French dinner for a bargain

Pork confit

By Yun Suh-young

Beef steak

Fish with clam sauce

When we plan to have a five-course dinner at a French restaurant, we have to brace ourselves for considerable expense. The meal price typically begins at 100,000 won and, depending on the restaurant and the reputation of the chef, it could reach up to double that amount per person. While some would unhesitatingly pay the amount, others would experience a stomach-wrenching moment when receiving the bill.

For those who love to dine out but want their bills to be lower, the newly opened French bistro "3 étage" in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, may be the answer.

Owner chef Ahn Jae-hee who previously worked at the Jonas restaurant in Stockholm, One Market in San Francisco, and Marque in Sydney to name a few, opened his first restaurant on May 22 in the heart of the chic Gangnam district.

Armed with a delectable five-course meal that delights the palate with every dish, the restaurant is likely to have smooth sailing amidst the challenge of neighboring chefs.

Before the meal comes bread and butter, but the smoked butter is a unique alteration.

The entree is an eye-pleasing feast of colors. The comb pen shell, radish, grape, yogurt and elderflower jelly artistically harmonize on the plate as well as on the tongue.

Then the three main courses come one after another ― first pork, then fish, then beef.

The main meals are served in equal proportions. Unlike other restaurants that give one or two meat options to choose from, this place serves their customers all three main dishes.

The first among the main dishes is pork confit sided with apple, bok choy, cauliflower and onion. The pork is unbelievably soft and melts on the tongue and the apple garnish matches perfectly with the meat. The fish is served with zucchini, brussel sprouts and clam sauce and is like a soft rendering of classical music. The beef steak garnished with artichoke puree, potato and onions, was the most ordinary of them all, a typical combination that we can find in other steak restaurants. Still, the meat was delicately cooked in medium rare and was offered uniformly for the invited group of guests. Although it was not the usual degree that this reporter orders, it was just right to appreciate the essence of the meat.

As a sweet finish, popcorn sorbet was offered as dessert.

The five-course meal is offered at 55,000 won only for dinner for the time being. The restaurant will soon introduce a brunch menu for the weekend.

Address: 3F, 663-3 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Phone number: 02-517-5566