Pizza and pasta are sure to please at this Ewha-area Italian eatery

Looking for some quality pizza and spaghetti? Jessica’s Pasteria might be just what you’re looking for.
Located right across the street from Ewha Womans University in Sinchon, this restaurant is one of the most popular spaghetti houses near the university. The restaurant is actually a joint venture, serving the Jessica’s Pasteria menu and pizzas by Mister Pizza. Though both are chain restaurants, the food is of high quality. Jessica’s spaghetti sauce and noodles are made fresh for each order. That means the food takes longer to prepare than at some other places, but the wait is worth it.
If you like seafood, try the Spaghetti Grancchio, which is spaghetti with fresh crab and tomato sauce. A medium serving costs 9,400 won ($7.90); a large helping is 14,800 won. A whole crab is served on top of the spaghetti.
For those who are counting calories, Spaghetti Checca is a safe bet. It is made with black olives, tomato, fresh basil and capers. The medium helping is 6,500 won, and a large serving costs 9,500 won.
The pizzas are also a treat. A medium pie will feed one hungry diner, or two people with smaller appetites. A large will feed two hungry folks. And not only are Mister Pizza’s specialties, like potato pizza, New York pizza and Hawaiian pizza, on the menu, so are Jessica’s thin-crust pizzas. If you dig mushrooms, try Jessica’s Pizza Funghi. This cheesy mushroom pizza is a nice contrast of flavors. A medium is 7,800 won and a large is 9,800 won. The Pizza Pollo (7,800 won for a medium, 9,800 for a large), with diced chicken breast for the topping, is excellent too.
For groups, there are various set menus that will feed from two to six diners. The set menus feature a variety of appetizers, salad, pasta and pizza, and drinks for about 80 percent of what it would cost to order each item separately.
The most disappointing thing about Jessica’s is the wine list, which features only two choices (you guessed it, red or white) at 15,000 won a bottle. Both wines are listed on the menu simply as “premium table wine,” whatever that means. Beer (2,500 to 4,000 won per bottle) is a better bet, and cocktails are a reasonable deal at 5,000 won.
The manager Kwon Young-sam, says, “We have the best seafood spaghettis.” Well, I haven’t tried all of the seafood spaghettis available in Seoul, but Jessica’s are the best I’ve had.

Jessica’s Pasteria
Credit cards: accepted
Prices: 6,500 to 15,000 won
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., everyday
Telephone: (02) 312-6947
Parking: Yes
Location: Across the street from the main gate of Ewha Womans University.

by Lee Jung-bi