Mon 31 Jul 2006
Last night I stopped off at A.O.C in Chungdam for some wine with friends.
A.O.C is a 1920’s style art deco wine bar and restaurant. Palm trees intersect dining areas; a back room sports a Moroccan theme complete with metallic flecked silks and low cushions. The main dining area provides elegance with dark wood tables and cream leather dining chairs. Everything from Pink Martini to Madeline Peyroux lightly wafts through the speakers. I reviewed it a couple years ago for the free community magazine KScene.
Since that time I was pleased to see that A.O.C had expanded their menu, to include more main dishes, however the cheese and charcuterie selections were drastically reduced.
When I first came to A.O.C there were more than 70 wines by the glass, now there are about 15.
We ordered a bottle of CAVA, only to be told 15 minutes later that they were out of CAVA. Why it took so long to get this information to us is a mystery. Our server suggested a Jacob’s Creek Brut Cuvee or Chardonnay Pinot Noir. I asked for the Prosecco and he again suggested the Jacob’s Creek. I again asked for the Prosecco. Finally, he broke down and told me that they were out of all sparkling wines with the exception of this one bottle.
We agreed.
The price 60,000 won, roughly 68USD. How much is this bottle of wine in America? 10USD.
Ok, I know I am not in America, and I haven’t lived in America for quite some times. But still. Ouch.
With our bottle came complimentary snacks; some raisins, some peanuts, and some saltines.
I’m not sure if the saltines were part of the fruit-nut set or if they were to accompany our 12,000 won serving of goat cheese. Which, I found to be a fair mark up considering the price of goat cheese in the foreign supermarkets. Score one for A.O.C.
No matter, it was a slap in the face with a limp lace glove. Worse, this is one of the nicer wine bars in Korea, located in the Hollywood of Seoul. Frequented by pop stars, actresses, actors, producers, well-to-do Kyopos and businessmen.
It is another sad example of how a restaurant here has so much potential, yet rarely lives up to it. Many are flawed by easy mistakes and overlooking the simplest of details.
I don’t think I will go there again. Maybe if they start serving ritz.
