.The weather has been really nice lately, it's sunny but windy. Perfect for bike rides and going out for a spin. Ares love burgers so when I found this restaurant and saw in the description that they make their burger patties fresh every morning I had to take Ares there! The Ap Second is close to DaJia Riverside Park, where we used to go graffiti all the time. I thought it would be fun to revisit the area.
The Ap Second (All Pasta)–Service/Attitude
The Ap Second was originally named All Pasta but a lot of people thought that they only sold pasta so they redesigned their logo and redecorated the store. The new store front is clean, bright, and pleasing. When we were parking, I turned to Ares and said "yay! It's so pretty." We saw a Darth Vader, Storm Trooper, and R2D2 displayed on the shelf, Ares and my mini inner geek leapt with joy.
The Ap Second (All Pasta)–California Avocado Cheeseburger
Since it's a burger store, let's start with burgers. Ares and I are both avid avocado lovers, so when we saw the burger arrive with a full layer of half an avocado, our eyes lit up. I was very impressed by the presentation. The size of the bun, cheese, patty, tomato, and lettuce all fit together perfectly.
The burger was huge and I could barely fit it in my mouth. Ares took a series of image-damaging photos of me trying to stuff it in my mouth. But it's okay, it's not like anyone thought I was a lady. They actually have plastic bags that you can use for this in the utensils area, so that you can stuff burgers without getting it all over your hands.
The bun is extremely dry but somehow salvaged by the creaminess of the avocado. I later on removed the top layer of the bun and ate with a fork and knife. The proportions were way better that way. The patty was thick and I could immediately feel the lovely smell of beef fill up my nose and back of my throat. The center is still slightly pink, making it very tender. It's not fully cooked or dry, but it's not very juicy either. The cheese melted beautifully, lying nicely on top of the patty, merging into it. I felt that there wasn't enough sauce though, there was only one dot in the center of the top bun. Ares later on drenched it in ketchup to compensate for the dryness.
The fries were nice They were thickly sliced and the outer layer was crispy while it's soft in the center, just the way I like them. All-in-all, I think it looked amazing but tasted average. If I were going for burgers, I'd revisit Burgerholic (who are not paying me by the way, we went at our own free will and paid for our own food). The burgers might not be as huge or look as pretty but they are juicy, dripping, and filling with perfect proportions.
The Ap Second (All Pasta)–Truffle Mushroom Risotto (with Onsen Tamago)
This is something I wouldn't have ordered and would definitely not even attempt to try a year ago. But I was pleasantly surprised. I was drowned in the smell of truffle as soon as it arrived and there was a soft-cooked egg placed on top. Onsen tamago, also known as hot-spring egg, is a type Japanese soft-boiled egg. They are very soft and runny, even better than poached eggs. I don't like truffle, I didn't even eat mushrooms or runny eggs until I met Ares. I love runny eggs now, I'm still on the fence about mushrooms.
Truffle has this distinct gas-like smell that I don't like. When I picked up the risotto with my fork, I took a deep breath. At first the truffle seemed aromatic, but then I felt the gas-like sensation burning in the back of my throat. I really wanted to give up and ask Ares to eat it but I still decided to take a bite. I actually liked it! The smooth creaminess of the egg mellowed the sting of the truffle. The risotto cooked with heavy cream was rich, creamy, and slid right down my throat.
For the mushrooms, they used shitake, which is unconventional and surprising. I hate shitake mushroom but I tried it anyway. I'm glad to discover that it didn't have the muddy taste shitake mushrooms usually do. They were also very tender, unlike some mushrooms that make me feel like I'm chewing silicone.
The Ap Second (All Pasta)–Fish Sticks (with Tartar Sauce)
Sides are usually small so I was surprised by the potion. Ares even considered it as a main. The surface was perfectly golden, which made me really want to try it despite being allergic to seafood. Ares tried to stop me multiple times, worried that I'd have a reaction and die in front of him or something. But I still managed to get one.
It wasn't fishy, thankfully. The outer layer is very crispy yet the center is very tender. Albeit a bit empty inside.
I like to joke that Ares eats baby food because he likes anything that doesn't require teeth, like cream of rice or tilapia with rice. I'm guessing this fit right into the category, since this is the only dish he finished.
The fish sticks themselves were very lightly seasoned, which went well with the tar tar sauce. It's not the best tar tar sauce, but it was good. You could taste the light sourness of the base and hint of spiciness of the onions.
The Ap Second (All Pasta)–Beverages
Honestly, I don't do beverages. I drink water and apple cider vinegar. Not for my health. I just like it like that. We got an iced Americano and milk tea.
I used to drink a lot of coffee, but not anymore. I had a glass a while ago and I was hyper like a chihuahua. The Americano was smooth and not bitter at all. However, it was a bit too watery for my taste. I like my coffee strong with a hint of sour.
As someone born and raise in Taipei, I am hesitant to admit that I am not a milk tea lover. But I thought The Ap Second's milk tea wan't bad. It's a natural creamy color, unlike artificial milk tea that is beige. I have a huge problem with sugary drinks, not just because they are terrible for you. I hate the feeling of how they can never seem to quench my thirst and how I could literally feel the sugar building up in my mouth. Especially when dairy is involved. it's like I could feel tongue coating grow. I didn't have this problem with The Ap Second's milk tea. It was light and smooth, milky but not too sweet.
The Ap Second-Store Info
Store Name: The Ap Second (All Pasta)
Address: 1F, No. 5-4, Lane 113, Sanmin Road, Songshan District (10-minute walk from MRT NanJing SanMin station exit 2)
Opening hours: 11:00-14:00 &17:00-21:00 closed on Mondays
Phone: (02)2766-3456
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