mary eats

Gorilla in the Kitchen
Seoul, South Korea
Subway: By Doosan Park, Apgujeong station, line 3, exit 3. Have a cab take you to Doosan Park.
Phone: 02-344-1688, www.skitchen.co.kr
Hours: 11:00a.m-Midnight. Last order 10:00p.m
Atmosphere: Smart Casual
Price: $$-$$$
Overview:
From Korean heart throb Bae Yong-Jun, comes Gorilla in the Kitchen. Delights are of the continental European kind, and prepared with your health in mind. For a good seat get there before the lovestruck and shutter happy Japanese tourist do.
Reviewed in the JoongAng Daily June 2006.

Vinga
Seoul, South Korea
Subway: Apgujeong station, line 3, exit 2, turn right at the Seongsu bridge intersection.
Phone: 02-516-1761, www.podoplaza.com
Hours: 6:00p.m.-2:00a.m., closed on Sunday
Atmosphere: Elegant
Price: $$$
English Menu: Yes
Overview:
Reviewed in the JoongAng Daily March 2006.

Stove
Seoul, Korea
Subway. Sinsa station exit 1, hop a cab to the Doosan park intersection. On your left.
Phone 02) 518-7596
Hours: 11:00a.m.-10:00p.m.
Price: $$
English Menu: Yes
Atmosphere: ladies who lunch
Overview:
Set in Sinsa-dong Stove it the restaurant of La Cuisine cooking school. Here students, clad in earth toned flowly linen, whiz around the airy eatery. Decorated in a distinct boutique provincial getup the restaurant has an elegantly but comfortable feel, accentuated by the ladies who lunch crowd. Influences from all over the world are reflected on the menu. Hamburgers from America, panna cotta from Italy, om rice from… Korea. Hidden by a sidewalk piled with cars, Stove is the perfect spot for a casual lunch date. Do not miss a side order of onion rings KRW5,000, fried in coconut oil and served with garlic aioli. Crispy and light, the rings were piled high in a basket. Don’t even try to act ladylike about it. These fried treats are best eaten quickly using your fingers. Stove features tempting desserts including a crème brulee and a giant waffle covered in berries and a picture perfect scoop of vanilla ice cream. Overpriced drinks are the only downfall to this otherwise excellent dining spot.