Haricot

Address: Lane 233, Section 1, Dūnhuà South Road, Daan District
Telephone: (02) 2773-7111
Hours: 10am to 10pm, days not listed
Price: $$

On beautiful sunny days, I really just want to find a nice cafe with outdoor seating and read. In Taipei, that's more difficult than one would imagine. Many a Taiwanese eatery lacks outdoor seating; those with outdoor seating have only one or two tables (and nine times out of ten, those tables are already occupied). So, more often than not, I find myself back at Haricot, enjoying their outdoor seating area all to myself.

Settling in to my usual table outdoors, the waitress brings me the menu, but asks if I want my usual (the smoked salmon panini for $240 NT). Sure, why not? Disappearing to get my usual glass of ice water, she leaves the drink menu, in case I deviate from my pattern. Nope.

As the breeze picks up, I can't help but wonder why outdoor dining isn't more of a thing here. There are entire months in Taiwan when the weather is absolutely perfect. Temperature, humidity, wind speed; everything perfect. My smoked salmon panini arrives with a side of french fries and a salad.

The  salad is quite good. A lot of iceberg lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, and some cabbage. There aren't any tomatoes or other assorted fruits and vegetables, but I'm not too picky in this regard. There is a light balsamic dressing drizzled on top which I thoroughly enjoy ... until I see all the oil at the bottom of the plate. Then I feel slightly guilty.

The panini itself is made of toasted wheat bread and consists of iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion, salmon, capers, and very light cream cheese (so light as to be almost imperceptible). This sandwich tastes as healthy as it looks. Finally! I can eat something in Taipei and not agonize over the calorie content! I absolutely love this panini (though the bread isn't what I would typically recognize as "panini bread") and it's obvious to me why this is my "usual". 

The french fries are perfectly cooked, as referenced in my last Haricot review, and the ketchup rendered superfluous. Some things never change, and these french fries are reason alone to visit and return to this Dunhua eatery. 

Dining at Haricot previously, I have received several glasses of tea on the house. On this particular occasion, I received a water "upgrade". The staff is so nice here and the owner always makes a point to talk to me and ask me how everything in my life is going. I believe that Haricot is to Taipei what Cheers is to Boston sans alcohol. My bill came to $264 NT with the 10% service charge, and I promise that next time, I'll step out of my comfort zone and eat something else.... Maybe the ham and cheese panini.

Elephant Cafe

Address: No. 1號, Lane 238, Section 1, Dūnhuà South Road, Daan District  Taipei City, 106
Telephone: (02) 8771-8370
Hours: Mon - Fri 12pm to 10pm, Sat - Sun 11am to 10pm
Price: $$

  This week I'm back in the Dunhua area and I'm switching things up a little bit by trying a friend's recommendation: Elephant Cafe. This time last year I was in Edinburgh's Elephant Cafe (shoulda done a review ...) and it didn't disappoint, so I hope this is a trend. Behind the Dunhua Sogo, this little cafe is tucked away in Lane 238 (don't blink or you might miss it!). 

With it's sliding glass doors, the restaurant can capitalize on the wonderful weather and the comfortable indoor seating. Though there isn't much in the way of outdoor seating, there are several tables and chairs (some are secluded from the street by huge potted plants) and an adorable little bar area. It's difficult to see in the picture below, but the outdoor bar looks out onto the street and offers about seven seats.

I loved the atmosphere in Elephant Cafe! I was immediately reminded of Cafeteria on Boston's Newbury Street and was quite pleased with the remarkable resemblance. Atmosphere aside, the menu offers a variety of beverage options including the basic Taiwan fare (coffee, tea) and the classic American fare (milkshakes, sodas). The variety of food on the menu isn't as great, but the prices are reasonable for the Dunhua area. Nachos, french fries, and other snack items are on the menu for less than $100 NT.

There are several brunch items on the menu including egg salad, tuna, and BLT sandwiches. For an extra $20 NT, you can substitute the toast for a bagel. I ordered the BLT sandwich ($180 NT, includes either tea or coffee), and was pleasantly surprised by a side order of tortilla chips AND french fries! The french fries were perfectly cooked; crispy on the outside, soft and potato-y (or is it potato-esque?) on the inside. While the french fries tasted homemade, the tortilla chips came straight from a bag, but hey, this is Taiwan. Homemade tortilla chips are definitely not what this island is known for.

The sandwich itself was delicious. I can't fault it for anything. While the "B" in the BLT wasn't the typical American-style cooked bacon, it was pork nonetheless and I actually enjoyed this modified version. There was a whole head of "L", but not really much "T". If you're craving a traditional American BLT this is not the place, but I highly recommend it if you want the next best thing. 

The menu is in Chinese and English and the staff speak both. Unfortunately, there's a 10% service charge. For most people this isn't a problem, but for those of you used to Taipei's "No tips, no tax" in most restaurants, this can come as slight shock. In addition, the beverage menu is extensive and for good reason! The drinks are delicious and if you order a meal that comes with coffee or tea, you can substitute your complementary beverage with a beverage of your choosing. Just subtract $50 NT from the cost of the other beverage. Last but not least, Elephant Cafe has a "No Outside Food or Drink" policy that I haven't really seen at many other restaurants. Not sure how heavily enforced this is.

To get a better idea of Elephant Cafe's location, please visit their Facebook page.