If films like Steel Magnolias or the more recent Uptown Girls are said to be chick flicks, then Strawberry Milk is surely a chick restaurant. Located behind the Idee department store on Nanjing West Road, it is a pink-appointed parlor of cuteness -- and good sandwiches, coffees and teas -- that has become a mealtime Mecca for shoppers with sore feet.
Most people looking for a lunch spot in this shopping district are likely familiar with more popular places such as Melange, a miniscule cafe across the lane which sells gargantuan waffles, or Kan Pai, a Japanese grill which was one of the Taipei Times' top-10 restaurants last year. Strawberry Milk, which is upstairs from Kan Pai, seems to have been boosted by an overflow of people who grew tired of waiting in line for these other two places.
The reason people keep coming back is obvious: There is no wait, there is a wider selection of food that tastes better than what Melange is serving and it's cheaper.
Like Melange, Strawberry Milk has waffles any time of day; butter waffles, sesame waffles and their signature strawberry waffle. They're lighter and tastier than Melange's and, unlike Melange, they're served in a comfortable smoke-free environment.
Strawberry Milk's fortes, however, are the dishes they've deemed "creative cuisine" -- a garlic spaghetti with sweet Taiwanese sausage diced in, a chilled halibut filet served with zesty pesto, or a sandwich that combines tuna, cheese and cucumbers on rolled-up slices of white bread. The whole thing is placed in the oven and baked so that the cheese melts, the bread toasts and the palette is pleased.
The place is named after a cartoon character. A short story on the back of the menu says that Strawberry Milk is 118cm tall, 25kg, with black eyes and red hair. She was born in Canada on the last day of the 20th century to bring smiles, good food and friendship to people everywhere, starting with Taiwan. She has a pet bear named Pipi and a boyfriend named Milk Pudding who fancies sailor suits. Images of the two are found throughout the restaurant and, in combination with the pink-and-white upholstery and strawberry-themed wallpaper, give the place the feel of an adult daycare center.
It's all very ke ai-o, but at least the coffee is strong. A selection of gourmet beans from places with exotic names is on offer, as are several delicious herbal teas, served hot or cold.
In a previous review in this space, I said that Melange is worth the wait. While that is still true, Strawberry Milk provides a good reason to not have to.
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