6 August 2011

Fine Dining at Gourmet Eo - Cheongdam, Gangnam

One of my favorite restaurants in Seoul is Gourmet Eo. It provides a relaxed yet beautifully refined dining experience and is actually pretty good value for money especially when compared with some of the other fine dining offerings in Seoul.

I've visited several times and usually always opt to eat the course menu although their a la carte menu has some fantastic offerings too. The chef changes the course menu based on the ingredients available daily. It always comprises of seven courses including coffee or tea. The price varies by about 5,000 won based on the menu that day. It's usually around 60,000 won though. 

The chef prepares a delicious assortment of bite sized appetizers to start, this is then followed by a salad (every time I've visited this has been seafood of some kind), next up is usually a pasta (I've had delicious Korean beef lasagna and lobster ravioli most recently), then you'll probably be served a beautifully seared piece of fish. For the main course you will be offered a choice of tenderloin or the fish of the day.

By this point you'll just have enough room to squeeze in the delicious dessert and finish your meal with a coffee and perhaps a nightcap ;)

On our most recent visit the chef who is also the proprietor came to speak with us at our table and then sent us a mozzarella and prosciutto dish with his compliments. It was a nice touch and gave a nice personal feel to our dining experience. I'd also like to mention that if you do order the course menu they will be happy to make substitutions for certain dishes where possible if for any reason you need to change them.

I've taken pictures of my most recent trip but sadly I can't describe each dish as eloquently with all the detail the menu had so I won't try. You get the idea anyway right??!

Antipasto selection - little bite size pieces but huge in taste.

Prawn and smoked salmon salad

Lobster Ravioli.
 
Pan seared sea bass - fantastically light, the pieces just fell away.

Korean beef tenderloin - cooked perfectly, so juicy
and tender my mouth is watering as I think about it.

Handmade apricot ice-cream with caramelized banana and fresh nectarine.

They have an extensive wine list offering a very good selection of both moderately priced wines up to much higher priced bottles. Frankly I prefer to spend that kind of money on shopping so we always opt for a mid priced bottle which have all been very palatable.  Bottles start from 40,000 won.

The restaurant is set in the courtyard area of a converted house. It has a beautiful modern feel with low lighting and candles. It's open air in the warmer months but can be covered and heated if the weather decides to play up. For particularly hot evenings they have air cooling systems to keep you comfortable. In keeping with the modern minimalist decor it's furnished sparsely and only seats a small number of people. We have just turned up before and were able to get a table but if you can make a reservation in advance I would advise it. They always have a staff member who can speak English enough to get you by. They also provide a menu in English, ask for one if they don't give you it automatically.


The restaurant is in a courtyard which is open air during summer.
This picture sadly doesn't do justice to how pretty it is..
Another lovely meal at a restaurant that never disappoints.
This restaurant is great for a special occasion or just a romantic dinner, you'll definitely impress if you're bringing a date here. It's delicious food coupled with a beautiful setting makes for a very pleasant evening.
 
Gourmet Eo
02-3443-1970

 To find the restaurant go to Cheongdam Intersection and make a right at Gucci, then make the next right.Alternatively walk along the road that's off the main road between Burger King and Smoothie King (near Designers Club). Go straight until you're at the last street before another main road. Turn left by a two story parking lot then you'll see the restaurant on the right side of that street.


Enjoy!

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