Friday-night dinner with a friend at a Euljiro3-ga restaurant: Pyu

I was looking for a place in Euljiro where I could sit quietly with a friend and actually talk, and that's how I ended up at Pyu Euljiro, a Euljiro restaurant everyone raves about. The mood was calm and upscale, so it felt like it could work for a date, a blind date, or a quiet gathering too. Here's my honest review of the food and the space — the full verdict is at the very bottom!

Where is Pyu Euljiro? Inside the 1st floor of the Tower 107 building

Pyu Euljiro sits near Euljiro3-ga Station at 27 Mareun-nae-ro, on the 1st floor of the Tower 107 building.

The first time you go, you might wonder "is this really it?" — but keep walking straight in through the entrance, further inside, and

there it is — Pyu Euljiro! There's a cute little "phEw" sign hanging up. I got curious about the name and looked up what it means: "PHEW means the sense of relief when you undo one button of a tight shirt, the sound that naturally escapes your mouth when you sink into a soft sofa at home — Phew. Set down all the roles and heavy titles the world has assigned you, even just for a moment, and stay here as your most comfortable, true self."

Friday-evening reservation and a name tag on the table

I went on a Friday evening and booked a reservation ahead of time just in case. When I got to my seat, there was a name tag with my name on it sitting on the table. That kind of small detail made me feel like they really care about their guests, haha.

Inside Pyu Euljiro: open marble kitchen and curtained private seats

The moment you walk into Pyu Euljiro, the upscale atmosphere hits you right away! Since it seems to have opened recently, everything felt spotless and pleasant. In particular, the open kitchen counter with its marble finish gives the whole place a pretty luxe feel.

On one side of the restaurant, the tables are spaced generously, and there are seats divided by curtains between them. It gives you a much more private feeling while you eat! With this kind of atmosphere, it seems like it would be perfect for a blind date too. Quiet, private, and clean and upscale throughout — anyone looking for a good Euljiro date restaurant would probably love it.

Pyu Euljiro menu: the 2-person set and the wine lineup

The menu has a wide range of Western dishes — pasta, risotto, steak, and more.

There's also a 2-person set menu so you can try several dishes at once, which seems like a good pick for first-time visitors.

Drinks range from tea, juice, and coffee to soft drinks, and there's beer and wine too. The wine selection especially is quite varied, so it seems great for a glass while you eat! They also sell house wine, which looks good for a casual glass without much commitment.

They were also running a review event — one glass of house wine or a drink per review submitted, so if you're into that, don't forget to check it out!

Drinks: Cheongdam-dong Myeoneuri beer 8,000 won and Gyul-rullala 12,500 won

We ordered the Cheongdam-dong Myeoneuri beer (₩8,000) and the Gyul-rullala (₩12,500). The Gyul-rullala had a subtle mandarin aroma with a sweet-tart taste, and the carbonation made it much more refreshing than I expected. It wasn't especially sweet — the mandarin's tartness was the star — so it felt fine to drink lightly even instead of alcohol.

The Cheongdam-dong Myeoneuri beer had a subtle, savory malt aroma, with a smooth and clean first sip. Toward the finish, a gentle bitterness lingered, which kept it from feeling heavy, and it went down smoothly. It was an easy beer to drink without any pressure.

Poured full of foam, my friend here^^ Is that you, IU?

From the basic tableware setting on, everything feels clean and upscale.

Bisque pasta, 26,000 won

First dish: bisque pasta!

The shrimp-head sauce was rich and creamy, giving the whole sauce a deep, savory flavor I really liked. The sauce clung well to the noodles too, so the shrimp flavor came through strongly throughout the pasta.

There were two plump shrimp in it too, so my friend and I split one each. The portion felt just right for two people sharing it alongside another dish.

Charcoal-grilled octopus with romesco, 34,000 won

The second dish we ordered was the charcoal-grilled octopus with romesco — octopus leg cooked over charcoal, served with romesco sauce on the side.

Pretty appetizing just to look at, right? A whole giant octopus leg comes out, and you cut it into bite-sized pieces with a knife as you eat.

The romesco sauce was savory, tangy, and slightly spicy. It had a deep flavor from roasted tomatoes and vegetables, so it was good even just dipped plain. The pairing of charcoal octopus with romesco sauce was especially good — the subtle smokiness of the octopus and the savory tang of the romesco worked together better than I expected. The octopus was chewy but meaty, with really good texture. It was great for slowly eating while chatting with a friend, and it paired well with wine or beer too.

Verdict: is Pyu Euljiro a good Euljiro date or blind-date spot?

Overall, both the atmosphere and the food at this Euljiro restaurant were satisfying. Since the space is clean and calm, it seems like a good pick for a day when you want a quiet meal and conversation rather than somewhere loud. The tables are spaced widely, and there are curtain-divided seats too, so it also felt like a good fit for a date or blind date when you want a more private meal. The food, from the pasta to the octopus dish, had a bit of a different spin from the usual Western food you'd eat every day, which I liked, and the wine selection was varied enough to enjoy alongside the meal. It was comfortable chatting with a friend over the meal too, and I'd like to try other dishes next time.

• Quiet, upscale atmosphere
• Recommended for a Euljiro blind date or a date
• Satisfying food overall

If you're looking for a Euljiro restaurant with good atmosphere instead of somewhere loud, I recommend it!