Can Shy Bana Hit the Southern Spot?
By Ines Min
Staff Reporter
The posh, cafe-lined streets of Seoul’s French district Seorae Maeul do not cry out to passersby as a place to find the homegrown flavors of the deep American South. Yet, nestled close to the village’s main street is the dark facade of Shy Bana, a restaurant that boasts traditional comfort food as its specialty.
Inside, the interior’s focal point is the semi-open kitchen, where several cooks and waitstaff can be seen on the job, grilling, cooking and baking, creating a variety of aromas that waft toward sitting customers.
Several close, small tables create a cozy atmosphere, while low lighting lends toward a more romantic feel. The cushy, upholstered chairs add to a pleasant, if not entirely typical, ambiance for the fare in question.
A look at the menu is both heartening and worrisome. Though most of the basics are covered ― from macaroni and cheese to po’ boys, coleslaw to Texas’ classic Dr. Pepper soda ― there are telltale signs of a restaurateur unacquainted with true Southern-style homecooking: jambalaya is renamed “Cajun fried rice,” meat
Apr 8, 2010