Gamey-free lamb chops at an Ansan Italian restaurant: That Man's

I heard there's a good spot for blind dates and dates in Jungangdong, Ansan, so I visited That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge (그남자의이태리식당). I went for a weekday lunch, so I'll review everything: the lamb chops with no gamey smell, parking, atmosphere and the other dishes!

Where is That Man's Italian Restaurant in Ansan, and where to park?

That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge is at 40 Gojan 1-gil, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi, South Korea, on the 6th floor of Dongwon Building, and you can park at 5 public lots nearby. If you register your license plate at the restaurant, you get 1 hour of free parking.

I went right at lunchtime. Just take the elevator up to the 6th floor of the building.

• 5 public parking lots: in front of Dongwon Building, Geumsan Building, Jungang Heights Ville, Lotte Department Store and Megabox
• 1 hour of free parking when you register your plate at the restaurant
• They say using the Daedong Joy World lot gets you ₩2,000 off your meal

With no parking worries, I could enjoy my Jungangdong steak with a calm mind.

Atmosphere and seating at That Man's Italian Restaurant

Paintings hang from the entrance, so it feels like a gallery, and the inside is clean and spacious. The moment I stepped out of the elevator, the paintings in front of the entrance caught my eye.

It felt like a gallery right from the entrance.

Inside was clean and roomy. The tables are spaced generously, so I couldn't hear the neighboring tables much.

There are window seats and a terrace outside too. I think it would feel even cozier in the evening.

The little rabbit decorations and the lighting were so cute that my eyes kept wandering to them, haha

Private group room and facilities

There's a private group room on one side. A group was dining in it, so I couldn't take photos inside. Reservations are said to be possible for 6 or more, so keep that in mind!

The restroom was kept clean, and there were hangers for aprons and coats. Thanks to that, I had a comfortable time, haha

It's been open since 2016, so about 10 years, and I hear it's run by a chef with 20 years of experience. There are over 40 kinds of wine too, so wine lovers should have plenty to choose from!

What we ordered for weekday lunch, with prices

At That Man's Italian Restaurant you order on the kiosk at your table, and you can choose how your steak is cooked. I ordered three dishes that day.

• Lamb chop steak (medium) ₩43,900
• Squid ink risotto ₩23,900
• Ricotta cheese salad ₩17,900

They also had a review event where you post photos and a video. If you join, you get a dessert of an egg tart topped with Häagen-Dazs ice cream. I figured I wouldn't finish everything I ordered, so I skipped it this time.

How are the bread and ricotta cheese salad?

The bread came out first, and I dipped it in balsamic sauce while I waited.

The ricotta cheese salad was generous. It has blueberries, tomatoes and oranges, and the green grape dressing was sweet and refreshing. I never expected the ricotta in the salad to be this nutty and rich, but the soft, deep cheese flavor came through and went really well with the fruit.

Squid ink risotto: does it taste fishy?

The squid ink risotto at That Man's is topped with whole Ulleungdo squid, scored and grilled. There was no fishy smell at all.

Squid and ink can easily turn fishy. But there was no fishy smell at all. The squid was plump and grilled so it wasn't tough.

The seasoning was just right too, and when I ate a piece of squid with some risotto on top, a nutty, subtle sea aroma lingered.

Lamb chop steak: is it really free of gamey smell?

The lamb chop steak (medium, ₩43,900) at That Man's had no gamey smell at all, even for me, someone sensitive to lamb odor. This was the dish I was most looking forward to.

Two big chops come out on a bed of grilled eggplant, tomato and zucchini. A potato salad came with it too. Whole grain mustard and mint jelly were prettily placed around the plate. Just looking at it made me hungry.

I'm sensitive to lamb smell. But since the chops are made from lamb under 12 months old, there was no gamey smell at all. The meat was lightly sprinkled with spices, and I could faintly smell that aroma you get when eating yangkkochi (lamb skewers).

Best sauce pairings for the lamb chops

• For something refreshing, go with the mint jelly
• For something hearty, try dipping in the whole grain mustard along with the potato salad!

What dessert comes with the weekday lunch?

On weekday lunches, That Man's gives you a free choice of coffee or peach sherbet. I picked the peach sherbet.

It's a homemade sherbet blended from peach and fresh lemon. The fresh, sweet peach flavor spread out, and it was great for cleansing the palate after the rich lamb chops.

That Man's Italian Restaurant hours and visitor info

• Location: 40 Gojan 1-gil, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi, South Korea (6th floor, Dongwon Building)
• Hours: Tue–Sun 12:00–22:00 (break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 21:00)
• Closed: Every Monday
• Parking: 5 nearby public lots, 1 hour free with plate registration
• Getting there: about 3–5 minutes on foot from Jungang Station Exit 1
• Restroom: inside the restaurant
• Group seating: private room available
• Reservations: possible (Naver reservations)

Who should go to That Man's Italian Restaurant

• Anyone looking for a good steak place in Jungangdong, Ansan
• Anyone looking for a spot for an anniversary or a date
• Anyone looking for a place for company dinners, family introductions or group gatherings

Things to know before you go

• The lunch break time is 15:00–17:00
• The lunch service dessert is weekdays only
• The review event may change depending on the period
• On days with lots of groups, it's easier to book ahead

Verdict: lamb chops for anyone worried about gaminess

That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge is a steak restaurant in Jungangdong, Ansan, where even people worried about gamey lamb can eat comfortably. It was my first time ever eating lamb, and thanks to the tender juices and the sauce pairings, I ate comfortably to the end. Next time I want to come with my boyfriend on an anniversary and try the signature course meal. I'd also like to feel the terrace atmosphere in the evening. If you're looking for a restaurant in Jungangdong, Ansan, definitely visit That Man's!