Cantina del Gio — Restaurant in Da'an District

For a good number of reasons, my girlfriend and I cannot recommend Cantina del Gio. From the onset, our experience was soured upon the discovery that our reservation—which I had made 5 days in advance via ⁠Facebook—hadn't been documented in their records, which came much to our surprise after having received several automated confirmation emails, one of which was a reminder on the very day of our reservation. As a result, we were given one of their less desirable tables in the corner, which wasn't inherently a problem until a much larger (and louder) party was seated practically on top of us. Failure to acknowledge the reservation was but the smallest of several missteps that lead us to feel very dissatisfied with our experience.

After informing the owner that it was my girlfriend's birthday (info I had included in the comments section of the reservation they hadn't seen), he said he's "delighted to take care of us" and that he would be bringing us a little something to drink to start us off and something sweet at the end. Sounded good to us! Minutes later, he showed up with two flutes of Proseco, which was indeed a lovely way to start. We thanked him and looked forward to meal.

As for the food, the ribeye was good, but our previous two courses—their pasta with duck dish and their house salad—left much to be ⁠desired. The salad, comprised of a tiny fistful of romaine lettuce and a couple halved cherry tomatoes, was underwhelming at 350NT, as was the unremarkable pasta dish (5 bites and done for around 600NT).

After the meal, the waitress brought us a small piece of cake that we assumed was on the house since we never actually ordered it, but it was added to our bill and kept there despite alerting her to what we thought was a mistake. If the chef says he's going to bring out something sweet for us at the end, the assumption is that it's on the house. If indeed it's not, we should have been given dessert menus so that we may have selected desserts that we...

Great Italian food. Rustic, flavorful and decent portion size. There are a few letdowns though. The salted cod on puffed cracker appetizer was probably the stingiest appetizer I've ever seen at an Italian establishment. Two dollops of brandade sandwiched in between 2 pieces of stale cracker the size of my thumb(I have a big thumb) on a bed of arugula. The cheese used in the cheese and charcuterie plate tasted like Padano (cheaper cousin of parmigiano), there was no introduction as to what the cheeses and charcuterie were, and the pasta for the lobster tortellini was way too thick for my taste.

Good news, this is where the bad ends. The foie gras was perfectly seared and the raspberry complemented it really well. The quinoa arugula salad was dressed really well. The soft shell crab gniocchi was cooked just the way I liked it and the seafood risotto was done to perfection. I don't think I've had better risotto anywhere else.

The pork was the star of the table. Perfectly seasoned with enough to feed a family of four. The flavor of the firewood grill really comes through. The lamb was a bit on the rare side for my family but I didn't mind it. The truffle mash that came with the lamb was delicious, but I would have liked some pickles or mustard to cut through the richness. The cod was perfectly cooked, but unfortunately unseasoned.

For the dessert, the tiramisu was delicious. There was this chocolate tarte that was recommended for my kid because we asked if there is anything with chocolate. I'm sorry to say that it tasted horrendous. Tarte shell was not made in house which I have no problem with, but to fill it up with what was essentially chocolate caramel sauce with no fruits or berries on the side to cut it down. It was so sweet that my kid spat it out as soon as he tasted it. My recommendation, don't give that to your customer to finish their meal. They won't come back after that. To finish on a good note, their espresso was spot on.

I would...

In the bustling heart of Taipei, there's an island of Italian warmth that embraces the local community with its inviting hospitality: la "Cantina del Gio". Here, within the walls of this culinary gem, owners Giorgio and his son Andrea, along with chef Sante and manager Gianni, orchestrate an unparalleled culinary and human experience.

Stepping into this Italian haven, guests are greeted with a warm atmosphere and aromas that resonate with the sweetest notes of Italian cuisine. Each dish served is a masterpiece of flavors and traditions, a journey through the regions of Italy that awakens the senses and nourishes the soul.

La Cantina del Gio is more than just a restaurant; it's a gathering place for the Italian community in Taipei, where friendships are strengthened and memories take shape around tables laden with delicacies. Here, Giorgio, Andrea, Sante, and Gianni are not just proprietors, but custodians of an authentic experience, where hospitality is an art and food is a celebration of life.

Ultimately, La Cantina del Gio is an oasis of joy and flavor in the heart of Taipei, where Italian hospitality and excellent cuisine blend into an unforgettable experience. With its exceptional team and welcoming atmosphere, this restaurant is a true treasure for the Italian community and for anyone looking to savor authentic Italian cuisine thousands of kilometers...