Pocheon Italian restaurant for half-and-half pizza: From Italy

Whenever the weather is especially nice, I often head out around Gomori in Pocheon for some fresh air. Today, I headed to Pocheon with my two daughters, who have been working so hard studying, to have a fun time together!

The place I visited this time was From Italy (프롬이태리), the Gomori flagship branch near Pocheon’s Gomori Reservoir and Gwangneung Arboretum. With its exotic European-style atmosphere, it offers everything from pasta and risotto to pizza and steak, so it seemed like such a wonderful spot for a family meal, a date, or an anniversary dinner. Let me introduce it!

Where is From Italy near Gomori Reservoir and Gwangneung Arboretum?

From Italy Gomori flagship branch, a pasta restaurant in Pocheon, is near Gomori Reservoir and Gwangneung Arboretum, making it an easy stop if you are planning a Pocheon drive or outing.

Unlike a city restaurant, it is surrounded by green scenery, so even the trip there felt relaxed. There is also plenty of parking for visitors arriving by car, so no parking worries!

From Italy’s grand red exterior felt exotic, as though we had arrived abroad. As soon as we got there, my daughters were busy taking photos because they said it was so pretty.

Opened in 2019, From Italy has been listed consecutively in the Blue Ribbon Survey restaurant guide, and you can try dishes prepared directly by a chef with five-star hotel experience. It opens at 11:00 AM and operates until 8:40 PM; it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so keep that in mind.

The atmosphere of a small European manor

Inside From Italy, it really felt as if a small European restaurant had been moved here.

Once inside, classic decorative pieces, lighting, and chandeliers came together to create an even more atmospheric space.

It had a charming old-fashioned warmth quite different from a clean, modern restaurant. The space itself felt warm and peaceful, and every staff member was kind.

Antique furniture, soft lighting, warm wood-toned interiors, and gentle music all came together so elegantly…… There were so many photo spots worthy of a lifetime shot that we kept pressing the shutter as we moved between the first floor, second floor, and outdoors. Haha.

It seems like a great space not only for dates but also for family meals or special-day visits. Oh, and it has been featured on several TV programs, including Live Today and Morning Wide.

There is also a lovely outdoor area behind the restaurant. It blends beautifully with the natural scenery, and with outdoor tables available, it looked perfect for a cup of tea after a meal.

From Italy’s Italian fusion menu

From Italy offers a wide range of Italian fusion dishes that add Korean ingredients and ideas to familiar Italian menu items.

Its signature dishes include Crab Rock Pasta, scallop basil risotto, half-and-half pizza, Jewel Box striploin steak, and tomahawk steak. Pasta and risotto were mostly in the high ₩20,000s, while steak prices varied widely by dish.

From Italy’s menu was fun to choose from because even the names were far from ordinary. There were so many unfamiliar fusion dishes that I wanted to try them all.

Half-and-half pizza, risotto, and pasta for four

The four of us ordered a half-and-half pizza for two flavors at once, scallop basil risotto, Shanghai risotto, pollack roe cream pasta, a glass of red wine, and grapefruit juice.

Before the main dishes arrived, they served squid-ink ciabatta as an appetizer. They said it was house-made bread fermented for 14 hours, and it was so chewy and nutty—on a completely different level from store-bought bread.

Half-and-half pizza | Arugula smoked salmon & Margherita

Next came the half-and-half pizza, which lets you enjoy two flavors on one pie. One side was arugula smoked salmon, fresh with the mild salty flavor of smoked salmon and fragrant arugula; the other was Margherita, with a lovely simple pairing of tomato sauce and cheese. The crust was thin, so it did not feel heavy, and having two distinct flavors on one pizza made it great for sharing with a group.

Scallop basil risotto

If you love risotto, the scallop basil risotto is worth noticing, too. Soft risotto was enhanced by basil’s distinctive fragrance and served with scallops, making it rich and full of flavor. The scallops in particular were pleasantly chewy and tender—so delicious.

Pollack roe cream pasta

The pollack roe cream pasta balanced the savory saltiness of myeongnan (seasoned pollack roe) with a smooth cream sauce. It was creamy, yet the roe gave it a clear, nutty depth of flavor.

Shanghai risotto

Shanghai risotto had a tomato-based sauce with mussels, blue crab, webfoot octopus, squid, and other seafood, plus bacon, mushrooms, and vegetables. Its gently building spicy heat and umami kept it from being at all rich, and it was so tasty. Above all, the seafood added a wonderful aroma, and the generous portion of rice made it a satisfying meal.

Oh, and we also ordered wine and grapefruit juice to set the mood. Perhaps because it was fresh fruit juice, it was wonderfully tangy and delicious.

They were also running a receipt-review event. Once you complete a review, you can join a nostalgic prize draw—and wow, first prize is a bottle of wine!

Along with pizza and pasta, From Italy also sells steak. If you love meat, I think you would enjoy the Jewel Box striploin steak, which highlights striploin’s distinctive juices and savory flavor.

I think you could make an even fuller day by planning a route that includes nearby attractions. It would be nice to look around Gomori Reservoir and have a delicious meal, or visit Gwangneung Arboretum and then come here for a relaxed meal.

When a faraway trip feels like too much but you need a change of scenery near Seoul, how about this for a day out: a Pocheon drive → Gomori Reservoir → a meal at From Italy?