"Emily's Shop" Italian Restaurant in Pingtung – Charming European Wooden Decor

▲Sunlight gently streams through the interior. The setup with bar stools allows even solo diners to comfortably watch the bustling crowd outside and enjoy a relaxing meal.

Photos & Text /Shadow

This trip back to Pingtung was to have a meal with some old friends. We chose a small restaurant near Rui Guang Night Market as our gathering spot for the day. However, when we arrived, the unobtrusive signboard caused us to miss it at first — luckily, we spotted it just in time so we didn’t waste too much time. Unexpectedly, Pingtung has an Italian-style restaurant with European flair. Though small and cozy, it was still refreshingly unique.


When I was searching for this place online, many photos posted by other users were not what the shop looks like now — it must have recently been renovated. The European wooden decor instantly gives off a great vibe. If you take away the advertisement banner hanging at the entrance, this building would probably be the most distinctive one in the neighborhood.


I love the texture and feel of the wood — it has this vintage aura. It’s a pity that the bar stools seem newly purchased and their color doesn’t match the tables. But perhaps, from another perspective, the owner is trying to blend nostalgia with modernity, making the blend of old and new a symbol of rebirth.


The long space on the right leads straight to the kitchen. This area can be divided into two parts: the left side, covered with curtains, is a semi-open private booth for about four people. The space is quite tight, and sitting side-by-side, especially for men, feels rather cramped and uncomfortable. The open area on the right features a mix of sofa chairs and wooden chairs by the aisle. Tables can be pushed together depending on the number of guests, offering decent flexibility.

The menu is just an A4 photocopied sheet. The restaurant is currently in its trial sales phase. Orders come with a complimentary drink of your choice. To gear up for the afternoon tea session, they started selling honey toast in October. Meal prices range between NT$200–280, drinks around NT$100, pancakes NT$150–180, and honey toast about NT$240–280.


Emily's Platter / Assorted Meat Sausages – NT$280 (includes vegetables, kiwi, dragon fruit, meat sausages, fries, boiled egg, cake, cheese)

First, let’s talk about the first impression of the platter — we were a bit disappointed. The dish and its portion size don’t match the price. The salad is a mix of various vegetables, but the greens feel dry, as if they’ve lost all moisture from being blown by the wind. The accompanying dressing, a mustard vinaigrette, is sour without any standout character. The cake tastes somewhat like brownie, but is far from an actual good brownie. The cheese has a very mild flavor and leaves room for improvement.


The only praiseworthy item is the four small pieces of meat sausage — their quality is decent, with a nice springy and chewy bite. There are two flavors, though it’s hard to tell exactly which ones. Overall, they’re the best item among everything.

Pesto Shrimp Spaghetti – NT$200. Topped with plenty of cheese and paired with lots of vegetables, shrimp, and shrimp meat, the plate looks quite generous. But like the salad earlier, the veggies again look a bit dry and lacking moisture.


The pasta itself is cooked to perfection and has absorbed the pesto flavor well. With plenty of cheese powder adding taste, even though the sauce is a bit thin, the overall flavor is sufficient. It’s still a pretty decent dish.


Grilled Lobster Soup Crabmeat Penne – NT$250. This dish requires about 20 minutes of waiting time. On top, you see layers of cheese, then vegetables, followed by the lobster meat in the middle, with penne at the bottom. Even before using any utensils, it builds up quite the anticipation.

Using a spoon to explore, you’ll find sliced eggplant and cucumber, then the lobster meat. The penne itself is thick enough to hold onto the sauce. Since it was ordered by a friend, I only had a small bite. The penne had been soaking in the soup for too long, making the texture a bit too soft.


The cheese isn’t overpowering and has a subtle milky aroma. When pulled, it even forms those lovely cheese strings. However, it’s a shame that if the sauce were a bit thicker or the penne cooked for slightly less time, it might have tasted even better.
 

The shop’s signboard outside is not very visible, blocked by a large transformer box. You can directly spot the piggy character wearing a chef’s hat in front of the store.


Pingtung rarely has such small shops with European-style decor. I love the area with the high bar stools by the window. As for the food, there’s still room for improvement. We felt some dishes were overpriced and had minor flaws. To sum up, the ambiance the owner aimed for is there, but the food hasn’t caught up yet. Hopefully, with more effort in refining dishes or adjusting prices, this place could become a uniquely stylish eatery in Pingtung.


[AMELIE Emily's Shop]

Address:No. 236, Huazheng Road, Pingtung City
Phone:08-7388330
Business Hours:Lunch 11:30–13:30, Afternoon Tea 13:30–17:30, Dinner 17:30–20:30 (served until 19:30)
Notes:No service charge. Pets and outside food not allowed.

ShadowSpecializes in introducing local snacks from Kaohsiung and Pingtung. Hopes to find more food buddies through sharing. Also welcome everyone to share their hidden snack gems on the “Foodies’ Wall” by leaving the address, shop name, and recommended dishes. Food reviews will be shared soon！

==============================================
Kaohsiung Food Adventure Blog　Kaohsiung Food Lovers' FB Fan Page