★★★★★ 4.5

📍 South District, Taichung📅 2026

French Set Menu Reservation Only

Le Four—French for "the oven"—is where Chef James works his magic. Having spent years in Canada, he’s made oven-baked dishes his signature. Even the Chinese name, *Lai Fa* (萊法), carries a deep personal meaning; it’s a heartfelt tribute to his beloved grandmother, *Lai-Fa* (來發). The restaurant is a strictly reservation-only, one-man operation with just one seating for lunch and dinner. You get a front-row seat to the action in the semi-open kitchen, where James meticulously preps every course. He even makes a point to come out after service to chat and snap photos with guests. A full set menu—including bread, appetizers, salad, soup, a main, dessert, and drinks—typically ranges from NT$1,000 to NT$1,900. Because James only shops for ingredients once a booking is confirmed, everything on the plate is incredibly fresh. While the menu rotates with the seasons, you can usually count on standouts like the paper-wrapped fish, succulent duck breast, and king prawns. Perfect for birthdays, date nights, and cozy family gatherings.

Good for Birthdays Date nights Cozy family gatherings

Dining notes

This experience follows a classic French six-course structure: an amuse-bouche, salad, soup, mid-course, main, and dessert. The restaurant places a heavy emphasis on an artisanal, "handmade" touch—from the house-crafted desserts to the sun-dried fruits—while letting the natural, unadulterated flavors of the ingredients shine. The menu masterfully pairs local Taiwanese treasures, like wild squid from Penghu, with premium imported goods. The sauces are particularly refined; the 10oz ribeye, served with a red wine beef bone reduction that tasted like it had been simmering for days, was the undisputed star of the show.

1. Herbed Chicken Baguette Slices (香料雞肉法式麵包片)

Ingredients: Roasted cherry tomatoes, herbed chicken, French baguette slices.
Preparation: Lightly seasoned and refreshing, the baguette slices are toasted with fragrant olive oil, sea salt, and a crack of black pepper.
How to enjoy: Simply pick them up and enjoy them as finger food.

2. Wild Penghu Squid & Organic Mixed Fruit Salad with Apple Honey Vinaigrette (澎湖野生軟絲有機綜合水果沙拉佐有機蘋果蜂蜜油醋醬)

Ingredients: Wild Penghu squid, cloud ear fungus (a smaller, more delicate variety of wood ear mushroom), spiced walnuts, and a selection of organic mixed fruits.
Preparation: Topped with toasted spiced walnuts for an extra layer of crunch and dressed in a bright organic apple honey vinaigrette.
Chef's notes: The squid is sourced directly from Penghu and is exceptionally fresh.
How to enjoy: Give everything a good toss to ensure the vinaigrette is evenly distributed before diving in.

3. Pumpkin & Vegetable Velouté (南瓜蔬菜濃湯)

Ingredients: Pumpkin, a medley of vegetables, milk, and "pearls" (tapioca).
Preparation: Completely free of artificial additives, the soup relies on a high volume of slow-cooked vegetables to achieve its natural sweetness. It’s finished with a delicate layer of frothed milk foam and contains pearls to add a playful chewiness to each spoonful.

4. Savory Vegetable Crepe (蔬菜可麗餅)

Ingredients: Mozzarella cheese, seasonal vegetables, crepe batter.
Preparation: The crepe is folded around a generous helping of mozzarella and vegetables, then baked until the cheese is gooey and molten.
How to enjoy: The filling gets quite hot after baking, so take care when cutting into it.

5. Pan-Seared 10oz Beef Ribeye with Red Wine Bone Marrow Sauce (香煎 10oz 牛肋眼佐紅酒牛骨醬汁)

Ingredients: 10oz beef ribeye, red wine beef bone reduction.
Preparation: The ribeye is perfectly seared and drizzled with a rich red wine sauce made by slow-reducing beef bones over a long period.
Chef's notes: This particular bone marrow sauce is the ultimate companion for the beef, elevating the richness of the cut.

6. Heart-Shaped Dessert: Mascarpone Mousse with Honey Cake and Perfume Peach (愛心甜點：馬斯卡彭慕斯佐蜂蜜蛋糕與香水水蜜桃)

Ingredients: Mascarpone mousse, honey cake, perfume peach, mint jelly, dried dragon fruit, vanilla bean ice cream.
Preparation: A stunning heart-shaped creation featuring a silky mascarpone mousse exterior with a hidden center of honey cake and fragrant perfume peaches. It’s served alongside translucent mint jelly, house-made dried dragon fruit "chips" (which have a candy-like snap), and a scoop of vanilla ice cream flecked with real vanilla bean.
Chef's notes: Every component of the dessert is handcrafted in-house. ---

Extra notes

- **Service**: If you’d like some extra bread to soak up the sauces, don’t hesitate to let the staff know.

Dishes

Restaurant info

Address	No. 87, Aiguo St., South Dist., Taichung City 402, Taiwan Open in Google Maps →
Phone	04-2227-1635
Hours	12:00-14:30 / 18:30-21:00
Closed	Tuesdays
Reservations	Reservation only
Price	NT$ 1,000-1,900 / person
Cuisine	French・Set Menu・Reservation Only
Visited	2026