Samseong-dong restaurant: birthday dinner course at Columba Samseong

Why I chose Columba Samseong for an anniversary dinner in Samseong-dong

Columba Samseong (콜룸바 삼성점) is a Samseong-dong restaurant I booked in advance through Catch Table for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. The menu I reserved was the Columba Dinner Course.

His birthday was coming up and I wanted something a bit special, so I went looking for a restaurant with a good atmosphere and found Columba Samseong. Since it was an occasion, I wanted a place with great food and great ambiance, and the reviews for it as a Samseong-dong date spot looked good, so I booked and went.

What are the atmosphere and views like at Columba Samseong?

Columba Samseong is on the 17th floor of a building on Bongeunsa-ro, so the first thing you notice is the view through the wide floor-to-ceiling windows. The sun was slowly setting while we were there, so the scenery outside was really beautiful, and the soft lighting made the mood even better.

Because of that, I think it's a good choice for birthdays and anniversaries, and also for anyone looking for a date spot in Samseong-dong.

Wine lovers will probably be even happier here. Columba Samseong has a varied wine list, so it looked easy to pair a bottle with the food and your own taste.

Columba Dinner Course: the order and how it tasted

Snacks: warm bread and nuts

The first thing out in the Columba dinner course was a plate of snacks.

Warm bread came with fragrant nuts. I thought of it as just a light starter, but it was so much tastier than expected that it surprised me.

Melon salad: burrata cheese and three fruit dressings

Second was the melon salad (chamoe, a Korean yellow melon). Fresh greens and soft burrata cheese came with three fruit dressings, watermelon, grapefruit and melon, to add to your own taste.

The fruity freshness and the creamy cheese went together better than I expected, and it cleansed the palate so nicely that I was even more excited for the next dish.

Seafood tomato cold dish: abalone, cuttlefish and shrimp

The seafood tomato cold dish that followed caught my eye from the plating alone.

It was generously topped with abalone, cuttlefish and shrimp, and a rich Campari tomato sauce brought out the freshness of the seafood even more. It was bright yet full of savory depth, and personally it was one of the dishes that impressed me most.

White fish grilled with seaweed sauce: grilled ppolrak

Next was grilled white fish with seaweed sauce. It was grilled ppolrak (a type of rockfish) served with strips of Gijang kelp root, wood ear mushrooms and chili, eaten with the seaweed sauce. The fish was moist and mild, so it was easy to enjoy.

I also liked that the seaweed sauce wasn't overpowering and let the flavor of the fish come through.

Main: 1++ Korean beef striploin steak

Finally the main arrived, a 1++ (top-grade) Korean beef (hanwoo) striploin steak. I asked for medium rare and the doneness was truly perfect. It cut softly the moment the knife went in, and the juices filled my mouth with the very first bite.

The more I chewed, the more the rich, nutty flavor typical of hanwoo came through, and I could tell right away why it was the main.

Personally, it was the most memorable dish of the night.

Meal: chicken noodles with a light mala aroma

I honestly thought the steak was the end, but there was one more meal dish waiting: chicken noodles.

Thin wheat noodles (somyeon) came in a deeply simmered chicken broth with a subtle mala (Sichuan numbing spice) aroma. The mala wasn't strong, so anyone could enjoy it without a problem.

The rich broth made a warm ending to the course, and even though I was full, it was so good that I finished almost all the soup.

Dessert: seasonal fruit

The Columba dinner course ended with a seasonal fruit dessert. Rinsing the palate with fresh fruit wrapped up the long course neatly. It wasn't heavy, so it felt easy even after the meal.

Is Columba Samseong worth recommending for an anniversary date?

You could feel the care in every dish at Columba Samseong, and the flow of the course felt natural, so I enjoyed it all the way to the end. The staff were friendly too, and the mood stayed comfortable throughout the meal.

If you want a special day at a restaurant with a great atmosphere, or you're looking for an anniversary or Samseong-dong date spot, I'd recommend giving Columba Samseong a visit. Next time I'd like to come back with my parents or friends. It was a place that suits a special day and a good meal with someone you love :)