Ansan Italian restaurant with free parking: That Man's Italian Lounge

A review written after visiting with a discount. That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge, a steak spot in Jungang-dong, Ansan.

Where to park at That Man's Italian in Jungang-dong, Ansan

We visited on a weekday evening. That Man's Italian Restaurant serves everything from pasta and risotto to steak, gratin, and course meals, so it seemed like a nice place for the two of us to have a relaxed dinner. One thing to know before visiting: there's no dedicated parking lot for the restaurant. Instead, you can register your car at the public lot across from the Dongwon Building for 1 hour free, or get a ₩2,000 discount on your meal if you park at Daedong Joy World. We checked the parking info in advance before heading over — worth keeping in mind if you're driving.

Private room, floor-to-ceiling window seats and a rooftop garden

That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge feels clean overall but not overly formal, so it seemed like a good spot for a date or blind date, but also for family meals, work dinners, meeting-the-parents occasions, or group gatherings. Besides the regular tables, there's a separate private room toward the back of the restaurant.

If you want a quiet meal or a bit more privacy on a special occasion, the room seems like a good option. There's also a large floor-to-ceiling window along one side, so you can eat while looking out at an open view. Visiting in the evening, as it got dark outside, the view through the window and the restaurant's lighting blended together for a mood quite different from daytime.

There's also a separate rooftop garden and terrace, with lights scattered throughout — nice for a short walk before or after the meal.

Seeing the atmosphere, it made sense why so many couples come here on dates.

The menu, tablet ordering and a list of 40-plus wines

Each table has a table-order tablet, so we could take our time browsing the menu before ordering.

The menu was broader than I expected — pasta, risotto, steak, and various course meals — and they also carry more than 40 kinds of wine to pair with the food.

From casual, easy-drinking wines to ones suited for anniversaries or special occasions, there was a good range to pick from depending on taste. Prices were also more reasonable than I expected compared to other restaurants, making it easy to add a glass of wine alongside the food.

First up: the pre-meal bread

That day we ordered the lamb chop steak and the wild Tongyeong stone octopus ratatouille gratin. After ordering, the pre-meal bread arrived first, crisply baked and served with a sauce.

Taking a bite, the outside was crisp while the inside was soft and mild — a nice light way to whet the appetite before the mains arrived.

Wild Tongyeong stone octopus ratatouille gratin: how big are the octopus chunks?

The wild Tongyeong stone octopus ratatouille gratin came in a wide oval dish, ratatouille on a tomato-sauce base topped with a generous layer of cheese. Crisp bread was served alongside — good to eat the dish on its own, but also nice paired with the bread.

Scooping into it with a spoon, the tomato sauce was full of vegetables and stone octopus. The octopus in particular was cut into surprisingly large pieces, generous at first glance. The tangy, rich tomato sauce combined with the softly melted cheese made for a savory, satisfying flavor overall.

The octopus kept a chewy texture, which made for an interesting contrast against the soft vegetables. It wasn't just a token amount of octopus — big pieces kept showing up throughout, more satisfying than expected. Piling ratatouille onto the bread, the tomato sauce and cheese soaked in naturally, almost like eating warm pizza toppings on bread.

Medium-rare lamb chop steak: any gamey smell?

Next came the main we ordered that day: the lamb chop steak. It arrived as two large pieces of lamb chops, plated with grilled mushrooms, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes on the side. You can choose your preferred doneness for the lamb, and we went with medium rare.

Holding the bone and slicing off a piece, the outside was nicely seared while the inside kept moist juices intact.

The gamey smell typical of lamb wasn't strong, and the meat itself was quite tender, making it easy to enjoy. The more I chewed, the more savory flavor came through — I was glad we'd gone with medium rare.

We also worked through the grilled vegetables served alongside — eating vegetables between bites of meat made the whole meal feel a bit cleaner than just eating meat straight through.

Verdict on a weekday dinner after work

A weekday evening dinner enjoyed with Mokseong-yangban after work, in a festive mood. The lamb chops were tender and free of gamey smell, and the octopus ratatouille was really satisfying too. Both dishes paired well with wine, and this is a place I'd love to come back to with wine next time. The atmosphere was clean and relaxed, making it a good pick for a date or a special occasion. If you're looking for a good-vibe Italian restaurant in Ansan, this one is worth a visit.