Gwangju Italian restaurant for family pasta dinners: Camel Orzo

Camel Orzo Is Beautiful Every Time I Visit

Doesn't this beautiful place look like a restaurant in a lovely Italian tourist town? I've actually been here many times. It is pretty every time, and delicious every time, too. This is Camel Orzo :) If you still haven't been here in Gwangju, I recommend going right away. Haha.

If you enter it in your navigation app, there is parking in the building, so you can park comfortably on weekdays. I went on a weekday evening, and the lot was spacious. On weekends, people usually park in the designated lot outside!

It's so pretty even in the slightly dim evening light, isn't it? That is why it is also known as a great Gwangju date spot. When my family visited, there were quite a few couples, too.

There is also a pretty area where you can wait. Camel Orzo's exterior is so lovely that it puts you in a good mood before you even go in, and waiting is not difficult because there are seats outside.

Camel Orzo's Menu Selection

Desserts and Set Menus

I came in summer before, but this was my first visit around autumn, and there were new dessert items. Haha. Such eye-catching desserts..!

There are set menus like these, too. Dinner course meals are also available, so I think it is a wonderful place for a special occasion or a date.

It is a great restaurant with a well-rounded selection of wines and drinks, too.

Salads, Pasta, and Pizza

Here are the salads and pasta dishes. Tap them to see them more clearly. As you would expect from an Italian restaurant, the pasta looks wonderfully high-quality, doesn't it? It truly tastes fantastic, too.

Pizza..! The pizza here is really delicious, too, but this time we focused on pasta.

When I traveled in Italy, I remember happily sipping that limoncello all by myself..! This really is an authentic Italian restaurant. They have that..! Next time, I should try a glass.

Once you receive the menu, have a good look through it and order at your table.

The interior is so pretty, too. When I first came, there were lots of lovely framed pictures tucked around every corner, so it was fun to look around. I've come so often that it now even feels familiar and cozy. Haha.

Dishes My Family Has Returned for More Than Five Times

Camel di Polpo and Two Sauces

Camel di Polpo. The reason my family has visited more than five times.. haha. This polpo (octopus) is the culprit. My kindergarten-age son loves it so much. It must be because it is that tender and delicious, right? It is truly soft, perfectly seasoned, and the sauce is not overpowering, so my son often says, “Let's go to the octopus restaurant!” That is why we come often.. hahaha.

It comes with two sauces. They are house sauces: the green one is tangy and mustard-based, while the beige one is nutty. I like them both, but my husband prefers the nutty one.

Red Shrimp Bisque Rosé Pasta

This was a new menu item. Plump, moist red shrimp sit on top, and the pasta is packed with shrimp roe inside..! It was such, such delicious pasta. In particular, the red shrimp were cooked just right and sooooo moist—not dry at all. What a tasty new dish.

Twirl it up for one bite..! I really love pasta.. Especially since having Camel Orzo's pasta, I hardly go anywhere else.. hehe.

Classic Vongole Packed with Clams

Classic vongole. Vongole loaded with fresh Manila clams and hamaguri clams. This is another dish my son loves. What more is there to say.. It is also truly delicious and never gets tiresome. Personally, I think Camel Orzo is Gwangju's number-one pasta spot..! The noodles are so good. I am particular about pasta noodles, and here they make very thin pasta cooked so deliciously. This pasta.. is top tier!!!

I have a son who looks like an otter, happily picking the meat out of these fresh, pretty clams.. haha. There is scallop meat in it, too, and it is an incredibly satisfying, delicious vongole.

Whenever we come here.. as always, we clean every plate. Haha. We usually order pizza, too, but that day we were craving two pastas. Food has to be delicious first of all, right? Those of you going on dates..! The food has to be good.

Order Lighter Seasoning When Dining with Children

For reference, when choosing pasta, you can check the lighter-seasoning option for pastas that tend to be strongly seasoned. It is such a great option for families with children like ours. We do not usually eat strongly seasoned food, and even with the lighter option, it was not bland at all—it was delicious.

So pretty.. The night view is beautiful, too, isn't it? It got a little darker after we finished eating, which made the atmosphere even better. I think it would be so nice to enjoy this lovely mood after a date meal. If you are looking for a great Gwangju date restaurant, I strongly recommend it. Of course, it is also a truly excellent place for a family meal :)