Yeonnam-dong restaurant, burrata fruit salad dinner: Hôtel de Couture

Where is Hôtel de Couture in Yeonnam-dong, and what are the hours?

Hôtel de Couture (오뗄드꾸뜨) is a restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, 500 meters from Exit 3 of Hongik Univ. Station and close to the Gyeongui Line Forest Park. It is open from 11 AM to 8 PM, with no break time and no days off.

I went to see for myself, since it's known as a great date spot with a vintage, romantic mood and distinctive dishes.

An early dinner after a weekend in Hongdae

It was a rare day off, and this country bumpkin from Ilsan finally worked up the nerve for an outing to Hongdae. Dinner took me to Hôtel de Couture, a Yeonnam-dong date spot.

The midday heat was fierce, but once the sun went down, Yeonnam-dong had a cool, dry breeze. So after a long-overdue Hongdae trip of shopping and wandering around,

I headed to Hôtel de Couture for an early dinner. It's on the second floor of a small building that looks like it used to be a villa,

What are Hôtel de Couture's interior and seating like?

Despite the modest exterior, the inside felt surprisingly spacious. Besides the main hall by the counter and kitchen, there's another space further in, so the tables have some breathing room.

It was a weekend, so guests kept streaming in, and I figured that we were the only ones meeting it for the first time, and that it's a well-known place. Above all, the crowd was almost 50:50 Korean and foreign! It must be even more famous among overseas visitors. Whether you live here or are just visiting, I hope you have a happy time in our country.

There's a group table for about 6 at the entrance, and seats where you can relax comfortably as a pair or on your own. The romantic yet vintage feel seems stylish to the younger crowd and comforting to middle-aged folks like me.

Every other table was full, so we ended up with the group table, a lucky break. In case a bigger party showed up and we got in their way, I deliberately sat squeezed in at the far end.

How to order at Hôtel de Couture, and what's on the menu

You order by scanning the QR code on the table. The menu isn't huge, but the lineup seemed made up only of dishes with a clear personality, which impressed me.

The table decor had a classic mood. The tableware was the ultimate in classic, enough to make you feel like you'd wandered into an old story. The water pitcher looked like something out of Anne of Green Gables, and that one item alone shows off the place's character.

Burrata seasonal fruit salad with the dressing on the side

My pick tonight was Hôtel de Couture's burrata seasonal fruit salad. I'm a hardcore dipper who hates mixing things together, so I asked for the dressing on the side again this time.

Judging by the mood, I expected it on rustic white ceramic, but it came on a stainless steel plate, which was a huge trend for a while. A twist in the plating, you could say?

Fresh romaine topped with plenty of salty, nutty Grana Padano cheese gave it Caesar salad flavor.

And just as the name says, burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes and crispy granola added a lavish, generous touch.

The seasonal fruit was dark red cherries, plus cherry tomatoes, which are always a toss-up between vegetable and fruit.

Granola, made of dried fruit and plump grains clustered together crisp and sweet, added chew and a variety of flavors to the salad.

I'd gorged myself all day, so I ordered it out of guilt toward my body and for my health,

and it turned out fresh, zesty, crunchy and crispy, a really colorful salad.

What does the honeycomb seasonal fruit French toast taste like?

Hôtel de Couture's honeycomb seasonal fruit French toast is a dessert: thick toast topped with honeycomb, cherries, granola and vanilla ice cream. My dessert-fanatic friend, who loves sweets even more than I do, picked it.

It's an honest toast: you can predict it from the name alone. The slice is so tall and solid it's practically a brick, and honey drips down the sweet honeycomb in a way that makes the word "honey" instantly convincing. Add plump dark red cherries, granola and vanilla ice cream, and it's a true all-in of desserts.

Honey pours over moist, nutty toasted bread. If that tasted bad, wouldn't it be illegal?

It isn't just sweet: there's a faintly bitter, slightly burnt note at the end that gives it an unusual flavor.

And just when the sweetness starts to wear you down, you bite into a tangy, tart, plump cherry and feel instantly refreshed. If it weren't for blood sugar and belly fat, I'd have snatched the whole thing from my friend. Oh, right, right, the vanilla ice cream served with it is also seriously high quality.

When to go to Hôtel de Couture in Yeonnam-dong

I visited Hôtel de Couture wanting a relaxed meal in a nice atmosphere during a long-overdue Hongdae outing.

With those merits, it's a Yeonnam-dong date spot worth visiting when you want some quiet time for just the two of you, or a special time on a special day.