Sejong Italian weeknight dinner: pumpkin gnocchi & house wine, Olivus

What is Olivus Compagno like?

Olivus Compagno is a Western restaurant in Boram-dong, Sejong that has been loved for a long time. I'm a Korean-food lover, but some days you just crave Western food full of rich buttery aroma, right? So this time I headed to Olivus Compagno in Boram-dong!

Before going, I got curious about what "Olivus Compagno" means and did a quick search. "Compagno" means "companion" in Italian. (It's also an affectionate name for the ingredients you can't leave out of an Italian kitchen.) I spent a warm, lovely evening at Olivus with my own old companion, haha. Hehe.

Olivus Compagno Boram Branch: hours and parking

• Address: 127 Sicheong-daero, Unit 117–119, 1F, Sejong, South Korea (Boram-dong 705)
• Hours: daily 11:00–20:30
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: lunch 14:20 / dinner 19:50
• Amenities: 2 hours of free parking, reservations, group seating, takeout/delivery, high chairs, separate men's and women's restrooms, Wi-Fi, mobile payment

The restaurant offers 2 hours of free parking in the building, so you can visit without worrying,

It took about 10–15 minutes by car from our house to Boram-dong.

What are the weeknight atmosphere and seating like?

We visited around 7 p.m. on a weekday and many people were already dining! Looking around, there were lots of couples on dates, and families gathered together enjoying the warm atmosphere.

Seating is a good mix of tables for 2, 4 and 6. The area to the right as you enter has roomier seats and neatly divided sections, which makes it really comfortable to eat in.

We had reserved ahead, so they set us up at a comfy, nicely arranged table.

What did we order at Olivus Compagno?

This evening we ordered the new potato pumpkin gnocchi, the spicy cuttlefish tomato pasta and the top blade steak. I had studied the Olivus menu hard before coming! Everyone strongly recommended the pumpkin gnocchi, so gnocchi was my must-order pick. I agonized between that and a cream pasta, but I wanted something spicy, so I chose the spicy cuttlefish tomato pasta. Then I added the top blade steak as the main.

The tablet on each table kindly shows the Wi-Fi, restroom location and even last order time, which was handy, and the tableware was spotless, which put me in a good mood. The menu also has a hearty lunch set that includes steak, so next time it might be nice to come for lunch for better value.

New potato pumpkin gnocchi: why does everyone recommend it?

Olivus Compagno's new potato pumpkin gnocchi has potato gnocchi that melt in your mouth in a smooth pumpkin sauce, with nuts adding crunch. The gnocchi I'd been looking forward to most arrived first, and it looked so pretty, all round and plump.

One bite and I immediately understood why everyone recommended it. The potato dissolves softly in the smooth pumpkin sauce, and the nutty bits you bite into now and then bring softness and crunch together. ^0^

They say they make it by hand with domestic new potatoes, and maybe that's why the potato flavor felt so much softer and richer.

How does the spicy cuttlefish tomato pasta taste?

Olivus Compagno's spicy cuttlefish tomato pasta is generously loaded with plump cuttlefish, clams and shrimp.

The spicy-sweet tomato sauce balances really well, so it was perfect to eat alongside rich, savory dishes like the gnocchi and the steak!

Top blade steak, garnish and a tip: dip it in the gnocchi sauce

Olivus Compagno's top blade steak comes with a special sauce, fries and cherry tomato garnish. And finally, the main dish, the top blade steak, arrived! I put a little of the special sauce on top and tasted it, and wow...

However they cooked it, the meat was so tender it practically melted in my mouth. The doneness was perfect, and the garnish alongside was so good too!

The fries were crispy and salty, so I kept reaching for more, and popping a cherry tomato whole in my mouth felt so fresh, like eating somewhere on the Mediterranean, haha.

Oh, and try dipping the top blade steak into the pumpkin gnocchi sauce! You get another luxurious layer of flavor.

A glass of house wine and the Korean-food husband's reaction

Everything at Olivus Compagno was so delicious that I also ordered a glass of house wine to set the mood, haha.

My husband, who normally prefers Korean food, fell hard for this pumpkin gnocchi and scraped his plate clean. Haha!

Is Olivus Compagno worth a return visit?

No wonder it's a Blue Ribbon-awarded, go-to restaurant in Boram-dong. The inside is quiet, the interior is pretty, and you can feel the care in every dish we ordered, so whenever I crave Western food I think I'll keep coming back to Olivus Compagno.

The restaurant is also running various review events, so be sure to join in and grab the perks!

If you want a special-occasion evening with someone you love, or you're craving the softest gnocchi of your life and a good steak, I recommend visiting Olivus Compagno in Boram-dong!