西西里義式餐酒館 — Restaurant in Taichung

It was serendipity that I found this place and went out of my way to visit, and I’m really glad I did. A restaurant like this is a rarity and a treasure most anywhere, but particularly in Taiwan. The chef-proprietor Dario and server Ken were both very friendly and I was lucky enough to get to have some extended conversations with both of them.

The food — and the restaurant itself —reflected a singular passion for sharing cuisine, a topic often very personal. Even though I am not Italian, the experience gave me a touch of home from so far away.

For the appetizer, as everybody raves, the fresh burrata was a big highlight: fresh, creamy, almost sensual, as burrata is. For the main, the beef lasagna was delicious, made from a different recipe (“from nonna”) that was not as heavy as lasagna typically tends to be; paired well with the recommended wine (Feudo Montoni Nero D'Avola Lagnusa, I believe). And for dessert, sadly no cannoli, but the special was pandoro with gelato, which hit me in my Christmas-season panettone feels; however, I could’ve done with a little more gelato-to-bread ratio (even if it meant less pandoro) and some more chocolate chips.

In terms of things to know beforehand, seating is a bit limited, so it is recommended to make a reservation. It is also a bit pricier, but that is to be expected to have such an authentic experience in Taiwan (so many ingredients must be specially imported); make sure to have enough...

Restaurant: 西西里

Finally I found an authentic Italian restaurant in Taiwan and this restaurant became one of my best restaurants in Taiwan.

FOOD: My friend and I ordered:

1. Fresh Burrata Cheese: So fresh and the sauce with come with the cheese matches perfectly.
2. Cipollina: The texture of the pasta was amazing. Every bite was a pleasure.
3. Raviolli with Spinach and Ricotta: We can fell the flavour of the cheese and the spinach in our mouth. Perfect.
4. Lasagna: The pasta and ingredients all fresh. And it was cooked perfectly.
5. Fillet with Truffle Sauce: The meat is really thick, soft and tender (We ordered more rare)and the sauce was extremely yummy and thick. You can choose French Fries or Salad as a side.
6. Tiramisu: We can taste a lot of coffee flavour.

MENU: It was everything written in Chinese and English. And many pictures. There are things in the menu, such as panini, other pastas and appetizers (Arancini). Some of the dishes take a while to be done, for example, the Cipollina which needs 30 minutes and the Lasagna is advisable to book.

SERVICE: The chef and all the staffs are kind. They explain all the dishes and give us suggestions.

PRICE: 4,111 NTD 兩位。

EXTRA POINT:

1. The restaurant is tiny in order to keep the quality. So booking is a must and they charge 500NTD which will be discounted in your bill.

For sure I will return!

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The Tomato, cheese and olive oil make up the soul of the food! These humble dishes conceal lots of delicate and interesting flavors that I’ve never tasted before; that local Taiwanese ingredients cannot offer. I tasted hints of ‘hay’ from the Mozzarella and complex fermented flavors from the Parmesan. Olive oil is so well used that brings out the earthiness and sweetness of the eggplant. And the Tomato Sause… don’t know what Dario did, but it’s magic.

This is not a place for someone who wants heavy, salty or bold flavors, but rather for individuals who have sensitive taste buds and can appreciate the primal quality of ingredients cooked with care, which can deliver complex layers of subtle surprises.

Food aside, the vibe of the restaurant is cozy and comfy. Dario was very welcoming and shared lots of stories with us, even we were only there for the first time. Will definitely go back again and try everything else...