While Taichung may not be the first city that pops into your head when you¡¦re in the mood for seafood, you may change your mind after a meal at the Kreutzer Restaurant. With the seafood delights that owner Chang Yi-ming has to offer customers, you might just find yourself humming that little ditty, ¡§Under the sea, under the sea, darling it's better, down where it's wetter. Take it from me.¡¨

Walking into Kreutzer, you will notice deep sea-blue walls and seaside memorabilia mixed with French decor. The European accents don¡¦t stop there. Owner Chang speaks French and, as a wine connoisseur, is a great resource for customers interested in trying a glass of French wine with their meal.

The menu features everything from king crab to spaghetti, with prices ranging from moderate to high. For seafood fans, Chang suggests either the crab or lobster. Crab meat tends to be on the softer, more tender side, while lobster has more consistency.

As for drink choices, standard juices, coffees and teas are available. The true delights, however, come from Chang¡¦s large wine selection. While everyone has his/her own taste preferences, white wine is a must if you are eating seafood. The house wine is Genestet Bordeauz, a delicate and fruity French wine made from grape blends. There are also non-European wine choices, such as a Canadian ice wine, which is a bit on the sweet side and would go perfectly with desserts. It¡¦s almost guaranteed that you¡¦ll find something that suits you from the fine wine list at Kreutzer. If not, have no fear, as there¡¦s also Taiwan beer!

When it comes to choosing between surf and turf, it seems surf is the way to go with Kreutzer. Unfortunately, as the crustaceans sang in The Little Mermaid, ¡§We¡¦re what the land folks love to cook. Though under the sea, we¡¦re off the hook.¡¨ They are safe for a while, since Chang keeps all seafood alive in large glass aquariums. Seafood that fresh won¡¦t be able to swim around forever, though.