Taiwan Cafe

Taiwan Cafe Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Boston's Chinatown may not be big, but it can still be daunting. Fruit stalls spill onto the sidewalk, neon makes a night stroll dizzying, and parking is difficult. Restaurants are everywhere --- yet somehow in hiding, away from street-level or behind opaque windows. Taiwan Café is no exception, but it's worth seeking out.

Food: The bustling second-story joint boasts an enormous menu that does Taiwanese cuisine proud in its focus on fresh seafood, simple preparations and southern Chinese seasoning. Whole fish dishes stand out, so bring a big, adventurous group and dig in; but be sure to order plenty of the biggest crowd faves --- richly savory julienned beef with longhorn peppers and aromatic braised eggplant with basil --- on the side. Less adventurous diners will also find the classic Chinatown staples (spring rolls and so forth).