The Wizard of Oz fairy-tale style restaurant also serves sirloin steak that rivals that of high-end hotels

Text & Photos /GUI Xiaosun

Cherry Greenfield: No. 19, Lane 149, Section 1, Meicun Road, Taichung City ＼ (04) 2326-1028 ＼ facebook

QINMEI Cao Wudao is basically our own turf now!! XD On holidays, if there’s nowhere special to go, we’ll usually swing by here at least once~ I really love the atmosphere here, so laid-back, and the huge grassy area of Civic Square!! I love seeing all the little pets and the enthusiastic people around!! So I always keep an eye out for new shops opening here!! This place ‘Cherry Greenfield’—I’m sure anyone familiar with the area knows it well~ The spot used to be a coffee shop before!! Recently this ‘Cherry Greenfield’ opened up, so we had to come check it out!! Right at the entrance you can see they serve pasta!! Basically, any kind of pasta, we’re game to try XD If we like it, it’s going straight on our regular list, because both my friends and my senior pals love it~

And the result? It was even better than we imagined!! Especially the pasta—I’d say it’s even tastier than the one at VAPIANO nearby XD The highlight? The ‘sirloin steak’ brought back memories of the taste we had at the Fleur de Chine Hotel in Kaohsiung!! And the pancakes are an absolute favorite among the girls~ I also took special note of the space—it’s really suitable for families and parent-child groups!! The space is spacious, the lighting is great, and the service is super nice!! We really can’t help but recommend it~ ^~^

‘Cherry Greenfield’ is located inside the Cao Wudao QINMEI Eslite VAOLIANO area, in a building painted snow white with wooden trim—looks super cozy!! Perfect for a relaxing holiday meal vibe~ There are also planters on the outside corridor, and the greenery looks especially warm in the sunlight... A few oil lamps make me think it would be quite romantic when lit up at night.

Heading into the first floor of ‘Cherry Greenfield’, the lighting is really pleasant!! Plus, the walls use a wood grain design, giving the whole place a classy, elegant feel~ You can sense the lively atmosphere of family groups of four or more right from the first floor!! I remember it was only about 11 o’clock when we got there~ so we couldn’t even grab a seat on the first floor, time to head upstairs Up!! XD

They also provide kids’ chairs here!! Although ‘Cherry Greenfield’ doesn’t have a play area for children, it still feels like a very family-friendly space ^~^ Recently, quite a few netizens have been asking me for parent-child restaurant options along Cao Wudao, and I think ‘Cherry Greenfield’ should definitely be on the list.

Going up to the second floor, the space feels more than double the size of the first? Twice as big?? Lucky we came to eat around 11!! Otherwise, we might’ve had to wait even for a seat on the second floor~ Because by the time we finished eating around 12, people were really starting to pour in!! (which just goes to show how late Taichung folks tend to start their holidays XD

We really love the space on the second floor—it’s even more expansive than the first, and thanks to the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the lighting is even more pleasant and natural~ Especially sitting by the window, maybe the weather’s quite hot!! But I’m still captivated by the view from the balcony with those high stools.

‘Cherry Greenfield’ has a Wizard of Oz fairy-tale vibe!! Which also makes me feel this cute look is perfect for a parent-child restaurant~ The menu is adorable, and the variety of dishes is surprisingly diverse!! From pasta, risotto, steak sets, to afternoon tea with pancakes, coffee, and more!! And the drinks are so yummy and pretty too!! There’s even Belgian beer~~~~ completely hitting the spot for when I want a little drink on a hot day XD

That day, with my senior friend, we ordered Mediterranean Fisherman’s Seafood Squid Ink Pasta, Squid Ink Seafood Risotto, Sirloin Steak~ and finished with their Strawberry Pancake set!! We ate to our heart’s content~ By the way, my senior friend really knows how to eat for her age!! XD Also, since the sirloin steak comes as a set, we just added an extra portion of pasta separately (+165), which I thought was a great deal~ Especially seeing the final dessert trio!! XD

The two of us adults also asked the server to recommend a couple of Belgian beers, because ever since attending a wine tasting event, I’ve really taken a liking to Belgian beer!! And since each place has different selections, you get to try lots of unique flavors~ Like banana-flavored, peach-flavored, super fitting for summer!! XD

● 《ETtoday Eastday News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive after drinking.

In the end, we went with the peach-flavored one and another bottle of Augustijn~~ Paired with our pasta and steak, it was such a treat!! Remember to drink the beer while it’s ice cold—that’s when it’s the most fun XD

Let’s talk about something important first!! I personally think the steak sets at ‘Cherry Greenfield’ are top-notch~~ An Australian grain-fed sirloin steak for over 600 NT, and from the salad, warm appetizer, spiral puff pastry seafood soup, bread, dessert, drink... it’s enough to stuff you silly!! And every single dish’s level of detail and quality totally met our expectations!! You’d definitely feel good about treating friends or guests here~~ Like this salad that comes with the steak—topped with smoked chicken... the meat is tender without being dry, and the complimentary bread is generous, plus the homemade tuna spread—totally worthy of a thumbs-up!!

Then for the regular set meal (additional +165), you can choose your soup—I went with Italian Tomato Vegetable Soup~~ The sweet and sour taste of tomato is super appetizing!! And the tomatoes aren’t diced tiny—you can actually chew them and taste their freshness and texture, super yummy!!

For drinks, one of us got black tea, the other upgraded to fruit tea!! Have you seen how charming this fruit tea is?! Whether looking at the cup itself or peeking in from above at all the fruit inside~~ like the grapefruit’s reddish-orange paired with chia seeds, apple, kumquat—the sweet and sour taste of fresh fruit is just perfect for the hot midday weather!! XD

Is this the warm appetizer that comes with the steak? (forgot what it’s called XD) The slice of meat in the middle is a New Orleans-style chicken roll!! And it’s seriously delicious~ Warm and comforting alongside the veggies, it warms up the stomach nicely again!! Next up, my Mediterranean Fisherman’s Seafood Squid Ink Pasta!! I could honestly come back again and again and AGAIN for this pasta!! XD

First off, this Mediterranean Fisherman’s Seafood Squid Ink Pasta doesn’t actually have squid ink in the sauce!! So you only see the blackness from the squid noodles, but it won’t turn your mouth black~ And because it’s stir-fried, it has our favorite garlic and chili, and the noodles are Q (chewy), slightly thicker than usual!! So it’s super satisfying to bite into~

Also, the fresh seafood is the real highlight!! Since my friend only eats super fresh seafood—she can’t handle anything with even a slight off taste XD So she found this dish super fresh!! She ate plenty of squid, shrimp~~ and even the scallops were super Q!! And I think it might be the first time I’ve seen such pretty shells plated like that!!

I’m so happy my senior friend loves seafood just as much as I do!! XD (though she won’t touch clams, not sure what trauma they gave her~~ This squid ink seafood risotto is hers!! She’s also a total rice lover!! The moment it arrived, the sweet aroma of seafood wafted over—even though it looked pitch black—not the most photogenic!! But the seafood inside is almost identical to what I got!! With the squid ink melting between the grains of rice, one bite and it’s really fragrant and delicious!! Watching her with her mouth all black was pretty funny XD

Friend’s steak set also came with spiral puff pastry seafood soup—let’s give it a shoutout!! It’s got that spiral-shaped pastry crust—we tore off a few bites first~ the crust is so fragrant, crispy, and oh-so-naughty!! Then we dipped it into the soup!! And the soup is packed with ingredients too—just look at the huge chunks of squid!! Super satisfying~　

And then the star of the show arrives!! The Australian Grain-fed Sirloin Steak!! There’s just something about the aroma of beef that keeps steak lovers hooked forever~ The moment it arrived, we quickly snapped photos and notes~ that marbled, grained sirloin!! Just looking at it made our mouths water~~ We immediately started slicing and digging in, and the first bite sent sparks flying in our brains—‘what is this, it’s SO GOOD’!! It reminded us of the feast we had at the Fleur de Chine Hotel in Kaohsiung—this sirloin is AMAZING!!

See that perfectly pink cross-section?! That was the only part where we managed to keep it neat for the photo!! Because after that, the three of us just couldn’t stop sharing the steak XD (Note: my senior friend is also a total steak and meat fanatic haha!!

That marbled, grained sirloin—every bite is so pure... We basically didn’t use any sauce, preferred to enjoy the pure flavor, just adding a bit of sea salt!! Totally immersed in the most original taste of beef.

We also ordered the Strawberry Pancake set for dessert~ Because the little one goes absolutely crazy for strawberries!! Plus, the pancake can be upgraded to a set for 130 NT—you get salad, fries, and a 90 NT drink (key point: she LOVES fries!! So we just upgraded to the set to satisfy her fry obsession!! XD And we adults also liked having a bit more salad and greens, so sharing like this worked out great!! The more people, the more variety you get to try~　

I think this plate of strawberry pancakes would brighten up ANY table it’s served on!! XD The plating—from the color of the plate, the upright strawberries, to the dollop of cream and strawberry pile on the rim, plus a scoop of ice cream—is just a girl’s dream!! You’d definitely stop to take photos before even taking a bite!! Even I was clapping for those ‘upright strawberries’!! So pretty!!

Drizzled with berry sauce, sweet and tangy on top of the ice cream and waffles—this waffle is just how I like it: crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I’m not a big fan of waffles that are all soft—I guess the ones I grew up eating always had that crispy exterior, XD so if it’s all soft, I tend to categorize it as some other kind of dessert. And because it’s crispy outside and soft inside, when you pick it up with one hand and take a bite, you’ll notice the rich layers of texture. From the sweet-tartness of the strawberries on top, the richness of the cream, to the crunch and warmth of the waffle—it’s soft, crispy, smooth, and bursting with sweet and sour flavors all at once.

Then there’s the dessert trio (+165) in the set meal. The moment it was served, it caught our eye—because within those three modest little circles were completely different treats—chocolate brownie, cheesecake, and ice cream. Simple presentation, but truly memorable. We especially loved the chocolate brownie—warm, not overly sweet, with a crispy top layer and warm cake inside. So delicious. And the cheesecake didn’t disappoint either—not too sweet, with a light dairy flavor... plus a hint of caramel that just makes it even better.

I’ve always loved Qianmei Caowudao. I love the relaxed vibe here, whether it’s a weeknight or a holiday. I make it a habit to come here for a stroll in the evenings when I have nothing else going on. It helps ease the fatigue from a long day of work and gets me moving a bit. I also love the abundance of great food here, which makes it a favorite spot for us to visit often during holidays and enjoy our leisure time.

We really fell in love with this place, ‘Cherry Greenfield’. We’re planning to update the [Taichung Qianmei Caowudao Area Food Guide] soon, and we definitely need to include ‘Cherry Greenfield’ in it. It’s a spot well worth recommending to more friends visiting Taichung. ^^

[Enjoy life, don’t let it get boring. By Xiao Sun]