Chez Nous Taipei: The BEST French Restaurant in Taiwan? (You Decide!)
Chez Nous Taipei: Is this French Fantasy Land REALLY Taiwan's Best? (Spoiler Alert: I'M Still Processing)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the butter-soaked, soufflé-fluffed world of Chez Nous Taipei. The question, of course, is: is it REALLY the best French restaurant in Taiwan? Well, that’s what everyone keeps saying, and I’m here to… well, I'm still trying to figure that out, honestly. My experience was, shall we say, complex. Let's get messy, shall we? Let's get REAL.
Accessibility & Making It Work (Kinda):
- Accessibility: Honestly, good on them for TRYING. There's something in the accessibility department, but the overall vibe screamed "mostly navigable" rather than "completely welcoming to all." I'm no wheelchair user, but the sidewalks in Taipei are enough of a hazard, let alone navigating a restaurant's "accessible" entrance. Be prepared for a bit of a clunk.
- On-site Restaurants/Lounges: Yes, but let's hold fire on those soufflés for a sec. The "lounge" areas? More like fancy waiting rooms, which, hey, can be better than standing around with my rumbling tummy.
The Sanitary Circus: Cleanliness and Safety (Or, The Era of Hyper-Vigilance):
Okay, let's be real. We're talking about a post-pandemic world. Everyone's obsessed with hygiene. Chez Nous, bless their hearts, has taken this… seriously. I'm talking:
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check. Definitely smelled CLEAN. Like, aggressively clean. I half-expected to see a hazmat suit-clad cleaner waltzing around.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Of course, a given these days.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Good. Makes me feel a bit safer, though I'd still wipe down every surface myself.
- Individually-wrapped food options: (Looks around at the individually wrapped butter pats) Fine. I love a good pat.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Phew. Would be terrifying if not.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: They had the look of people who’d been thoroughly trained. Efficiency over friendliness? Maybe.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Moment of Truth (And My Soufflé Trauma)
This is where things get interesting. Let's get this straight: French food is supposed to be an experience, a romance, a journey into your digestive tract that ends up with you floating above a field of lavender and eating a perfect chocolate mousse. Chez Nous aimed for that.
- Restaurants: You’re eating French food, so you expect excellent restaurants. The atmosphere has been described as "Parisian chic" or "French bistro" depending on the reviewer but it all felt… polished. Like, TOO polished. The servers glided around, the silverware gleamed, the ambiance whispered "expensive."
- A la carte Restaurant: Yes, and my aching wallet can attest to that.
- Breakfast buffet: I didn't do the breakfast, (too scared of the prices) but I'm guessing they’re doing a full-on spread.
- Desserts: OMG. The desserts. I ordered the soufflé. The signature soufflé. It arrived, a glorious, trembling tower of puffed-up perfection, and… it deflated. Right in front of me. Like a heartbroken balloon animal. My face probably mirrored that very emotion. I was devastated.
- Coffee/Tea in restaurant: Yes. Needed a BIG caffeine fix after that dessert disaster.
- Room Service (24-hour): Helpful! Late night cravings? They've got your back.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things (And the Big Bills)
- Concierge: They could get me anything. Honestly, I was too shell-shocked from the soufflé incident to ask for much beyond a stiff drink.
- Dry cleaning: Not personally used (thank goodness!).
- Daily housekeeping: Yes indeed. Very fresh, but my personal belongings (like my phone charger) seem to have an odd habit of vanishing from hotel rooms.
- Elevator: Essential.
- Luggage storage: Definitely helpful.
- Safe deposit boxes: Good for all that cash I wasn't spending on souffles.
- Wi-Fi for special events: I didn't have an event, but I bet they’d provide the Wi-Fi.
- Business facilities: Looked suitably serious. Not exactly my vibe, but good for grown-ups.
For the Kids (Because Even French Food Can Have Junior Fans):
- Family/child friendly: Probably fine, but the atmosphere is very adult. Maybe not the ideal spot to let your toddler run wild.
Getting Around (Because You WILL Be Eating Elsewhere at Some Point):
- Car park (free of charge): Nice. This is a massive bonus in Taipei!
- Taxi service: Always available.
- Airport transfer: Yes. Make sure you are ready to leave with all your belongings.
Available in All Rooms (The Basic Essentials, Plus Fancy Extras):
- Air conditioning: Absolutely necessary in humid Taipei.
- Complimentary tea: Small pleasures of life.
- Ironing facilities: Because… wrinkles.
- Mini bar: Expensive, but a lifeline.
- Free Wi-Fi: A must-have.
- Bathtub: A luxurious addition after a bad soufflé.
- Seating area: For sulking after a bad soufflé.
My Soul-Crushing Soufflé Story: The Emotional Rollercoaster
Okay, I need to revisit the soufflé because it's all I can freaking think about. I ordered it. Anticipation built. The server, with an air of solemn importance, brought it to my table. And then… poof. Gone. Deflated. A sad, sad, heap of what was once fluffy joy.
Now, I’m not one to make a scene, but this was a moment. I stared at it, mouth agape. I even managed to catch the server's eye and, despite my mortification, I just had to giggle. They offered a replacement. I declined. I’d lost my nerve. The trauma. The price. The whole thing.
So, Is Chez Nous Taipei Really "The Best"?
Look, the food tried. The ambiance tried. The service tried. The bathrooms were clean. But that soufflé… that damn soufflé… It’s made me question everything.
Chez Nous is definitely well-regarded for a reason. The ingredients are top-notch. The effort is evident. But did it knock my socks off and make me weep with joy? Not quite. I'm still on the fence. It was an experience, for sure, and I can't ignore the price points.
Final Verdict (For Now):
Chez Nous Taipei is… good. Potentially great. But I need another visit, and a successful soufflé experience, before I can definitively declare it the "best." Go with caution. And maybe order the chocolate mouse.
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into Chez Nous Taipei! Forget the glossy brochures and perfect Instagram feeds. This is the real deal, the messy, delicious, sometimes-slightly-panicked adventure of yours truly in the heart of Taiwan. Let’s just… do it.
Chez Nous Taipei: A Brain Dump Itinerary (Read at Your Own Risk!)
Day 1: Taipei Tango - Jet Lag & Jitters
- Morning (7:00 AM - 10:00 AM): Landed! Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. Okay, deep breaths. Immigration, done. Luggage carousel… where is my oversized suitcase? Found it! (Phew). Taxi. Taipei’s a sensory overload already. Smells, sounds… and mostly, a LOT of people.
- Mid-morning (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Chez Nous Hotel - Check-in. Oh, the hotel's cute, a tad… small. My room's view? Probably a fire escape, but hey – let’s see if the mini-bar has a decent local beer. (Important research.)
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM): Walked around my hotel. Finally found a local shop that doesn't smell like a sewage, the food smelled amazing. This place serves it with such ease that feels out of this world.
- Afternoon (1:30 PM - 5:00 PM): Jet lag hits HARD. Napped for way too long. Woke up disoriented, starving. Found myself wandering in the streets of Taipei, but I have no idea where I am.
- Evening (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Night Market! Shilin Night Market, specifically. Oh. My. God. The chaos! The smells! The noise! I dove in headfirst. Started with stinky tofu (a true hazing ritual, apparently. I survived!), then grilled squid on a stick (heaven!), and finally, bubble tea. Taiwanese bubble tea is the stuff of legends. I downed a whole cup with tapioca pearls and felt a sudden surge of energy. I almost wish for more food and drinks.
- (9:00 PM - Midnight): Back at the hotel…I think. Exhausted and overwhelmed, but buzzing with the excitement. Scrawled notes in a notebook and slept like a rock.
Day 2: Temples, Tea & Totally Losing My Way (Again)
- Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Attempted to visit Longshan Temple. So… beautiful. The architecture, the incense, the people praying. Felt… a little out of place, but in a good way. Spent way longer than I planned, just soaking it all in. Grabbed breakfast from a street vendor nearby – some kind of savory pancake thing that was divine. Need to ask someone the name.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM): Okay, I'm trying to be a "cultured traveler". Ate at a restaurant. Trying to find some local restaurant that doesn't look like a total tourist trap.
- Afternoon (1:30 PM - 5:00 PM): Tea Ceremony at Wist Tea House: This was amazing. The tiny teacups, the intricate pouring, the different varieties of tea… Pure bliss. I think I could become a tea snob after this.
- Evening (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Dinner at a restaurant in Ximending: This place was vibrant and super crowded, but the food was incredible. Tried the hot pot! Trying to figure out how to recreate that at home.
- Night (9:00 PM - Late): Took a cab home (or tried to). Communicating with the driver was a hilarious mix of broken English and frantic hand gestures. Managed to get back to the hotel, I think. Passed out from a mix of exhaustion and deliciousness again, my brain still swirling with impressions and new experiences.
Day 3: The Elephant Mountain Climb & the Eternal Struggle
- Morning (8:00 AM - 11:00 AM): The Elephant Mountain hike. Okay, this was… intense. The stairs! Brutal! But the view from the top… breathtaking. Taipei stretched out below me, a sprawling city of lights and life. Totally worth the burning lungs. I almost gave up a few times, sweating like a pig in a sauna, but the view… the view!
- Lunch (11:00 AM - 12:30 PM): Found a little noodle shop near the trailhead. Best noodles of my life, devoured them. Refueling is essential.
- Afternoon (12:30 PM - 4:00 PM): Trying to learn basic Mandarin phrases. Failed miserably. "Ni hao" and "xie xie" are the only two phrases I know.
- Evening (4:00 PM - 9:00 PM): Trying to get some sleep before going to a karaoke place with some new friends that I met at the tea house. Karaoke is huge here, it's gonna be interesting.
Day 4: Beyond Taipei - Exploring… (Maybe)
- Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Trying to decide if I have energy for going to a day trip. Deciding is the hardest part, I think.
- Afternoon: Went to a museum, but it was boring.
- Evening: Found a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with the best mapo tofu I’ve ever tasted (seriously, how do they get the tofu so silky?!). I'm determined to find a recipe, or maybe just move here.
Day 5: Last-Minute Shopping & Departure Blues
- Morning (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Panic shopping! Souvenir hunt! Found a few cute things, but mostly spent the time regretting not buying that amazing bag I saw at the night market.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM): Wandering around, replaying all the best moments, and already missing the chaos, the food, and the friendly faces everywhere. The city felt like a friend.
- Evening (4:00 PM - Late): Airport time. Ugh. So, so sad to leave. Snuck in one last bubble tea. I'll be back, Taipei. You've got a hold of me.
Final Thoughts (and, You Know, Reflections):
This trip was a whirlwind. A glorious, messy, slightly-disoriented whirlwind. I got lost, I ate things I couldn't identify, I embarrassed myself with my lack of Mandarin, and I loved every single second of it. Taipei is a city that grabs you, shakes you up, and leaves you wanting more. It's a city of contrasts, of ancient traditions and modern marvels, of chaos and calm, of incredible food and overwhelming choices. And yeah, it's a memory that I will never forget.
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Chez Nous Taipei: Worth the Hype? (Or Did I Just Waste My Night?) - An Extremely Biased FAQ
Okay, seriously, is Chez Nous *really* the best French restaurant in Taiwan? Like, better than my grandma's coq au vin (which, admittedly, sometimes comes out more "coq au...wait, what is even *that*?" )?
Is it REALLY expensive? My wallet is already weeping, you know.
What's the ambiance like? Is it stuffy and pretentious? I don't want to feel like I have to wear a suit just to eat.
The food! Tell me about the *food*! What should I order? (Because I always get decision paralysis).
Okay, but what if something goes wrong? Like, what if the service is bad, or the food...isn't what I expected?
Is it romantic? Like, date night material?
Okay, you've convinced me. But... any *real* imperfections I should be aware of? Like, what are the downsides? (Don’t spare the details!).
So, final verdict? Is it worth the money, the hype, the potential heartbreak of not getting a reservation?
