Marco Polo [馬可波羅]

Visit: August 5, 2012
Address: 台北市大安區敦化南路二段201號 38F
Number: (02) 2376 - 3156
Website: http://www.feph.com.tw/pages/frontend/main.htm

Marco Polo has been getting a lot of press regarding visiting chefs and what not. In the end, publicity won...I had to go try Marco Polo.

Menu

Menu

Complimentary Bread

Complimentary Bread

The Italian flat bread was my favorite.

Appetizer - Caesar Salad (開胃菜 - 經典凱撒沙拉)

Caesar Salad

Appetizer Tuna Salad - (開胃菜 - 黃鰭鮪魚尼斯沙拉)

Tuna Salad

Appetizer - Mashed Corn in Cheese Sauce (開胃菜 - 義式玉米糕襯小黃菇佐藍紋乳酪起市醬)

Mashed Corn in Cheese Sauce

The corn thing was really good and mushy. I couldn't really taste the cheese, but the cream really complimented the corn.

Appetizer - Seared Scallops with Ham (開胃菜 - 嫩煎干貝襯青豆醬佐火腿脆片)

Seared Scallops with Ham

The scallops were nicely seared.

Soup - Vegetable Soup with Job's Tears (湯 - 青醬風味蔬菜薏仁湯)

Vegetable Soup with Job's Tears

I liked this one more out of the two choices.

Soup - Beef and Chicken Soup with Ham Ravioli (湯 - 牛肉及雞肉清湯襯義式火腿餃)

Beef and Chicken Soup with Ham Ravioli

When I saw ravioli, I was so excited!!! But the soup ended up not tasting like anything, and the ravioli didn't taste like a ravioli either.

Pasta/Risotto - Fettuccine in Cheese Meat Sauce (手工義大利麵及燉飯 - 雙色手工寬麵佐牛肉起士肉醬)

Fettuccine in Cheese Meat Sauce

This just tasted like the standard spaghetti.

Pasta/Risotto - Spaghetti in Spicy Seafood Tomato Sauce (手工義大利麵及燉飯 - 辣味番茄海鮮義大利麵)

Spaghetti in Spicy Seafood Tomato Sauce

I failed to taste anything spicy in this bland sauce.

Pasta/Risotto - Risotto with Oysters in Squid Ink (手工義大利麵及燉飯 - 檸香生蠔墨魚汁燉飯)

Risotto with Oysters in Squid Ink

Definitely get the risotto if you are given these choices.

Main - Assorted Grilled Meats (主菜 - 綜合碳烤拼盤) $990 NT

Assorted Grilled Meats

The first time my dish came, the pork rib was really really yummy, but my steak was too well done. When I told the waitress about it, she very quickly offered to make me another one. Second time around, the steak was good, but three rib was too dry.
 
Dessert - Tiramisu (義式招牌甜點 - 提拉米蘇)

Tiramisu

The tiramisu would be my choice.

Dessert -Chocolate Mousse with Strawberry Sauce (義式招牌甜點 - 黑巧克力慕斯佐草莓醬)

Chocolate Mousse with Strawberry Sauce

I'm not a big fan of mousse but I would have to admit that their mousse isn't bad.

Dessert - Chestnut Flavored Chocolate Mousse (義式招牌甜點 - 栗子風味巧克力慕斯佐肉桂波特酒)

Chestnut Flavored Chocolate Mousse

Coffee + Biscotti 

Coffee + Biscotti

I was so disappointed with...everything at Marco Polo. First off, the food was definitely not at all at a level anywhere near my favorite restaurants though I have to say, the set was extremely cheap for the amount of food we got. The staff was also very untrained. When I had my main course redone, I practically watched everyone finish their dish while mine was lying on the side neglected by the waitress because she was too busy servicing the other table. What was worse what that for some reason, the waiters weren't allowed to serve to the tables, so I saw free waiters walking in and out, but none of them would pick up my main. By the time my main course came, the rest of my family was done with lunch. I don't think I'd go to Marco Polo again. The view was great, and maybe the more expensive sets are better, but this visit was just too much of a disappointment.

Danieli's [丹耶澧義大利餐廳] (Visit #2)

Visit: July 13, 2012
Address: 台北市南京東路三段133號1F (Westin Hotel)
Number:(02) 8770-6565
Website: http://www.westin.com.tw/01_text.asp?sn=26

Menu

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Complimentary Bread

Complimentary Bread

I couldn't get enough of the baked garlic, so the waitress kindly brought me more.

Boston Lobster Salad with Cherry Tomato and Sliced Orange (波士頓龍蝦沙拉襯香橙鮮番茄) $980 NT

Boston Lobster Salad with Cherry Tomato and Sliced Orange

Just a small lobster and a few pieces of salad for 980? Probably not something I would order again.

Baby Spinach Salad with Shaved Pecorino Cheese, Toasted Almond and Balsamic Vinaigrette (杏片乳酪菠菜沙拉佐葡萄酒醋汁) $620 NT

Baby Spinach Salad with Shaved Pecorino Cheese, Toasted Almond and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Once again a little overpriced, though the salad was quite enjoyable.

Shrimp, Squid, Scallop, Clam and Baby Octopus Pizza (蒜味什錦海鮮披薩) $650 NT

Shrimp, Squid, Scallop, Clam and Baby Octopus Pizza

There were so many different types of seafood on the pizza, and it was actually quite yummy. The seafood was fresh and the pizza was good though the crust wasn't as good as I expected it to be.

Pan Fried Grouper Fillet with Duck Liver, Sauteed Spinach, Oregano Potato and Virgin Olive Oil (嫩煎鴨肝石斑魚佐蒜香菠菜) $980 NT

Pan Fried Grouper Fillet with Duck Liver, Sauteed Spinach, Oregano Potato and Virgin Olive Oil 

The grouper was okay but the duck liver was not. The pieces of unevenly distributed fat was nor pleasant, and the liver was also not seared as nicely as that of Ruth's Chris.

Pan Fried Lamb Chops Served with Peperonata, Crushed Potato and  Black Truffle Sauce (香煎羊排襯炒洋芋及燉番茄蔬菜佐松露油) $880 NT

Pan Fried Lamb Chops Served with Peperonata, Crushed Potato and  Black Truffle Sauce

The lamb was actually quite good without the disgusting lamb taste.

Chef Signature Dessert - Tiramisu, Warm Chocolate Fondant, Apple Pie, Creme Brulee (主廚精選義式綜合甜點) $480 NT

Chef Signature Dessert - Tiramisu, Warm Chocolate Fondant, Apple Pie, Creme Brulee

The tiramisu impressed me the most. The cream on top wasn't the usual disgusting oily thing. The molten chocolate cake could've been more molten and the creme brulee didn't have the caramelized top so it might as well be called custard. Apple pie was quite delightful.

Gianduia Semifreddo with Kalu Sauce, Crispy Coffee Biscuits (榛果占督亞巧克力佐咖啡香甜酒醬襯酥脆咖啡餅) $320 NT

Gianduia Semifreddo with Kalu Sauce, Crispy Coffee Biscuits 

Ya I know, I'm a bit of a fatty for ordering another dessert. The dessert was basically a sponge cake on the bottom with cream in the middle. It was quite yummy.

My second visit to Danieli's was didn't really change my opinion of the restaurant. The food, service, and atmosphere are all good, but the price is just too high for the quality of foods offered. I would recommend the restaurant, but maybe as a second choice.

Tim & Mel - Pâtisserie & Bistro

Visit: June 7, 2012
Address: 台北市仁愛路四段345巷四弄39號
Number: (02) 2752-1829

I've actually come across Tim & Mel several times while I was surfing on the web, but it was always about their afternoon tea and desserts. So when my friend suggested this bistro for dinner, I hesitated a bit but agreed anyways.

Spiced Wagyu Beef Salad with Balsamic Reduction (和牛肉蔬果沙拉奶油芥茉醬) $480 NT

Spiced Wagyu Beef Salad with Balsamic Reduction

I didn't expect my salad to be anything special, but hey it was actually very good. The beef was cooked just right and seasoned nicely.

Pan Crisped Chicken Pasta (潘翠雞義大利麵) $380 NT

Pan Crisped Chicken Pasta

My friend's pasta was likewise better than I thought it would be. The chicken was surprisingly tender and the sauce was also pretty good.

Classic Cheese Cake (起司蛋糕) $130 NT

Classic Cheese Cake

Since I saw so much about their desserts online, I was hoping for something amazingly awesome. But I guess since we went for dinner.. most of the cakes were gone and so we ware only stuck with a few choices. The cheesecake was good but nothing out of the ordinary. The crust was hard enough for me, and the cheesecake filling was also rich enough for my liking.

Although Tim & Mel is generally known for their desserts. the desserts did not particularly wow me today. Perhaps it was the lack of variety or something, but I'd recommend this tiny bistro for its food. The store itself is really tiny and even though I didn't need to make reservations, I'd suggest you make them since it seats around ten people only.

Pizza Pub [比薩屋]

Visit: May 28, 2012
Address: 台北市中正區忠孝東路一段12號 B1
Number: (02) 2321-1818
Website: www.sheraton-taipei.com/english/r_pizza.htm

Yay, pizza pub at Sheraton to celebrate my friend's birthday (:

Menu

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.


Complimentary Bread

Green Onion Bread Roll

Bread Rolls

The bread was actually really good. The first time we got normal bread rolls, and the second time, we got the green onion rolls. They were both yummy even though I enjoyed the green onions one more.

Lunch Set - Smoked Duck and Sun-dried Tomato Salad served with Summer Fruits Coulis and Walnut Dressing (午間套餐 - 燻鴨胸風乾番茄沙拉佐和桃油醋醬)

Smoked Duck Salad

It's... salad. The duck was good though (:

Set - Cream of Seafood with Vegetable Soup (午間套餐 - 奶油海鮮蔬菜濃湯)

Cream of Seafood with Vegetable Soup

The soup was really watery and not so great.

Lunch Set - Mediterranean Style Grilled Fish (午間套餐 - 地中海式香煎魚排) $800 NT

Mediterranean Style Grilled Fish

Fish wasn't bad. I think I'd recommend this over everything else we had that day.

Lunch Set - Margarita Pizza: Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Basil 8" (午間套餐 - 羅勒起司番茄比薩 8") $800 NT

Margarita Pizza

The margarita pizza also had some sort of weird cheese on top. I keep feeling like maybe they used the wrong cheese or something... that would be pretty sad.


Lunch Set - Chef's Special Seafood Pizza 8" (午間套餐 - 主廚特製海鮮比薩) $800 NT

Seafood Pizza

The seafood pizza wasn't too great. Although the seafood wasn't bad, it was the cheese they used on the pizza that made it taste a little funny.

Lunch Set - Clams Spaghetti with Pesto Sauce (午間套餐 - 香蒜綠蓉汁義大利麵) $750 NT

Clams Spaghetti with Pesto Sauce

I was extremely unimpressed with the spaghetti. The spaghetti was a little under-cooked, and the dish itself was just... not tasty. 


Lunch Set - Special Daily Dessert (午間套餐 - 精選甜點)

Special Daily Dessert

When the dessert came, it honestly looked unappetizing and I thought maybe they just grabbed it from the buffet area. However, when I had it though, it was actually a lot better than it tasted. The chocolate cake was a lot richer than I thought it would be and the other cake was creative in that it had a not too sweet green cake bottom with a pudding-like top.

Overall, I'm not sure if I would go to the pizza pub again. The food was mediocre and the waitresses were pretty inattentive. For the quality here, it is pretty overpriced.

Diamond Tony's Panorama [隨意鳥地方 高空觀景餐廳]

Visit: May 18, 2012
Address: 台北市信義區信義路五段7號85樓 (Inside Taipei 101)
Number: (02) 8101-0016
Website: http://www.diamond-tony.com.tw/

Menu

Diamond Tony's Panorama Dinner Menu

Freshly Baked Garlic Bread and Fresh Crab Meat in Cream Sauce - Set (奶油蟹肉特製沾醬、現烤香料手工麵包 - 套餐) 

Baked Garlic Bread in Crab Meat Cream Sauce

 Props to both the bread and the sauce (: The bread was nicely warm and toasted with garlic spread inside the bread... it just gave me a warm fuzzy feeling. The crab meat sauce was so addictive. It's not really anything fancy, but honestly cream sauce dip... who can resist?

Soup: Minestrone Vegetable Soup with Beef - Set (羅馬蔬菜牛肉燉湯 - 套餐) 

Minestrone Vegetable Soup with Beef

 The soup was pretty standard and the beef wasn't too bad either.

Soup: Wild Mushroom Cream Soup - Set (法式蘑菇野菌濃湯) 

Wild Mushroom Cream Soup

 I was really disappointed with the soup. The flavoring wasn't that great and it was also much too watery to be called a cream soup. I really would've liked to be able to taste the mushroom instead of just finding bits of it floating around in my soup.  


Cold Appetizer: “Carpaccio of Veal Tenderloin” - Set (醋醃生小牛肉片附帕梅森乾酪及續隨子 - 套餐)

“Carpaccio of Veal Tenderloin”

Cold Appetizer: Caesar Salad, Diamond Tony’s Style - Set (巴諾羅馬脆培根凱撒沙拉、蕃茄與水牛輕乳酪 - 套餐)

Caesar Salad, Diamond Tony's Style

Cold Appetizer: Norwegian Smoked Salmon - Set (冷燻鮭魚柳佐第戎芥末籽醬襯鮭魚子及酪梨 - 套餐)

Norwegian Smoked Salmon

Cold Appetizer: Sliced Pork Spine Salad with Tomato Salsa - Set (席恩那豬頸肉薄片沙拉、番茄辣味沙沙 - 套餐)

Sliced Pork Spine Salad with Tomato Salsa

Hot Appetizer/Entree: Caprese Linguine with Tomato, Basil, Bu alo Mozzarella - Set (輕乳酪與蕃茄塔香細扁麵、地中海的美味 - 套餐) 

Caprese Linguine with Tomato, Basil, Bualo Mozzarella

I remember this as just a very standard basil linguine. At least the linguine wasn't overcooked.

Hot Appetizer/Entree: Homemade Ravioli with Tiger Prawn - Set(香煎琥珀蝦及手工義式麵餃、佐綠胡椒龍蝦汁 - 套餐) 

Homemade Ravioli with Tiger Prawn

Homemade Ravioli with Tiger Prawn

It's such an excitement to cut open a ravioli, you never know what lays in there :) The tiger prawn inside was fresh and maybe a little overlooked, but the dish wasn't bad at all.
Hot Appetizer/Entree: Sliced Seasonal Fish - Set (微煎時令深海魚、橄欖油白酒提味 - 套餐) 

Sliced Seasonal Fish

Hot Appetizer/Entree: Roasted Sea Scallop and Tiger Prawn with sautéed Sauerkraut - Set (輕燒深海扇貝與海虎蝦佐奶油酸菜 - 套餐) 

Roasted Sea Scallop and Tiger Prawn with Sauteed Sauerkraut

Hot Appetizer/Entree: Warm Salad of Crispy Duck Breast with chopped Wild Berry - Set (脆皮鴨胸溫熱沙拉、綴以野莓果丁 - 套餐)

Warm Salad of Crispy Duck Breast with Chopped Wild Berry

Main Course: Roast Pork Prosciatto Mozzarella Cheese - Set (焗培根豬肉卷鑲火腿芝司 - 套餐) $1680 NT 

Roast Pork Prosciatto Mozzarella Cheese

 
The pork was a little too dry for me even with the fatty bacon strip wrapped around. Instead of enhancing the taste of the pork, the bacon was just annoying to eat since it just seemed to get in the way.

Main Course: Seared Beef Fillet - Set (迷迭香烙烤菲力牛排、牛肝菌半釉汁 - 套餐) 1680 NT

Seared Beef Fillet

My friend ordered the seared beef fillet medium rare, but the meat was definitely overcooked. Although the meat was still eatable, I just felt like at the price we were paying it at, the steak would be classified as bad.

Main Course: Pan-roasted Duck Leg Con fit - Set(法式油封功夫鴨腿佐香橙風味醬 - 套餐) 1680 NT 

Pan-roasted Duck Leg Confit

I did my research before I decided to come to Diamond Tony's and I was just so excited about the duck leg. The presentation of the duck was nice, but the food certainly did not live up to my expectations. The duck leg was too dry and the sauce tasted like it was only there to make the plating nice.

Main Course: Spice crusted New Zealand Lamb Rack - Set (爐烤紐西蘭小羔羊肋脊、酥皮裹香草 - 套餐) 1980 NT  

Spice Crusted New Zealand Lamb Rack

Main Course: Char-grilled U.S.D.A Prime Fillet Steak of Beef - Set(羅西尼菲力牛排佐填鴨肝及白松露奶醬 - 套餐) 2280 NTChar-grilled U.S.D.A Prime Fillet Steak of Beef  

Char-grilled U.S.D.A. Prime Fillet Steak of Beef

The beef was once again too overcooked, though it wasn't as bad as the pan-seared beef. The foie gras was pretty average and it was a little gross that I could actually feel the fatty chunks in my mouth. The seasoning for both were not impressive at all.

There was supposed to be dessert afterwards, but we were simply running late and had to take it to go... which turned out to be a horrible decision. It took the waiters probably 15 minutes just to give us the tiramisu which I did not understand at all. They simply had to take it out of the fridge and place it in a box... without even plating it, how hard could that be? When I finally got around to eating it though, the tiramisu was more mousse-like than cake-like. Now that I think back, I'm not actually sure if that even was tiramisu. The dessert was not bad though :)

I would not recommend Diamond Tony's Panorama. I've seen the menu for both Panorama and the RenAi branch. The menus were completely identical... except for the huge price increase at Panorama. I'm not going to lie, the view at Panorama was really nice, but the food, service and interior designs were not. The waiters took forever to figure out the bill, and no one ever seemed to know what was going on. The layout of the restaurant was also really weird, plus the interior actually felt like a pretty ghetto high-end restaurant imitation. To me, the only reason you'd go to Diamond Tony's Panorama is because you desperately want a Western meal on top of Taipei 101.