Smooth Bar & Grill 5-7, Lane 50, JingCheng (ChingCheng) Rd., Taichung

Cool, chic and cosmopolitan: Eating and drinking at Smooth

By Douglas Habecker
Translated by Sharon Yang

For years, there have been repeated comments that Taichung lacked something that any cosmopolitan city should have. Not an international airport, not a subway system but, rather, a classy bar and restaurant, the kind of place where local and visiting business types gather after work to swap their ties and briefcases for a few drinks and something good from the kitchen.

Fortunately, the days when Taichung hotel lobby bars filled up with patrons with no where else to go are now over. These days, many city residents and visitors alike head for Smooth Bar and Grill, which is just fine with owner Hendrik Frijling. Thanks to all the business that Smooth has been getting, it is fortunate that the restaurant is located next door to Hendrik’s other success story, Fatty’s Italian Restaurant, allowing the owner, his wife, Jenny, and employees to easily move back and forth as needed.

Smooth's success comes from the fact that it is a very attractive, classy-looking place where both dressed-up and dressed-down patrons can feel comfortable, and enjoy great food and a well-stocked bar until the late hours of the evening. As far as decor goes, Smooth is a classic, upscale bar and grill. Walls are covered with framed black-and-white photos. The teak wood and wicker furniture--much of it imported from Bali--and cushioned booth-type seats fit the atmosphere.

The center of attention on the first floor is one of the best-stocked bars in Taichung. Most evenings, this area is comfortably full of standing and sitting customers, enjoying their favorite tipple, including over German Warsteiner beer on tap and 25 types of Scotch, Irish, Canadian and American whiskeys (with 12 single malts). A couple meters away behind glass is Smooth's wine cellar stocked with labels from around the globe. A refreshing new summer concoction is the Caipariha, a drink made from Brazilian sugar cane spirit Cachasa, crushed ice, sugar and pressed lemon. The bar has its own snack menu, available all day, with savory items like satay, meatballs and fish soup Boullabois-style.

According to Hendrik, most diners arrive after about 8 or 9 p.m., as the kitchen is open to midnight. The menu is a virtual United Nations of cuisine, with dishes like English specialties Fish and Chips and Bangers and Mash; Red Thai Curry Seafood Risotto; French Spring Chicken; Italian Osso Buco (shank of veal and tagliatelle pasta); Baby Back Ribs; Beef Goulash; New Zealand Tenderloin Steak; and the Smooth Steak. Prices range from about NT$320 to NT$720 and are well worth the filling, delicious food that is served up. Main courses all come with good bread and salad. In addition, most of the pasta favorites (such as the Fettucine Seafood Thai-Style) from Fatty’s are also available at Smooth. There are also plenty of salads, soups and appetizers, such as bruschetta, snails, and fried calamari.

If this weren't all enough, Hendrik now offers a regularly-changing dish of the day, costing between NT$450 and NT$720.

Smooth is a tough act to beat when it comes to almost everything from ambiance to outstanding food. As the non-stop stream of customers continues, there is little doubt that Taichung was more than ready for nothing more and nothing less than a great, traditional bar and grill.