Enjoy Cozy French Cuisine at LEspoir
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Hidden between the buildings and busy streets of Cheongdam-dong, there is a small French restaurant ``L'Espoir.'' It takes up a small space in the corner and looks a lot like those fancy waffle and coffee places, but once you slide through the small windowed door, you will feel right at home with its elegant yet cozy and serene atmosphere.
L'Espoir offers a lunch menu: Seared Duck Breast Salad (18,000 won) and the Wagyu Strip Loin Steak Salad with Truffle Vinegrette (24,000 won), Fudilli Bolognese with Fresh Ricotta Cheese (15,000 won), Tiger Shrimp with Cipolline Oil Angel Hair (14,000 won), Assorted Mushroom Risotto (15,000 won). Of course, there is also a full list of other appetizers and main dishes as well.
We ordered the Wagyu Strip Loin Steak Salad with Truffle Vinegrette and the Tiger Shrimp with Cipolline Oil Angel Hair.
The meal started with long strips of bread, which were crispy on the outside but warm and soft on the inside.
Having an open kitchen, the delicious aromas filled the place once the orders were made, making the waiting a very anticipated one.
The Wagyu Strip Loin Steak Salad was a large dish. On one side there was a generous helping of salad, with the vinegrette dressing sprinkled on top, and then thin French fries covered with several pieces of loin steak.
The fries were delicious. Some may find it hard to describe French fries as tasty, but there was a twist to the fries from those you find in fast food chains.
Soft, yet crispy, the chef obviously sprinkled exotic spices onto them that went well with the simple potato recipe, giving it an interesting aroma and taste.
The steak strips were tender, but a bit oily for us. Five to six strips of the steak were more than enough to compliment the salad and fries, and it was also very good considering the price range.
Along came the Tiger Shrimp with Cipolline Oil Angel Hair. Cipolline is a small, flat type of onion from Italy, which carries a very sweet and delicate flavor. Indeed, the onion sauce was sweet and tender, and perfectly blended with the delicate angel hair pasta. The shiny sauce was not at all greasy, with chunks of onion and a generous helping of tiger shrimp.
Lastly, we ordered the famous Chocolate Fondant Cake (6,000 won), which was one of the highlights of the whole meal. It took some time for the dark chocolate cake to arrive, but the warm chocolate sauce placed between the thick layers of the soft cake sprinkled with white sugar powder was the perfect way to finish the quite oily meal we had.
Being a relatively petite bistro, there were not many servers, which was fine as it made it quieter and more peaceful, unlike other spacious places where it's crowded and loud.
Perfect for special occasions, L'Espoir might become one of those places you want to keep for yourself, and that special someone.
L'Espoir is located near exit 6 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. Walk straight until you find Starbucks. The restaurant is right across the coffee chain. Considering the number of tables, it would be a good idea to make reservations before a visit. For more information, call (02) 517-6034.