Miniature delicacies at restaurant offshoot

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Miniature delicacies at restaurant offshoot

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An offshoot of the Italian food chain IL MARE, the restaurant features the pasta and pizza that originally made the chain known to food-lovers, along with exclusive menu items just for Il MARE mini such as Polpetta, or meatballs (7,900 won, $8), and mini-size pizza (5,900 won) for diners on their own.
When walking into the “pizzeria ristorante bar,” I immediately noticed the open kitchen with a bar surrounding it and the cooks chatting casually with diners. It was around 9 p.m, when most had finished their dinners. The restaurant looked like a movie epilogue, with just a few restless diners still leaning on the bar.
After considering both Margherita and Verdure pizzas, among others, I ordered the Prosciutto e ananas mini pizza, which included prosciutto and pineapple. I made up my mind to eat half and take the rest home, tempted by the thought of carrying the remainder in one of the restaurant’s cute, black, mini pizza boxes.
As my order went in, I could see the cook kneading the dough, spreading the sauce, sprinkling the cheese and placing the toppings. The mini pizza was put into the oven then served to me three to four minutes later.
In short, the pizza, which was about the size of a side plate, was a “mini” delight. The bread was fabulously light while being just crisp enough along the borders. The prosciutto ― soft, full-flavored and not too salty ― was of top quality as well. The fresh Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top at the end had that slightly bitter yet pungent taste that can’t be found at the tables of many pizza chains.
After 10 minutes, my “mini” pizza had become truly minuscule and I ended up with one lonely piece in my black pizza box.


by Cho Jae-eun

IL MARE mini is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday in Dogok-dong, southern Seoul.
The nearest subway for the Dogok-dong restaurant is Dogok station, line No. 3, exit 4.
For more information, call (02) 3463-2131.
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