Ansan birthday dinner with French rack lamb steak: That Man's Italian

This was already my second visit. The food was delicious and I loved the atmosphere the first time, so I came back to celebrate my birthday. The overall vibe is calm and upscale, so it would work great for dates and blind dates alike. If you're looking for a restaurant in Ansan Jungang-dong for a special occasion, take note!

Where is That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge? Hours and parking

That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge is on the 6th floor of the Dongwon Building, 540-1 Gojan-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00, and closed every Monday.

Parking is available at five spots, including the Dongwon Building public parking lot in front of the restaurant, as well as lots in front of Geumsan Building, Jungang Heights-vil, Lotte Department Store, and Megabox. Register your car number at the restaurant for 1 hour free parking. If you use the Daedong Joy World parking lot instead, you get a 2,000 won discount on your meal — worth checking depending on where you park!

What the room feels like: first dates and group tables

That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge feels a bit calmer and more upscale than your typical casual pasta place.

So personally, I thought it would be a great spot for a blind date or a regular date. It's not too noisy, so it's easy to have a conversation over the meal — perfect for a slightly special day like a birthday or anniversary.

There's also a private room that fits up to 18 people, and including the main hall, they can host group gatherings of up to 40. It looked like a good spot for family meals, meetings between families before a wedding, first birthday parties (doljanchi), company dinners, or bridal showers.

If you're looking for a restaurant in Ansan Jungang-dong for a birthday or anniversary like me, this one might be especially well suited!

What we ordered at That Man's and what it cost

• Today's cream soup ₩6,900
• Anchovy oil spaghetti ₩24,900
• Lamb rack steak ₩43,900

Last time I had the wagyu steak, so this time I wanted to try something different and picked the lamb rack steak. For the pasta, I also wanted something a bit different from cream or tomato, so I went with the anchovy oil spaghetti!

Garlic bread and potato cream soup, 6,900 won

The pre-meal bread came out first. Unlike last time, it was garlic bread this time, and it was a nice light bite before the main dishes arrived.

Today's cream soup ₩6,900

The daily cream soup seems to change every time, and today it was potato cream soup. From the first bite, it had a sweet, nutty flavor, and the texture was quite rich and thick!

Rather than a light, watery soup, this one had a strong, nutty potato flavor, which was great for warming up before the meal. Dipping the pre-meal bread straight into the potato cream soup was even better than eating it plain, haha.

French rack lamb steak, 43,900 won, cooked medium rare

And now, the dish I was most looking forward to this time — the lamb rack steak!

Since I had the wagyu steak last time, I decided to try the lamb rack this time, and it turned out to be a menu item I really enjoyed.

We ordered it medium rare. Lamb can be hit-or-miss because of its distinct smell, but I barely noticed any gaminess, and the texture was really tender.

It wasn't tough or chewy at all — moist, juicy, and satisfying. The medium-rare doneness in particular was exactly right for me.

Paired with the grilled vegetables that came alongside — mushrooms and zucchini — the richness of the meat and the lightness of the vegetables went really well together, so I enjoyed it right to the end.

Anchovy oil spaghetti, 24,900 won: is it too fishy?

Last up was the anchovy oil spaghetti! Since anchovies are an Italian-style salted fish product, you might worry it'll taste fishy. But for me, the salty, savory umami of the anchovies came through much more than any fishiness.

The garlic aroma and olive oil flavor blended well, and with a slight kick of spiciness added, it didn't feel too greasy even though it's an oil-based pasta.

If you like salty, umami-rich pasta, this one will suit you well. Eating a bite of the lamb rack together with the anchovy oil spaghetti was also a great combination.

Verdict after a second visit to That Man's Italian

My second visit to That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge, and it was satisfying again. Last time I had the wagyu steak, and this time I tried the lamb rack steak and the anchovy oil spaghetti — even with different menu choices, I was consistently happy with the food.

Beyond the food, the restaurant's atmosphere is great for special days like birthdays or anniversaries, and I also think it would work well for anyone looking for a blind date spot in Ansan.

If you want a great-vibe restaurant, unique pasta, and a proper steak all in one place in Ansan Jungang-dong, it's worth a visit. I liked my first visit enough to come back for my birthday, and I enjoyed this meal just as much.