Pangyo restaurant date with my son: steak porcini risotto, Tobeu Nain

What kind of place is Tobeu Nain Pangyo Main Branch?

Tobeu Nain Pangyo Main Branch is a Provence-style restaurant on Sasong-ro in Pangyo, serving everything from brunch dishes to wood-fired pizza and risotto. I hadn't had a dinner date with my son in a long while, so we headed to Tobeu Nain in Pangyo. It's lovely for a relaxed lunch during the day and a atmospheric date in the evening. The parking lot is big too, so parking is easy.

Step inside and the first things you notice are the flower-print tablecloths, wooden furniture and soft lighting. Colorful stained-glass lamps and vintage props are scattered naturally around the space. It's exactly the kind of place women will love ^^

It's a bit different from the sleek, tidy interiors you see everywhere these days. The cozy, warm Provence feel, like a family-run restaurant in a little European country village, is Tobeu Nain's charm.

How do the 1st and 2nd floors of Tobeu Nain differ?

Tobeu Nain in Pangyo runs over two floors, so it's roomier inside than you'd expect. The 1st floor has an open kitchen and the wood-fired oven, so you can watch the food being made up close. The tables aren't cramped, and the wide windows let soft sunlight in during the day.

Head up the stairs and the 2nd floor has atmospheric tables of its own. It has a calmer mood than downstairs, and looked like a good spot for a family meal or a get-together with friends.

The tables aren't all packed into one room but split across floors, so it's easy to chat while you eat. It's a handy layout whether you're planning a date, a small gathering or a family meal in Pangyo.

What did we order for our dinner date?

We ordered the arugula classica pizza, the steak porcini risotto and a Diet Coke. I started the dinner with my son with a cold Diet Coke to freshen up the palate with some fizz, then we ordered a hearty pizza and risotto together.

Arugula classica pizza baked in the wood-fired oven

The arugula classica pizza came out first: dough baked right in the wood-fired oven, topped with basil pesto and mozzarella. Fresh arugula and cherry tomatoes are piled on top, along with plenty of thinly shaved Grana Padano. The aroma of basil and cheese spreads appetizingly from the moment it hits the table.

The edges of the dough have the characteristic char from the wood-fired oven here and there. The dough is thin and mild, with chewy edges that go well with a pizza loaded with greens. They were generous with the arugula, so the color is so pretty, right?

The fragrance of basil pesto, the softness of mozzarella and the fresh scent of arugula follow one after another. The salty richness of Grana Padano on top keeps it from getting boring right to the last slice. If you prefer a light pizza with vegetables and cheese over a heavy tomato-sauce one, this will suit you.

At Tobeu Nain you can fetch extra pickles yourself any time, which made things easy. The food is plated so prettily that it makes my heart happy, and I think that's what Tobeu Nain is like.

Porcini risotto topped with steak

The tablecloths at Tobeu Nain are pretty, but I also absolutely love the plates. I wanted to take them home~ The portions are generous too, so I think it would make for a fun meal whoever you come with.

The steak porcini risotto is striking for its deep mushroom aroma. Bite-sized pieces of steak are piled generously on creamy porcini risotto. Truffle oil and cheese finish it off, bringing out a nutty, rich fragrance.

The risotto has plenty of sauce so it's moist, and the rich flavor of porcini really comes through. Eating the grilled steak piece by piece with the soft risotto makes the texture and taste even more satisfying. If the arugula classica pizza is light and fresh, the steak porcini risotto fills in the deep, rich side. The two dishes have such different characters that they balanced well when ordered together.

Tobeu Nain isn't just pretty with its cute interior; the food is well made too, from pizza baked in the in-house wood-fired oven to risotto that brings out the aroma of its ingredients.

How do you get the Tobeu Nain egg tart?

After the meal at Tobeu Nain, I wrote a receipt review and got to try a homemade egg tart. The egg tarts displayed at the entrance looked so tasty that I signed up right away.

Inside the golden-baked pastry is moist, soft custard. It was a nice size for a light finish after pizza and risotto, and I think it would go well with coffee too.

Who should you take to Tobeu Nain in Pangyo?

From the 1st floor decorated with flower-print fabric and vintage lamps to the 2nd floor that's good for a calm get-together, the cozy mood carries through every space at Tobeu Nain. The wood-fired pizza and porcini risotto are delicious too.

If you're looking for an atmospheric Provence-style restaurant in Pangyo that doesn't skimp on flavor, Tobeu Nain seems like a good choice, comfortable for everything from dates to family meals and small gatherings.