Quiet Yeouido Italian date spot with partitioned seats: Cuisine R

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Every time I plan a dinner in Yeouido, I run into the same problem. Either the place is near the office and way too noisy, or the atmosphere is great but the food is disappointing.

This time I wanted somewhere I could talk quietly and still eat properly, so I booked Cuisine R (퀴진 알) as my Yeouido Italian date spot.

What are the atmosphere and seating like at Cuisine R?

Inside, you get green walls, brick, wooden chairs and soft lighting all together. The window seats look out on trees outside, which is especially pretty in the evening.

If you're hunting for a good Italian date spot in Yeouido, I'd recommend reserving a window seat in advance.

Cuisine R's space is divided by partitions, so I wasn't bothered much by conversations at the next table. For a blind date or an anniversary, where talking matters, you'll find this surprisingly important.

Bread starter and the set for two

Once you sit down, warm bread comes out first, with butter and a spread. It was just right while waiting for the mains.

There's also a set menu for two. Swapping the main for a pizza costs nothing extra, and I heard the salad with their homemade dressing is popular.

How are the taste and portion of the ragu Bolognese (₩25,000)?

The first dish was Cuisine R's ragu Bolognese (₩25,000), a traditional Italian pasta made by simmering minced beef and vegetables for a long time.

There's generous meat sauce between the noodles, and I was surprised by the amount as soon as it arrived. It's topped with plenty of arugula and Parmesan. With the arugula added to the rich meat sauce, it never felt heavy to the end.

Try dipping the leftover Bolognese sauce with the starter bread. That was my favorite part! The portion is generous too, enough for two to share.

Is the diabola pizza (₩27,000) very spicy?

Second was Cuisine R's diabola pizza (₩27,000), a tomato-sauce pizza topped with spicy chorizo, olives and mozzarella.

The dough is thin with slightly charred edges, which makes it nutty, and the chorizo's heat creeps up gently so I kept reaching for more. I'd worried because it's called a spicy pizza, but it isn't strong, so it was easy to eat. Even people who don't handle spice well could give it a try. The cheese and tomato sauce tame the heat, and I enjoyed it down to the last slice.

The moment you lift a slice, the cheese stretches out. You have to film this, haha. My companion was impressed by this scene too.

If the Bolognese is rich and heavy, the diabola is spicy and light. So ordering both let us alternate between them nicely.

Tips for visiting Cuisine R

• Book for dinner (lots of seats are reserved)
• Recommended combo: Bolognese + diabola
• Dip the Bolognese sauce with the starter bread

Cuisine R location and opening hours

• Address: Units 202-203, 2F Baeksang Building, 30 Gukjegeumyung-ro 6-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Location: about 314 m from Yeouido Station Exit 5
• Hours: Tue-Thu 11:00-23:00 (break 14:00-17:00, last order 21:30)
• Closed: every Sunday (check Naver Place for holiday hours)

Is a reservation essential on a Yeouido weekday evening?

On weekday evenings Yeouido is full of office-worker get-togethers, so the decent places fill up fast. I reserved a table at Cuisine R on Catch Table the day before, and thanks to that I sat right down at a window seat without waiting.

If you're planning a Yeouido Italian date, I'd book first. For a first date especially, a small bit of preparation like this really changes the mood.

A lovely space, rich Bolognese and a spicy pizza: Cuisine R was a satisfying Italian date spot in Yeouido. Order both dishes and eat them back and forth. Are you team pasta or team pizza on a date?