I heard a rumor that there was an Italian restaurant called Panello closer to Hapjeong than to Hongdae, not far from where Miro Sikdang used to be. These days everyone is drifting out to the fringes, so it is quite a surprise that a place this good exists right in the middle of Hongdae. According to Nokjang’s blog it was corkage-free at one bottle per person, insanely good value, and did a fine steak, but when I went this time the prices had gone up a little and the corkage rule had changed to one bottle per two people. The food was still good, though. I suppose there were so many obnoxious customers that the conditions got tighter. A bit of a shame, but the location is so good that it is worth knowing about for when you meet someone in Hongdae. (Though there is the problem that Trattoria Molto, with its unbeatable value, has opened up not far from Hongdae..)
The table
The interior is clean and tidy, though the staff seem to be part-timers.
Corkage rules
I have no idea how wine gatherings are run these days, but I heard there are quite a few obnoxious wine groups out there and that restaurants have started to shy away from them. If you are going to hold a gathering anyway, you should bring your own glasses, buy some of the restaurant’s wine too, and come back privately after the event; that is how it becomes a win-win for both sides. If people just show up, act like jerks and leave, the restaurant can hardly feel good about it. Even if the rules get stricter, I am all for it.
The dining table
The seating is not exactly spacious, but it is open, and the atmosphere is nice.
Salad
Well.. so-so..
Roman-style carbonara
It seemed to be a dish they push quite hard, so I ordered it, but it was just so-so.. maybe the other dishes would have been better.. They are also said to do good pizza, so next time I would like to come with a group and try a range of things.
Steak
Given the price, the quality of the meat was not the best, but the cooking was nearly perfect and I enjoyed it enormously. Apparently they serve a T-bone steak for 77,000 won, and that one got me really curious. If I can get four people together, it seems worth a try. There is also said to be a 100,000-won T-bone, but you have to reserve it in advance.
It is a place that does the food properly, the prices are reasonable enough, and the steak in particular is delicious, so I want to gather the members and visit once more. But I also need to drop by Cheung Kee Noodle House’s Cheongdam branch, Bistro Polpo and Molto, and I want to check out Dalgona in Mangwon and Give Me Fever in Yeonnam-dong too, so who knows when I will find the time..
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