Opened by French national Paco Sturbois -- of Mr. Paco's Pizzeria fame -- two weeks ago, Olala! is a French restaurant with a difference, floating in an urban sea awash with faux/quasi French joints charging NT$500-plus for half a dozen tinned snails or deep fried frogs a la KFC.
Punters won't find either escargot or frogs legs on the menu at Olala!. Instead diners will discover a heap of charmingly presented, expertly created, tastefully titillating, contemporary French/European-styled culinary treats. All of which are reasonably priced.
"I've tried to create a restaurant that serves high quality food without being too expensive," explained the well-known restaurateur. "The restaurant is still evolving and I want to do something fun with a menu, instead of being too serious."
The menu maybe fun, but the food served up at Olala pure pleasure.
After only two weeks the joint and menu may be still evolving, but an evening of fine wining and dining at the only partially evolved Olala! is certainly something to tell others about. Be it appetizers, entrees or desserts, Sturbois has managed to create a menu that will have those with a passion for good food positively slavering.
For appetizers, Olala offers diners a light yet satisfying salmon tartar (NT$310), tuna/beef carpaccio (NT$290), fresh oysters (market price), goose liver pate (NT$390) as well as chorizo, or grilled Spanish sausages (NT$210) and merguez, or Moroccan sausages (NT$250). The entree dishes, such as the highly recommended pan-fried fois gras served on a bed of polenta with sauteed vegetables topped off with a rich raspberry balsamic sauce (NT$690), proves that haute cuisine can satisfy the eagerest of diners. While too numerous to list in full, other Olala entrees worth sampling include veal (NT$720), duck magret (NT$610), cote de boeuf with sun dried tomatoes (NT$620) and fresh Canadian lobster either grilled or broiled (NT$1,200).
For dessert Olala also comes up trumps, with creme brulee (NT$150) made with genuine fresh vanilla essence, crepes flambe (NT$180) and crispy lemon sorbet (NT$150).
As well as great food, there is also a pretty extensive wine list which features a varied selection of French, Spanish, Italian and Californian reds and a handful of whites.
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