Yeonnam-dong Italian restaurant for a quiet after-work date: Rangteu

My partner and I love going out to eat good food together, and not long ago, after work, we had a reason to head over to Yeonnam-dong for the first time in a while.

I searched hard for a cozy place with Italian dishes that feel a bit different, and a spot tucked away inside an alley, like a secret hideout, caught my eye (•͈ᴗ•͈) It was cleaner than I expected and the flavors worked well together, so we had a great time. Here's my story about Rangteu Yeonnam.

Where is Rangteu Yeonnam?

Rangteu Yeonnam (랑트 연남) is on the 1.5th floor of a building at 22-30 Yanghwa-ro 19-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, an easy walk from Hongik Univ. Station. It sits a little way in from the busy main street, so it was quiet and calm.

The exterior already has a stylish mood, so it was easy to find.

Is Rangteu Yeonnam's atmosphere good for a date?

Yes. With large windows, white-toned interiors and generously spaced tables, it's a good place to talk quietly. Inside, the Yeonnam-dong scenery showed gently through the windows.

You can feel the calm vibe of the surrounding alleys right in the space.

As soon as we stepped in, the bright, tidy mood caught my eye (˘︶˘).｡*♡ Clean white walls and modern furniture throughout.

The tables are spaced widely, so we could talk comfortably without worrying about the people next to us.

Green potted plants dotted around add some freshness, and they made the space feel a little warmer and more relaxed.

The tableware was neatly set, which made us feel well looked after.

How do you order at Rangteu Yeonnam?

You pick and order from a tablet on each table. The main dishes category had a wide range of pastas and risottos.

Once seated, we saw an ordering tablet on every table ( ᐛ )و These days, browsing a menu slowly like this without anyone hovering is so convenient. When I tapped the main dishes category, there were lots of pastas and risottos.

Many of the combinations are unusual, the kind you rarely see at a typical Western restaurant. Just reading the names made me curious about the flavors. After a long debate, we picked two dishes that feel like Rangteu Yeonnam's signatures.

We chose the brisket melchovy cream pasta and the red crab bisque shrimp risotto.

While we chatted and waited, the mains arrived one after another (≧◡≦) They were neatly plated with lovely colors, so of course we took photos first.

Brisket melchovy cream pasta: is the meljeot cream fishy?

The meljeot (salted fish) cream sauce has a funky, deep savoriness, and despite my worry it wasn't fishy at all. Golden-grilled brisket slices sat on top of the pasta.

The smoky, nutty smell of the grilled brisket came together with green bok choy and finely chopped scallions.

I tasted the sauce first: funky yet deeply savory. I'd worried that a meljeot cream might be fishy, but it really wasn't.

I twirled the noodles with a slice of brisket and some bok choy. The crisp bok choy, the juicy meat and the savory sauce blended nicely in my mouth.

The noodles were cooked just firm enough, so they were fun to chew.

What does the red crab bisque shrimp risotto taste like?

A rich red crab bisque sauce soaks deep into barley rather than regular rice, and the popping texture of the barley is the charm. The red sauce is striking.

Well-sautéed bok choy sat in the center with plump shrimp lined up neatly beside it ˚₊·—̳͟͞͞♡ The shrimp had a faint smoky aroma that made me hungry, and when I took a big spoonful and savored the grains, the sauce was really deep.

The flavor of the richly simmered red crab bisque had soaked into every grain. What impressed me most was that they use barley instead of regular rice, and the way it pops in your mouth is so appealing.

Bouncy shrimp and crunchy sautéed bok choy mixed into the smooth sauce for lots of different flavors. Both dishes brought out their ingredients well, and we cleaned our plates to the bottom (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)

Is Rangteu Yeonnam a good Yeonnam-dong date spot?

Considering the mood and the food quality, Rangteu Yeonnam was very satisfying. I felt it's an ideal space for enjoying good Italian food while talking quietly.

Next time I'd like to come with friends and try other pastas. If you're looking for a comfortable, atmospheric place to eat near Yeonnam-dong, Rangteu Yeonnam is a good choice. It can get crowded with dating couples on weekends and in the evening, so keep that in mind.

We left the restaurant in a great mood after a happy meal.