Mad for Garlic's allure is all in its name. The restaurant serves mostly Italian-themed dishes using...you guessed it--garlic! Curiosity got the best of me and I caved in, not knowing what to expect. I have been a little bit disappointed in some Italian restaurants so far in Korea, so as soon as I saw the menu, I was a bit leary. However, this particular restaurant's menu and ambiance did not disappoint!
First of all, it should be noted that Mad for Garlic is not for the weak in heart. When they say "Mad for Garlic," they absolutely mean it. The dishes are chalked full of garlic and are delicious...if garlic is your thing!
The surprises began as soon as we entered the restaurant.
KissMyKimchi and I ventured over to the Yeoksam location, just an approximately 5 minute walk from exit 4 of Yeoksam station, on a Sunday evening. It was quite busy, but because the locale has quite a bit of seating, we only had to wait for about 15 minutes. This, however, was not the happy surprise. We were greeted by a friendly hostess who asked us kindly to have a seat in the waiting area and to serve ourselves to the complimentary wine (free refills!) while we waited.
After taking advantage of as much wine as our empty stomaches could handle, the hostess directed us to our table. We had already had our fill of wine, so we stuck with water and we ordered a couple of appetizers. The Garlic Breadtower (6,300 won) and Garlic Fondue (11,500 won) were our choices of poison. Both were excellent and almost filling enough for me to satisfy my meal requirement.
For our main course we each decided to try the Chicken & Pasta Combo (18,900 won). The pasta was tossed with an oil based sauce and capers were also included. The chicken was tender and covered sauteed onions. A small salad of mixed greens with a balsamic vinaigrette was also included. It was, indeed, very garlicky, but very delicious.
After our meal, we were much too stuffed to try any desserts, but maybe that's for next time!
Check out the website in English to view the menu and locations. Mad for Garlic is a bit pricy, but if you're looking to splurge for a meal, it's definitely worth it!
The restaurant's interior is what some might consider a bit "kitsch", but at the same time endearing. It's got a clean and intimate atmosphere with a moderate amount of seating. The wise placement of mirrors hung on the wall created a seemingly larger space and the colors were bright, which added to its grandeur. The staff was kind and eager to serve. Plus the menu was in English for those of you who struggle with 한글.
My Ssong is reminiscent of a "mom and pop" restaurant offering simple, yet filling menu choices. My Ssong put a Californian/modern twist on its fare with a items ranging from deep fried shoestring french fries to flatbread pizza. Both my friend and I opted for a flatbread pizza a piece. He chose the chicken pizza while I decided upon the tomato basil one. The crusts were light, airy and crispy and the flavors of the sauce mixed with the respective ingredients created a well-balanced melange. The pizza was a bit on the sweet side for my taste (as are many Korean-made pizzas), but I was not disgusted! A side of deep fried french fries made me feel like I was at the state fair again! The selection of desserts was mouth-watering as well. My friend and I split a piece of devil's food cake, which made up for the light pizza!
