Gangnam blind-date bistro, Greek yogurt salad to risotto: Brivit

What's the hardest part of making plans around Gangnam Station? It's always "where should we eat?", right! There are so many good restaurants and hot spots, but once you try to find a place where you can sit across from someone special and actually chat happily over a meal, the options narrow down more than you'd think. Somewhere too loud and chaotic makes talking hard, and somewhere too formal feels like a burden.

Lately, both around me and for myself, I meet lots of people and often hold a microphone for work, so for meals I prefer a space with a totally relaxed, good-energy flow. Pretty atmosphere, tasty food, and comfortable enough to talk!

I had an appointment near Gangnam Station recently and stumbled on a place that ticks every one of those boxes, so I wanted to introduce it right away. The exterior alone felt like stepping into some European back alley, and it's Brivit Gangnam Station (브리비트)! Having been there, I think it's perfect for couples' dates, and also for a Gangnam Station pasta blind date full of first-meeting flutters. The food quality is great and the portions are generous too, so you get good value, which I loved even more.

Where is Brivit Gangnam Station?

Brivit Gangnam Station sits in an alley between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station. It's really easy to reach by public transport, so it's a great meeting spot.

The streets around Gangnam Station are full of flashy signs and crowds, but the moment I arrived in front of Brivit, the mood changed completely. The warm-toned exterior and cute little props made it feel like a local bistro I'd happily found while traveling in Europe. Maybe because my European trip still lingers in my mind, I always get giddy and stop in my tracks at a look like this. Even before going in, I wanted to take photos at the entrance.

Inside Brivit Gangnam Station: is it good for talking on a blind date?

The inside of Brivit Gangnam Station is a cozy space with wood-tone furniture, warm lighting and green plants, and there's terrace-style seating at the back. Open the door and the interior is as fresh and snug as the exterior. The wood furniture, warm lights and plants dotted everywhere blend into a very cozy, comfortable mood. The terrace-style seats among the plants at the back would be lovely on a nice day, or when you want something more private and different.

At famous packed restaurants you can hear every word from the next table, and you end up raising your voice just to talk to the person in front of you. But at Brivit Gangnam Station the tables are spaced comfortably, and the whole space is calm with just the right amount of buzz, so chatting was really pleasant.

Looking around, there were blind-date pairs talking with excited faces, couples on cozy dates, and friends chatting away at gatherings. It isn't a dark, heavy fine-dining mood but nicely bright and fresh, so I think even an awkward first meeting would loosen up naturally and turn warm and friendly.

Brivit Gangnam Station menu and the 4 dishes I ordered

The menu at Brivit Gangnam Station has pasta, risotto, steak, gnocchi, salads and sides, plus set menus for 2 and 3 people. Opening the menu, I found plenty of choice, and the sets for two or three people looked well put together, a good deal for a hearty meal. That day I carefully picked combinations I like and was craving! Here are the four things I ordered.

• Spicy jambon risotto (잠봉매콤리조또)
• Spicy fried eggplant (매콤가지튀김)
• Greek yogurt & tomato salad
• Grapefruit ade

A fresh salad and ade to whet the appetite, a crunchy side for fun, and a hearty spicy risotto to anchor the main! Doesn't the combo alone make your mouth water?

Grapefruit ade: how is it as a first drink?

At Brivit Gangnam Station the food doesn't arrive all at once; it came in order, drinks and starter first, then the main. Thanks to this thoughtful serving order, the meal flowed without interruption and I could enjoy it at a relaxed pace.

The grapefruit ade came out first! The glowing red color caught my eye right away, and on the first sip it wasn't an artificial syrupy sweetness but grapefruit's bittersweet, fresh juice mixed with zingy fizz, which refreshed my whole mouth. I wondered if there could be a better drink to go with the spicy, rich dishes still to come. It was a perfect match.

How does the Greek yogurt & tomato salad taste?

The Greek yogurt & tomato salad at Brivit Gangnam Station is fresh vegetables and tomatoes topped with a generous scoop of thick Greek yogurt. The salad that came next was so prettily plated that I had to pick up my camera. One bite and freshness and nuttiness spread through my mouth at once.

Personally I like to start a meal with fresh vegetables and protein, and the dense thickness of the Greek yogurt meeting the tomato's acidity was perfect for whetting the appetite. It isn't heavy-handed, the ingredients' natural freshness comes through, and it also did a great job cleansing my palate between bites during the meal.

How do you eat the spicy fried eggplant?

The spicy fried eggplant at Brivit Gangnam Station is a side served with lemon and a special chipotle sauce. And now the big side dish, spicy fried eggplant! Even people who don't usually like eggplant change their tune when it's fried, right? The moment it arrived, the nutty smell of frying hit my nose. The outside was fried really crisp, and when I bit in, the eggplant inside was full of moisture, juicy and melting soft.

Squeeze the lemon that comes with it for extra freshness, then dip it in the special chipotle sauce... it's honestly amazing! The spicy yet creamy chipotle sauce really lifts the savory flavor of the crispy eggplant, and it was so addictive I kept reaching for more. A table with only mains can feel a bit monotonous, but adding a side with this much texture made the meal feel far more complete.

What does the main, spicy jambon risotto, taste like?

The spicy jambon risotto at Brivit Gangnam Station is a spicy cream risotto generously topped with thinly sliced jambon (French-style ham). Just as I finished warming up with the starter and side, today's main dish, the spicy jambon risotto, arrived! The moment the plate hit the table, the rich creamy aroma mixed with a faint spicy smell and really stirred my appetite.

It looked so appetizing, with big, thin slices of jambon piled generously on top for a lavish feel. I took a big spoonful together with the jambon, and the salty, mild flavor of the ham and the thick, spicy risotto sauce made a fantastic harmony in my mouth!

With risotto, what matters most is how the rice is cooked and the thickness of the sauce, right? The rice had just the right texture, not mushy and not hard or undercooked, and the spicy cream sauce had soaked in all the way through, so I never got tired of it down to the last spoonful. A pleasant spiciness added to a cream base that could get heavy gave it a savory depth that suits Korean tastes.

Alternating bites of the Greek yogurt & tomato salad, spicy fried eggplant and spicy jambon risotto, the sweet-salty, spicy and fresh flavors balanced perfectly and I cleared the plates in no time. The portions are generous too, so I felt full and satisfied afterward.

Who is Brivit Gangnam Station recommended for?

Brivit Gangnam Station is a Western restaurant near Gangnam Station that I recommend for dates, blind dates and small gatherings, with atmosphere, taste and fair prices all in balance. Finding a Western restaurant around Gangnam Station that covers all of this isn't as easy as you'd think, but Brivit Gangnam Station had it all: a fresh, cozy interior like a European alley, a pleasant space where you can focus on conversation without the next table intruding, and a varied menu where you can feel the care in every dish!

I'd confidently recommend it for a special date with a partner, a Gangnam Station pasta blind date where first impressions matter, or a small gathering with close friends.