It’s time to celebrate a special occasion for my girlfriend and I. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good romantic restaurant (doesn’t matter what cuisine) for NT$1300 per person. I’d preferably like a place where people dress up, a suit and dresses kind of place. The closest MRT station is Guting. I just arrived in Taipei and don’t really know the restaurants around here.
I’m still fairly at a loss for what to do afterward. Are there any good dessert places that focus specifically on dessert? Are there any good playhouses around? What about a good jazz or piano club with nice cocktails?
I’m a fish out of water, so any recommendations are very welcome. Thanks.
Go to Villa32, and spend what you like. It’s in Xin Beitou, but only 5 minutes cab ride from the MRT.[/quote]
Villa 32 might be (only a little bit) outside his price range - unless he can get his girlfriend to order only the cheaper dishes.
justgoodenough - I suggest you have a read through the Hungry Girl’s blog - she’s generally pretty thorough but it’s also worth looking at the comments people leave on her reviews. It’s got a lot of recommendations for romantic places to eat. Not sure how many are suit and dress type places though.
The ONLY places to eat in Taiwan that are suits and dresses are the kind of places that if you need to ask for the address, you’re not welcome. And they cost a SHITLOAD more than a measly NT$1300!
For NT$1300, you can get by with stained slacks and a polo shirt.
Paris 1930 in the Landis but it’ll cost you 2000pp before wine. I used to go fairly often to Toscana at the Sherwood for their huge dry aged imported US steaks and their excellent seafood soup, the meal ran about 2000pp too maybe including 1 glass of wine, quite a few of the people were fairly well dressed though there were 1 or 2 polo shirt people too.
You might think about Mitsui the avant garde/upscale Japanese place (English menus, English speaking staff, classy) in the Fubon bank building at Civic and Tun Hwa. They’ve got sets for $1400/$1600/$1800 if I remember correctly.
1300 for dress us - that's US 40 - is kind of a pittance though.
I liked that one too. I think its long gone, though. It was a jeans and t-shirt place, too, though. This guy is looking for formal dining at casual prices, which is a difficult call.
I guess I should clarify. It will be a taxi, not MRT ride. The less time spent in transport, the better, but I’m just keeping my options open.
I just threw out the number. Maybe I should say NT$1400 for approximate entree price. Plus tax, tip, appetizer in the states would make that NT$1700-2000 here. That’s about what I’m expecting to spend.
Aha! Then Mitsui, Toscana (not fully an Italian restaurant, more of an upscale American food place like Smith and Wollensky), Paris 1930, L’idiot (French modern newfangled place across from the Sherwood) are all back on the table. I’d suggest a fancy Italian place but I personally have a hard time paying more than 500-600NT for noodles even with lobster in 'em, plus if you’re all dressed up, you probably don’t want sauce all over yer clothes.
Might I also recommend: There’s a purveyor of fine Scottish delights on many corners of Taipei, and it will cost you nary a tenth of any of these fancy-schmancy places to fill up, plus you don’t really have to dress up to go there - I go there often during bike rides. You’ll be just as full at the end, and in the end, it’ll be the same color.
Go to Saffron in Tienmu, The husband goes there all the time is his suit, with other suits and dresses. Its Indian, you can go there in khakis or suits it doesn’t matter and a good meal for 2 will end up being 2000 or 2500. SO that’s in your budget. You will have to commute though. Call in advance make a reservation.
Even though the place is very very small, the food is classy.
I am surprised no one mentioned DIY yet. As in get the food catered, light up a candle at home, dress up and open a bubbly!
I liked that one too. I think its long gone, though. It was a jeans and t-shirt place, too, though. This guy is looking for formal dining at casual prices, which is a difficult call.[/quote]
Jeans and Ts? We paid 2k a head when I was there last, and it was all very well to do, I’ll have you know!
Second floor french restaurant of the ROYAL Hotel on Chongshan. N.Rd. was one of my fav places a while back. Dont know if it is still good though? Anyone have more recent experience?
Also the Sherwood HOtel has (or had) a nice Italian restaurant on the 1st floor and a nice French restaurant on the 2nd.
You might just get into Tian Hsiang Lou at the Landis for that money. Very good Chinese. Not exceedingly formal though. They have set dinner menus for two, and they’re on the Landis website. The Brasserie in the Landis is awful though. Dunno about Paris 1930. If it’s the same kitchen as the brasserie I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.
Is your girlfriend Taiwanese? Then I’d suggest one one of Taipei’s many trendy Japanese restaurants. Dozo at No. 102 Guangfu S. Rd would probably work with a budget of less than NT$3000. Its also open late–until 2am most week nights and later on weekends.
Its just a few minutes from the Sun Yet-sen MRT stop (exit 1)
[quote=“just.good.enough”]It’s time to celebrate a special occasion for my girlfriend and I. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good romantic restaurant (doesn’t matter what cuisine) for NT$1300 per person. I’d preferably like a place where people dress up, a suit and dresses kind of place. The closest MRT station is Guting. I just arrived in Taipei and don’t really know the restaurants around here.
I’m still fairly at a loss for what to do afterward. Are there any good dessert places that focus specifically on dessert? Are there any good playhouses around? What about a good jazz or piano club with nice cocktails?
I’m a fish out of water, so any recommendations are very welcome. Thanks.[/quote]
Capones, Italian restaraunt… it’s Just at the EXIT 2 of Sun Yut Sen Men Memorial MRT Stop.
Cocktails… live Jazz & Blues from a well known expat band Bo Po Mo Fo Blues…