DOCK OF THE BAY 437, Wenhsin Road, section 1 (04) 2251-9000; Hours: lunch 11 am-2 pm, tea time 2-4:30 pm, dinner 5 pm-2 am, 2F pub 9 pm-4 am

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Taking its name from the 1968 Otis Redding hit song, Dock of the Bay has become another kind of hit with Taichung patrons. A creation of well-known music producer/musican "Doc" Niu, this spacious, attractive place includes a first-floor, Cantonese and seafood restaurant seating about 160. For lunch and dinner, diners eat and drink (draft beer and juice) all they want for NT$420 and NT$520, respectively (NT$520 all day on holidays). Dishes are ordered from a menu and include dim sum, sashimi, sushi, salads, soups and various Chinese fish, prawn, crab, vegetable and beef dishes. At night, the real action is in the large pub upstairs, which includes a long outdoor deck covered with real beach sand and lined with palm trees and umbrella-covered tables. "Beach parties" are sometimes held here. Inside is a long bar and a large stage. The good house band, G5, plays on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, while a great Latin band plays Wednesdays, all from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Beers range from the NT$130 500cc Tiger draft to the NT$180 Guinness and the cocktails start at NT$150. There is no minimum expense for guests. --By Douglas Habecker