tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post7799924688323238200..comments2024-03-29T11:29:58.276+09:00Comments on BigHominid's Hairy Chasms: The W0lfh0und in Itaewon: restaurant reviewKevin Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-31443273176164397482015-01-12T15:59:39.063+09:002015-01-12T15:59:39.063+09:00I'm honestly appalled at the quality of this r...I'm honestly appalled at the quality of this review: A-ha topped the UK single chart with "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." Granted, it was not as popular in the U.S., but it still qualifies as a hit.<br /><br />On a serious note, though, you know that I used to frequent the WH. To back up what John (the non-robot one) said, we went primarily for the drinks, although the food was pretty good, too--namely the fish and chips. But the food is always going to play second fiddle.<br /><br />These days, the proliferation of places offering microbrews and my membership in the SABB (whose members you know, of course) have meant that it has been quite some time since I've darkened the WH's door. But I was always happy there. The one thing I didn't like was how the music got louder and louder over the course of the evening, until it was virtually impossible to hold a conversation. The solution to that was to drop in early--which is not a problem as I slowly become an old man--but it was still annoying. I don't understand why the music has to be so loud that you can't hear yourself think.<br /><br />My god... I am an old man, aren't I.Charleshttp://www.liminality.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-90459635146301770512014-12-29T18:30:34.957+09:002014-12-29T18:30:34.957+09:00Thank God you found it and not my coworker! Thank God you found it and not my coworker! Kevin Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-1916877475840348382014-12-29T17:44:02.029+09:002014-12-29T17:44:02.029+09:00Heh heh heh! Found the secret blog place Kev!Heh heh heh! Found the secret blog place Kev!Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08635078074818099479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-38316945742100548232014-12-27T13:43:30.184+09:002014-12-27T13:43:30.184+09:00Chris,
Good point, except that the burger was rec...Chris,<br /><br />Good point, except that the burger was recommended to me by the pub's co-owner. I needled him about how Irish his menu was after he'd explained it to me. I think the W0lfh0und should change its menu to something more unrepentantly Irish—not American and not English. Raise the potato-and-cabbage factor, delve a bit into whatever counts as cutting-edge Irish cuisine these days, etc.<br /><br />See also <a href="http://zenkimchi.com/restaurants/korea/cuisine/pub-grub/the-wolfhound/" rel="nofollow">the original ZenKimchi writeup of the place</a>, which mentions how highly rated the burgers were in 2009. In that same piece, though, there's an update at the bottom from years later ("much time has passed") that no longer mentions the burgers (and gently implies that much at the W0lfh0und has changed for the worse) but does affirm the fish & chips are still good.<br /><br />John,<br /><br />Interesting points. I'll let you and commenter Chris fight it out as to whether I should have tipped at the WH. The fact that you both think differently on this topic confirms my feeling that Western establishments in Korea occupy a weird little demimonde. (Note that you generally don't tip in Europe—at least not in Continental Europe, where it's <i>service y compris</i> for the most part. Tipping at restaurants is more specifically American, and the WH strikes me as less of a truly Irish pub and more of a Bennigan's-style Irish-<i>themed</i> pub.)<br /><br />Meanwhile, John, I agree with your assessment of the WH as being primarily a drinks place and not a food place: the lack of free soda refills last night seemed to imply that this is a bar that likes to serve its drinks in their original containers.<br /><br />Going to the WH ended up being another strike against Itaewon which, as you know, is not my favorite place to visit in Seoul. That said, a full rack of ribs for W7,000 sounds quite tempting.Kevin Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-3759099609906420152014-12-27T11:17:10.641+09:002014-12-27T11:17:10.641+09:00Ah, there were two other points I meant to make.
...Ah, there were two other points I meant to make.<br /><br />It seems to be a growing trend to ask for the "payment in advance" or it's ugly cousin "I need your credit card to open a tab" (which they hold until you pay). Now, I understand this is intended to reduce the walk out without paying incidences, but it just strikes me as downright unfriendly. The places where I'm a regular make an exception for me now. Otherwise I might not be a regular.<br /><br />As for tipping, yes I'm sure the staff at these Western-style places do expect to be tipped, at least by the foreigner clientele. Which doesn't require you to tip for poor service of course. My wife gets on me for being overgenerous with tips, but hey, I'm always greeted with a warm smile on return visits. Who says you can't buy friends?John (I'm not a robot)http://www.mccrarey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-19124214419574224752014-12-27T10:40:19.635+09:002014-12-27T10:40:19.635+09:00It's been awhile since I visited WH, and then ...It's been awhile since I visited WH, and then it was for darts, not dining. Back in the day I would drop by for lunch on occasion, the food was okay then, but nothing all that special. My impression is WH is in the business of selling alcoholic beverages with the food being more of a sideline. For pub fare, it's not bad but I'd certainly never make WH a dining destination. There are certainly many better options in Itaewon these days.<br /><br />A lot of the bar/restaurants feature "special" nights. So, on Tuesday you can get a half priced burger, Wednesday is wing night, etc. Perhaps you would have enjoyed your meal more at half the price, at least that's how I roll. <br /><br />Speaking of which, further up the WH alley (towards Yongsan) is a place called Bull and Barrel. It's also two floors (the 2nd and 3rd of course). The 2nd is pretty much the restaurant side of the business (although there is a bar and pool table) and upstairs is a pub/dart room vibe. Food is available on both floors and the quality is better than most places of this genre. It's worth the trip on Thursday night when you can get the bbq rib platter for an incredible W7000! It's a full damn rack too, usually more than I can finish alone. I don't know how they do it, I couldn't buy ribs for twice that price in the US grocery stores. Now, I'd personally use a different flavor BBQ sauce, but for the money I'm not complaining.<br /><br />Well, I see this comment is almost as long as your post so I'll shut up now. John (I'm not a robot)http://www.mccrarey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541500.post-50146754061806883512014-12-27T07:41:12.132+09:002014-12-27T07:41:12.132+09:00Your error was ordering US food at an Irish Pub. ...Your error was ordering US food at an Irish Pub. The Wolfhound is known more for its offerings of English cuisine...such as the meat pie, toad in the hole or fish and chips. Also, no need to tip.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17375647664049737989noreply@blogger.com