Jonggak date bar: margherita with extra-melted cheese at Sudowonui

I've been going to Jonggak almost as often as I visit my parents' home, haha. Today I'm out hunting for another Jonggak bar!

What's the atmosphere like at this Jonggak bar?

Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo (수도원의 비밀 저장고, literally "the monastery's secret cellar") is a basement bar in Jonggak decorated, just as the name says, like a medieval monastery. I was looking for a bar with a good mood in Jonggak and found something really different. The name alone made me curious. This is totally my kind of vibe! Honestly I can't say much about the exterior, but the inside is the real deal.

The unusual name is what caught my interest at first, but once I walked in I understood right away why it's called that. You can't miss why it's a monastery with this interior!! The moment you open the door, it feels like stepping into a hidden space somewhere in medieval Europe! It's amazing that a place like this exists in the middle of Jonggak, haha.

Seriously, what is going on with this interior? It's distinctive enough to spread the word as a one-of-a-kind bar. Design elements reminiscent of a medieval monastery are everywhere, so just looking around was a ton of fun.

Is it good for dates and hangouts with friends?

There are lots of great photo spots, so it works for going with friends and I think it's a really good date spot too. Most people who come seem to think the same, because it's really busy even on weekdays!! And everyone comes in letting out little gasps and looking around, which is so cute, hahaha.

Even the menu names, lol. They really leaned into the monastery concept. You can totally role-play as a medieval person.

How does the Goyoui Margherita pizza taste?

The first thing we ordered was the Goyoui Margherita pizza ("Margherita of Silence"). Pizza and beer in summer is love.

Margherita is the most basic pizza, which is exactly why differences in quality really show (I know my pizza, okay). With such simple ingredients, the balance of dough, sauce and cheese matters so much, right?

The Goyoui Margherita really had that wood-fired charm >< The dough was chewy from the first bite, and the edge was nicely crisp, so the texture was great. My partner and I fought over the crust handle, lol. Having such similar tastes is a win!!

It was well balanced and went nicely with the cheese, and the basil added that classic margherita charm. And the amount of basil, what?! Haha, for a second I thought it was arugula.

Can you ask them to melt the cheese more?

When we asked for the cheese to be melted more, they baked the pizza once again. The savory cheese and tomato sauce blended naturally and it was easy to keep eating, but I love fully melted cheese, so I asked if they could give it another turn. They checked whether it was okay for the vegetables to get a little warm before baking it more, and that kind service made me so happy!!

Pizza with beer, need I say more, haha. Pizza and beer is my life food. Nothing pairs as perfectly. Soft, warm pizza with a cold glass of beer...

The drinks just keep going, lol. That's the fun and happiness of it!!

Are the Secret Monastery Fries worth adding as a side?

The Secret Monastery Fries (수도원의 은밀한 감자튀김) weren't in the plan. We added them after seeing the next table.

I urgently need to diet... ^^ I really meant to eat only pizza, but the fries at the next table were so eye-catching... haha.

So we ordered them too. The end. Who could resist crispy French fries?

They look like a simple dish, but fries are one of the sides your hand reaches for most when drinking. When your mouth gets bored, you've got to drop in some salty fries.

Why I recommend Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo for a Jonggak pizza-and-beer date

We finished stuffed, with a cool zero-sugar candy to end!! From the unique space reminiscent of a medieval monastery to the service and the food, I was happy with everything. If you want a bar with a good mood and tasty pizza in Jonggak, I recommend Sudowonui Bimil Jeojanggo, where the unusual interior gives you a full European-trip feel.