Ansan Italian restaurant date with lamb chops: That Man's Italian

Wanting to have a meal somewhere with a nice atmosphere, my husband and I went to That Man's Italian Restaurant & Lounge (그남자의이태리식당&라운지) in Jungang-dong, Ansan. We shared pasta, risotto, and lamb chop steak, and it made for a date remembered for the food's textures and the soft lighting.

How do you get there from Jungang Station, and where can you park?

The restaurant is on the sixth floor of Dongwon Building, 40 Gojan 1-gil, Danwon-gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. According to the original guide, it is a three-minute walk from Jungang Station. At the time of my visit, I could receive one hour of parking support at the public lot in front of Dongwon Building, or ₩2,000 in cash support for parking at Lotte Cinema Central Rak.

The listed hours were 12:00–22:00, with regular closure every Monday. The break time was listed as 15:00–17:00.

Is the atmosphere suited to a date or family gathering?

The restaurant had a gray-toned interior with soft lighting. Lamps were also placed on the tables, which made it feel cozy, and I thought it would be nice for two people to dine together on an anniversary.

The counter and kitchen were toward the back, and across from the kitchen was a private room seating up to 18 people. I thought it could suit a family gathering, a meeting between families before a wedding, or a birthday gathering. The restrooms at the very back were separated by gender and were clean when I used them.

What did we order, and how did ordering work?

The menu ranged from courses to salads, soup, pasta, risotto, steak, and dessert. We ordered at the table through a kiosk and paid at the counter when leaving. It was convenient that we could also select the steak doneness on the ordering screen.

We ordered aglio e olio spaghetti, squid ink risotto, and lamb chop steak. We chose MR for the lamb chop doneness. There was also a bottle-wine discount notice at the time of my visit, but we did not drink wine because we had work the next day.

The bread served first was crisp on the first bite, while the inside was soft and moist. I dipped it in olive oil and balsamic sauce, and had another serving after being told refills were available.

What did the squid ink risotto taste like?

The squid ink risotto was the first of our main dishes to arrive. A whole squid and edible flowers sat on top of the black risotto, making the contrast of colors stand out.

When I cut into the whole squid, the body was springy and chewy. Chopped squid tentacles were mixed into the risotto, so I could taste squid even when eating just the rice. The thick sauce was savory and full of umami, and went well with the pleasantly chewy grains of rice.

With broccoli and cherry tomatoes, it tasted fresh and clean. Even after finishing the squid body, I could enjoy the squid's texture to the last bite thanks to the chopped tentacles.

How were the noodles and garlic in the aglio e olio?

The lamb chop steak and aglio e olio spaghetti arrived after the risotto. The aglio e olio's chewy garlic topping was memorable; it was spicy and savory, yet clean-tasting. My husband took a bite and said the pasta was delicious.

Twisting up the noodles, I found them chewy and nutty. I liked being able to feel the textures of the garlic topping and noodles together.

Did my husband, who avoids the smell of lamb, eat the lamb chops?

The lamb chop steak was plated like an artist's palette, so I took photos before eating. My husband usually dislikes the smell of lamb, so I had ordered it planning to eat it myself.

But this time, my husband said he wanted to try it, so I gave him one. After one bite, he said it was delicious and ate it all, adding that he thought he could eat lamb chops from now on. I was happy at the thought that we could enjoy lamb together.

I wrapped the bone in a napkin to hold it, then dipped the lamb in salt and pepper. I did not notice any gamey smell, and it was juicy and nutty. With whole-grain mustard, the mustard seeds popped pleasantly and added a fresh flavor.

The green sauce was kiwi sauce. It was tangy and sweet, and I liked that the sweetness was not excessive for me.

Under the lamb chops was a grilled garnish of cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplant, and zucchini. The vegetables and mushrooms were moist, and a little salt brought out their flavor.

Why did I want to return for an anniversary?

I liked the chewy pasta and thick squid ink risotto, but sharing lamb chops with my husband, who had avoided lamb, was what stayed with me most. That day, we filled wine glasses with water and made a toast instead of having wine.

On the way out after paying, I was told I could choose and take a postcard. After I chose one, I was given a postcard in a frame and told that it was painted directly by the owner's mother, who is an artist. The unexpected gift after the meal also stayed with me.

It was nice for the two of us to dine under the soft lighting, so I would like to return for our wedding anniversary. Next time, I would like to have wine with the meal and try the wagyu steak we did not have this time.