Gangnam Italian restaurant for bottarga pasta: Osteria Lucia

I went to Osteria Lucia (오스테리아 루치아), an Italian restaurant near Hakdong Station, with coworkers. We had bottarga, puttanesca, and squid ink risotto that day. Of the three, the bottarga pasta, which I was trying for the first time, stayed with me most, and my coworkers were pleased too.

Is it easy to reach from Hakdong Station? What about parking?

The restaurant is on the first floor at 20 Hakdong-ro 30-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is close to Hakdong Station, so it was easy to find. At the time of the original post, the listed hours were daily from 11:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 14:00 for lunch and 20:30 for dinner.

I was told that the building’s B2 parking lot could be used free of charge from 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. on weekends and public holidays. Paid parking was required at weekday lunch. The original post also mentioned Nonhyeon private parking, about a one-minute walk away, and Cheongun private parking right beside the restaurant.

What is the interior like for a gathering?

As soon as I entered, the bright white-and-wood interior caught my eye. My coworkers were happy to see the space too.

The indirect lighting was soft, and I thought it could work well for a blind date too.

The tables were generously spaced, which made the room feel comfortable. My coworkers said it would also suit a gathering for wedding invitations.

There was also a separate room, which looked good for getting together with your group. Group seating for up to 18 people was listed.

What are the menu ordering and wine corkage terms?

Each person had to order one item from Speciale or Primi Piatti. There were many kinds of pasta, so it was fun choosing dishes with my group.

The restaurant listed around 100 wines from different regions of Italy.

I was told that corkage was free for one bottle of wine for two people. Course menus also had options that included wine corkage, so you could choose according to your gathering.

How were the pasta and risotto I tried?

How was the bottarga I tried for the first time?

I ordered the signature bottarga. It was introduced as a pasta with bottarga (cured fish roe) from Sicily, Italy.

The plating caught our eye, so everyone in my group took photos first. It was my first time having bottarga pasta, and I liked the pasta’s doneness and the consistency of the sauce. My coworkers also said they enjoyed the pasta that day.

How salty and spicy was the puttanesca?

The puttanesca was a pasta with tomatoes, olives, capers, and anchovies. It had a savory saltiness and umami.

It had a slight spiciness, but it was not too intense for me. The ingredients felt well balanced, so I kept reaching for my fork, and the pasta was cooked al dente, with a pleasant chew.

How were the flavor and texture of the squid ink risotto?

The squid ink risotto first caught my eye with its jet-black color. It felt a little unfamiliar at first, but when I tried it, the umami of squid ink and the salty seafood flavor spread gently. It was creamy while the rice grains still had texture, which made it memorable.

Would I visit again with coworkers?

I went without high expectations and left satisfied with both the food and the space. Being close to Hakdong Station also made it convenient for meeting with coworkers.

The bright interior and generous table spacing also brought to mind a wedding-invitation gathering or company dinner. I was told that private rental for up to 60 people was possible with no separate rental fee, so I mentioned it at work too. Next time, I would like to try other dishes.