Good Food Guide: Il Café

The Panda was strolling through Taipa on a typically warm and muggy Macau day and in desperate need of rejuvenation when he stumbled upon this little gem. Il Café is part of a row of small restaurants on the west side of Taipa Central Park and it’s a pleasant place to pull up a chair at a window table and cool down over a bowl of spaghetti and a glass of wine. Specializing in popular Italian fare, their menu includes a number of well-known pasta dishes as well as a range of salads and various sandwiches and wraps. The Panda was eyeing off the Bolognese when he first arrived but eventually settled for Penne Arrabiata which proved to be a pleasant surprise with its rich tomato flavored sauce and gentle hit of chili.

The only negative was that the serve was a little on the small side and would have worked better as an entrée than a main course. Nevertheless, the steady stream of customers gradually filling the tables suggested this is a popular place for a quick snack – particularly with Westerners who accounted for around 80 percent of patronage while The Panda was tucking in. Il Café is a great little place to refuel without breaking the bank.