Hongdae restaurant window-seat lunch: Pastiar pork steak, rosé pasta

I was hanging out with a friend at a Hongdae craft workshop and wanted to eat somewhere pretty and full of atmosphere afterward. So let me start my Pastiar Hongdae review — a Yeonnam-dong date restaurant that feels like a quiet European alleyway!

A window holding the freshness of summer, the warmth of homemade touch at your fingertips. Pretty moments quietly piling up amid calm music.

What kind of place is Pastiar?

Pastiar sits just a step off the bustle of Hongik University Station, and stepping inside feels like being invited to a pretty little restaurant in a small European town. Something like the vibe of Amalfi in southern Italy? Natural and green, but with that European sensibility running through it.

We ordered a sous vide steak, where the juices and fat melted in our mouths, and a thick, umami-packed pasta.

Who I'd recommend this to

• Anyone looking for a pretty, reasonably priced Hongdae date course or blind date spot
• Anyone hunting for a great pasta restaurant in Hongdae
• Anyone looking for an atmospheric date restaurant in Yeonnam-dong

Sunlight through the window, a small trip down a European street

We visited Pastiar around 1pm, and the whole space felt quiet and cozy. Lush green plants, potted trees, and paintings with that European sensibility dot the space as accent points, adding a sense of life, while a stylish chandelier hanging from the ceiling gives the room a soft sense of weight.

On the day we visited, the windows were opened wide, and the open, airy feeling was wonderful. Sitting at the window seat catching the cool breeze and sunlight, I felt my mind just melt and soften.

I heard Pastiar Hongdae's food is cooked homemade-style. It's an open kitchen, so we could watch the chef cooking directly, and near the register we spotted jars packed full of homemade fruit syrups.

Cute cat coasters

These days when so many places use premade products, these fresh homemade ingredients felt even more special and appealing.

What we ordered and the price

• Sous vide steak — ₩27,000
• Shrimp rosé pasta — ₩17,000

A Yeonnam-dong steak that arrives piled generously onto a big plate

A Yeonnam-dong steak made by the patience of low, slow cooking

Pastiar's sous vide steak (₩27,000) is a thick-cut pork shoulder steak, slowly cooked at low temperature for a long time. Rosemary and coarse pepper were sprinkled on top, giving off a sharp yet deep, subtle herbal aroma.

Crisp outside and juicy inside, the steak's own flavor spread fully through my mouth. Above all, the ratio of lean meat to fat was great, and the moist, tender texture was impressive.

A Yeonnam-dong steak with a pleasant springy bite, savory juices and fat flowing gently through the grain of the meat as you chew.

There was a ratatouille tomato sauce underneath the meat, letting us enjoy it fresh and light, and there was wasabi on the side we could add too. This single plate came with fresh salad and carrot rapée as well, so it was a healthy dish covering both protein and vitamins. (A plate that felt like it gathered everything you'd need for a steak meal!)

Can you feel the thickness of the pasta sauce just from the photo?

Rich sauce and plump shrimp, a Hongdae pasta

Pastiar's shrimp rosé pasta (₩17,000) stood out for its rich, melted, soft yet thick cream. It had six plump shrimp inside, firm and springy to bite into — I liked that a lot.

Above all, the chewy pasta that held onto the sauce so well was delicious. The savory smoothness of the cream and the umami of the tomato sauce blended together richly, and on top the salty savoriness of a light dusting of cheese layered in — a complex, well-balanced Hongdae pasta that just about anyone would like.

Springy pasta holding onto plenty of sauce

The lingering aftertaste was so strong that I kept craving a glass of wine throughout the meal haha. If you're looking for a Hongdae pasta, I'd definitely recommend this dish.

The coffee that helped wrap up the meal cleanly had a moderate body with the roasted bean aroma coming through well — a well-balanced flavor that just about anyone would like.

With soft, emotional music quietly playing in a pretty space, plus tasty food and friendly service, it was a warm time. If you're looking to make a pretty memory at a Hongdae hangout spot or a Yeonnam-dong date restaurant, why not stop by?