Yeonnam-dong blind-date restaurant sharing three dishes: Classicdang

Hi, I'm Seou 😀 I went looking for a nice-atmosphere Italian restaurant in Yeonnam-dong and found Classicdang!

It's the kind of place you find by walking the alleys of Yeonnam-dong from Hongik University Station, and with pizza, pasta, and risotto all on the menu, it was great for a date or a visit with friends. The atmosphere was nice too, so I think it'd work well for a blind date. Let me introduce it right away!

How long is the wait at Classicdang at 1pm on a weekend?

I visited Classicdang around 1pm on a weekend, and since it's a popular spot, there was a wait. I waited about 10 minutes before getting seated. While waiting, I debated what to order and settled on three dishes — Margherita pizza, crab cheese rosé pasta, and squid ink risotto — and the combination turned out pretty satisfying.

Utensils are out front and you grab them yourself. They do give you a water bottle, but I liked that there's a spot to drink water while you wait if you get thirsty!

Margherita pizza: the simple, clean-tasting starter

The Margherita pizza came out first! A classic done right — tomato sauce with cheese on top — so it paired well with the other dishes. There was plenty of cheese, and rather than being bold or heavy, it had a clean, light style, perfect for grabbing a slice here and there between bites of pasta and risotto. Margherita really is charming in its simplicity.

Crab cheese rosé pasta, thick and rich

Of the three dishes, the crab cheese rosé pasta was the one that grabbed me visually first. Smooth rosé sauce with crab meat and cheese folded in made for a savory, thick, rich flavor. I wanted to mix rice in with it, haha. The sauce clung well to the noodles, so every bite delivered a deep rosé flavor, and with crab meat added it felt a bit more special than a regular rosé pasta. If you like rosé pasta, I'd recommend this one.

Squid ink risotto: nutty and surprisingly moreish

And then the squid ink risotto! Its pitch-black look made it stand out the moment I started taking photos, haha. The distinct umami of the squid ink paired well with the soft, savory risotto, and I kept reaching for more than I expected. If the rosé pasta was creamy and rich, the ink risotto had its own different charm, so I was glad I ordered both together, haha. Especially with the Margherita pizza added in, having a pizza + pasta + risotto combo meant we could taste a good variety, which seems great for a group visit.

Why Classicdang works as a Yeonnam-dong date spot

There are so many Italian restaurants in Yeonnam-dong, but Classicdang lets you enjoy pizza, pasta, and risotto all at once, which made choosing dishes fun. It's good for a nice-atmosphere date meal, and also fine for ordering multiple dishes with friends to share! Personally, of the three, the crab cheese rosé pasta was especially my style. If you like thick, savory pasta, be sure to order it too. If you're looking for a date spot in Yeonnam-dong or want Italian food near Hongik University Station, stop by Classicdang, haha.

Portions are big — next visit, the steak

I have a bigger appetite than average for a woman, and the portions at Classicdang were all so generous I left a little behind. Normally when I go to Italian restaurants I order one dish per person plus a pizza or steak on the side, haha. Classicdang has a steak dish too, and since the pasta, risotto, and pizza were all so good, I got curious about the steak too! I'm planning to go back with friends next time and try it, haha.

Also, Classicdang has a nice atmosphere and outdoor tables with an open-air feel, so it seemed like a good blind date spot too. If you're looking for a good Italian restaurant, date spot, or blind date spot near Yeonnam-dong, I recommend Classicdang!