Zoca Pizzeria Caffetteria — Restaurant in Da'an District

Edit: The review I wrote below was my initial review. Look at the response from the owner. It should help you understand how much they care about dietary restrictions and regular customers. She literally said "if we didn't care we wouldn't have informed you that the dish marked vegetarian on our menu has seafood in it". She also accused me of leaving bad reviews and not meeting their min spend requirement, both of which are absolutely false, and I have receipts to prove it. Anyone can look at the other reviews on my profile, most are positive. I've also left 5 star reviews for their sister restaurant, Pizza Si. At Zoca, we always order one main dish per person which is within their rules. At Pizza Si, since there are more vegetarian options, I always go beyond their min.spend of 600NT per person as well and have only had pleasant encounters with the Italian boss. I had initially left three stars, but I'll change to one after the ridiculous and unapologetic response full of lies from the manager. There are several other fine dining Italian restaurants in Taipei that don't treat vegetarians as second class citizens (A Mano, Gira Pizza, Bencotto, even Pizza Si) - it is recommended to go to these instead.

Vegetarians Beware

I used to like the food here and visit quite often, but their nonchalant attitude towards dietary restrictions has left me with no choice but to leave this review.

We mentioned to the owner that we're ovo-lacto vegetarian, and ordered gnocchi and arrabiata. She reaffirmed that both dishes are indeed vegetarian.

When gnocchi was served, it had several chunks of meat in it. We let the owner know immediately and she responded that they changed their gnocchi recipe recently (despite no change to the menu) and they didn't have a vegetarian version of the dish anymore.

I was surprised that they weren't aware of this change when I was placing the order, but I didn't say anything. I asked to swap the gnocchi with an eggplant parmigiana. They explicitly mark parmigiana as 素 (in green) on their menu. The owner came back after 5 mins and let me know that their parmigiana recipe was updated and now has anchovies so it's not "the kind of vegetarian" we are looking for. I mentioned that it is highlighted in green as 素 on the menu and there is no mention of seafood. She said that some definitions of the term 素 includes seafood. She also mentioned that they haven't updated their menus.

Basically, their recipe changes every three months but they do not update the menu. I can imagine some vegetarian seeing 素 on the menu and ordering parmigiana care-free, and consuming anchovies without a clue about it. People might even be allergic to seafood and accidentally consume anchovies this way. Furthermore, the staff has no clue which dishes are actually vegetarian.

I've only had good experiences at their new restaurant, Pizza Si, in Songshan. I'm surprised to see the nonchalant attitude of the staff and lack of training regarding basic dietary restrictions. Even food stalls in night markets and hole-in-the-wall restaurants have higher awareness than this. The entire experience and attitude of the staff made us vegetarians feel like second class citizens.

I hope they take legitimate steps to address this issue, including updating their menu and training the staff on which dishes are truly ovo-lacto vegetarian. Their menus are factually inaccurate which is not expected from a restaurant with a min.spend of 500 NT per person. They can learn by looking at the menus of other establishments in Taipei. Using symbols to indicate meat and seafood could...

Authentic Italian Pizza with Heart and Flair in Taipei

Nestled in the heart of Taipei, this Italian pizzeria offers a truly authentic taste of Italy with a twist that suits every kind of diner—from traditionalists to adventurous food lovers. The pizzas are made with high-quality ingredients and come in both tomato-based and white sauce options, allowing for a diverse and satisfying menu. Whether you’re craving a classic Margherita or something more distinctive like the God Father topped with roast beef, arugula, and shaved Parmesan, there’s something to excite every palate.

The appetizer selection is equally impressive, ranging from fresh Caprese salad to rich Italian meatballs and flavorful cold cuts. For those seeking something beyond pizza, the menu offers a variety of unique specialties like the Duomo with spicy salami and Gorgonzola or the Saporita with truffle cream and smoked ham—each thoughtfully crafted with balance and boldness.

Beverage options are standard, but the coffee stands out—smooth, fragrant, and expertly brewed. And don’t skip dessert: their weekend-only Mille Foglie is a delicate, flaky masterpiece that’s worth planning your visit around.

Whether you’re dropping in for a casual meal or gathering with friends, this spot delivers a refined yet approachable Italian dining experience in Taipei around TongHua...

Capricciosa Pizza ($480): The anchovies do some tricks but I was expecting lots of luscious olives on top of the pizza. Whilst not as delicious and flavourful as the Capricciosa I had in Australia, it has the greatest Napoli sauce and cheese ever, relatively thin texture and crispy crust. In addition, thank the staff for not putting mushrooms, artichokes, and capers.

Fresh juice ($150): It’s actually just orange juice but tastes slightly better than the regular ones you can see in convenience stores.

I found out this restaurant while watching a video online that the chef here is actually Italian and it’s located near MRT station and the nearest exit is no. 4.

To top it off, I’ve been looking for an authentic and not too expensive Italian restaurant for years and I finally did and visited. The prices for the dishes are generally much higher than average prices for Italian cuisine in Taiwan but the authenticity is the key that Italian chef would deliver the food to your table. The decor is also quite warm, decorative and nice-looking. Overall, it’s a 9.5 out of 10!

FYI, there’s a minimum charge of $500 and 10% service surcharge...