Am I the only one that remembers the pizza back from our childhood? Nowadays, Italian restaurants are no rarity - they’re everywhere! - but let’s not forget that there was a time when “Pizza-chon” or “Pizza-nara” was all we had. Back then, “Pizza-chon” was the “must-reserve” place for any birthday party and the thick, Korean-style pizza was every child’s special treat. Now it’s different and Pizza-chon is but a little memory from the past. Instead of our friendly Pizza-chon we now have more sophisticated pizza franchises. Furthermore, Italian restaurants are practically everywhere. But just because they’re everywhere and becoming common doesn’t mean that there’s nothing new to it; take for example the new Italian restaurant in Daejeon which is fully equipped to provoke our appetite. Behold “Eat Me,” the casual Italian restaurant.

As you may have noticed from the word “casual” describing Eat Me, the place is far from fancy. It plays jazz instead of instrumental classics. With the jazz music in the background, and giggles and murmurs from the table beside you, Eat Me is a cheerful place that turns into a liberal bar at night. It’s located in Dunsan-dong, right across from the Galleria department store. So, what is great about this place? First, you can’t leave out the style when admiring Eat Me. Eat Me sticks to the trend: minimalism. You can tell just by looking at the signboard; a white background with the black letters that spell out “EAT ME.” Inside the restaurant, the crude color of gray cement matched with black and red chairs is far from fancy, but definitely chic. Empty wine bottles are placed here and there with other cute ornaments to take off the dull from gray. Small candles are placed on the tables (which by the way are not matching with the chairs, but still fashionable in the way it is mix-matched) and lit during dinner time to evoke that mysterious feeling from inside when you are eating your pasta. Does that bring up a picture of what Eat Me would be like? Simply put, Eat Me is a small place filled with its unique, free atmosphere.

Now, of course what matters more than the atmosphere would be the food. About the food, I must say, (let me put it straight that I am not a person who grades food quality leniently) that it is great. During my three years in Daejeon, I have busily poked my head about here and there to find the place with the right gorgonzola pasta, and now I am proud to say that I have found myself a place to settle in. Eat Me provides not only the most palatable classic Italian, but offers some tasty adventures as well. If you are looking for a new menu that will surprise you, you must try the crab risotto. Eat Me boldly confronts those that think of risotto as rice with cream and chicken. The crab risotto, with its soft tomato sauce, and a whole crab full of that unique odor, will content you with a richness that you can only feel at Eat Me. When you are smiling with satisfaction from your meal, the delight will not be over in the wonderful world of Eat Me. The special walnut-flavored milk pudding for dessert will surprise you once again. The soft milky walnut melts on your tongue, and let me just say, the pudding alone might be enough to have you revisiting the restaurant soon.

Wow. I must seem lavish with all the big words and compliments for Eat Me. Pardon me for the passion, but think of it this way: there must be a reason for all the excitement and a source that is making it all come out. Personally, Eat Me was one of the best restaurants in Daejeon that I have dined in. So if you are looking for something new, then try, no, make that a must, “Eat Me.”