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COMPASS MAGAZINE, August 2003

Five-cent Driftwood House Shr Jeng North Third Road

Treasures unearthed at Five-Cent Driftwood House

By Annie Tai, Translated by Sunny Lin

When I first heard about this place, the image of a flashy and exceptionally modern restaurant appeared in my mind. Expecting someplace small but creative, I was thrown by surprise as I stood in front of the actual restaurant. Creative it was but definitely not small.

On the outside, it looked like a magnificent citadel. The inside was awe-inspiring with three stories, each connected by spiraling stairways. The design and architecture radiated a mysterious air of antiquity, each telling a unique story. Old pottery, stone walls, trees and a fish-filled lagoon all combined to form a beautiful, chimerical atmosphere – perfect for catching up with old friends or eating with business associates.

Restaurant manager and designer Hsieh Li-Shiang seems as full of surprises as the houses she builds. An amazingly dream-oriented woman, Hsieh has built four restaurants in 10 years. Her love for nature is reflected in this house, with wooden tables and chairs, plenty of plants, interesting ornamental carvings and sculptures, and ceiling-to-floor windows that allow nature’s light to shine in. Even the bowls and plates are made out of pottery that Hsieh personally designed. As amazing and filled with amazing objects as it is, the whole restaurant still manages to look breezy and spacious.

The traditional Chinese food is just as enjoyable as the surroundings. The most common “Simple Meal” (NT$280/person) offers a wide variety of main meat dishes, including the fish, beef, pork, lamb, goose, shrimp and crab. Rice, soup, vegetables, dessert and juice are served along with the main dish. The wine goose is one of the more popular dishes, with the goose drenched in a delicious sauce that includes wine. The crab is another popular choice, with tender crabmeat laid on spicy bean threads. After the meal, you can enjoy sweet guava juice along with a slice of glutinous “mochi” rice cake, thus completing the satiating meal.

Other menu deals include specials for four or more people (NT$500/person) and a 10-course lobster special meal (NT$1,000/person). Of special note are their weekly menu changes, in order to give customers new tastes for each visit. The delicious food combined with the outstanding architecture makes Five-Cent Driftwood House a remarkable experience.