Fried Salty Dragon Ball
(NT$250) is made by mixing
peanuts, chopped onions,
garlic and coriander, for a
rather spicy result.
Three Cups Chicken (NT$350)
is cooked with tender chicken
and garlic, sauteed to a really
soft texture that melts in your
month. The added basil creates
a mesmerizing frangrance that
also goes well with a pint of
beer.
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SIMBA Musical Restaurant
By Ann Li
Translated by Ann Lee
(04) 2305-8886
22, XiangShang Rd, Sec 1
Hours: 9 pm-4 am
(closed Mondays)
Credit cards accepted.
10% service charge.
Minimum charge weekdays NT$250/person, NT$350/person Fri/Sat.
If you frequent Taichung's night clubs and pubs, you've almost certainly heard of or been to 99 Pub, located on a XiangShang Road corner. Although this place has been around for 11 years, its owners and management (shared with Amanking) decided to rename their establishment "Simba".
At the pub's entrance, surrounded by plenty of plants and driftwood, you're greeted by a tall, red-brick building, looking a bit like something out of an American Western film. Walk inside and you'll see a huge stage, where different bands perform between 10:15 p.m. and 2 a.m. Some of the regular bands include Rock City, The King's Band, and Twister, offering a variety that ranges between rock and Chinese and English pop songs, each stamped with the bands' unique stylings. Simba also houses millions of dollars of sound equipment, providing great audio throughout the place. Wall drawings of flourescent-paint greenery, trees, ropes and branches continue the unusual visual effects here, perhaps lending a little Indiana Jones ambiance.
Office workers like hanging out here after work over some food, drinks and live music, unwinding after a day's hard work. The alchol menu reveals a selection that covers just about everything you can think of. In addition to various brandies like Hennessy and L'Or de Jean Martell, the menu notes the alcohol content of each drink, including beer and cocktails like The Killer, B-52, Drug Addict, and Tropical Cocktail, so you can order accordingly.
If you get the munchies, the kitchen offers 20-plus stir-fry dishes that go well with the drinks. Simba offers an attractive, vibrant atmosphere and is pretty crowded throughout the week--a testament to the fact that it excels at offering the tried-and-true formula of good drinks and food, mixed some of the city's best live music.
 
Left: Adam & Eve (NT$300) is made with gin, fresh grapes, lemon and orange, resulting in a fruity flavor that goes down the throat smoothly.
Right: Giant Tower (NT$350) is one of renowned Taiwanese movie director Ang Lee's favorite cocktails. This beverage also took second place in a national cocktail competition, a tasty drink created by bartender A-Zhi. This fruity drink is made from a base of vodka, together with strawberries, brown sugar and basil. Its slightly sweet and sour flavor gets a special kick from a glass rimmed with plum powder.
 
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May 2009 
