Aleisha’ — Restaurant in Da'an District

I've dined at Aleisha twice, once with the original chef and once with the new chef. My original experience was slightly questionable, but I wanted to like this restaurant so much that I was willing to give it another shot. Unfortunately, I just don't think it is up to par with my own personal tastes.

The pros: I'm such a huge fan of Levantine and North African food, and having Aleisha is such great representation for Taipei, as the city desperately needed new flavors beyond the typical French/Italian/Japanese fine dining scene. Aleisha puts a personal spin on Mediterranean food in an endearing way, and I'm thankful to be able to find these flavors in the heart of the city. The service and sommelier were way better the second time around, and the courses were run more professionally as well. Cocktail pairings are also amazing and I wish more restaurants would do them! I do recommend you to try this place out if you are yearning for some Mediterranean flavors.

The cons: The food was, in my opinion, on the blander side and slightly overpriced across both of my visits. I've seen some reviews talking about the notable improvement in selections and dishes after the change in staff, which I can agree to a certain point. However, I felt like there was a grave loss / confusion of the restaurant's identity. A lot of the original authenticity of the cuisine was lost in favor for seemingly pandering to the Taiwanese taste, such as the uni amuse bouche that tasted like it came straight from an omakase restaurant. There was also a Christmas-inspired hot chocolate drink that, although fun and cute, felt completely out of place culturally and thematically. Aleisha, we do not need another fusion joint like this when the restaurant isn't advertised as such. I want strong, bold flavors in dishes that are unapologetically authentic, spiced up, and true to their sources. I also want some sort of elevation of the original dish and not a watered-down or scaled-down version of them. Also, the chairs in the restaurant were extremely uncomfortable for me to sit in, and the spacing between guests were so close to each other. It became difficult for me to relax and enjoy the experience due to those conditions. The bathroom ambience also has room for...

I visited this restaurant based on a recommendation from a local friend saying it was some amazing Mediterranean food. Having visited most countries around the Mediterranean sea and having had spectacular local cuisine there, honestly my expectations weren't too high when I made my reservation at Aleisha. Boy was I wrong,

Beforehand I only knew it regarded Mediterranean food, so I anticipated typical Italian or Spanish fare based on what is typically served when this region is mentioned. However, upon arrival, I was surprised by the detailed explanation of the menu, which showcased a broad and authentic representation of Mediterranean cuisine from all three continents bordering the sea. Adding to the experience was the beautiful, well thought out interior and the titillating art.

Being European, I'm familiar with Southern European, Western Asian, and North African cuisines, but the dishes I was served were simple yet mind-blowingly complex. The couscous melted in my mouth, the baba ganoush had an intensity of flavor I haven't experienced before, and the falafel (wow!) gave me a newfound appreciation for the dish. These familiar dishes were elevated to a level I hadn’t imagined possible.

The staff were equally impressive. As a vegetarian, I often struggle with limited options, especially in Taiwan where meat and fish dominate many menus. The menu here wasn't any different in that sense, however, the chefs went out of their way to create special dishes for me in order for me to still be able to partake in every course. Despite the busy environment, the head chef visited us during each course to provide background on the dishes, and the waiters were attentive and engaging, making sure we were satisfied and even indulging in some enjoyable small talk.

In summary: the food was exceptional, turning familiar dishes into haute cuisine. The chefs were attentive and adaptable, and the service was impeccable, striking the perfect balance between formal dining and meaningful, fun interactions....

July 2024 I really wanted to like this place, which probably makes the disappointment that much worse. I was excited that there was finally a Mediterranean fine dining restaurant in Taipei and the chef began the evening by explaining that the menu wanted to showcase bold and varied spices and flavors. The first course - pork with candy floss was probably the most unique and interesting of the whole meal. The other courses were pretty standard offerings with nothing particularly inventive about them. The squid course (where they replaced the shrimp with squid to accommodate my allergies)was awful, so flavorless and boring, and you could tell no effort had actually gone into it at all. The promise of bold flavors was just a bold claim in the end. I love preserved lemon, but to have it be the most prominent element of multiple courses, is not bold, it's just lazy. And the final insult to the injury was the absolutely callous service. I had already mentioned in the reservation that we were there for my partner's birthday dinner. When the chef greeted us at our table, it came up that it was my partner's birthday dinner and he barely acknowledged it. It's pretty standard for restaurants to offer an additional birthday/special ocassion dessert, but they didn't. The dinner finished with a coffee or hot chocolate - my partner doesn't consume either. He asked if he could have tea or another beverage instead and was refused! When you compare this behavior to other places that go above and beyond to make their diners have a special experience, it's really beyond disappointing. Not only did you not offer a special dessert, you couldn't even accommodate a small request on the part of the person celebrating a special occasion. This place is definitely not worth the time...