Was going to meet up with the GF at the hospital to visit her grandfather, but when we got there we found out that he's doing so well that the doctor actually released him to go home already. Made our way back toward the east-side on foot and by bus and wandered through the back alleys behind 忠孝敦化. I was wandering aimlessly in the alleys slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of restaurants. It was the first real warm day of the spring, and the GF was tired of being dragged along, so she chose this place as we wandered by. The little courtyard out front, the dark interior, and the couches along the edges of the room helped to make the space appear inviting despite the bare concrete walls and cheap furniture.
The menu was ambitious-sounding and they manage to mostly pull it off. I had the duck confit in honey-wine sauce. It's a large portion with sliced half-breast and a leg sitting in the sweetened goopy brown sauce. Interesting contrast of textures as the breast meat was chewy, almost tough, while the leg was fall-apart tender. Wish there was a bit more to the sauce, but I got my money's worth with the meat. GF had a chicken dish with a leg breaded with a strongly herbed (oregano?) crust on a cream sauce. The crust was crunchy and flavorful and kept the meat juicy. Unfortunately the GF took off most of the crust/skin, but thankfully there was still the sauce to provide some additional flavor. So the main items were interesting and good, at least. Both were accompanied by a scoop of mashed potatoes and steamed veggies (button mushrooms, baby carrots, and a stalk of bok choy). Not too exciting, but we're not paying enough to be getting fancy sides.
They offered half-bottle of wine, which is always convenient, but I wasn't terribly impressed with Chilean Concha y Toro 2004 Casillero Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon. I found it a bit acidic and young without the easy-drinking-ness that comes with young wines. On the other hand the wine gets good reviews on the Net, so maybe I've just been spoiled the Bordeaux Premier Crus that I've mooched from uncle.
Casa
台北市大安區忠孝東路4段216巷27弄17號
02-87718799