First truffle cream gnocchi at Bologna, a Dunsan-dong Italian

I wanted Western food for the first time in a while, and ended up falling for the atmosphere once and the taste twice. Here is Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch, a great find in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon~!

Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch: hours, parking and reservations

Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch is open daily 11:00–21:30, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 and last order at 20:30. The address is 30 Dunsanjung-ro 46beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, Unit 102 on the 1st floor, and 2 hours of parking is covered at the Hyeongseong parking tower next door.

• ⏰ Daily 11:00–21:30 (break time 15:00–17:00, last order 20:30)
• 📍 30 Dunsanjung-ro 46beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, Unit 102, 1st floor
• 🚗 2 hours of parking at the Hyeongseong parking tower next door
• 📌 Groups welcome, reservations available

The exterior alone has insane vibes! It felt like standing in front of a restaurant in Europe.

Bologna in Dunsan-dong: can you go without a reservation?

There can be a wait at peak times, so a reservation is a must at Bologna! We didn't book, so we waited about 10 minutes before getting in T_T

For waiting guests, there's a little tea table set up at one side of the entrance! It's a small gesture, but I was touched by the warm thought,,?! haha

Interior and seating at Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch

The inside is wood-toned and overall fairly dark, but bright lights here and there give it a warm feel.

Aren't the antique props so pretty…? I fell for the lovely mood the moment I walked in,,💗 It's an atmosphere-first kind of place, so I really recommend it for anniversaries, dates and blind dates!!

There are group tables too, so it's a genuine recommendation for family gatherings!

You can order easily from the kiosk at each table.

What are Bologna's signature dishes?

Bologna's signature dishes are the Bolognese ragu pasta (₩19,000) and the truffle cream gnocchi (₩23,000). The menu describes them like this.

• ✨ Bolognese ragu pasta | ₩19,000 — Bolognese pasta finished with a ragu simmered for 4 hours in the traditional Italian way, balancing the mild acidity of tomato with rich meaty flavor
• ✨ Truffle cream gnocchi | ₩23,000 — gnocchi pan-fried crisp outside and chewy inside, with deep truffle cream and nutty walnuts for a rich, smooth finish

We ordered the truffle cream gnocchi + truffle crab risotto + ricotta cheese salad!

The free starter bread and basil mushroom soup

At Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch, starter bread and basil mushroom soup come as standard.

It's just starter bread so I wasn't expecting much, but what is this..? Why is it so chewy?! The balsamic + oil dip is a real kick too! The soup was smooth with a strong basil and mushroom aroma, perfect for getting your appetite going. It was delicious from the bread and soup onward, so my expectations were sky high🥰

The dishes came out in the order salad, risotto, gnocchi!

Ricotta cheese salad ₩9,000

The ricotta cheese salad is ₩9,000. To help prevent blood sugar spikes I order a salad at every restaurant now, but I've never seen one with such fresh vegetables and so many toppings. The freshness of the balsamic, the nuts and the cheese came together perfectly and it was really good!

Truffle crab risotto ₩17,000

The truffle crab risotto is ₩17,000. From the first bite, I could taste the savory depth of rosé cream and the clean flavor of crab meat, all smooth together. True to a proper risotto, the grains had a nice pop to them, which made it fun to eat haha

Is gnocchi good even if it's your first time? Truffle cream gnocchi ₩23,000

I knew from the very first bite why Bologna's truffle cream gnocchi (₩23,000) is the signature dish. It was my first gnocchi ever and I'm completely smitten,,,💗

The combination of smooth, rich truffle cream, nutty almond topping, and gnocchi crisp outside and chewy inside is the best👍 The sauce is also full of gnocchi, soaked in cream, so when you bite in the cream bursts out. Pure heaven😇

The gnocchi is great, but dunking the broccoli in the truffle cream sauce is crazy… I can't speak for the other dishes, but the truffle cream gnocchi is a strong recommendation⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch for a date or blind date?

Bologna Daejeon Dunsan Branch is a Dunsan-dong spot where I fell for the atmosphere and then fell again for the taste. The truffle cream gnocchi especially was so good I'd come back to Dunsan-dong just for that dish. I highly recommend it as a Dunsan-dong date course, and since the seats are spaced widely apart, it works for a blind date restaurant too!