Homemade pasta brunch in Songdo: basil pesto at Cenacolo Artfore

A European-style homemade pasta restaurant / a total mood-killer spot for dates and anniversaries

What is Cenacolo Artfore like on a weekday morning?

Looking for somewhere to have a relaxed meal in Songdo, I thought of Cenacolo, which I'd wanted to visit for a while. It's not really a brunch place, but it's the kind of spot that pops into my head whenever I'm craving good Italian food, so I paid it a visit after a long time!!

Since I wanted to eat slowly and chat without the crowds, I went on a weekday morning, and the atmosphere felt a lot more relaxed. This time I decided to pick something a bit different from what I usually order haha

Three dishes chosen instead of the gnocchi

The dish I always agonize over at Cenacolo is the gnocchi. I remembered enjoying it a lot last time, so I briefly considered ordering it again.

But since it had been a while since my last visit, I wanted to try something different, so I picked three dishes: shrimp mushroom salad, basil pesto pasta, and amatriciana pasta. Sharing several dishes together meant I could enjoy different flavors, so that's how I ordered this time haha, excited for the variety!!

Shrimp and mushroom salad: a subtle truffle aroma

The shrimp mushroom salad came out first, and it was light and a great way to start the meal. Plump shrimp and fresh vegetables came together with mushrooms carrying a subtle truffle oil scent, making the first bite fragrant.

The truffle aroma wasn't overpowering, and the vegetables and shrimp kept it clean and easy, so my fork kept going back for more. As I nibbled through the salad, I started looking forward to the pasta arriving!!

Basil pesto pasta with burrata cheese and pistachio

What I was most looking forward to that day was the basil pesto pasta. It's made with house-made basil pesto topped with pistachio and burrata cheese. One bite in, the fragrant basil and nutty pistachio came through first, followed by the smooth burrata cheese blending in — the flavor was really good.

I generally love homemade pasta, so this natural flavor really appealed to me. Rather than feeling heavy, the sauce let each ingredient's flavor shine, making it taste better with every bite!!

Mixing the burrata cheese slightly into the pasta gave a different feel entirely. As the cheese blended in, the noodles' texture became softer, and the basil pesto's aroma felt even richer.

The pistachio bits crunching in between added a nice nutty flavor too. Lately I'm more drawn to homemade pasta with the natural flavor of the ingredients rather than something heavily seasoned, and this dish was exactly that — very satisfying.

How does the amatriciana pasta taste?

The amatriciana pasta was another must-try. The salty, rich flavor from onion and bacon blended with the tomato sauce, and a subtle spiciness on top made it really appetite-grabbing!!

The tomato's freshness kept it lighter than expected, and it paired well with the bacon's savory flavor. It was clearly different from the basil pesto pasta, so alternating between the two kept things interesting without getting tired of either.

Sharing all three dishes at Cenacolo Artfore

Having all three dishes together, each one's charm really stood out. The shrimp mushroom salad opened up the appetite with its fresh, fragrant flavor, and the basil pesto pasta was wonderfully nutty and smooth.

The amatriciana pasta balanced the tomato's freshness, the bacon's saltiness, and a slight kick of spice really well. What I love about Cenacolo is that it's not the kind of pricey restaurant you only visit on special occasions — it's the place that comes to mind whenever you're simply craving good Italian food.

This time I picked something new instead of my usual gnocchi, and since it had been a while since my last visit, it was nice to enjoy something different.

Visiting on a weekday morning in particular meant I could savor each dish slowly without feeling rushed — it felt like a relaxed, brunch-like meal.

Whenever I'm craving homemade pasta in Songdo again, I'm already wondering whether I'll go back for the gnocchi or pick something new haha. I'd recommend Cenacolo, a restaurant with a really lovely atmosphere!!