There’s truth to the old adage: “Food just tastes better when you’re outdoors,” and while the Barefoot Beach Bar at Baishawan (a mouthful in itself) isn’t exactly outdoors, it’s close enough. Nested between a seafood restaurant and a surf shop on the strip of businesses along the beach, the establishment is a welcome addition to the area.
For years the only restaurant was Hana’s Beach Cafe, with sandwiches and pastas. Barefoot offers a range of choices for lunch and dinner, with plans for an all-day breakfast in the making.
The proprietors are a charming couple who are also part owners of the nearby Longhorn Bar and Grill. One gets the sense that Barefoot is their get-away spot, with the beach only really busy on weekends, when they have bands play at the bar and often stay open until 2am or later. Rock posters and beach paraphernalia adorn the walls.
Fluent in English, the owners put a lot of thought into the decor and menu. Each visit has seen improvements in both.
The bar is made of reclaimed wood from old shipping boxes, and the ceiling panels are a patchwork of stylish blues. One entire end overlooks the white-sand beach with a wooden patio and a curved counter facing the ocean. A big barbeque grill dominates one side, and oil drums covered with large table tops are surrounded by wicker chairs and colorful cushions.
As for the food, the standard beach-shack menu of French fries, hot dogs and fried chicken has been transformed with the addition of steak, kebabs, grilled salmon, smoothies and a range of salads, all priced from NT$180 to NT$380.
The bar has a full range of spirits, cocktails, and beers ranging from Taiwan Beer to Hoegaarden and Erdinger (NT$120 to NT$200).
The grilled salmon (NT$320) was a large, juicy fillet, barbequed with minimal seasoning as the tender, flaky fish was delicious on its own. Grilled red and yellow peppers, mushrooms and onions were served on the side still firm.
The steak kebab (NT$280) had chunks of sirloin alternating with the same vegetables — it was served too rare for my tastes but once grilled a few more minutes was juicy and flavorful with a tangy barbeque sauce. French fries are French fries but Barefoot’s were addictively crispy and salty.
To top things off, a bowl of Movenpick Swiss ice cream (available in vanilla, strawberry or chocolate, NT$100), Ballantine’s whisky on the rocks (NT$100), and a multi-hued sunset over the sparkling ocean made for a sublime combination.
Baishawan is on the Provincial Highway No. 2, also known as the Coastal Highway, in Taipei County. Take the Tamsui-Jinshan (淡水-金山) bus, which departs from the bus stop directly across from the Danshui (Tamsui) MRT Station (淡水捷運站) and get off at the Baishawan stop (白沙灣站). Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes.
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