Millennial Dining And Deli 천년식향

The omakase menu was very uninspiring. Courses ranged from too salty to too oily, and too sweet. No exiting flavors or textures, no freshness. Exorbitant prices. The staff’s effort in pushing us to buy overpriced drinks was annoying. In all honesty, I did not enjoy any of the 9 courses and I wish I could erase this meal from my memory.

Without doubt, the food here tastes amazing. Expensive or novel ingredients or at least ingredients uncommon in Korea are arranged in artful and flavorful dishes. Plus, the plating is creative and aesthetically on a high level. Between Friday and Sunday, you can order individual dishes à la carte for around 35.000 KRW, which feature e.g. soy meat, pasta and pizza. Any other day and on weekends, there is a full course meal, which costs 150.000 KRW per person, and includes diverse dishes from the regular menu. Making a reservation ahead of time is required in either case. In general, portion size is quite small. The beverage menu consists of natural wines, non-alcoholic cocktails kombucha? and exclusive teas. By now, you have to order one drink per person and drinks start at 20.000 KRW for a small glass. Interior design and decoration of the restaurant are unconventional and artistic: Modern chic with natural elements, e.g. dried flowers, wood, rock and shells. When I visited after a year, however, the decoration looked dusty and shabby. Since food is prepared inside the same room as the dining hall, the smell of cooking or roasting food constantly permeates the room, hinting at what 's currently going on in the kitchen section. The restaurant is located on the 3rd floor. There is only a subtle sign on the ground, and an LED sign high up behind the window, so you have to know where you 're going to find it. The first time we visited, there were several ! mishaps, which conflicted with the high price here. To make up for it, we received wine on the house, but ironically we didn 't enjoy the taste of their natural wines... After all, it was not the experience we had anticipated. The second time, there were mishaps again e.g. smell of burned food and service was rather unfriendly. Since they now require ordering one drink per person, you end up spending at least 110.000 KRW for two people, but both of us left the restaurant hungry. In summary, it is a restaurant that serves good plant-based food, but it is not as excellent as it should be. Dining with imperfections. Updated from previous review on 2021-12-20

For those familiar with olfactory research, it is known that smell is not stored separately in the brain, but rather in connection with other experiences associated with the time the smell is perceived. If you are familiar with the book "Flavor" by Bob Holmes, you may recognize the importance of scents in dining experiences. Food is a very sensual experience as we use all five senses to enjoy it. The dishes at this restaurant show creativity and innovation, offering menu items like the "Better than Sex" or "Sex and Steak" menus, which are more exciting than typical vegan options. Chef Lynn Ahn, formerly of Soseek, creates dishes with bold and creative flavors, like doenjang ice cream, for those seeking a unique culinary experience or special celebration. I highly recommend this place. (Updated from a previous review on 2020-11-30)

I tried the three-course menu at this restaurant. The "egg" appetizer was absolutely delicious! It had a genuine egg flavor, which I think they achieved by using black salt. The pizza and chocolate cake were also fantastic!

I really enjoyed the food at this restaurant, but it was a bit disappointing that it was so expensive. The service was a bit overbearing, with the server talking close to our food and her mask falling off. We were required to buy a drink, even though the dishes were already pricey. The pizza wasn't to my liking - the cheese was too sweet. However, the rest of the food was amazing, especially the fresh baked scone. The owner announced on Instagram that they are no longer exclusively vegan, but still offer vegan options. This change may deter me from returning in the future.