Jamsil Italian wedding invite meetup: barley risotto at Mano di Chef

This time I went to Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch for a 청모 (cheongmo, a wedding invitation meetup) with friends! When you're picking a place for a cheongmo, the atmosphere matters as much as the food. So I ended up at Mano di Chef, which is known as a Jamsil bisque pasta spot.☺️

Where is Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch, and what are the hours?

Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch is on the B1 floor of Tower 730 near Jamsil Station. It's open Mon–Sat 11:00–21:30 and Sunday 11:00–21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00 and last orders at 14:00 and 20:30. Parking is available too.

• Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00 - 21:30 / Sun 11:00 - 21:00
• Break time: 15:00 - 17:00
• Last order: 14:00, 20:30
• Parking available

A Blue Ribbon restaurant: Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch

The entrance looked clean and upscale, so I liked the place from the very first impression.

When we arrived, the two-years-running Blue Ribbon mark caught my eye. With the Blue Ribbon sign up, my friends got even more excited, haha.

We had a reservation, but even if you walk in without one, you can look over the menu at the entrance. So nice!

Is Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch a good spot for a cheongmo?

Inside, a big chandelier, soft lighting and brick walls come together for a warm, upscale mood. I picked it for the cheongmo and was completely won over by the atmosphere.

The first thing I noticed inside was a huge chandelier(?)! It adds a spoonful of luxury..🤍

The soft lighting and brick interior blended into a warm mood. I chose it for the cheongmo and ended up totally satisfied with the atmosphere.☺️

There was a variety of seating, from 4-person tables to group seating, plus spaces divided by glass doors. It looked great for a private meal, whether a wedding invitation meetup, a small get-together or a group gathering.

One side of the restaurant has an open kitchen, and I liked that you can see the tidy kitchen at a glance! Wine glasses hang neatly in front of it and a variety of wines are on display, which gives Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch its own upscale feel.

What's on the menu, and what's in the Special Set?

Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch has pizza, risotto, pasta, salad, steak and even lobster, along with several set menus including the Premium Course (품격 코스). We ordered the 2-person Special Set: 2 main dishes + 1 pizza + 2 ades.

When we walked in, a staff member showed us to our reserved seats.

Even the tableware was neatly set. When small details are this tidy, you feel well looked after, which I loved.☺️

Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch offers a wide range of mains: pizza, risotto, pasta, salad and steak, and even lobster, which is hard to find at Western restaurants!

There are also various set menus, including the Premium Course, so it looked good for an anniversary with a partner too.

Of the many sets, we ordered the 2-person Special Set. It includes 2 main dishes + 1 pizza + 2 ades, and here's what we ordered.

• Seaweed pesto & seafood barley risotto (감태 페스토 & 씨푸드 보리 리조또)
• Chamsongi mushroom cream gnocchi (참송이 크림 뇨끼)
• Steak pizza (+₩10,000)

Seaweed pesto & seafood barley risotto, the pick of the day

My favorite dish was the seaweed pesto & seafood barley risotto!

The seaweed's signature ocean scent came through pleasantly, more than I expected.

You bite into finely chopped squid and shrimp, and their soft, chewy texture plus the popping texture of the barley made it fun to eat. The barley's texture is especially charming, so the more I ate, the more I kept reaching for it. Personally, this risotto was my number one of the day.🤍

Chamsongi mushroom cream gnocchi, strong mushroom aroma

The chamsongi mushroom cream gnocchi was golden pan-seared gnocchi with a generous amount of thick, rich cream sauce. But as a mushroom hater,, the mushroom aroma came on stronger than I expected and felt a little heavy for me,,,🥹 My friends, on the other hand, said the mushrooms tasted like meat and ate it happily, haha. The strong mushroom scent and the thick cream go together really well, so if I liked mushrooms, this might have been my pick!

Steak pizza, thin dough with tender diced steak

We upgraded to the steak pizza for an extra ₩10,000! It's generously topped with big pieces of steak, and I liked that the dough is thin, like a thin-crust pizza. I don't usually like thick pizza dough, so it suited me even more.

It was also piled with arugula, so the whole thing felt fresh. Eating it with the seasoned diced steak was a really good combination! Steak can easily turn tough, but this wasn't tough at all and chewed tenderly, so it was easy to eat.

Special Set ades, with free carbonated refills

For the ades that come with the Special Set, we chose a red grapefruit ade and a lemonade, and ordered a Coke Zero separately. The lemonade was zesty, so sipping it between the cream dishes and pizza left my mouth feeling refreshed.☺️ The carbonated ades can be refilled, which made the meal even more generous.

Corkage, birthday perks and overall verdict at Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch

Mano di Chef Jamsil Branch offers free corkage for up to 2 bottles with a ₩100,000+ bill, and guests with a birthday that month get one free pizza, so it's worth checking before you visit!

It was a get-together with friends after a long time, and everything from the mood to the food was quite satisfying. The neat tables and upscale interior made it great for a wedding invitation meetup. Personally, the atmosphere was so good that I'd like to come back next time with my fiancé.☺️

I recommend it to:

• People looking for a wedding invitation meetup spot in Jamsil
• People who prefer an upscale, private restaurant
• People who want to enjoy a Blue Ribbon restaurant
• People looking for a nice date spot near Jamsil Station