Location: Hsinchu Vivaldi Coffee Salon
Travel note summary: I’ve passed by this cafe tucked in a remote corner of Jinshan Street many times, but hearing from friends that prices inside aren’t cheap kept me from trying it. However, last time at Sheng Tie Restaurant, I heard from Old Man that Vivaldi was changing management. So last Sunday evening, after playing ball with friends like Zhiqian and Wensheng, on a whim we decided to give it a try. I also called Junhong, who lives nearby and is always busy at Creative Electronics, to join us for a rare dinner out. From the outside, the interior design isn’t clear, and the vibe feels pricey, making it easy to hesitate. After we entered, the whole evening, aside from another table with one customer in a cap, there were only our six people. Could this be considered a VIP private booking? But from the shop’s perspective, it’s a real issue. The menu is similar to nearby JR Gia Western Restaurant, even feeling slightly pricier than JR. Steak dishes are high-end, with a few pasta options, though not many. Even though the Taiwan stock market hit 9,000, I didn’t make much, so I ordered the cheapest seafood squid ink pasta (NT$280+10%). Some frien…