Tasty Tuesdays: Blackstone (Sannamdong)

Restaurant:  Blackstone
Type:            Steakhouse (Western)
Prices:          Pastas/Salads from 11,000, Steaks from 15,000


Blackstone Sannamdong:  Sizzlin' Steaks on Sizzlin' Stones
For an elegant Western meal at a reasonable price we return to the trendy Sannamdong neighborhood for a profile of its newest steakhouse, Blackstone.  

Conveniently located above the Dunkin Doughnuts, this spacious restaurant offers up great views of the neighboring bar district with large windows that open to the outside on balmy evenings.  Inside, the menu offers great steaks from 15,000 to 23,000 won, pastas from 11,000 to 13,000 won salads from 11,000 won, as well as a variety of house wines.

Salad/Pasta
The Ricotta Cheese Salad, covered in a light balsamic dressing and topped with dried cranberries, dried tomatoes, and almond clusters, and four pieces of ricotta cheese, creates a tasty combination of flavors, as the sweetness of the almond clusters nicely balance the bitterness of the balsamic and cranberries.  Served with a fresh, warm side of focaccia, this salad is a true value at 11,000 won and comes highly recommended.  Meanwhile, the Caesar Salad, served with a lightly breaded chicken breast and a poached egg, may give customers pause since the typical salty, creamy Caesar dressing is substituted for something unfamiliar and sweet.

The Gamberi Cream Pasta is likely to be a hit with seafood lovers for its combination of shrimp, capers, mushrooms, and onions.  Cream sauce, accented by a hint of peppery spice, mixes nicely with piping hot al dente noodles resulting in a savory seafood experience.  If you're not a fan of black, beady-eyed shrimp staring back at you from your food, there are several other pastas on the menu worth trying.

Steak
Blackstone makes finding a thick, good quality, affordable steak easy and they provide a detailed menu with information about the various steaks which range from 15,000-23,000, all cooked on black cooking stones.  Each steak is served with a small side salad, fries, rice, butter and sauces.  The stone tap blade (17,000) comes highly recommended for its leanness, but if you arrive on a weekend you may find yourself waiting, so consider making a reservation.  

Cooking on the stones can be a bit tricky if you haven’t done it before. For a rare steak, cut the steak into cubes and cook each side. For medium, cut into the same cubes and half them. Although it's not advisable, for those ordering their steak well done, cut the steak into thinner slices. 

If you've never cooked a lean, delicious steak on hot black stones, why not give it a try at Blackstone in Sannamdong?