Good Italian food, an elegant but not-too-formal atmosphere, a central but not-too-busy location — O Mangia located across from the UN Village is one of those places you’d want to know of in every neighborhood. With its kitchen managed by the celebrated chef Hwang Dong-hui from Nonhyeon-dong’s Bistro Piuzza and Sinsa-dong’s Grano, O Mangia offers a lineup of pizzas, pasta and gnocchi, steak and antipasti. The most popular pizzas here are the red sauce mushroom, eggplants, white sauce Sicilian sausage and the black pork samgyeosal, baked in the large oven that’s always lit up in the kitchen. For gnocchi, there are two types: gnocchi di patate con pancetta with potato gnocchi, pancetta, pocini mushroom and tomato confit, and gnocchi di ricotta con pomodoro with ricotta cheese gnocchi, cherry tomato confit and pesto Genovese. The potato gnocchi is a bit salty on its own, but is just right with wine.
Slightly hidden under the hill, the restaurant offers a great space inside. The tables are all nicely set up, with bright-colored flowers on top adding a refreshing feel to the modern décor. By the doors, there’s a private room with two tables. With separate lights that can be adjusted, it’s often filled with soon-to-be affectionate pairs on their first or second date. The bamboo trees seen through its full-wall window provide a vibrant and restful look. There are also an outdoor terrace seats, possibly a hidden gem of the Dokseodang-ro area. Especially in the spring, simply taking a stroll through the street and getting a nice Italian meal at O Mangia will be quite a perfect day.