Ducky Restaurant — Restaurant in Zhongzheng District

The place was a small, 24-seated cozy bistro, serving contemporary items with a mix of local and imported ingredients. The atmosphere spoke to us in a welcoming manner,with subtle music humming in the background. As we stepped inside, right away the staff sat us down and poured each of us a glass of warm water, perfect for warming our cold palms on a rainy day in Taipei.

The timing was just right. Just as we finished browsing the menu, a wait staff came to us to take our orders. Within 5 minutes the drinks came, and before 10 minutes the salads were in front of our eyes. The main course came in soon after we done with the entrée, with dessert following after a brief pause.

Although the given time limit was 90 minutes, we were finished with our meal in under an hour, which is about the same time as the average lunch break. 30 minutes is more than enough to unwind from the bustling metropolitan life, to relax and have deep, philosophical conversations, something that is rarer than diamonds these days.

Pricing was very reasonable for the quality of food served; the minimum purchase starts at NTD60 for a cup of coffee or tea, and starters and main courses at NTD360 to NTD680, and snacks averaging around NTD150. We each ordered a main course and opted for the set menu, at an additional NTD200. For that we were each given a glass of beverage, a generous serving of salad, and a plate of dessert.

We chose the pumpkin risotto with Iberico pork and beef Bourguignon with mashed potatoes for our main course, and the Caesar salad and salad niçoise for starters. We also ordered the coffee with cream and rooibos tea.

While the tea was aromatic, deep inside we kind of wanted a side of sugar syrup to bring out more of its flavour. The coffee with cream was an indulgent drink in itself, offering a whiff of sweet cream and the flavours of coffee.

The salads were superb. One could taste the effort of the chef in picking vegetables of the highest qualities. The lettuce gave a pronounced crunch, followed by sweet, sweet cherry tomatoes, before the zingy dressing took us a step forward.

The risotto was creamy, with grains of rice still firm to the bite. The aroma and sweetness of the pumpkin accompanied the savoury pieces of pan fried pork, and the sour cream gave the dish altogether a new life.

The beef Bourguignon was accompanied with a side of roasted baby corn, cauliflower and mashed potatoes. The vegetables were crisp and had pronounced sweetness. There was something different to them that sets them apart from the regular vegetable dishes we had before; they do not have the off-putting ,raw vegetable smell that were commonly associated with them, which was a surprise to us.

The beef was tender, so much so that a spoon is probably sufficient to tear the muscles from the numerous strands of collagen embedded within the meat; yet when ingested, you could still feel the chew and texture of the beef. The flavour of the decadent piece of meat would only be elevated to new heights when eaten together with the mashed potatoes.

And for the mashed potatoes, delicious would be an heavy understatement to how fine and delicate, yet rich, powerful and mind-blowing it was. It packed a serious punch to our sensory experiences, like a fine silk flowing across our palates carrying the finest of qualities; a flash of memories reminiscing all the wonderful memories we had. There was not a single word in the human language that could ever describe how amazingly good they were.

After the eye-opening journey, starting from the warm welcoming drink, elevating to the herbacious salads, reaching a climax at the main course (specifically the mashed potatoes), we finished with a cup of vanilla panna cotta, served with fresh peaches and a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar, a sweet mellow cool down to the heartwarming courses.

For a two-person meal we paid less than NTD1500, and left the premises much more satisfied than going to an all-you-can-eat KBBQ, and for days we were still talking about the experience we had.

Truly an...

Nestled right across the street from two charming old Japanese houses, Ducky Restaurant is all about mixing Taiwanese ingredients with an Italian culinary twist (and maybe a sprinkle of French influence?). The spot is cozy, seating around 15-20 diners, and it's got this Southern small-town vibe going on, especially with its surprisingly early 9 PM closing time – a real head-scratcher. The menu holds its own, but when it comes to main courses, you won't find an extensive selection – you can count them using just one hand. And speaking of counting, the prices might leave you doing some mental math, given the portion sizes. Taste-wise, it's decent, but it won't knock your socks off. Now, here's where it gets interesting: the drinks lineup, especially the beer choices, puts the food options to shame. A bit odd especially since they shut down early – makes you wonder about their strategy. Oh, and when closing time approaches, their eagerness to help you "clean your table" hints that it's time to wrap up. If you're up for a quick solo munch, it fits the bill. But for a full-on hangout with friends and family, it might not...

From the moment I walked in on a Sunday evening, the Ducky staff was accommodating. I did not have a reservation, but despite being fully booked, they were able to seat me dining solo. The staff was very catering and kept my water glass full. I ordered the ceasar salad and the sea urchin risotto. The salad came out quickly, and it was a big portion for an appetizer. Unfortunately, it was a bit bland, but not to worry. The presentation was spot on, and I think with a pinch of salt to the dressing, they may be on to something. Now the risotto. The wait for this was extremely long. I'm talking an additional 30 after eating as much of the salad I could. I'm not sure if they forgot, or if it's bc the perfect risotto really does take a while to make, but with it's robust flavor, I have to say, it was well worth the wait. The scallops were seared to perfection and were truly fresh. I hate I didn't get to finish it because I was full from the water, but that risotto was delicious! I would recommend this place any day. Ducky, thank you for...