Bangi-dong Italian restaurant terrace with herb garden: Allegro

I tend to only pick sure-fire hotspots when choosing a date or gathering spot haha. Recently, while looking for a nice-atmosphere place for an anniversary with my partner, I fell in love with somewhere I saw on Instagram! It's Allegro, a new Italian dining restaurant and live jazz bar near the Bangi-dong food alley by Songpanaru Station. Let me leave an honest review of our visit 🫶🏻 With the weather perfect for enjoying a terrace these days, I went in with high expectations!

Allegro basics: 4 minutes from Songpanaru Station, closed Tuesdays

• Address: 57-1 Olympic-ro 32-gil, 3rd floor, Songpa-gu, Seoul
• Transit: about a 4-minute walk from Songpanaru Station
• Hours: 12:00 - 23:00 (break time 15:00 - 18:00 / last order 21:30)
• Closed: every Tuesday
• Reservations: available via Naver Reservation and Catchtable
• Parking: no dedicated parking at the restaurant
• Features: outdoor terrace seating, live jazz performances in the evening

How to find Allegro and what the building looks like

Walking about 4 minutes from Songpanaru Station toward the Bangi-dong food alley, a sleek new building comes into view! I had my map on and found it, but the exterior was so stylish and modern that at first I didn't even realize it was a restaurant building haha.

Ride the elevator up to the 3rd floor and an upscale entrance greets you right away.

Inside Allegro: black-toned hall with tables facing the stage

The moment I opened the door and stepped into Allegro, the sleek, calm black-toned mood totally won me over 🖤 The lighting was soft and every little detail was styled with real taste. The walls were full of LP records and gorgeous framed art, and near the stage, instruments were beautifully set up for the live jazz performances. I loved how the tables were arranged facing the stage so you could comfortably watch the show!

Allegro's outdoor terrace and the chef's herb and eggplant garden

Since the weather was so nice, we grabbed a spot on Allegro's outdoor terrace 🤤 With this cool autumn weather, it was just perfect for sitting on the terrace and taking it easy! On one side of the terrace there was a fragrant herb patch with basil and an eggplant garden the chef grows personally, which I thought was really cool. Knowing the chef puts these ingredients into the dishes with care already had me trusting the food before it even arrived haha.

One small note: the terrace tables were a bit light and could wobble slightly, so it's worth being a little careful when reaching for drinks or dishware!

What we ordered at Allegro and how tablet ordering works

At Allegro, every table has a tablet, so we could browse the menu and order comfortably! The Italian menu lineup was solid, so after a happy bit of agonizing, here's what we picked.

• Burrata salad
• Amatriciana pasta
• Sous-vide pork shoulder steak

A simple pre-meal bread came out first.

Burrata salad at Allegro

The burrata salad that arrived first was wonderful at waking up the appetite, with the creamy, nutty richness of the cheese blending with fresh vegetables!

Popping the cheese open for a bite, the freshness spread all through my mouth haha. The sapphire grapes and marinated tomatoes went so well with the burrata cheese... It was delicious piled onto the pre-meal bread too!

Amatriciana pasta at Allegro

How Allegro's amatriciana tasted

Next up was the amatriciana, and it was really delicious with the spicy-sweet tomato sauce flavor clinging perfectly to the noodles! With guanciale in it, the pork's rich, savory character stood out. Being tomato-based, it had deep flavor without being heavy — in my opinion, the best pasta of the meal 🫶🏻

Sous-vide pork shoulder steak at Allegro

And then the star main dish — the sous-vide pork shoulder steak! The pork shoulder was sous-vide cooked until tender, then finished crispy on the outside while staying juicy and moist inside. Eating it with the peppercorn sauce, the harmony of the savory meat juices and the sauce was just fundamentally delicious 🥲 It also came with fries, which paired perfectly.

Verdict: is Allegro good for an anniversary date?

It was a truly satisfying Italian dining spot in Bangi-dong where I could taste well-crafted dishes made with fresh, self-grown ingredients! Brunch or lunch on the terrace on a nice day was wonderful, but since they also run a lovely live jazz performance in the evening, I definitely want to come back for dinner next time with a glass of wine haha.

If you're looking for a spot for an anniversary date, a blind date, or a special gathering with friends, definitely check out Allegro, the ultimate atmosphere spot in Songpa! It would also be a no-regrets pick for anyone hunting for great pasta :)