So it is a tradition for our company to treat us to a “fancy” lunch to celebrate the new year, I’ve never been sure whether it is for the actual new year or the Chinese New Year. The lunch usually takes place right at the beginning of the new year, at a date before the Chinese New Year happens, so I’ve been sure whether we are welcoming the new year or saying goodbye to the old one.
This year we went to the Regent Taipei Hotel, which is a five-star hotel in the Zhongshan district of said city. I wasn’t initially looking forward to it, as a vegetarian, these all you can eat places don’t offer much for me other than the typical salad bar and dessert. At about 70 USD per head, one would assume that the quality of the food and ingredients are top of the line, which I guess they are. In terms of options for a vegetarian, they have a nice truffle and mushroom risotto, some pesto veggies, and a pasta “bar” where you choose the pasta, toppings, and sauce that you’d like to have. I would say it wouldn’t be worth it just for the food itself.
The place though is absolutely beautiful, with high ceilings, comfortable chairs, well decorated, and simple place settings. It is a great place to go when you want to feel fancy and enjoy a cup of coffee with desserts, if you are vegetarian or steak and seafood if you´re an omnivore. I’m not sure if I would go back, as there are far better options at vegetarian restaurants for me but perhaps those aren’t as fancy. Although can all-you-can-eat places actually be deemed fancy? It feels like some sort of an oxymoron, but in Taiwan, that is just their favorite sort of meal for celebrating anything.
