We stopped in for an early Thursday dinner, and while it was fairly quiet when we arrived, the…read morerestaurant filled up surprisingly quickly. The tables were on the smaller side, so things felt a bit cramped, especially when our entrées arrived before we were even halfway through our appetizers. I really dislike when that happens. It makes the meal feel rushed, and there simply wasn't enough room on the table for everything.
We started with the beef tartare, which unfortunately was a disappointment. It was rather bland and lacked that richness and depth of flavor I was hoping for. Yes, there was a sauce underneath, but there wasn't nearly enough to make a difference. What it really needed was a beautiful raw egg yolk to bring everything together. That would have taken it to another level. I will say, though, that the crispy taro chips were very well executed, and that's coming from someone who isn't particularly fond of taro. Interestingly, the photo on their website showed lotus root chips instead.
The perilla oil noodles were another letdown. They were beautifully prepared and cooked perfectly al dente, but once again, the flavor just wasn't there. Technically well executed, but not particularly exciting to eat.
Now, on to the good stuff! The Truffle Potato Pancake was absolutely dee-licious! It far exceeded my expectations, and funny enough, it's something I never would have ordered myself. Definitely one of the highlights of the meal.
The Hojok Galbi was also excellent, beautifully flavored and really enjoyable. My only gripe was the portion size, which was considerably smaller than what was pictured, especially since half the plate was taken up by salad. And don't get me wrong, I love me a good salad, but the dressing could definitely use some work.
We finished with the frozen Makgeolli, which was such an interesting and delicious way to end the meal. That first bite had a pretty strong alcohol taste, but by the second and third bites, the flavors really came together, and it became absolutely delicious. A great refreshing finish.
As for the service, our server had actually been very attentive throughout the entire meal, which made what happened at the end even more disappointing. Without asking whether we wanted anything else, she simply handed us the check. I understand the restaurant had gotten busy and they probably needed to turn the table, but how about a simple, "Can I get you anything else?" before presenting the bill? Anything would have been better than making us feel like it was time to leave.
Overall, there were definitely some standout dishes, particularly the Truffle Potato Pancake and Hojok Galbi, but there were also some misses. Between the underwhelming flavors of certain dishes, the cramped table, the rushed pacing, and the abrupt ending to an otherwise attentive service experience, the evening felt a little uneven. There's some really good cooking happening here, but a few adjustments would have made the experience so much better.