Gijang ocean-view Italian restaurant with abalone risotto: Riverside

I went for a drive to Gijang with friends for the first time in ages and found such a lovely Italian restaurant🌟 It has an ocean view, so Riverside would be great for a date or even a blind date!

Riverside Gijang parking and Blue Ribbon recognition

Gijang is hard to visit without a car, right..? Haha, I usually come as part of a drive, and Riverside has such a huge parking lot that you can visit without worrying about parking! There is enough space for even beginner drivers to park comfortably, so I think you can just come without stress haha.

Riverside was selected for the Blue Ribbon restaurant guide both last year and this year🫢

Brown-toned interior and varied seating

The calming brown-toned interior also has an antique feel, so anyone who loves vintage interiors would absolutely love it haha. The tables were spacious too, making it easy to sit comfortably, chat, and eat!

There were also counter-style tables that looked perfect for couples to sit side by side🫣❣️ There is group seating as well, so it is great for families and gatherings. If you come with children, it seems especially nice because you can eat comfortably in a private space!

Since lots of families visit, they also have plenty of high chairs☺

There were outdoor tables too, but it was so windy on the day I visited that I could not use them. Still, the view and lawn-like feel were so nice that I would definitely want to sit outside on a day with a cool breeze✨ The thoughtfully provided tableware..🍽 With the brown tables too, everything felt so refined that it just put me in a good mood☺ The sea from the window seats..🩵 It felt like Jeju Island, and I loved the atmosphere.

Peperoncino, Parmesan cheese, and hot sauce were available to have with the meal, and even the dates were written on them. I thought, wow, they really check everything carefully and portion it out haha. You can eat with confidence.

Riverside menu and after-meal drink discount

From steak and pasta to risotto and pizza, they sell a wide range of Italian dishes, as you would expect from a great Gijang Italian restaurant! At Riverside, drinks ordered after your meal are also 10% off, so if you do not feel like going to another café, you can take care of both your meal and dessert in one place haha.

They show photos for reference with the meal menu, so you can look through them and order whatever you are craving!

Margherita pizza, ragù pasta, and abalone risotto

We got properly ready to eat with the appetite-opening bread served before the meal.. 🍞🧡

Here are the Margherita pizza, ragù pasta, and abalone risotto we ordered!

Soft fresh-pasta ragù

Ragù pasta made by simmering beef and pork in tomato sauce🍝❤ They told us to mix it well at first because it was fresh pasta, so we gave it a really good mix. The fresh pasta went down so smoothly and was easy to eat🫣❣️ The pork and beef went beautifully with the tomato sauce, and the meat was not dry at all, so I really enjoyed it🤤

Abalone risotto generously loaded with abalone

Abalone risotto with abalone innard sauce and Gijang seaweed🌟 I was honestly shocked by how much abalone there was🫣 Can you see that cheese stretch? The combination of smooth risotto and chewy abalone texture is seriously the best🤤 The abalone was especially plump and fresh! They give you this much abalone, yet the price was not all that high, so it felt like such great value🫶🏻

Margherita pizza with cheese and basil aroma

Margherita pizza topped with fresh mozzarella and basil over tomato sauce🍕❣️ Thanks to the soft cheese and basil aroma, I did not get tired of it and just kept eating! The crust was chewy too, so the texture was 👍🏻 It was even tastier when I added the Parmesan cheese and hot sauce they had out, just the way I liked☺

A walk at Sinpyeongso Park after the meal

When we paid and headed out, they even gave us candy for dessert, so we made sure to take it and went straight for a walk at Sinpyeongso Park right in front!

Finishing with a walk at Sinpyeongso Park after the meal was nice because it helped with digestion haha. You can sort out a dessert drink after eating and take a walk in the park right in front, so there is no reason not to visit!

What I loved about Riverside, a great Italian restaurant in Gijang, was its dedicated parking lot—especially important in Gijang, where you really need to come by car. It was also not in a busier, more crowded area than other places, so we could eat at ease and chat comfortably with friends! The refined interior makes it great for couples, and I think parents would love it too if you brought them along.