Jessica’s Kitchen Offers Home-Style Italian Buffet
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Craving some homey Italian food? How does an all-you-can-eat buffet sound? But don't worry; it's not as heavy-duty as it sounds.
Jessica's Kitchen offers home-style cuisine in an open kitchen, where you can help yourself to a filling meal like you would at home. The cooks whip up pizzas and pastas before your eyes, and home-baked bread and cookies await you.
But even those with ``carbohydrate-phobia'' can easily warm up to the place. Mr. Pizza, a local pizza chain, launched the buffet restaurant showcasing Italy's traditional ultra-thin pizzas. While you scurry back and forth with your plate, stay alert for one of the cooks ringing a bell announcing the arrival of freshly baked pizza.
The restaurant's wholesome menu is reflected in the appearance of the place itself. The bright, spacious green and white interior is complete with trees planted indoors, and has ``healthy'' written all over. It's nice and cozy, but at the same time it almost feels like you're eating in a chic greenhouse ― especially with two big salad bars as a centerpiece.
The sumptuous salad menu is what really makes Jessica's Kitchen relatively friendly for your waistline. We visited the chain near Express Bus Terminal in southern Seoul, and for the mostly female clientele, the greens usually ended up being the main meal with the pizzas and pastas on the side.
Featuring about 20 different mixes of ready-to-eat salads, you'll barely have room for the pasta. So it is advised that you take a quick glimpse around the place before you make an attack. There's the chicken breast with baby spinach, broccoli with blue cheese, slices of juicy duck meat with mushrooms or an array of fresh seafood salads, among others.
There is also a do-it-yourself corner where you can mix up your own batch of veggies and dressing. Fountain sodas as well as lemonade and other drinks are available.
Hot dishes range from white wine seafood spaghetti to spicy fried chicken legs and beef lasagna. But if you're feeling a bit full from all the salad and need to narrow down your choice, the pasta or steak of the day (which you can order on the spot), is recommended. The tomato sauce meat spaghetti we tried that day was savory and not too heavy.
There are also a couple of soups available. Try some of the home-baked bread and the bruschetta.
To wrap up your meal, take your pick from the dessert bar where an array of cakes, ice cream and mousse treats await you. Enjoy a cup of espresso or other hot drink at the coffee bar with small refreshments. The size of the desserts is miniscule, which is perfect for those who can't decide on just a few.
On weekdays, lunch (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.) is 17,500 won per person and dinner (4-10 p.m) is 21,500 won. Note that a 10 percent tax is included, and lunch guests who leave past 6 p.m. will be charged the dinner price.
On weekends and holidays, Jessica's Kitchen is open 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and costs 21,500 per person.
It costs 10,500 won for children aged 8-13 and 6,500 won for 5-7.
Jessica's Kitchen has two chains. The one by Express Bus Terminal station on subway lines 3 and 7 is located right in front of J.W. Mariott Hotel. Free parking (two hours) in the Central City parking lot is available. Call (02) 6282-1122.
The store in northern Seoul is located at Hanuisol Building, which is between exit 3 of Sinchon station and exit 1 of Ewha Woman's University station on subway line 2. It's not walking distance, so it is advised that you take the bus or cab (basic fare). Call (02) 362-1177.
For more information, visit www.jessicakitchen.co.kr (in Korean).