트라토리아 몰토 (Sangam Dong) – Say what you will about the Seoul Michelin Guide. I don’t give much thought to the 1, 2 or 3-Michelin starred restaurants here because it is generally expensive (with the sole exception of Jin Jin the Chinese restaurant in Hapjeong) and not the type of places that I would go to on any regular given day. What I do appreciate tremendously are the restaurants highlighted in the Michelin Bib Gourmand and Plate designated categories. It has opened my eyes and knowledge to quality restaurants that I never knew existed in Seoul. Trattoria Molto is one of those restaurants.
Trattoria Molto is a small, quaint Italian restaurant in the back alley of Digital Media City near the World Cup Stadium in Mapo. You would never be able to find it or accidentally walk by it. It has been around since 2007 but I’ve only discovered it because of the mention as a 2018 and 2019 Michelin Plate designee.
“Consistently good food, generous portions, reasonable prices and comfort – Trattoria Molto has all the elements a restaurant needs to capture the hearts of food lovers and has been doing just that. The location in Sangam-dong has a simple and rustic charm that matches Chef Oh’s Italian cuisine. The menu isn’t extensive, but it offers a solid selection of tried and tested recipes that have been attracting diners through his doors for the past decade. Trattoria Molto’s long-time bestsellers include tagliatelle al ragù and mackerel pasta. Seating is limited so call ahead to reserve.” – Michelin Guide Inspectors
The dishes that we ordered:
Burrata Cheese (W18,000). This appetizer is a big cheese ball with the outside being mozzarella and the inside being a very soft, creamy cheese. This was delicious, and I would say a MUST order. I am not sure if they make this in-house or acquired from a vendor but it was so good. The grape tomatoes and grapes were firm and fresh. There was nothing that I did not like about this dish.
Fried Oysters (W15,000). With this being a seasonal dish, I had to order it. It was nicely fried with the oysters being on the small side. I don’t think I would order this dish again. There are other appetizers that I would like to try.
Spaghettini alle Sgombro (W19,000). This spaghetti with mackerel (fish) was super delicious. They didn’t use any ordinary spaghetti noodles. It had the same thickness and chewiness as the one used by Enrico (of Ciuri Ciuri) – Buactini Pasta Di Gragnano in some of his Sicilian pasta dishes. We asked what type of pasta was used and the chef brought out the imported Italian pasta to prepare the dish. Absolutely recommend this dish.
Tarjarin al Ragu (W22,000). The description for this dish says this the origin is from the Piedmont region of Italy. This too uses a very special pasta noodle. It is a very thin, rich silky egg noodle. Therefore, this pasta dish wasn’t very heavy. Would recommend this dish as well.
This is a small place. The kitchen staff consists of 3 cooks and one of the cook (owner?) was the server, cleaner and cashier. The wine list is extensive and has a decent amount of selection in the < W50,000 price range. There were also a red, white and champagne by the glass choices. I need to emphasize and reaffirm the Michelin Guide commentary – it was good food, generous portion and reasonably priced. This is an Italian restaurant that I would go back to in a heartbeat.
Naver Store Info
Michelin Guide Write-Up
