Milo Milo [迷路.麋鹿]

Visit: May 10, 2012
Address: 台北市光復南路308巷42號
Number: (02)2740-3066
Website: http://www.milomilo.com.tw/

Ever since I've tried Flavors, I've been on the lookout for Swedish restaurants. When I looked online, Milo Milo seemed to get pretty decent reviews, so I decided to give it a try.

Menu 


Corn Soup + Bread - Set (玉米濃湯 + 麵包 - 套餐)

Corn Soup and Bread

Neither of these stood out at all. Both were standard although the corn soup was a little too watery for me.

Salad - Set (沙拉 - 套餐) 

Salad

 Once again, the tiny salad was just a standard fresh salad with the Japanese sesame dressing... I wasn't completely sure how that was Swedish.

Pork Knuckle with Sauerkraut (香烤豬腳) 420 NT

Pork Knuckle with Sauerkraut

I was a little surprised with how hard and uncrispy the skin of the pig knuckle was. The deep fried pork knuckle seemed to have been in the pan for too long or something. However, the meat wasn't all that bad as I expected it to me, it was actually quite moist. The mustard on the side and the sauerkraut tasted really weird though.

Rib Eye - Set (肋眼牛排 - 套餐) 480 NT + 150 NT

Rib Eye

My dad ordered the rib eye medium rare, but when it came, it was cooked medium. The rib eye wasn't that great, but the fries were really crispy and yummy. The sauces that supposedly go with the rib eye felt a little bit like concentrated canned soup.

Blueberry Custard  + Coffee - Set (藍莓奶酪 + 咖啡 - 套餐)

Blueberry Custard and Coffee

Honestly, I thought that I would hate the blueberry custard, but it was pretty good. The blueberry sauce on the top wasn't overly sweet and the custard on the bottom was a little bit frozen so it retained the slushy sort of texture. The entire cup was a really refreshing dessert.

Brownie with Ice Cream (巧克力布朗尼) 130 NT 

Brownie with Ice Cream

 I don't think that this should be called brownie... it's more like a cake. The cake was a little dry and I just wished that they served more of the fudge to add to the chocolatey of the cake.

When we entered the restaurant during lunch that day, the restaurant was completely empty. For half the meal, my dad and I were the only customers in the restaurant with one waiter. Despite the fact that the restaurant was so empty, the waiter seemed to be spacing out and I had to constantly walk to the bar he was standing at to get his attention. Overall, I would not recommend Milo Milo as the restaurant is unauthentic without even being good. Flavors is a much better restaurant to consider. 

On Tap - Restaurant & Bar (Visit #3)

Visit: March 28, 2012
Address: 台北市大安區忠孝東路四段216巷11弄21號
Number: (02) 2741-5365
Website: http://www.ontaptaipei.com

 I've been to On Tap so many times, and yet, I never seem to get bored of it.

Classic Nachos (自創玉米脆片) $190 NT

Classic Nachos

I couldn't really taste the guacamole for some reason, but other than that, the nachos were good.


The Classic Burger (經典牛肉漢堡) $230 NT

The Classic Burger

 I had a bite of my friend's burger, and the patty was surprisingly thick and juicy.


Chicken with Pesto Penne Pasta (雞肉青醬筆管麵) $260 NT

Chicken with Pesto Penne Pasta

There pasta was good, but there wasn't really anything special about it.

After so many visits, I would still recommend On Tap. It has better than just decent food, and an atmosphere that's rare to find in Taipei.

VVG Bon Bon [好樣棒棒]

Visit: March 10, 2012
Address: 台北市大安區敦化南路一段161巷13號
Number: (02)2711-4505
Website: http://www.vvgbbb.com.tw/index_ch.html

When i first saw the picture of the chocolate marshmallow cake, I fell in love immediately. For a sugar freak and chocoholic like me, this was the ideal cake: fudge+chocolate+marshmallow. I made it my food goal to taste this slice of mouthwatering cake. I can now safely say that I've achieved my goal.

Surroundings
 VVG Bon Bon is one of those extremely cute little dessert places where you feel like you're transported back to your childhood.

They had really cute cupcakes, but I didn't order them because everyone who has been here, seemed to dislike the cupcakes.

  
Menu


Marshmallow & Chocolate Cake (棉花糖巧克力蛋糕) $220 NT

Marshmallow & Chocolate Cake

The marshmallow & chocolate cake did not disappoint. The fudge was extremely rich and fudgey with airy pieces of marshmallow balancing the heavy chocolate. However, unlike usual fudge cakes, this one actually retained its shape when we cut into it...just a random observation. The chocolate cake on the bottom is simply a traditional chocolate cake. I felt like the ice cream was a little too sweet for the cake, and by the time they served us the cake, the ice cream was already half melted.

Lemon with Passion Granite (檸檬百香果碎碎冰) $200 NT 

Lemon with Passion Granite

 We weren't going to order anything else, but we had to satisfy the minimum spending. The lemon with passion granite was yummy, but a  little too sweet and sour for my liking after the rich marshmallow cake. The ice cream on top was also an overkill because it just clashed with the attempted sorbet taste of the crushed ice.

I would definitely recommend VVG Bon Bon for its rich marshmallow chocolate cake. Although it's a really girly restaurant, there were male diners with female companions. I actually think that the guys secretly enjoy the girliness of the restaurant (:

Galerie Bistro [百藝畫廊]

Visit: Mar. 3, 2012
Address: 台北市大同區南京西路25巷2號
Number: (02) 2558 - 0096
Website: www.galeriebistro.com/main.html

Despite a night of Spanish food at La Caja de Musica, I wasn't satisfied without dessert. Finally, after half an hour walking around the area and deciding what to get, we finally realized that Galerie Bistro was the only decent place left at such a late hour.

Swiss Dark Chocolate Fudge with scoop of Movenpick Vanilla Ice Cream (瑞士濃巧克力布朗尼) $380 NT

Swiss Dark Chocolate Fudge with Vanilla Ice Cream

It's funny, on their menu, they have two sizes of the chocolate cake: for one, and normal sized. Wanting to indulge ourselves, we decided to order the normal sized portion... to discover that I could easily clean off the normal sized one by myself. The chocolate fudge cake was extremely moist, rich, dark and yummy. I really liked the fudge on top of the cake as well as the vanilla ice cream and whipped cream on the side since they really did work well together. However, the nuts in the chocolate cake just seemed really out of place in such a fudgey cake, and although they tried to serve it warm, there were some cold bits in the middle of the cake and definitely wasn't warm enough for my liking.


Classic Italy Tiramisu (傳統義式提拉米蘇) $380 NT

Classic Italy Tiramisu

I have to say I was thoroughly disappointed with the tiramisu. From blog posts online as well as the little logo by the tiramisu on the menu, I was expecting the tiramisu to be good if not way above average. When I took a bite into it though, I was greeted with a yummy mousse on top, but an extremely soggy cake. With the wine in the dessert, the  flavor of the tiramisu was really good, but the texture of the cake was just way on the other end of the spectrum. Tiramisu expelling excess liquid as I chew on the cake is definitely not something I enjoy.

Out of the two desserts I tried, the chocolate fudge was definitely the better one. I've been to Galerie Bistro before, and the quality was definitely much better than what I had today. Maybe it was the late hour, or maybe their desserts just aren't as great, but either way, after today's visit, I don't think I would go back to Galerie Bistro for desserts. I'm not sure I would recommend Galerie Bistro, but if you're around the area or simply just want to try it out, it's an okay choice.

a³ Bar and Restaurant

Visit: Mar. 2, 2012
Address: 台北市信義區松仁路28號 1F (Bellavita)
Number: (02) 8729-2866
Website: http://www.bellavita.com.tw/store.php?d=70

After my slight disappointment at SALON DE THE de Joel Robuchon, I was itching for something impressive. Since, a³ always comes up as one of the options when I search for afternoon tea restaurants, my friend and I decided to try it out. I could barely hold my excitement :D

Afternoon Tea Set Menu

Afternoon Tea Set Menu

Classic High Tea Set (for two) $980 NT

Classic High Tea Set for two

Top Layer

Top Layer

Lobster Salad - Sandwich (龍蝦沙拉)

Lobster Salad Sandwich

When I saw the sandwiches on the menu, I was expecting a really cheap-tasting mayonnaise filled sandwich. Instead, the lobster was cooked just right, and the sandwich had a nice rich creaminess.

Smoked Chicken & Cucumber - Sandwich (熏雞肉黃瓜)

Smoked Chicken & Cucumber Sandwich

 Once again, I was impressed with the way a³ made its sandwich.

Mini Beef Burger (迷你牛肉漢堡)
I've seen so many pictures of the burgers at a³, and all of them gave me the impression of a dry patty. When I bit into the burger though, there was meat juice dripping out of the juicy patty. The pickle in the burger also added a nice touch to the taste.


Insalata Bruschetta (義式番茄乳酪麵包)

Insalata Bruschetta

The topping of the bruschetta may taste relatively normal even though I definitely enjoyed the cheese, but the most impressive part of it all was the bread it was served on. I've had too many bruschettas served on floppy pieces of toast. a³ though, took the time to toast the bread so that the bruschetta had a really nice crunchiness.

Middle Layer

Middle Layer

Raisin English Scone (葡萄乾英式史康)

Raisin English Scone

 I'm not sure if it was because I took too long to get to the originally warm scone, but when I got to it, the scone was just too dry. To me, it lacked greatly in texture because the outside wasn't even crumbly!

Walnut Cup Cake (核桃杯子蛋糕)

Walnut Cup Cake

 When I got to this, I began to realize that maybe cakes aren't their strong suit. The cup cake though was okay, it was still a bit dry for my liking.

Savory Snack - Fried Shrimp on Bread (鹹味小點 - 炸蝦)

Fried Shrimp on Bread

 This was like a tempura on top of fried bread. When I first had it, I could feel the greasiness filling my mouth, but once I started chewing, I realized that it was all worth it. The fried shrimp on top as well as the fried toast on the bottom were both so unbelievably awesomely crispy.

Bottom Layer

Bottom Layer

Assorted Sweets - Brownie (綜合甜點 - 布朗尼)

Brownie

 There was a bit of an almond taste to the brownie - something that I've never had before until today. The brownie wasn't as sticky or chewy as an American brownie, but instead tasted a little bit like a yummy madeleine cake.

Assorted Sweets Mille-Feuille - (綜合甜點 - 千層派)

Mille-Feuille

 The chestnut cream on top fit really well with the mille-feuille. I have a bad habit of separating my cream from the pasty, but in this case, it tasted so much better with the two together.

Fresh Fruit Tart (水果塔)

Fresh Fruit Tart

It might look like a cupcake, but the out side is actually a tart shell and the inside some kind of cake. The crust was so awesome and the tart itself was filled with moist pound cake-like texture and an almond flavored center. This was definitely my favorite pastry of the entire set.

Almond Cake (杏仁蛋糕)

Almond Cake

 For some reason, I kept tasting hazelnut...but the menu said that it's almond cake. I liked the crispy almond on top but the cake itself was a little too creamy and rich for me. I liked the nutty aftertaste, but it was my least favorite dessert.

Caramel Macchiatto (焦糖瑪琪朵咖啡) ($180 NT without set)

Caramel Macchiatto

a³ provides one free refill for those who order the coffee.

Long Cheng Tea (龍井茶) ($200 NT without set)

Long Cheng Tea

 I loved how the waiters constantly refills my teapot (:

Out of all the afternoon tea sets I've had, a³ is definitely my favorite. I've encountered so many mayonnaise filled sandwiches, stale pastries, and nastily creamy cakes, but a³ seemed to be able to not fall into that trend. With waiters constantly refilling the teapot with water and clearing the clutter of plates from the table, I really enjoyed the service as well as the sophisticated atmosphere. If you're looking for some afternoon tea, a³ is definitely one you should consider!

Chili's Grill & Bar

Visit: Mar. 2, 2012
Address: 台北市忠誠路2段200號2樓(Mitsukoshi)
Number: (02)2875-4838
Website: www.chilis.com.tw

I really wasn't planning on having dinner after my afternoon tea at a³, but after getting dragged to Chili's by my parents, I couldn't resist the temptation to enjoy the good food.

Side Salad - Garden Salad (翡翠沙拉) $180 NT

Side Garden Salad

 This was my attempt at a healthy dinner, but my attempt completely fell apart in the end as more and more yummy dishes materialized before me. I liked this simple salad with because between the cheese and the croutons, I was could easily eat the greens without the dressing. However, the honey mustard dressing I got was really yummy. Unlike most honey mustard dressings in Taiwan that just tastes like sweet mayonnaise, the honey mustard here tasted pretty good.


 Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip (熱奶油波菜洋薊沾醬) $280 NT

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

 I've always wanted to try the hot spinach and artichoke dip. When they served the dish, I think my eyeballs were about the fall out of their sockets when I discovered how large the portion of chips was. The dip itself was really really rich with the cheese as well as the butter, but that suited me just right. I liked the dip (even though Lawry's creamed spinach is still my favorite) but the acidity of the tomato made the dip taste a little weird. One thing that really bothered me about the dish though was a really weird after taste, but I couldn't tell if it came from the dip or the chips.



Classic Fajita (經典卡式達)

Classic Fajita

 When I first saw the steak, I thought that it might have been overcooked, but because the steak was a little fat, the beef was able to retain its tenderness. My favorite part of the dish though, were onions that were practically caramelized (:


Mushroom Jack Fajitas (蘑菇傑克法士達)

Mushroom Jack Fajita

 I loved the melted cheese and bacon bits in the fajita except I wish that the cheese was even more melted and served hotter. The mushrooms were also really good and the chicken was extremely tender. Even though Chili's always serve chicken breast, I've realized over my visits, that their chicken breasts are always extremely tender.

I've been to Chili's so many times, and yet, I'm still continuously impressed by the food. Chili's serves such a huge variety of food that I still haven't tried all of their dishes. I would definitely recommend Chili's for anyone craving some American food.

The Diner

Visit: Feb. 24, 2012
Address: 台北市信義區松壽路12號1樓 (Att4Fun)
Number: (02) 7737-5055
Website: http://www.thediner.htm.tw


Banana Chocolate Pancake 香蕉巧克力美式煎餅 ($330 NT)

Banana Chocolate Pancake

 This three-layer pancake was a bit of a frightening sight when it was first served. The seemingly abundant chocolate sauce drizzled on top of the warm pancakes promised to satisfy my sweet tooth; however, because the pancakes were a little dry and did not have as many chocolate chips as I hoped there would be, the chocolate sauce still wasn't enough. The whipped cream might seem like a gigantic portion, but you'll definitely clean off every last bit due to the huge portion of pancakes. The Banana slices that covered the surface area of the pancake  not only worked with the pancakes, but also helped me convince myself that this was a healthy meal.

Chicken Jambalaya 紐澳良什錦飯 ($390 NT)

Chicken Jambalaya

 When my friend got this dish, I was expecting a huge yummy portion of Spanish food. However, the Chicken Jambalaya was a disappointment. The pieces of Spanish ham though was flavorful, its quality did not extend to the overall dish. The most disappointing part was that the rice was so soggy that it just wasn't appetizing.

Brownie + Vanilla Ice Cream 巧克力布朗尼+香草冰淇淋 ($130 NT)

Brownie + Vanilla Ice Cream

I love it when brownies are served warm! The two generous scoops of ice cream contrasting the huge serving of warm brownie and chocolate sauce was just the thing to satisfy my sweet tooth. With chunks of walnuts within the moist brownie itself, I just couldn't stop myself from reaching for more of the brownie. Even though I shared the dessert with a friend, at the end of the dessert, I felt a little grossed out by the sugar from the vanilla ice cream and the the brownie.

I definitely recommend the diner to those craving some American food. The Diner offers a wide selection of breakfast dishes as well as sandwiches and burgers. Although I really enjoyed my brownie this time, I would definitely go back for the pecan pie and apple pie that I was eying the whole night.

Coffee Alley [咖啡弄]

Visit: Feb. 24, 2012
Address: 台北市松壽路12號三樓 (Att4Fun)
Number: (02) 7737-0700
Website: www.coffee-alley.com.tw 

Decaf Coffee (低咖啡因咖啡) $120 NT

Decaf Coffee

I know I seem like an old woman when I get decaf coffee, but hey, it was late at night. The coffee itself was okay, but the sugar cookies tasted a little cheap.


Strawberry Mille-Feuille (法式草莓千層派) $120 NT

Strawberry Mille-Feuille

 This definitely is not on my list of favorite desserts. The cream basically butter and too thick and heavy. The pie itself although was crispy, left a pretty oily aftertaste, which was not pleasant at all. When I got the Strawberry Mille-Feuille, I was expecting a light and airy late night dessert, instead I left coffee alley feeling a little sick.


Overall, Coffee Alley was just a bit disappointing. Like Dazzling, they have a pretty weird policy of a minimum charge of a drink per person even if you order food or dessert. Although my experience wasn't that great, I still want to go back and try out their Ice Cream with Cotton Candy & Espresso. As of now though, I wouldn't recommend Coffee Alley.

On Tap - Restaurant & Bar

Visit: Jan. 15, 2012
Address: 台北市大安區忠孝東路四段216巷11弄21號
Number: (02) 2741-5365
Website: http://www.ontaptaipei.com

One morning in the midst of boring biology class, my friend strongly recommended on tap, an American restaurant and bar. Since then, it has climbed higher up my food list as I heard more an more good things. I’m not sure if it was because of my reunion with old friends that day, because I was pretty buzzed, or because it really was good food. All I know is that I had an awesome time.

The same friend who recommended on tap also loved their gravy cheese fries, but I ended up getting the chili cheese fried instead. What was awesome about the fries was that unlike usual Taiwanese cheese fries servings, most of the fries were able to get at least an edge of cheese if not covered yummily in them. The fries themselves were mediocre though because I would’ve liked them crispier. The same mediocrity applied to the chili, but then again, I’ve never been a fan of oily chunks of minced beef wallowing on top of my crispy fries.

My friend also got calamari salad which was a simple salad with fried calamari rings. I felt like the calamari could have been much crispier, but other than that, this was your typical salad.

From the left: Gin+Diet Coke, White Russian, Vodka+Sprite

 At on tap, I was also fortunate enough to visit during their happy hour. Out of all my $90 NT drinks: gin+diet coke, whiskey+diet coke, rum+diet coke, i definitely liked gin+diet coke the most. I also tried a bit of my friend’s white Russian which featured a sweet creamy white chocolate drink. I would definitely recommend it to all the sweet tooths out there. I also tried some of the margarita, except it wasn't frozen...so that felt a little gross. From all the diet cokes, I guess it’s quite obvious that I made a failed attempt at cutting calories because the gravy fries were obviously not enough, I finally caved in to tasty vodka red bull and brownie~~~

Brownie & Ice Cream

 My perspective might have been a little skewed from the alcohol, but I’m pretty sure my taste buds were telling me that the brownies were somewhat fudgy and yummy. These aren’t the super soft and moist ones, but were mildly chewy without being overly dry. With vanilla ice cream drizzling its essence onto the warm brownie propped nicely on the warm plate, this was the grand finale to the awesome experience.

I would definitely go to On Tap again for a relaxing drink or just food with friends. As of now, I would go back to On Tap rather than to Chilis or Outback simply because the fries were good and the atmosphere amazing at a reasonable price, but I have yet to try On Tap’s burgers which might just tip the scale to its disfavor. After this experience, I guess the only thing I really want to say is that mixing so many different kinds of alcohol is a bad bad idea.