B1
22 Jing Ye 3rd Road
DaZhi, Taipei

CLOSED

$

Kid friendliness: Self serve donuts, so kids can pick their own. Cafe style seating to eat the donuts right away!

Visit reviewed: 10/9/2007

Before Dunkin Donuts hit Taipei, I was able to nosh on some in Pusan, Korea where the American brand donut shop is also self serve for pleasant and take your time browsing. I was pretty happy with the experience, thinking if they can bring it to Korea, why not Taipei?

A short year later, DD hits Taipei, but has the American donut successfully translated over here where Mister Donut seems to be the reigning king of hole-y desserts?



Well... unfortunately, no. At least not from my first impressions from a late afternoon gathering of Munckins and a mocha frosted cruller. The munchkins were stale and made me yearn for the light chewiness of Mister Donut's mochi ring donuts, which the local DD has also presented its own variation. I've heard mixed things about the Dunkin Donuts debut in Taipei on various expat boards- supposedly the tastes were spot on in the beginning and then slowly adjusted (ruined) to local tastes. What's the point of having an American brand if you are going to make it taste like anything else you can get here?



Maybe the donuts just don't age well over the day or aren't the freshest in that particular location. Maybe my childhood cravings for Munchkins just built my expectations too high for what I wanted to taste. Maybe I'll give it another shot- another location, earlier in the day. Until then, you might spot me buying a mochi ring if there's no line at Mister Donuts.

If you happen to want to try it out yourself, the donuts average about NT$20-35 each, with hot and cold drinks and sandwiches also available.

PS- Again, I know it's a lot of work- but I still have a problem with international companies who do not put both English and Chinese on their info pamphlets. How am I supposed to find these other locations if I don't have a friend who can translate for me?

other locations (to come after I figure it out!):
Hsi Men Ding
Nan Jing East Road

chinese/dim sum: PEARL LIANG at Grand Hyatt Taipei

PEARL LIANG
at Grand Hyatt, 2nd FL
No.2, Sung Shou Road
(02) 2720-1234

Lunch 11:30am - 2:30pm
Dinner 5:30pm - 10:00pm

$$-$$$

kid friendliness: high chairs available, but seemingly quieter ambiance for business lunch set.

official website: at taipei.grand.hyatt.com
visits reviewed: 10/10/2006 and 10/23/2006



It's interesting that within the span of two weeks, two different friends choose Pearl Liang as the meeting place for lunch. Perhaps for its elegant, quiet ambiance or maybe for its varied selection of dim sum. The first visit (from which all the pictures are from), we ordered the Dim Sum set menu, which includes a soup, congee, fruit and all you can eat dim sum (which is usually available only weekends and holidays). The second visit we ordered the business set lunch available weekdays.

My lasting impressions from both lunches is that they have great dishes and they have some not-so-great dishes. It's a crapshoot. With the dim sum set menu, I really enjoyed the soup, most of the dim sum, but didn't care for the porridge.




With the business set menu, I didn't like the soup at all, found the scallops main dish to be very small, but thought the rice noodles were decent. In both cases, I didn't like the fruit which tasted as if they had been soaked in syrup or sugar water or something like that.



The all you can eat dim sum set menu is a good deal if you have a big appetite, or want to try a large selection.



Otherwise, it would probably be more affordable to just pick out your favorites if you have more people in your group.

I found the radish cakes not crispy or moist and the cha sau bao to be dry (even the bbq meat part).



The fried items were a bit greasy, but the steamed items were good.




I guess at NT$150 a basket for 3 or US$5, I expect it to be nearly the best dim sum I've ever eaten. But it wasn't, by a long shot and quite disappointing.



I've also been back to Pearl Liang since then for a family set menu dinner which was surprisingly good for my lunch experiences there. I suppose they chose good dishes from the menu or maybe their dinner is better than their dim sum. They have a lot of private rooms of different sizes so it's good for huge extended family sit down dinners.

american/japanese: i recommend ROBIN's GRILL TEPPAN LOUNGE

ROBIN's GRILL TEPPAN LOUNGE
at Grand Formosa Regent Hotel, 2 FL
41 Chung Shan N. Road, Sec 2

(02) 2523-8000 ext 3930

website: grandformosa.com.tw

hours

$$- $$$

Visit reviewed: 5/16/2007

Definitely a place for a special occasion as the prices are a splurge (at least NT$1000/person and average up to NT$3000 a person for set menu dinner) and the service and food can make you feel quite special. From the origami tuxedo napkin to the manager Robin (for whom the restaurant is named) coming by and saying hello- there are little touches at Robin's Grill Teppanyaki that set it apart from other grill places in Taipei. The grill side also has a self serve salad bar as well as a dessert bar that is included in your set menu dinner.

The french onion soup was gorgonzola-ish, beef onion brothy-licious and flavorful while the asparagus appetizer was quite bland and flat for what I expected.

I'd recommend getting the rib eye steaks alone over the surf and turf, as my filet mignon was not as delicate and melt in your mouth orgasmic as my fellow diners. The lobster was also quite ordinary and a bit overcooked, so save all your stomach and plate room for the steak. Whatever cut of prime choice rib eye my friends had that day was probably some of the best red meat I've ever had in my mouth. I was extremely jealous after tasting it in contrast to my own steak because my dish tasted unfocused, like the chef was too busy preparing the lobster AND the steak that he made two so-so dishes instead of one spectacular dish, which their's were. It was worthy of the night out.

The souffle is also beautifully presented, but not as sweet or moist as the ones I've tasted from Joyce East, so unfortunately it wasn't as tasty as it looked. Luckily, we fufilled our sweet tooth with coffee and vanilla ice cream from the dessert bar.




I do want to check out the Teppanyaki portion as I've heard good things about it. They also have large private rooms for parties and families for the teppanyaki part. I know that the regular steak places around town are Ruth Chris (which I haven't been to in Taipei)- so be sure to add this one to your list if you are craving a good rib eye in Taipei. And I think if you were celebrating a special occasion and you told them while you made your reservation, they would be sure to make your night even more special.

CLOSED! revisited/italian: i recommend MOGA

MOGA
No. 50, An Ho Road, Sec 2
(02) 2704-9646

$$-$$$

review visit: 8-19-2005/ (below editor addition: 9/2007 for a 7/2006 visit)

(Please be sure to read the revisted review along w/ the original post, which is almost two years old. I have not been to Moga since the UPSELL which I am discovering is quite frequent and outrageous. Honestly, I have not been back since 2006 because of the slow service and ridiculous prices we were charged on our last visit. I thought it was our own mistake for not asking, but I am tempted to change the 'recommend' which I had already downgraded from a "strong recommend" to a "do not recommend" but I think I would have to visit it again to decide for sure.)

ORIGINAL POST 11/2005:

Moga is my new favorite local Italian restaurant- the food is delicious and satisfying, the service is personal and attentive, the ambiance is modern and simple, and did I say how much I liked the food? The style is Italian meets Japanese, which seems to influence everything from the food to the service. For many of the Italian spots I have been eating at regularly in Taipei, my return visits have disappointed with each visit- however, with Moga, the food and experience became better. Perhaps it was the noisy downpouring of rain from the incoming typhoon, perhaps it was eating pasta while nearly 9 months pregnant- whatever it was, I'm itching to eat there again.

We ordered salads, appetizers and a pizza to share family style, and our own pastas or main courses to eat individually. While the specials on the board are in Chinese, the menus are in both English and Chinese. The pizzas were listed in Chinese, and the server stated that I could make my own desired combination if I didn't see what I wanted on the board. We ended up with a Hawaiian style pineapple, sausage, tomato and mushroom pizza that had crust with body and crunch, a healthy amount of toppings and cheese, but didn't overweigh the crust. It wasn't too doughy unlike a lot of 'homemade' style pizzas I've ordered at other restaurants.

pizza


The salads were refreshing and plated for each individual. Due to some miscommunication, the server gave us two salads plated this way, including some type of salad that included a meat that was a bit unidentifiable. I think it was fish? I would stick with the standard mixed greens salad that comes with slices of an hardboiled egg and cherry tomatoes and a light vinegrette. The appetizers I would order again are the bruschetta and the mozzerella and tomato- I didn't care for the chicken wings.

salad


I ordered a chicken linguine with porcini sauce that seemed to melt in my mouth. The porcini sauce was creamy but not too heavy, the linguine was slippery, but held onto the sauce, and the chicken was tender and not overdone. The portion was just right and the sauce left a pleasant lingering mushroom taste. My friend ordered the rib eye steak, which was nicely grilled and accompanied by a few crispy waffle fries that happened to make their way to my plate.

chicken linguine with porcini sauce


rib eye steak


For dessert, we ordered a selection to share: the creme brulee, the tiramisu, the chocolate cake and the panna cotta. My favorite was probably the panna cotta which milky and not too sweet, came covered in kiwi. The creme brulee was not as expected having a carmelized crust on top, but rather was a scoop of eggy-flan like custard covered a bit of caramel sauce. The tiramisu was more whip creme than ladyfingers and the chocolate cake didn't leave much of an impression.

creme brulee & tiramisu


chocolate cake & panna cotta


Appetizers are $180-280 NT, pastas are $320-380 NT, meats are around $580 NT, and desserts are $100 NT. With drop down screens that can separate the close tables, it's a place suited for a romantic dinner for two or a group dinner. It's a small and intimate space, so call ahead if you want to be sure to get a seat. It's more stylish than Cosi o Cosi, much better tasting than Diamond Tonys, a better value than Pasta West East, and more original than Macaroni Grill- so that's why Moga is my new favorite.

(Editor addition: 9/2007 for a 7/2006 visit)

Beware of the upsell! After eating at Moga again, I have to warn new customers that while the food is very good, you will get charged for everything. Sometimes, like last night, the service is slow with one server and a full house. I had originally written up Moga as strongly recommend, but now I've lowered it.

The service was slow when we went last night, and we had ordered the gorgonzola cheese bread appetizer. We asked the owner about it and she apologized for the delay and gave us some garlic bread. After we got our appetizer, there was some delicious melted cheese still in the dish, and we requested a piece of plain bread. When we got our bill, we were charged NT$80 for 2 slices of garlic bread and NT$30 for 1 slice of plain bread. Now I am not the happiest about paying US$1 for a piece of bread that most restaurants give a whole basketful of when you sit down for free, but we requested it so fine. But the garlic bread was given to us, not ordered, and I didn't expect to see it on our bill.

Also, as part of our set course, we got a soup. The owner recommended a clam soup to me. It was not bad, clams in a clear broth. However, on the bill, she charged me an extra NT$100.

She also recommended a cheesecake for dessert, a special one from Japan. So we said sure! It was heartshaped and huge! But then we were charged NT$600 for it though dessert was supposed to be part of the set course.

Friends we had run into last night also were surprised to see their bill totals as a result of the set course upsell. So while a plate of pasta is a reasonable NT$380 if you order salad, soup, dessert drinks, it WILL add up. Don't assume that what she is recommending is part of the package, and if you are on a budget and in doubt, ask!

chinese: i recommend CHILI HOUSE

CHILI HOUSE
No. 250-3, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 4
(02) 2721-6088

lunch: 11:30am to 2pm
dinner: 5:30pm to 9:15pm

$$

Kid friendliness: high chairs available.

MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua Station

Visit reviewed: 6/27/2007



Chili House is known for their spicy Sichuan dishes such as their chili wontons or chili soup noodles. But despite walking into the newly modern decor, you might be surprised to encounter some brusque service. It's not intentionally rude, they are just too busy trying to get everyone their food and making space for the customers. Apparently the family run business has been around a long time, so they focus on the food and not making small talk.



My friends who are regulars here order their favorites, but commented afterwards that the wontons weren't as good as usual that day. This is perfect for those looking for fire alarm hot Szechwan cuisine, but it was tooo spicy for me.

SPICY! Too spicy to eat and taste anything else but chili. If you can handle this type of spicy, you have a strong stomach and your tastebuds are dead. Just kidding. If you like the spicy in Indian and Korean cuisines, then you probably will like Szechewan spicy.

I had to stick to the non-Chili wontons, noodles and dishes. I liked the peanut butter consistency sesame noodles more than the meat sauce noodles, and we also ordered some sweet peas with chicken and steamed spare short ribs.





It's affordable authentic Chinese food like Din Tai Fung or Jiu Ru but with the option to test out your chili tolerance. It's actually nicer inside than Din Tai Fung and it seemed a popular place for locals, as the lunch hour was packed and my friends encountered at least 3 other parties that they knew. I'd go back to try it again, but only the non-Chili variety.

not taipei/china: random restaurant in Nanjing, China

If something mysterious and fried reaches your plate in the middle of a multi-course meal, would you just dig in or would you ask questions first, eat only after consideration? I'm the second type.

Any guesses to what it was?

Don't know if the lone Lay's chip helps or hurts.

Also, why do they serve noodles/rice at the end of a 8-10 course meal? It's usually the best part and you're too full to eat more than a bite.



Oh well.

not taipei: what to eat in Toronto?

hey everyone,

Sorry I've been MIA for a little while. I just got into Toronto from Los Angeles and have been ending up eating prettty much bar/American food ever since.

Help!

Any recommendations- especially in the downtown area? I see so much diversity around, but not sure where to go. I've also heard rumors about good Peking duck in the Chinatown here?

More to come when I return to Taipei at the end of the month. Unless I eat something spectacular in Toronto!