Boram-dong, Sejong Italian lunch: Tuumba pasta & truffle pizza, Olivus

Is Olivus Compagno in Boram-dong, Sejong worth a weekend lunch?

Olivus Compagno (올리부스 꼼파뇨) is an Italian restaurant in Boram-dong, near Sejong City Hall. I'd heard about it from Sejong locals, so I went for weekend lunch. Is there any happiness as sure as a relaxed weekend lunch with people you love, eating good food?

It's close to Sejong City Hall, so it's easy to get to, and it already has a big reputation as a Sejong favorite. I went with high hopes and came away even happier than expected, so here's a vivid review.

What's the atmosphere like at weekend lunch peak?

At weekend lunchtime, Olivus Compagno's Boram branch was packed, but the whole place is floor-to-ceiling windows, so it never felt stuffy and the light came in brightly. Families, couples on dates, friends chatting happily: all kinds of guests filled the place with lively energy.

Even with so many people at peak time, the all-glass front meant I felt no stuffiness at all, and the bright light made the place feel even warmer and brighter.

Red-and-wood interior and table spacing

The interior is a modern design mixing red and wood tones, with green plants and stylish lighting added. In a word, it had a real "Instagram vibe", and the plants and lights everywhere made it feel cozy.

The tables weren't too close together either, so even with a crowd we could talk and eat comfortably. Every corner of the place seemed cared for, and it was a great spot for taking photos while waiting for the food.

What's on the Olivus Compagno menu?

The menu covers Italian dishes evenly: salads and appetizers, a variety of pastas, pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven, risotto and steak. Sitting down and looking through it, I was surprised how varied it was.

The pasta in particular has a wide choice of sauces, and the pizzas range from popular classics to original ones with Olivus Compagno's own character. Choosing took ages, but it was the happy kind of dilemma.

With so much variety, I thought anyone, young or old, could easily find something to suit their taste. After a long deliberation, I wanted something spicy and rich that day, so I ordered the Tuumba pasta (a spicy cream pasta), plus the truffle funghi pizza (funghi means mushrooms), which is full of mushroom flavor.

Orange juice (₩3,500) & passion fruit ade (₩4,500)

For drinks we ordered orange juice (₩3,500) and passion fruit ade (₩4,500). I had the passion fruit ade and it was seriously good. The balance of sweet and tangy went so well with the pasta and pizza 🤭

Is the Tuumba pasta (₩16,900) too heavy?

Olivus Compagno's Tuumba pasta costs ₩16,900. After the creamy richness comes a subtle, clean spiciness, so it never got heavy to the end. I'd call it a perfect balance of spicy and thick.

The Tuumba pasta I'd been looking forward to most arrived first. Sauce pooled generously under the pasta, topped with plump shrimp and mushrooms, and the look alone already passed.

I tasted the sauce first, and the balance of nutty cream filling my mouth followed by a subtle, clean spiciness was really excellent. Cream pasta can get tiring or heavy as you eat, but Olivus Compagno's Tuumba sauce has a pleasant spiciness that wipes out the heaviness, so I enjoyed it without getting sick of it right to the last bite.

The sauce clung thickly to the noodles rather than sliding off, so every twirl gave deep flavor, and the springy shrimp in between added fun. There was plenty of sauce too, so it was perfect for dipping pizza dough.

Is the truffle funghi pizza (₩17,900) a must-order?

Olivus Compagno's truffle funghi pizza costs ₩17,900: a wood-fired pizza with several kinds of mushrooms, cheese and truffle aroma on the oven-baked dough. Thanks to the rich, luxurious mushroom flavor, I think it's a must-order if you like mushrooms.

The truffle funghi pizza that came next had presence from the moment it was served. Before it even touched the table, the fragrant, deep scent of truffle oil drifted past my nose and woke up my appetite. The golden wood-fired pizza piled with many kinds of mushrooms, generous cheese and truffle on top was honestly art.

Biting into a slice, the luxurious truffle flavor filling my mouth and the chewy mushrooms made me gasp in delight.

The dough was especially impressive: maybe because it's baked in a wood-fired oven, it's crisp outside, soft and chewy inside. Even the crust edge was plain and nutty, so it's a magical pizza you finish without leaving anything. If you like mushrooms you will never regret it, and it's a strongly recommended order at Olivus Compagno.

I was too full and left one slice behind, which I regret 😭😭😭😭

Verdict: would I go back to Olivus Compagno?

Even at the busy weekend lunch hour, the staff at Olivus Compagno's Boram branch were friendly, and the atmosphere, interior and food were all satisfying with nothing lacking. It reminded me again that when a place is crowded, there's a reason.

The combo of rich, thick Tuumba pasta and fragrant truffle funghi pizza was a stroke of genius, and I'm already curious how the other dishes I didn't try taste.

If you want really good Italian food in a nice setting in Boram-dong, Sejong, or a no-fail weekend dining spot, please do visit Olivus Compagno. I'm definitely going back soon to work through the other dishes!

Anyway, I hope you'll order this exact combo I had, Tuumba pasta and truffle pizza. It was the best Western food I've had lately, okay?