Taichung’s industrial-chic adult-oriented gastropub – super drink-pairing grilled veggies!

Text & Photos /By Gui Xiaosun

Still remember that night when the two of us planned to go eat at that super popular duck rice shop?! XD But then, right after I got home from work, I immediately told my friend I wanted to change our plan and go to this ‘Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch’ instead!! We quickly reached another consensus—hahaha!!

Lately, I’ve been cooking at home quite often, probably going out to eat only one or two weeknights a week due to work. So when it comes to dining out, and being able to take photos to share with everyone—it’s become even more ‘serious’ (do I?! XD Actually, maybe it’s because we both love pasta, so whenever we see an appealing Italian restaurant, we’re eager to try it out. Plus, having eaten at the first branch of ‘Unrestricted’ before, we were even more excited to see what kind of magic the new second branch would bring.

‘Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch’ is the new (second) location of Unrestricted, located near Zhongyou Department Store and China Medical University. There’s a paid parking lot nearby diagonally across the street. The shop isn’t small—it’s the space of two standalone houses. From the outside, you can already sense the preserved traces of the old building, plus the industrial-style design. So cool and nice-looking XD

Starting with the low-key yet charming storefront, ‘Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch’ gives off a completely different vibe from the first branch. If you’d describe the first branch as minimalistic and hipster, then the second branch has more of an industrial, adult-oriented wine bar feel... And I personally love both of these vastly different vibes—the first branch is perfect for a slow weekend morning with sunlight, while the second branch is ideal for unwinding after work in the evening.

As soon as you walk into the first floor, you’ll notice the counter at ‘Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch’ features a container-style design—pretty cool and classic. It’s the kind of sight you won’t forget easily, and it also brings the atmosphere of stepping into a laid-back café. There are about ten or so seats on the first floor, and facing the main road is a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. The natural light should be great during the day, and it feels more romantic at night.

Walking up the stairs to the second floor, the space at ‘Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch’ is even larger. The exposed red bricks, containers, and vintage lighting give the whole area a warm vibe. You might find yourself involuntarily admiring each and every light fixture... On this evening after work, setting aside the busyness of the day. With a different pace and different mindset, you get to appreciate all the possibilities that exist in this world.

Currently, ‘Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch’ offers dishes that include our favorite pasta, as well as many casual drink pairings (small plates)! That day, we directly ordered two servings of stir-fried clams pasta, grilled assorted vegetables, charcoal-grilled red bell pepper chicken skewers, and a glass of Taihu Craft Beer’s Haipai Taichung. :) We recommend everyone to come try it during the soft opening period, as there’s currently an 20% discount!! (Of course, there’s also a 10% service charge XD)

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

Before the food arrived, the staff served us complimentary crackers. The sauce was our favorite Mexican-style dip—tangy, sweet, refreshing, and super delicious~ A glass ofTaihu Craft Beer Haipai Taichung (140 NTD)—we ordered it purely because we had tried it in Taipei before. So we wanted to give it another go. The aroma of barley, the cool mouthfeel, refreshing and satisfying. And in this gradually warming summer, having a cold beer just feels so good.

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

#Stir-Fried Clam Pasta 280 NTD x2 servings—here’s an important highlight we have to mention first. The pasta at ‘Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch’ is quite different from regular pasta—not only is the noodle handmade by them, but the texture is also a bit firmer. And it’s the kind of firmness that even those of us who usually prefer firmer noodles will find slightly hard. So if you come here to try their pasta, be sure to tell the staff you want it cooked softer XDXD

#Grilled Assorted Vegetables 150 NTD—compared to the pasta, the casual wine-pairing small plates surprised us even more. In fact, you could say these small plates are all super delicious!! Like our favorite grilled vegetables, a huge plate filled with baby corn, king oyster mushrooms, onions, Sichuan peppercorns, mini squash, and so much more!! It’s insanely satisfying XD

This single plate of grilled vegetables had us eating non-stop—which is also why I’ve decided to seriously look into the art of ‘grilled vegetables.’ This kind of dish that doesn’t require turning on the gas stove to serve is perfect for office workers like us XD

#Charcoal-Grilled Red Bell Pepper Chicken Skewers 150 NTD —and then came these charcoal-grilled red bell pepper chicken skewers, which also wowed us!! The outside is crispy and delicious, and the inside of the chicken is tender with juices. Plus, the seasoning, the red bell peppers, really elevate the flavor. It’s genuinely a fantastic drink-pairing dish!! (Boss, bring us a few more!! XD

Since we ordered drinks and beer, the total for the two of us came out to around 1,200 NTD including service charge. But thanks to the soft opening 20% discount, it immediately dropped to 1,000 NTD. Hahahaha XD

Those who like it can also go try it out before the end of May, especially all their drink-pairing small plates. Remember to ask for your preferred pasta firmness when ordering pasta—that way it’ll better suit your taste~

Unrestricted Bistro 2nd Branch
Facebook
Address: No. 406, Wuxian Rd., North District, Taichung City
Phone: 04 2206 3688
Business Hours: 11:00–23:00

〔Enjoy life without boredom. By Gui Xiaosun〕, FB