The new Er Lou Neihu branch has just launched!* Limited-edition menu items you can't find anywhere else

Text & Photos /Old K

We had actually planned to visit Er Lou Restaurant^ early February, but due to some unexpected travel plans (and sheer bad luck, XD)  so we ended up putting it off until the 228 Holiday long weekend!*

The new Er Lou Restaurant Neihu Branch 2 is located where the former Er Fo Restaurant^ used to be (Er Lou’s new brand).  It’s possible that due to its lower price points and no time limit on dining, it had to cease operations, and so the new Er Lou Restaurant Neihu Branch 2 opened at the end of January.

Just like the previous Er Fo Café, this location also sells bread. On weekdays, the bakery section opens at 8 AM, so quite a few people from the nearby business park come here to grab breakfast. We had reserved a spot for 8 AM, but ended up leaving a bit late and arrived at 8:30 AM XD  There's a two-hour dining limit here, so we could only stay until 10 AM.

Aside from bread, they also sell cakes on the other side of the counter!*

Walking further inside leads you to the dining area, which has quite spacious seating — it feels really comfortable.

The window seats and corner tables have power outlets, so if you need one, remember to let the staff know when making a reservation.

I’ve eaten at Er Lou Restaurant before in Gongguan, so what’s different about the Neihu Branch 2? In addition to the regular MENU on the left, the MENU on the right features exclusive items available only at the Neihu Branch 2. So if you're looking to try something different from other branches, this is the place to come!*

Actually, the regular Er Lou menu is already quite diverse. My friend was practically dazzled by the choices XD  In the end, we asked the staff for recommendations — their service is really top-notch, by the way!*

These next three pages are the exclusive dishes for the Neihu Branch 2. Old K naturally went for those. I picked the most unique-looking one: the Pizza Stack series – Red Tomato, Bacon & Pesto flavor. Since the pizza only has six slices,  I was worried I wouldn’t get full, so I paid an extra 120 NTD to upgrade to a set meal. The upgrade includes: choose one between salad or soup (I chose soup), one handmade bread (refillable), and a drink (I opted for a refillable cola). My friend chose a dish from the regular menu: Water-Poached Crabmeat & Ham Mashed Potatoes. There were two drink options: the first was a choice among milk, tomorrow leaf juice, and fresh fruit juice; the second matched my choice, but she went with a hot Americano.

The side salad (included in the set meal). There are several sauces to choose from. I went with the rye wine vinegar dressing — the sweet-and-sour flavor paired wonderfully with the fresh greens, making it quite appetizing!*

The ciabatta bread (included in the set meal). This one’s rosemary and olive flavor. The rosemary aroma is very strong, and the bread is freshly baked, so it’s nice and crispy outside with a soft inside. It’s delicious dipped in oil and vinegar dressing. After eating, the staff even asked if we wanted a refill, but since the main courses hadn’t arrived yet, we decided to wait and see.*

Here come all three drinks!* The drink on the far right in the metal cup is my cola — no need to explain that one, lovers of cola know what’s up XD  The one on the far left is a mixed fruit juice, and it’s quite flavorful too!* Not bad at all. In the middle is a hot Americano with a small cup of fresh milk. I tried a sip of the Americano — super bitter (thank goodness I picked cola).* My friend said it’s much better with milk added (but still bitter XD).

Red Tomato, Bacon & Pesto Flavor (220 NTD)
Here comes my pizza!* Even though it’s only six slices, they’re pretty thick, and the two-layer crust was something I’d never had before — the cheese was super tempting!*

The pizza crust is nice and crispy, kind of like eating a cracker. The cheese flavor is extremely rich, while the pesto is a bit more subtle. The fresh tomatoes help keep the pizza from being too dry. You only really taste the bacon at the end of the crust, but I found it a bit too salty and greasy. By the second slice, I was already struggling. Though the flavor is unique, it’s a bit heavy — probably better shared among several people.

Water-Poached Crabmeat & Ham Mashed Potatoes (290 NTD)
This is what my friend ordered. She chose honey mustard sauce for her salad — it was a bit too sweet. The rye wine vinegar dressing is better.*

Both of us thought the bread was a bit dry. The ciabatta was much tastier.*

When you cut into the poached egg gently and mix it with the mashed potatoes, crabmeat, and ham beneath, it’s actually quite delicious!* But like my pizza, it’s on the heavier side — almost has a satay-like taste.*

The bacon is also quite salty. Halfway through, my sister also showed up. Since both of us had ordered heavy-flavored dishes, she went with a salad and upgraded to a set meal as well.

Soup (included in the set meal)
I didn’t try the soup, but my sister said it was pretty good.

Guam Sweet Fruit Salad (300 NTD)
This salad comes in a pretty big portion (though at this price, it should be XD). This one’s also exclusive to the Neihu Branch 2. I thought that big chunk on top was a cookie, but it turned out to be a huge piece of Parmesan cheese!*

Just press it down gently with a fork.*

And then it turns into this!* The fruits include guava, grapes, strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, and more. Compared to what we ordered, this one’s much lighter and fresher!* Everyone said it tasted good, but because it’s served with an orange yogurt dressing, I wasn’t a huge fan XD.

Mei Ji noticed a promotional offer from Cathay United Bank on the table — spend over NT$1,000 on card and get a complimentary single specialty drink.

She checked the bill and saw it had exceeded NT$1,000, so she quickly asked the staff about it.

Plum Goodness (NT$150)
It’s just soda with plum juice XD — sweet and sour with bubbles, perfect for cutting through the richness, though the plum flavor could be a bit stronger.


K’s Little Tips: Considering the price and portion size, it’s quite reasonable. Noticed several tables taking leftovers home XD. For those with bigger appetites, it’s highly recommended to add a set meal — the bread refills are a great deal. As for the dishes, we happened to order ones with bacon, which were a bit too salty for our taste. The pizza was unique but a bit too rich for one person; it’s better for sharing, just one or two slices per person. They really have a wide variety of dishes, some only available after 10 PM. Will definitely come back to try other items. If you plan to dine here, remember to make a reservation！


K’s Personal Rating (out of 10, higher is better)

Taste: 7.7
Value for Money: 6
Dining Environment: 8
Price: 6

Official Website:http://www.secondfloorcafe.com/index.jsp
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/2floor?fref=ts
Neihu Branch 2 (for other branch info please refer to the official website)
Address: No. 300, Section 1, Neihu Road, Neihu District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2799-7922
Business Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00
Saturday to Sunday 8:00–22:00
 

Old K
Keep the eating relay going, Old K！

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