Pasta & Co. (Taipei, TAIWAN) ★★★★☆

After three really BIG meals to start off this trip, I thought I should start enjoying some lighter ones for the rest of the way. With my expected return from Jiufen (九份) this morning, I had already booked my lunch venue via Inline last night.

Known for its fresh, handmade pasta and vibrant atmosphere, Pasta & Co. is a contemporary American and Italian restaurant located in Taipei's Zhongshan District (中山區), curated by Chef Timothy Lu (呂學明). Chef Lu honed his skills at some of the most renowned Michelin-starred restaurants in New York such as Masa and Bouley. He is known for his passion for adding a modern twist to traditional Italian dishes.

As soon as I checked in with the receptionist, I was led to a counter seat where the journey began.

As I’ve mentioned many times before, I love watching chefs at work and this was the perfect spot to do so.

Apart from their fresh handmade pasta, they also offer a wide selection of comfort food, including bone marrow toast, sticky wings, risotto croquettes and more.

Roasted pumpkin soup (香烤南瓜濃湯) (NT$160) — Since I had a big breakfast this morning, I wanted something light to start off the meal. The roasted pumpkin soup was finished with olive oil, croutons, and fresh chives.

This wasn’t bad, but when they say velouté or 濃湯, I'd expect it to be super rich and creamy—this one didn’t quite meet that standard.

Creamy bottarga radiatori (奶香烏魚子蜂巢麵) (NT$450) —  Just when I was starting to worry about how the rest of the meal would go, this dish totally blew me away.

The ridged, ruffled-shaped pasta was the perfect choice for trapping a thick, creamy, and hearty sauce like this one, made with Yilan mullet roe (宜蘭烏魚子) and French cream. Most dishes involving mullet roe tend to be salty and therefore overpowering but this was subtle and comforting. I thought the al dente texture of the pasta was executed to perfection, and the sauce was an absolute masterpiece. I would definitely return just for this!

My whirlwind 48 hours in Taipei is about to draw to a close but I still have time for one more destination. Guess where I'll be going!?

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: $$$

Address: No. 9, Section 3, Nanjing East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei, Taiwan

Closest Metro Station: Songjiang Nanjing / Nanjing Fuxing

Tel: +886 2-2506-9070

Website: http://www.pastacotaiwan.com/

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 3:30pm, 5:30pm - 11:00pm  daily