Popular Italian Restaurant in the East District: A Refined Feast of Pan-Seared Lamb Chops and Tiramisu

Text & Photos /San Gao Chi Han

There are really quite a few restaurants in the East District that make you want to check them out. I booked this fairly popular Italian restaurant two weeks in advance. Upon arrival, we were immediately seated at a cozy window table for two, "escaping the hustle and bustle" is always nice.

The place is very busy. In addition to the regular menu, you can also check the blackboard inside for what’s freshly available. (The menu is at the end of the article.) I wasn’t particularly hungry tonight, so I ordered one of each: burrata cheese (from the blackboard), handmade pappardelle with duck ragu, pan-seared lamb chops, and tiramisu. Then came a relaxing dinner — a lovely evening on a holiday like this is easy to be content with...

Served with greens (the olive oil is fragrant), marinated olives, peeled sweet peppers, and grilled vegetables. The burrata has a firm exterior and moist interior, with unexpectedly delicate layers of silky texture. The milky flavor is fresh and clean. The vegetables are not only slightly charred but also very juicy — I especially liked the pumpkin on the side.

The pasta has a firm bite on the outside, with a slight chewy crispness in the center that gets smoother as you eat. I really enjoy this texture. The duck ragu is rich in flavor, though it didn’t particularly suit my taste — maybe I should’ve tried a different sauce. But I do think the pasta itself is great.

The dish comes as six small chops — pretty happy with the portion for the price. When cut open, they were slightly more well-done than I expected, but the first bite gave me exactly the texture I wanted. The savory, meaty juices created a pleasantly rich and flavorful bite. Just a bit more tenderness would’ve made it perfect. The smooth mashed potatoes underneath were coated in meat drippings, and paired wonderfully with the caramelized onion slices.

This is the best tiramisu I’ve had so far (though I haven’t had many, haha~). The excellent balance between richness and creaminess is hard to put into words. I didn’t really taste any alcohol, but the cheese flavor was fantastic. That said, I don’t usually eat a lot of sweets, so it was a bit too sweet for me — I could only manage about half.

The total for two people was around NT$2,100. Sitting by the window, watching the people come and go, occasionally someone would glance into the restaurant as they walked by. Still, it’s best to book early if you want a table.

Botega del Vin Taipei
No. 7, Lane 17, Alley 170, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Business Hours: 11:30 – 14:00, 17:30 – 22:00 (Closed on Sundays, closed on Monday lunch)
Tel: (02)2752-5330

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