Quick Hits - L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro 風流小館

Address: No. 5, Lane 164, Jinhua St. Taipei Taiwan.  台北市大安區金華街164巷5號

Telephone: (02) 3343-3937

Hours: 11:30AM-9PM (2PM-5PM is crepes only)

This was one of those instances where being full or hungry had little to do with our plans.  We were coming here, the size of our lunch be damned.  The original plan was to attack L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro for our entire afternoon meal, but things sometimes never work out the way you want them too.

So instead of taking in everything L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro had to offer, the sister and I settled for some crepes and to just take in the general atmosphere of this newly opened restaurant.

Just. Coffee. Pretty.

Let us first start off with the decor.  It is simple yet substantial and speaks volumes without saying a lot.  My favorite combination.  The interior somewhat mirrors what the chef is trying to do with her food in a lot of respects.  Stay simple yet really really pack a powerful punch.

Head Chef Dana Yu has created a name for herself through her work at notable establishments such as L'Atelier Joel Robuchon and Justin's Signatures.  With her training at the highest levels of French cuisine, Chef Yu has a strong desire to create something epicurically awesome (I just made that term up), but doing so without too much complication (at least this is what I read...).
This is another entry into the crowded market of cafes/bistros that are sprouting up throughout the city, but I dare say L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro if it doesn't offer up something different, then at the very least it brings class and elegance to the field.

Banana and Chocolate Crepe.  Light, airy, fluffy and not too heavy.  How a crepe is suppose to be I think, but I have the admit, I enjoy the crispy versions that can be found in night markets and shopping centers throughout the city as well.

There are a la carte options available on the dining menu, but from what I heard, it appears that the set meal for 2200NT is the ONLY way to go if you bother to come here.  The menu changes weekly based on the ingredients in the market, so one doesn't have to worry about coming here and experiencing the same standard fare over and over.

Lunch is between 11:30AM and 2PM, while only crepes and some select items are served between 2PM and 5PM, while 5PM til closing is of course dinner service.

Look I know this review will have to be fleshed out.  Only the bones exists for now, the meat will have to wait. But i'm highly anticipating my opportunity to experience L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro in all its glory.  For now, the crepes are delicate and I'm sure stay true to their French origins.  It's located in the ever Popular 永康街 (Yong Kang Street), where some of my favorite food can be found.  

If this is a test run, then L'Air Cafe Neo Bistro 風流小館 is sitting pretty with wonderful pole position.  

-Til Next Time-

18 Cafe

Address: No.55, Sec.1, Anhe Road, Daan District, Taipei Taiwan.  安和路一段55號一樓

Telephone: (02)2775-5530

Hours: 11:30AM - 12:00AM daily.

For years now, Room 18 has been one of the preeminent clubs on the Taiwan night scene.  For some reason, knowing that 18 Cafe is opened by the same owner threw my mind into a weird place.  I suppose one doesn't associate clubbing with a classy cafe and elegant dining, but once I got my easily distracted mind to stop thinking of such trivial things, I was ready to settle down for a meal.

I'm sure there are similar components in operating a successful night club and a top notch restaurant, because after all, they both do fall under the umbrella of the service industry.  The business acumen of the owner seems to have transferred well, since I've mostly heard only positives in regards to the cafe.  My buddy and I came here somewhat on a lark, as we were wandering the streets trying to figure out where to stop and take in lunch.

For my money, we made a good random choice in stepping into the elegant interior of 18 Cafe.

I don't want to say that Taiwanese people aren't original... but... it seems like anyone with half a thought in their head and half a dollar in their wallet, opts to open a cafe these days.  I'm certain that 10 years ago, there existed almost no such places in Taiwan's culinary landscape.  Now? They are nearly as ubiquitous as the convenient stores that we are so fond of here.

Black Tea Set

With so many places offering overlapping experiences, it is in the hands of each proprietor to give the customers something that's different.  If they can't, there exists little incentive to give the extra effort to patron your establishment instead of the multitude that I'm sure is just a brisk walk from most people's doorstep.

With all of that said, I believe 18 Cafe does a good job of distinguishing itself and does so in some subtle and not so subtle ways.

 Egg Tofu Salad with Sesame Dressing. (150NT)

Dessert Options.... duh.

For being so brand spanking new (opened in July of this year), 18 Cafe has quickly distinguished itself.  I believe the three main reasons (although there are others) is because of the fact that indeed 18 Cafe is opened by the same owner as some of Taiwan's top night life destinations.  The owner is somewhat of a mid level celebrity here in Taiwan, and that in of itself brings a certain level of notoriety.  But in the end, it doesn't matter who the name attached to the restaurant is if the quality is lacking.

That brings us to points two and three: The food is not lacking, and is done with a certain finesse and class that really surprised me. And thirdly, they have a signature dish in their award winning beef noodle soup (a Taiwanese classic if there ever was one).

The Award Winning Beef Noodle Soup from 18 Cafe (bested 200 competitors). Flavors were good, a bit on the sweet side, but that is to my personal preferences.  

I would say a good half of the restaurant had one of these green bowls in front of them.  For just 250NT you too can have your head crammed into one of these creations.  To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of beef noodle soup, but I know a good one when I taste it.  

I was a big fan of the broad noodles and their chewiness was very much to my liking.  The soup was flavorful without being overpowering and had that little extra spice to give it that much needed kick.  Although I found the dish to be very good.. is it the best version of this dish I have ever had?  That would probably be a no, but I would be hard pressed to exactly nail down the location of the best.

All told however, 18 Cafe's beef noodle soup is worthy of being a signature dish.  Without question the notoriety of its owner and food has really given this place solid footing in the crowded market for this type of cuisine.

 Seared tuna with black olive puree.  (250NT)

 Crispy soft-shelled crab spring roll. (180NT)

The food here deviates slightly from what you find at most diners and cafes in Taiwan.  Instead of the customary breakfast/burger/sandwich options, 18 Cafe brings a more sophisticated take on what a cafe can deliver.  Although the menu isn't extensive, the dishes we tried were all presented nicely and tasted very fresh.  The portions are not large and the price range is adequate, but there is enough diversity on the menu for most people to find something that they will find to their liking.

Tender chicken wrapped with cream cheese in brandy sauce.  Very juicy chicken and the mashed potatoes were fantastic. 

 I really enjoyed the decor and atmosphere at 18 Cafe, and really the best way I can explain it is that it was... substantial.  What I mean by that is that you can tell resources were spent into designing and laying out the space that this cafe occupies.  A brightly lit area that strays from the rustic feel that many cafes try to capture and instead goes for a modern feel that is heavy in vibrant colors.

The good looking waitstaff were ever helpful, and an army of them are patrolling around to make sure your needs are tended to.  

Chocolate brandy cake and fruit mille-feuille. Both really good.  Loved the texture of the chocolate cake.. simple yet magnificent.

Because of our own indecisiveness, we stumbled upon 18 Cafe.  I'll chalk it up to a fortunate accident, and I'm glad I got to judge this new entry into the Taiwan dining forum.  There is room for improvement of course, as any new establishment will have its fair share of growing pains.

The waitstaff, although friendly, is still green and gave us some faulty information about the menu a few times.  I'm certain the menu is still being tweaked and added to, and the speed of some of the food took too long to be delivered with no explanation as to the long wait.

With that said though, behind the strength of their beef noodle soup, sophisticated design and food, I can declare the cafe not only a winner in an award for their signature dish, but almost a certain sure fire winner of patrons wallets in the years to come.

Overall 18 Cafe receives: 

-Til Next Time-

TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel)

Address: No.39, Alley 4, Lane 345, Sec. 4, Ren Ai Road, Taipei.  仁愛路4段345巷4弄39號

Telephone: 02-2752-1829

Hours: Tue-Fri: 11:00AM-9:00PM ; Sat-Sun 12:00PM-9:00PM

Website: http://www.facebook.com/TMPB39

As a child, I really don't remember ever hearing about, let alone tasting, a macaron.  Wasn't dessert comprised of cakes, pies, cookies and candy?  I'm certainly glad of new things in my life, but when did we become so inundated with options?
There are many new things that I could learn to live without, but I would definitely not put these colorful morsels anywhere near the top of the list.  Macarons, and establishments like TM Patisseries & Bistro in general, have carved out an interesting place in society for themselves.  Without question, these type of places are all over priced, but for some reason we keep getting sucked in because of our love for pretty things made out of sugar.
It really just goes with what I said in my previous posts about everything going towards what people are perceiving as fancy, but in reality it really is just a synonym with 'this is going to cost you a lot of money and you will still be hungry.' This really has nothing to do with TM Patisserie & Bistro per say, its just more of a thought about the growing list of these sorts of establishments both when dealing with desserts and all manners of food.

There really does seem to be an ever expanding list of these type of sleek, cool, and cute dessert places.  But another reality is that obviously there is a market for them if they can keep finding the patrons to not only stay open but thrive.  TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel) offers the customary assortment of brightly colored macarons.  My friend pointed out as we walked in that perhaps they were slightly TOO colorful, as if they came out of Willy Wonka's worst nightmare.  I thought that the coloring drew the eye, but I also believe that a point was made that they almost looked like they were dipped in florescent paint.  

It is a nice little space that will seat roughly 18-20 patrons.

 Nuclear Macarons.

Lunch Time specialty sets.

Let me be honest here, I have an uncontrollable sweet tooth.  There are those that walk the Earth that can abstain from sweets, but I'd like to think that those people are either short a few taste buds or really just robots sent to observe humanity.  So it is a little difficult for me to be critical of things when they are essentially sugar parading around in disguises.  

With that said however, you begin to notice the quality of things after a while.  You can like everything, but still be able to differentiate between what you liked more.  This is basically what I have been forced to learn to do, since I enjoy most things placed in front of my face.

TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel)'s macarons are something that I perfectly enjoyed and would eat non stop, but through sheer endless gluttony, I realized that there are better options out there for this delectable treat.

The look of the macarons we have already covered, but I found them to be too dense and slightly on the hard side of the spectrum.  Whether this was by design or having been kept in the cooler for too long I don't know, but it was an issue when it came to consumption.  

A gripe of my friend's was that the macarons were dense in the spots that were suppose to be airy, and airy in the spots that were meant to be dense.  While I didn't find this an issue at all, perhaps for the macaron connoisseur, It is really something worth griping about.

Still, I would pop these like a sleeve of oreos all day every day if given the option.  Its just that I've had better, and when it comes to the good things in life, its all a matter of degrees.

 Part of the lunch set.  Three macarons, a dessert option, panna cotta and a drink for 360NT.

I found the other desserts to be much more enjoyable.  The lemon tart (120NT) was well.....lemony and tarty. It wasn't overly sweet, and the crust was well done and I found it to be understated in its flavor yet very enjoyable.  The chocolate cake and other desserts were really all very well done.  Like the lemon tart, they were not overly sweet and cloying like how some desserts can be after a few bites.  

TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel) also offers a few savory dishes that you can order to give your taste buds a little reprieve from all the sweetness.  They range from 290NT to 880NT for the Prime Angus Tenderloin Steak.  

 Pan Crisped Chicken Pasta (380NT)

As I looked at the prices for the savory dishes, I realized that they were of course on the pricey side, but that's okay as long as the portion is acceptable and the flavors were good.  On this trip I only gave the Chicken Pasta a go.  I thought it was very lovely to look at, and the colors of the pasta and the chicken really made it very appetizing based on appearance alone.  After tasting it, I found the dish to be slightly over seasoned and a bit too salty.  I thought the chicken and the pasta were both made really well, but the issue was in the seasoning of the entree.  

It is a very small kitchen so the food takes a while to prepare, so be aware of that before you decide to give everything a try on the menu.  TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel) also of course comes equipped with all manners of libations, both alcoholic and not.  

I feel like these sorts of bistro/dessert places are judged a lot based on their macarons.  It's invariably what people bring up first, and really helps get people through the doors.  But of course there is much more to making a fantastic patisserie.  

While TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel) might come up just a bit short in their execution of their macarons (at least on this day), the other treats were exactly that, a treat to eat and take in visually.  Judging the savory dishes on one solitary item might not be fair (although there were only 7 options), but I'll go out and say that its more than likely that the other dishes will be well prepared albeit definitely lacking in the important price to quantity ratio.

Without a doubt TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel)'s is a charming little spot to get together with a few friends and have a few treats, but there are definitely better options out there when it comes to the space and the food.  

Overall TM Patisserie & Bistro (Tim & Mel) Receives:

-Til Next Time-