Yeonnam-dong Italian restaurant: truffle risotto for two, Classicdang

Every time I go looking for a meal in Yeonnam-dong, there are so many pretty restaurants that I can't decide where to go. This time I went to Classicdang, which looked great for both the atmosphere and the food.

Parking and how to get to Classicdang

Classicdang is in an alley of Yeonnam-dong by Gyeongui Line Forest Park, and there is a parking lot right next to it. It's also within walking distance of Hongik Univ. Station. Parking is hard in this neighborhood, so I was worried, but the lot next door saved us. Even if you don't drive, you can just walk from Hongik Univ. Station, so it shouldn't be a hassle.

Classicdang's terrace and indoor atmosphere

Classicdang is a Western-style restaurant in Yeonnam-dong with terrace seats and a warm-feeling indoor room. It was a scorching sunny day, so we sat inside instead of on the terrace. The interior feels really warm and pretty, and everything was exactly my style. We had talked about visiting with a friend a few months ago, and back then the weather was cool, so we'd planned to sit on the terrace. If the weather had been cool this day too, we would have sat on the terrace without a second thought, but the sun was too strong, so we went inside.

With its warm mood, Classicdang feels comfortable for a meal, so I think it would work for a blind date, a wedding-invitation get-together, a date, or a meetup with friends.

The three dishes we ordered at Classicdang

The two of us ordered three dishes at Classicdang: crab cheese rosé pasta, margherita pizza, and prosciutto parmesan pecorino cream risotto. The menu had a lot of options, like garlic bread with mushrooms, Caesar salad, basil pesto tomato, quattro funghi, and handmade jambon arugula, so it was hard to choose. The risotto's name is really complicated, right? We both think leftovers are better than not having enough (though we didn't leave anything), so we ordered these three.

Crab cheese rosé pasta: plenty of sauce, noodles cooked just right

The food took about 15 minutes after ordering, and all three dishes came almost at the same time. The first to arrive was the crab cheese rosé pasta, and I liked it right away: it looked really pretty and had lots of sauce.

The crab cheese rosé pasta was loaded with burrata and crab, and the moment I ate it I thought, "They don't skimp on ingredients here, they really care about the food."

Mixed in with the rosé sauce, the nutty richness went well together, and there was so much sauce that later I dipped the margherita pizza in it, hahaha. My husband says boiling pasta is secretly difficult and considers it the most important thing, and he said the noodles were cooked just right and really delicious.

Is the cream risotto's truffle aroma strong?

The truffle aroma in Classicdang's prosciutto parmesan pecorino cream risotto is subtle, so even people who aren't good with truffle should be able to eat it comfortably. Risotto is a must in Yeonnam-dong Western food, and we always order cream risotto; Classicdang's was perfect for both my husband and me. I like truffle but not a strong smell, and I prefer it mild. I was a little worried it might be too strong, but when I took a bite, it was subtle.

I also thought we might have leftovers, but the portions were just right: three dishes left the two of us pleasantly full.

Margherita pizza: sweet and tangy tomato sauce

Classicdang's margherita pizza had a delicious sweet-and-sour tomato sauce. I hesitated between gorgonzola and margherita and went with margherita, and I understood why it's famous as a Yeonnam-dong brunch spot. In between bites I ate the pickled radish that came with it, and we even ordered a soft drink, haha.

What occasions suit Classicdang?

Classicdang has a relaxed mood that suits dates, meetups with friends, or meals with family. Above all, the atmosphere is good, so it was really comfortable to eat while chatting. If you're looking for a restaurant near Gyeongui Line Forest Park with a nice mood, Classicdang seems like a fine choice, right?

As you'd expect from a Gyeongui Line Forest Park restaurant, the food was tasty and the atmosphere was great, so my husband and I had a lovely time, haha. Next time I'd like to try other dishes. We were happy with both the taste and the mood, and on our next outing I'd love to visit Classicdang in Yeonnam-dong again.