Ca Pasta bills itself as an Italian eatery, despite the fact that its Chinese name refers to California and that its house specialty is the Spanish national dish paella de mariscos. The Navajo-themed decorations further confuse matters. So it's best to think of Ca Pasta as a standard Western restaurant.
Ca Pasta's main chef Yeh Fu-song (葉富松), with years of experience at major hotel kitchens in Hong Kong, covers the main bases with dishes like US-imported steak (NT$600), pan-fried veal chop (NT$650), roasted spring chicken (NT$580), lasagna (NT$300), roasted salmon (NT$580) and throws in some delightful surprises such as ink sauce spaghetti (NT$300) and prawns in cheese and tomato sauce (NT$600).
PHOTO: MAX WOODWORTH, TAIPEI TIMES
According to manager Bowen Lin (林創成), the house favorite is its paella, due chiefly to its relatively low price of NT$330, but also to its hefty portions of salmon, scallops, clams, shrimp, mussels and crab. Another popular dish is the rotolo, a genuinely Italian specialty consisting of pasta-wrapped ricotta cheese and spinach base set in a cream tomato sauce (NT$300).
Given the wide range of prices of dishes at Ca Pasta, a full meal can be made relatively cheap by taking advantage of the house's several special deals. For example, appetizers -- smoked salmon (NT$220), sauteed mushrooms with garlic and shrimp (NT$250) and snails with garlic and red wine (NT$200) -- are half price when ordered with a main entree. Another option is to add NT$100 to the price of any entree and get a salad, soup, drink and dessert. Other deals include bottled beer for NT$100 and a delicious, American-sized capuccino for NT$120.
Along with the reasonably priced food, one of Ca Pasta's main draws is its prime location in downtown Taipei near the intersection of Fuhsing South Road and Tungfeng Street. Located in a quiet alley, it is pleasantly removed from the hustle and bustle of these major roads. Low-set bay windows that look out onto greenery add a measure of coziness, while the dozen tables guarantee that the decibel level in a full house isn't overpowering.
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