Italian-style gastropubs tucked in Taipei’s alleys serve authentic Sicilian wraps

Text & Photos /Purple Smile

Though I’ve never been to Italy, I’ve had plenty of pasta!! Italian restaurants in Taiwan are no strangers to me at all. The usual way to order is pretty much about the sauce: red sauce, white sauce, sautéed, pesto, black sauce~ Among friends’ gatherings, Italian restaurants are the most frequently chosen spots. Among the foreign restaurants in Taiwan, they appear just as often as Korean ones. That said—Taiwanese people really know their food!! Good taste is what matters most~!!

Honestly—if it weren’t for someone leading the way, I’d never have known such an unexpectedly amazing hidden gem existed in the alleys near Zhongshan MRT Station!! (P.S.—the owner isn’t just friendly but also has great personal charm~!) Hey… the focus is the food!! Thanks to the owner’s introduction, I learned that the ingredients used here are genuinely top-notch—only safe-certified domestic and imported high-quality ingredients are selected. As the old saying goes: ‘When a restaurant values its ingredients, you can enjoy them with more peace of mind.’ Health and flavor in one—that’s smart consumption!!

The WOW hidden in the alleyway—when you look in from the outside, the warm ambiance under the lighting is incredibly strong.

The interior design style is simple, yet it doesn’t lose the grandeur of an Italian restaurant.

Even the simple decor feels impactful.

The atmosphere inside the restaurant is fantastic!! It’s also a great spot for a confession.

FERRARELLE Natural Mineral Sparkling Water $90 / 750mlIts bubbly texture is completely different from still water, and it’s commonly seen in many upscale restaurants!!

Recommended by the ownerIrish Magner’s Berry Brew $150 / 330ml (Alcohol content 4.5%). Since we’re at a gastropub today, skipping drinks is out of the question!! (Secretly thrilled) It’s rare to relax, so no need to be too uptight!! At first glance at the bottle, I was a bit shocked because I didn’t order beer?? Turns out berry brew comes in such a cute package, almost like beer!! The first sip was a huge surprise—I think girls will absolutely love this one, and it has a bubbly feel too!!

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Minors should not drink alcohol. / Don’t drink and drive.

Irish Magner’s Apple Cider $150 / 330ml (Alcohol content 4.5%), This one is also super 'delicious'~ The apple aroma combined with the bubbly texture doesn’t feel like alcohol at all!! Smooth and easy to drink.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Minors should not drink alcohol. / Don’t drink and drive.

I want more—please pour a little more~

Honey Rye BreadThis really deserves a mention. I’m usually not a bread person, but after taking a bite, I thought—thank goodness I did. It has a great chewy texture, and as you chew, the honey and wheat aroma spread in your mouth. Just the complimentary bread is this good, which makes me even more excited for the upcoming dishes (the nice owner, seeing how much we enjoyed it, even offered to give us a few more slices. I had to politely refuse… because I want to save room for the next courses, haha!)

French Smoked Salmon Mustard Seed Salad $230Featuring the unique aroma of smoked salmon, along with arugula, mixed greens, prosciutto, assorted nuts, and appetizing balsamic glaze.

I enthusiastically shared it with everyone.

Appetizers:Spiced Fried Chicken Drumsticks with Tartar Sauce $130.

Squeeze some lemon on top for an even fresher taste!!

Generally speaking, what makes fried food delicious? The marinade and spice seasoning are important, but the chef’s skill really matters too. One bite of these chicken drumsticks—the meat isn’t dry and is full of juice, and there’s barely any oil on the paper underneath!!

Durum Wheat Crispy Fried Seafood $130Just squeeze some lemon on it—perfect!\nThe seafood includes fresh shrimp, anchovies, and squid.

Take a close look!\nThere’s really not much flour here!\nThese fried items won’t leave you eating a bunch of dough, and the color is lovely too—not overcooked.

The golden yellow color is truly masterful!\n

Italian small bites:\nItalian Fried Rice Ball $40 NTD\nIt’s a dainty portion—just right.\nThe rice used is Italian risotto, wrapped around mozzarella cheese.\n

Since I’ve never had it before, I was a little curious about what it would look like when cut open??\n

Super cute,\nwith two flavors available that day: red sauce and black sauce.\n

The cuttlefish ink flavor was really quite a pleasant surprise!\n

Sharing it with friends lets you try even more delicious items.\n

Truffle Sauce Asparagus & Wild Mushroom Chicken Risotto $330 NTD (+30 NTD to upgrade to Italian rice)\nTruffle sauce is a top-tier ingredient.\nThe rich aroma of truffles drives many people wild.\nIts rarity and preciousness naturally make it quite pricey.\n

This is a white sauce dish,\nfeaturing premium truffle sauce and Grana Padano cheese—\na must-try risotto for white sauce lovers.\n

They didn’t skimp on the chicken either.\n

Pan-Seared Chicken Thigh with Angry Sauce Spaghetti $280 NTD\nWow, what a playful name for this dish!\n

“Angry Sauce” clearly means it’s spicy—but for me, the spice level was just right!\nThis dish pairs perfectly with a little wine.\n

Main courses:\nPan-Seared Cherry Duck Breast with Orange Vinegar $680 NTD\nMade with Hualien cherry duck—the skin is crispy!\n

Gourmet food is truly an art class.\nIn an instant—you get both visual and taste sensations!\n

\n Duck breast can easily turn dry if overcooked, but this one today was tender, bursting with juices!\n

The duck breast main course comes with two Italian small bites (Italian Fried Cheese Ball + Italian Fried Potato Stick)—other main courses don’t include these.\n

The Italian Fried Potato Stick contains Parmesan cheese, bacon, mashed potatoes, virgin olive oil, and fresh parsley.\n

Main courses:\nU.S. PRIME Grade Ribeye Beef $920 NTD (10 oz)\n\n

Served with fresh greens and arugula.\n

Don’t drool!\nI’ll just tell you the meat is incredibly tender.\nPersonally—I think beef tastes great without being overly seasoned!\n

A bottle of red wine would be absolutely perfect right about now.

By now you’re probably already full — think it’s over? NONONO~ The Italian desserts to come are all authentic in flavor!

Beetroot Milk Foam Juice $90I’d never had beetroot juice before. When it arrived — the beautiful color just made me happy just looking at it, and I couldn’t wait to try it!

It doesn’t have any weird vegetable taste when you take a sip; it turns out apple and honey are blended in as well. The milk foam on top and lemon zest make your nose catch the lemon aroma and smooth foam even before you drink — there's sea salt around the rim of the cup, does it remind you of a cocktail?

Kiwi Apple Juice $90.

This kiwi juice is delicious. With apple and fruit sugar added, it balances the acidity of the kiwi — a healthy drink (can also be made sugar-free)!

Lemon Mousse Cake $80Even the dessert is so thoughtfully made — it successfully brought out my long-lost ‘inner girliness’. Desserts really do have a special magic power. I was already full, but the moment the dessert came, I could eat more — how amazing is that?!

The beautiful plating makes the dessert even better — +100.

A healing, touching dessert!

Premium Handmade Olive Oil with Ice Cream $80.

The creamy vanilla ice cream has little black dots visible — they’re vanilla seeds.

Topped with Olitalia premium handmade olive oil.

Lightly Tapped Crème Brûlée $80.

So “Lightly Tapped” refers to the crispy caramelized top layer on top — that caramel is so crunchy and fragrant!

Sicilian Italian Crepes $120A traditional Sicilian countryside dessert. Made with Caccoli red wine pastry dough, the fried crust is filled with a buttery ricotta cheese filling, then varied into different flavors. This is the first time I’ve seen this kind of dessert!

The classic version mainly features nuts, but the daily flavors may vary — it depends on what the shop prepares each day. Strawberries might also appear during strawberry season!

The crispy pastry wraps around ricotta cheese — a very traditional and authentic Italian method. The cool, layered filling inside is amazing. It really takes a lot of time and effort to make these by hand!

Dining here is really relaxing~

Take the time to “savor” a meal, and enjoy connecting with family and friends.

I really want to meet the chef — their skills are amazing!

You just need to sit down and enjoy your meal, let the professionals handle the rest. Haha~

Thoughtful WOW even has a nursing room — perfect for a romantic dinner date where the caring husband can bring his wife!

【WOW Bistro '旺' Slow Food Bistro】 Zhongshan Branch
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Address: No. 5, Lane 6, Alley 18, West Nanjing Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2550-6018

【WOW Bistro 'Wang' Slow Food Bistro】Luzhou Branch
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Address: No. 65, Lane 38, Yongle Street, Luzhou District, New Taipei City
Phone: 02-2288-6009

We are Purple Smile Ben & Jean, who love food, travel, photography, and 3C.