Itaewon brunch restaurant for a quiet date over gnocchi: Ongfleur

It was one of those days when the sky was unusually clear and a lovely breeze was blowing, and I wanted a perfect, heart-fluttering day, so I headed to Itaewon. You know those days when you crave a special place away from your busy routine, where you can focus completely on someone dear to you?

Past the bustling main road, as you stroll slowly down a quiet Hoenamu-ro side street, Ongfleur appears before you like a gift, stylish yet cozy, like a scene from a fairy tale.

What do Ongfleur's exterior and interior look like?

Ongfleur is a brunch restaurant on an Itaewon Hoenamu-ro side street, known for its deep green awning, big glass windows and white-toned interior. The green terrace catches your eye from far away, and the clean interior visible through the windows makes it impossible to hide your excitement before you even step inside.

Inside, a soft, nutty scent of butter spreads and little decorative touches welcome you. The elegant black business card holders neatly placed on every table show Ongfleur's distinct sensibility.

How do you order at Ongfleur?

At Ongfleur you prepay contact-free at a kiosk on one side of the restaurant. I could chat comfortably while looking at the menu and finish ordering easily, which was really convenient.

You don't have to call a staff member every time; you just order and hand over the receipt. It's such a perfect system for an Itaewon date where you want an unbroken flow of conversation with someone dear that the thought just came to me naturally.

How do the smoked salmon eggs Benedict and bacon cream gnocchi taste?

For mains at Ongfleur, we ordered the smoked salmon eggs Benedict and the bacon cream gnocchi. Just as the neatly set fork and knife got my expectations up, the mains started filling the table.

Smoked salmon eggs Benedict

The first thing to arrive was Ongfleur's smoked salmon eggs Benedict, with fresh, thick smoked salmon generously piled on soft bread,

and its deep flavor wraps around your whole mouth.

Bacon cream gnocchi

Right when things might get a bit heavy, a bite of the bacon cream gnocchi we ordered alongside gives a truly perfect balance.

The harmony of chewy gnocchi and the rich cream sauce filling your mouth goes down smoothly and made me gasp in admiration.

What drinks go well with brunch at Ongfleur?

At Ongfleur we ordered an iced Americano and an iced chamomile tea, a wonderful choice for refreshing the palate between bites. A great meal feels incomplete without a clean, cold drink, after all.

The iced Americano, with the nutty, full body of the beans, neatly cuts through the heaviness of the cream sauce, while the iced chamomile tea, with its fragrant, calming herbal scent, leaves a soft afterglow after the meal and adds depth to the conversation.

Is Ongfleur good for a date?

Thanks to its delicious food and its calm, emotional atmosphere, Ongfleur let us focus on each other more deeply, and the happy smile never left my face on the way home. It was a top-notch Itaewon date spot.