Even the mafia loves this flavor！ Crispy Sicilian cheese rolls at Tianmu’s Italian restaurant

Text and photos byBurnt-Out Nurse

Vicolo Trattoria, a small Italian eatery in Tianmu that has been open for less than a year, is a relatively new addition to the area. Despite its short time in operation, the dishes prepared by the skilled owner showcase the freshness of the ingredients, resulting in an outstanding flavor. While the restaurant focuses on Italian and European cuisines, every dish is delicious. However, the real stars are the Italian desserts—both the crispy Sicilian cheese rolls and tiramisu come highly recommended, making it a place that tempts you to indulge in sweets.

The restaurant’s name “Vicolo” (meaning “alley” in Italian) reflects its location in a lane along Zhongcheng Road.

Owner Chef Wu opened the restaurant in March last year (2016). With 13 years of culinary experience, he initially specialized in Chinese cuisine. However, his passion for Italian food led him to train under an Italian chef for 5-6 years, immersing himself in Italian cooking techniques and culture. After traveling to Italy, he fell even more in love with the cuisine. Now, with his own restaurant, he not only wants to share his love for Italian food but also to change the misconception that Italian cuisine is just about pasta. He aims to introduce more people to the richness of Italian culinary traditions through his skills.

A unique aspect of the restaurant is its refusal to offer set menus. Chef Wu believes every individual dish deserves respect and recognition—not as a side, but as a star in its own right. He insists on using high-quality ingredients, trusting that they will deliver exceptional flavor. He strives to present each dish in its most authentic and delicious form, even if it means educating customers about the true optimal state of certain foods, such as when they might mistake undercooked for perfectly prepared.

The ambiance inside is perfect for a casual gathering of close friends over drinks. The photos on the walls were all taken by Chef Wu during his travels in Italy.

Checking the menu reveals that prices are not as high as one might expect, making it affordable for the average diner. And if your meal here leads to a successful marriage proposal, it’s definitely worth it.

Let’s start with an appetizer.Roman-style braised beef tripe—this dish looks incredibly refined for an appetizer. Fans of beef tripe must try it. The tripe is tender and flavorful, paired with crispy bread, creating a taste that gets more appetizing with every bite.

Italian chicken liver pâté with ciabatta—another appetizer. At first bite, you might not even realize it’s chicken liver pâté, as it tastes quite good overall. Only later does the distinct liver flavor emerge. But the pickled cucumbers on the bread play a perfect supporting role, skillfully balancing the liver’s strong taste.

This next appetizer looks incredibly luxurious—grilled polenta with salted cod. The cod’s unique saltiness pairs with the polenta’s slightly cake-like texture, creating a delightful contrast between moist and firm. But be warned: those who dislike salted cod should probably skip this one.

Slow-cooked tenderloin with Piedmont tuna sauce—by now, you must be thinking every dish here is exquisitely prepared. No wonder even the picky doctors from the hospital highly recommend this place before I came.

Quinoa chicken and vegetable salad—the chicken portion here is outrageously generous. At first glance, you might even mistake it for a whole drunken chicken. It’s the first time I’ve had a salad where the chicken steals the show, but honestly, it’s delicious.

Tomato and mozzarella risotto with Italian chicken rolls(can be made vegetarian with eggs and dairy). The risotto, made with Italian rice, has an naturally excellent texture. Then, the generous portion of chicken makes another appearance. Dining here is truly satisfying.

Balsamic vinegar and smoked duck breast tagliolini(can be made vegetarian with eggs and dairy). I was initially going to skip this dish since I’d already photographed “The Prostitute” pasta at another place, but the smoked duck breast tagliolini turned out to be so heavenly delicious that I couldn’t help but want to try “The Prostitute” as well.

Eating pasta here is amazing. Today, I had the“The Prostitute” pasta—its sauce, packed with anchovies and seafood, along with the hidden little octopus inside, delivers a savory umami in every bite that’s unforgettable.

ThisClam and cuttlefish risotto, it was such an eye-catcher as soon as it was served on the table！ Three beautifully seared scallops, and the risotto soaked in cuttlefish sauce — even though our mouths were coated in ink afterward, this deliciousness just made us keep eating bite after bite～

Grilled Iberian pork chop with apple sweet-sour sauce, we stared at this pink pork for quite a while before finally taking a skeptical bite. My goodness～ the Iberian pork was incredibly tasty, completely changing our belief that pork must be fully cooked. Paired with the sweet-sour sauce, it was absolutely amazing. It turns out the chef offers the perfect level of doneness to truly savor the flavors. It totally changed our perspective.

Sicilian crispy cheese rolls, during dessert time, trying this chocolate-wrapped cheese roll with hints of lemon freshness was surprisingly delightful. We wanted another one to really enjoy it, but when we looked up—gone！ This treat was truly unforgettable. Who knew there was a dessert like this！

If you watch series, you might know these are the Cannoli Sicilian cheese rolls loved by the mobsters in the movie “The Godfather”. Even the mafia loves this flavor, which shows just how good it is. There’s a reason why we picked this as the cover after staying up all night. After all, there aren’t many desserts we love this much.

Classic tiramisu, the wine flavor is so intense it’s truly unforgettable, and it’s the kind of dessert you want to lick the plate clean. There are many places that make tiramisu, but the one at Weilane (微巷) is a must-try.

Weilane’sLemon tartwasn’t as sour as expected, but instead had a slightly sweet taste. For those who were hoping for something more acidic, there might have been a bit of a letdown, but overall it was still a nicely made dessert.

Weilane not only serves refined appetizers, but also main courses that are a feast for the taste buds, not to mention the classic desserts that are all memorable. If you’re a group of female friends looking for a different kind of gathering meal, we highly recommend coming to Weilane. It definitely won’t disappoint～

Vicolo Trattoria 微巷 'Italian bistro
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Location: No. 15, Lane 166, Section 2, Zhongcheng Road, Shilin District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2872-7202
Business hours: 11:30–14:30, 17:30–21:30 (Closed Mondays)

We are the workaholic nurses “Rice Ball” & “Bowl” and we came here for a relaxing meal. We want to share with everyone the unique atmosphere, mood, local stories, and food of this area, which left us with unforgettable memories. We hope the heartfelt introduction can give our friends a taste of the charm of this place.
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