LE JARDIN DES SENS     (04) 2473-2369 360, NanTun Road, section 2 Hours: 10 am-10 pm (closed Mondays)

ADD YOUR RATING & REVIEW | VIEW VISITSR RATINGS & REVIEWS

--By Douglas Habecker, translated by Crystal Kuo

This classy, artistic Italian restaurant and cafe is appropriately located on the ground floor of the modern, attractive edifice housing the Strauss furniture store (next to Taichung's best-looking Starbucks) on the corner of WenXin South and NanTun roads. Artist/designer/teacher Tseng Ming-hsiang and his wife opened Le jardin des sens with the goal of serving up not only outstanding cuisine and coffee, but also fine culture. The cozy-yet-spacious European-style restaurant cafe has seating for 60 to 70, divided about equally between the inside and pleasant outdoor decks in front and back. Prominently displayed is the Tsengs' state-of-the-art sound system, including a McIntosh vacuum-tube system, turntable and JBL speakers. This plays a collection of over 3,000 classical LP records and CDs. Main dishes center around a dozen pastas (NT$150-250) and four baked pasta dishes, made with herbs grown just outside. Popular items include the clam, seafood and vegetarian pasta dishes. All desserts are made in-house and lean towards healthier ingredients. Excellent hot and iced coffees (NT$80-150) are made exclusively from Italian Illy-brand beans, and there are herbal teas, juices, frappes and other drinks. Conveniently, the restaurant shares a small paid-parking lot with Strauss. Reservations are recommended.