Truffle soup and nuovo crema pasta in Sangmu, Gwangju: Camel Orzo

I hadn't eaten somewhere with a nice atmosphere in a while, so I went to Camel Orzo in Sangmu.

Sangmu has no shortage of restaurants, but this time I wasn't looking for just any place to eat — I wanted somewhere with a bit more atmosphere, and that's how I ended up here.

What Camel Orzo's exterior and dining room look like

The exterior alone already gave me the feeling of being in Italy — it was decorated that nicely.

As soon as I walked in, the lighting was soft overall and the interior was clean, so the atmosphere was pretty good. It wasn't too heavy or formal, so it was comfortable to eat in, and it felt just right for chatting on a date, too.

I imagined the mood would be even better on a late evening visit once it got dark outside, so it seemed like a good spot for couples on a date or an anniversary.

Photos came out pretty here too, and the overall mood was quite emotive, so it was also good for taking pictures of the food.

The menu had a wide variety of Western dishes, and I liked that you could use the paper menu and the table-order tablet at the same time.

How the truffle mushroom soup tasted

That day we ordered three things: truffle mushroom soup, Camel Margherita, and Truffle Nuovo Crema.

They brought out the truffle mushroom soup first.

I tried it, and the rich, savory mushroom flavor came through with a subtle hint of truffle on top, and it was delicious. It wasn't too strong or salty — a soft flavor that was good to start the meal with, and eating it warm was easy on the stomach. If you like truffle aroma, this is a dish you can enjoy without any complaints.

Camel Margherita: the dough and the toppings

Next was the Camel Margherita.

Margherita pizza is a basic combination of tomato sauce, cheese, and basil, but I guess a classic is a classic for a reason.

The dough wasn't too thick, so it didn't feel heavy, and the cheese paired well with the tomato sauce. Pizza is always best eaten warm right when it arrives, so we each grabbed a slice straight away.

Why the Truffle Nuovo Crema was the most memorable dish

Last up was the Truffle Nuovo Crema.

Personally, this was the dish that stuck with me most out of everything we ate that day.

The creamy sauce blended really well with the pasta, and with the distinctive truffle aroma added on top, it was savory and full of flavor.

The sauce was on the thick side, so it clung well to the noodles, and I could really taste it with every single bite.

Two truffle dishes plus a pizza: did the combination work?

We ordered the truffle mushroom soup and the Truffle Nuovo Crema together, so the truffle theme did overlap, but each felt different enough that it didn't get old, which surprised me. Adding the pizza on top meant it could cut through the richness of the cream pasta nicely, so the combination worked out well overall.

Is Camel Orzo a good date spot in Sangmu, Gwangju?

The food was satisfying overall, but personally what I liked most was the atmosphere of the space. Rather than feeling loud or crowded, it had a calm mood for eating, which made it stand out especially as a date spot.

If you're looking for a restaurant with atmosphere in Sangmu, or somewhere a bit special to eat with your partner, Camel Orzo seems like a good option.

It's a place where you can enjoy good food while chatting at ease, so it's somewhere I'd like to come back to next time I want to set the mood.