Located in a surprisingly charming neighborhood in Dazhi (大直), Petit Park serves French-inspired cuisine at reasonable prices. The restaurant boasts an ambitiously large menu, with a wide selection of salads, pastas and sandwiches, presumably aimed at budget-minded diners (NT$150 to NT$380). The main courses are not especially imaginative, but they suit the atmosphere of the restaurant: stylish, yet down-to-earth.
There are hits and misses, but fortunately more hits.
The emphasis is on fresh foods and ingredients, and homemade bread features prominently in the sandwich and appetizer selections. The bread and pesto spread (also made fresh, NT$100) didn't disappoint, although they skimped a bit on the pesto.
PHOTO: DAVID CHEN, TAIPEI TIMES
An outstanding appetizer is the grilled duck with feta cheese and potato with a vinaigrette sauce (NT$160). The thin slices of duck melted in the mouth and married well the sashimi-sized chunks of peeled potato with zucchini slices layered beneath. The feta cheese cubes added a touch of savory richness, while a sprinkling of tarragon and red peppercorns gave the dish a subtle, spicy zest. Other appetizers include organic rocket with Parma ham and fresh bread (NT$160) and grilled scallop with pesto and organic tomato (NT$180).
Petit Park plays it safe with its main course offerings, but skip the grilled lamb (NT$320). The meat was too chewy and its strong flavor could not be tamed by the delicate, fresh mint sauce that accompanied the dish. It came with a side of stringy mushrooms cooked in butter and garlic sauce that was too salty. The restaurant's specialty, Japanese-style hamburger with French-style cream sauce (NT$280), however, was satisfying, much like a favorite comfort food. The pork meat patty had a firm consistency, but tasted tender. The side of potatoes and fresh vegetables (eggplant, broccoli, zucchini, and yellow and red peppers) blended nicely with the cream and garlic sauce. Other main course choices include grilled chicken leg served with capellini (NT$340), salmon with cream mushroom sauce (NT$360) and New Zealand Grade A tenderloin steak (NT$420).
Petit Park sports a modern-looking, minimalist decor - plain white walls, a black ceiling and large windows, but it's refreshingly unpretentious and feels homey with warm lighting and comfortable seating. The kitchen overlooks an open and spacious dining area; between the cooling racks that hold fresh-baked bread, diners can spot the cooks hustling about.
The two desserts on offer - mango with coconut pudding (NT$80) and tiramisu (NT$70) - are both pleasing because they are made of fresh ingredients. The tiramisu was delicious, but its consistency was too much like custard and not fluffy enough. Like the desserts, the drink selection is sparse - Coke, coffee, ice tea and wine by the bottle only (NT$700).
As for the service, the wait staff was polite and attentive but forgot to serve our drinks before dinner as requested. However, this minor shortcoming didn't overshadow the overall experience: an evening of good, inexpensive food (dinner for two, including appetizers, dessert, and coffee, was NT$1,000) in a relaxed and comfortable setting.
Dazhi might sound far away to those living in Taipei City, but Petit Park is just a 15-minute bus ride from Yuanshan MRT Station. The No. 72 and No. 208 buses run frequently: get off at Dazhi Station (大直站), just past the yet-to-open Dazhi MRT Station. Petit Park is on Lane 620 and, as its name implies, is located next to a park. This residential lane is also home to a handful of other mid-priced and upscale restaurants, and its clean, tree-lined sidewalks make for a pleasant after-dinner stroll.
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