Gomo-ri, Pocheon restaurant with 2nd-floor mountain views: From Italy

Today I want to share an honest review of a place that feels like walking straight into a French gallery or a scene from a beautiful oil painting — Pocheon Gomo-ri's hot spot, From Italy's Gomo-ri main branch.

From Italy, a pasta spot in Pocheon's Gomo-ri, sits near Gomo Reservoir and Gwangneung Arboretum, famous as a Seoul-area drive course. If you're looking for a place with both great atmosphere and great food, keep reading!

Where is From Italy Gomo-ri branch, and what are the hours?

• Location: 669 Jukyeopsan-ro, Sohheul-eup, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Wed–Fri from 11:30 / Sat, Sun 11:00–20:40
• Ordered: Gebawi pasta, scallop basil risotto

Plain red brick outside, European mansion inside

The exterior of From Italy Gomo-ri main branch is a red-brick building with the weighty feel of a traditional restaurant. Here's the exterior of the pasta spot as I first arrived.

Honestly, at this point I walked in thinking 'ah, probably just another ordinary suburban restaurant,' with no real expectations.

But! The moment I opened the door, my judgment completely flipped.

Whoa... I gasped out loud at how gorgeous and luxurious the atmosphere was! From Italy is divided into a hall and private rooms, and each seating area has a totally different interior concept, so it felt like stepping into a different space each time.

Classical-style paintings hung throughout the interior and the warm fireplace décor really filled out the mood. You could tell how carefully every little prop was chosen — the owner's taste really stood out. It felt like being invited to some European nobleman's mansion.

The 2nd-floor mountain view through From Italy's picture windows

Heading up to the 2nd floor of From Italy opens up a whole different world! Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, a sweeping mountain view and pretty garden came into full view, and it felt so refreshing.

This kind of relaxed, nature-filled healing is probably exactly why so many people drive out to Pocheon's Gomo-ri from Seoul, and From Italy perfectly satisfies that need.

Just sitting there at From Italy felt like pure healing. It's such a great Pocheon restaurant for a weekend date on a Seoul-area drive. If you're looking for an atmospheric restaurant near Gwangneung Arboretum in Pocheon's Gomo-ri,

I can confidently recommend From Italy!

Dishes at From Italy you eat with your eyes first

Just as I was getting lost in the atmosphere, our ordered dishes finally started arriving. From Italy's interior is a perfect ten, but the food was truly like a work of art. Every time a dish was served, the staff kindly explained the dish and how to best enjoy it, which made me feel genuinely well taken care of.

What we ordered at From Italy were the signature dishes — gebawi pasta and scallop basil risotto. The visuals alone are overwhelming, right?

1. The squid ink ciabatta bread service, aged 14 hours every day

Before the main dishes even arrived, I was already embarrassingly generous with my praise for this bread — squid ink ciabatta they say is fermented for 14 hours every day.

Honestly, if they sold this as a standalone menu item I'd buy it immediately! Super chewy without being tough at all, moist inside. The characteristic fermented-bread flavor plus cranberries you bite into here and there add just enough sweetness that you never get tired of it.

Apparently customers keep asking to buy it, but it's too labor-intensive to sell separately, so it's only served as complimentary bread. This is easily the best pre-meal bread I've ever had. If you visit From Italy, you absolutely have to try this bread.

2. Gebawi pasta: the look, the shellfish flavor

This is From Italy's signature dish, gebawi pasta. Usually when you order crab pasta, you just get picked crab meat scattered on top — but here, the visual alone sets it apart.

A cute little crab and a puffed bread shaped like a rock are beautifully plated on top of the cream pasta. It felt less like food and more like looking at a piece of art.

Eating tip: eat the cute crab whole and crunchy, and break the puffed bread into small pieces to dip in the cream sauce.

What surprised me most was the deep flavor of the gebawi pasta. I dipped a bit of the sauce and got hit with a rich burst of crab flavor filling my whole mouth. You could tell they didn't skimp on ingredients — fresh shrimp, mushrooms, scallops, and even baby octopus!

With so much seafood packed in, the cream sauce was incredibly rich and velvety. Adding the crispy puffed bread and crab on top brought in a cracker-like texture too, making every bite fun. Crispiness and softness, varied textures and deep aroma all at once — this was pasta at its best.

3. Scallop basil risotto that melts in your mouth

This dish is plated with basil risotto piled onto a gorgeous scallop shell, topped with a large chunky scallop. It was soft and not too salty, so I kept eating without any hesitation.

What surprised me most was how big and plump the scallop was! Grilled in butter to just the right doneness, it stayed tender rather than chewy, and you could taste the freshness clearly.

It just melts the moment it hits your mouth! I'm still thinking about that flavor even as I write this.

Photo spots all over From Italy

After the meal, I enjoyed the photo zones scattered throughout the restaurant. There are plenty of spots to take photos both indoors and outdoors, with gorgeous mountain views in the background.

From Italy has a study-in-a-mountain-lodge vibe, a space styled like a French home, and even a pretty antique mirror! There are so many photo zones that I lost track of time slowly wandering around taking photos after the meal.

I bet the outdoor view at From Italy is especially pretty when the leaves turn in fall!

Final verdict on dining at From Italy in Pocheon

The gorgeous, luxurious surprise hidden behind that plain red-brick exterior, the healing mountain view stretching out beyond the windows, and above all the art-like dishes that bring out deep, genuine ingredient flavors.

From Italy Gomo-ri main branch was a complete package — atmosphere, taste, and service, nothing missing. If you're after truly great pasta, or want a special place for a date with your partner or a family meal, I strongly recommend visiting once! (Make sure to try the bread — twice!)