When soldiers of the previous generation retreated to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek, the government built military dependents' villages for the soldiers and their relatives. However, as the wheels of times move forward, these villages are moved or dismantled, and good tastes hidden in the alleys are disappearing gradually. This explains why vintage restaurants have been springing up one after another in recent years. But many of these restaurants are just putting up an appearance, thinking they can keep attracting customers with decorations like old movie posters, bicycles with license plates, and rusty tins. In fact, many restaurants have run out of business because of this wishful thinking. However, unlike those restaurants, Luguang 7th Village, a restaurant located on Dakeng mountain, was definitely one of the best vintage restaurants in the middle Taiwan. Luguang 7th Village offers not only delicious cuisine and sufficient atmosphere. What's better, it boasts a night scene to overlook Taichung City.
Almost every meal on the menu is delicious. Whether you sample chao zhongjuan (stir-fried neritic squid, 炒中卷), xiandan chao kugua (stir-fried bittergourd with salted eggs, 鹹蛋炒苦瓜), or bingmeijiang paigu (ribs with plum sauce, 冰梅醬排骨), you find them all tasty. Although not all the dishes are originated from military dependents' villages, how will the guests care about which kind of cuisine they're enjoying if they find it appetizing? But the only terrible dish we've tasted is the signature luobogao (turnip cake, 蘿蔔糕) recommended by the waiters. Different from the common crispy and springy luobogao offered by other restaurants, luobogao in Luguang 7th Village has taros inside and thus gives a softer texture. Perhaps it's the authentic way to make luobogao, and nowadays people are just not accustomed to it.
The restaurant successfully creates a distinctive atmosphere. Inside, there are a reviewing stand, a portrait of the country's founder Dr. Sun Yat-sen to admire, and slogans listed on the two sides to make the restaurant similar to an assembly in a military dependents' village. Screens made of bamboo strips and frosted glass help to separate the big round tables; porcelain and models on the cabinets are quite exquisite. But the most amazing part is certainly the outdoor platform for flag-rising. Surrounding the national flag, adults sample delicacies while enjoying the charming view, and children rush onto the platform to take photos. The pleasant atmosphere seems to bring people back to the age of military dependents' villages.
