OLH EUM 옳음 — Restaurant in Seoul

There were highlights throughout the meal, but overall it just didn’t meet our expectations for a Michelin Guide restaurant.

First the highlights. The Hanwoo and Galbitang were delicious. The giant Korean oyster was bursting with all the right flavors and we don’t even like oysters. The scallops were also very good. However, with the lowlights below, one almost wonders if these dishes were only so good because the quality of the ingredients overcame any misses on prep.

Now the lowlights. Our concierge booked the restaurant for us last minute, compensating for our lack of planning, for which we are very grateful. We really wanted to love it, but some of the food was too bland, e.g. the sesame jello, the presentation was inconsistent, e.g. the veggies dish was just a blob of brown, and there were misses on service, e.g. no one poured water for us after we finished the first glass. There were more examples, which I won’t list.

We expect better...

Very inflexible arrangement as to reservation times. Please take care to read about all the rules in the confirmation when you pay the deposit. We were unfortunately stuck in traffic and was late. We were refused entry rudely and the restaurant insisted to forfeit our deposit on the basis of no-show. However this was not a no-show as we both showed up. They said due to being late for over 30 minutes this no-show rule automatically applied (but this rule was not in the terms nor was this rule ever communicated in writing or verbally). We were also there before the time was up but refused entry rudely. The manager who is also the sommelier refused to reveal his name and said no information can be provided. I am appalled how such management deserves any Michelin star. Not to mention my friend was also pregnant and they made her stand...

The experience was far from what I expected from a Michelin restaurant. I visited on a Sunday evening, and we were the only guests, which made the lack of service stand out even more. The staff seemed inexperienced, and we had to pour our own water and wine several times, which was disappointing for a high-end restaurant.

What was most disappointing, however, was the food. For a 280,000 won course, the quality was nowhere near what I would expect. The portions were small, and the flavors were unremarkable. Having dined at Michelin restaurants around the world, I can honestly say this place doesn’t even come close to that level.

Overall, the experience did not justify the price, and I have no intention of returning. I hope they improve their service and the overall quality to match the...