Shilla opens premium buffet restaurant on Jeju

The Parkview, Shilla Hotel's premium buffet restaurant which opened its doors on Jeju on March 22, is ready to serve diners. / Courtesy of Hotel Shilla Jeju

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By Lee Hyo-sik

A growing number of Korean and non-Korean tourists visit the country's southern resort island of Jeju for a wide range of fun and unique holiday experiences. But on top of engaging in fun-packed leisure activities, they also come to Jeju to get a taste of the diverse local cuisine using fresh seafood and other ingredients produced on the pristine island.

If you want to enjoy an array of high-quality dishes prepared by the country's top chefs in a luxury setting, there is no better place than the Hotel Shilla Jeju.

One of Korea's major hotel franchises just opened the Parkview, a premium buffet restaurant, at its Jeju unit to better serve guests and those who visit the hotel to use a range of amenities without sleeping in.

"We opened the Parkview at our Jeju hotel on March 22, following a three-month renovation of the previous buffet restaurant, "Cozy',' in order to accommodate more diners and provide them with better culinary services at the same prices',' said hotel spokeswoman Myung Ji-young.

"The restaurant is an updated version of the Parkview at the Hotel Shilla in Seoul, providing customers with 24-hour dining services on top of breakfast, lunch and dinner'.'

She said it will become a must-visit place for tourists who want to taste authentic Jeju dishes using fresh, locally-produced food ingredients at affordable prices.

In contrast to the Parkview at the Hotel Shilla Seoul, which offers an urban and contemporary dining atmosphere, the newly-opened restaurant on Jeju is created in a classic-European seaside resort style. Its unique interior is to emphasize that Hotel Shilla Jeju is not a mere hotel, but a comprehensive seaside resort in Korea's most popular vacation destination.

"We decided to expand our buffet restaurant, which could previously accommodate only 126 guests at a time. The Parkview now can accommodate up to 374 diners at one time',' Myung said. "Not only our guests, but also those who do not stay with us have come to enjoy its fine dining'.'

The Parkview offers hotel guests a complimentary breakfast. But for non-guest customers, it is priced at 35,000 won, exclusive of the 10-percent value-added tax. Lunch and dinner are priced at 45,000 won and 75,000 won each, not including 10-percent tax.

Local produce and cooking on the spot

The Parkview only serves dishes using fresh seafood caught in waters off the island, and vegetables and other food ingredients produced locally, Master Chef Lee Chang-yeol said.

"At the Parkview, all our menus are fresh and prepared with organic, locally-produced ingredients. Customers can enjoy a wide range of Western and Asian dishes cooked by our best chefs',' Lee said.

Besides using fresh seafood, pork and vegetables produced on the island, chefs cook in an open kitchen set up throughout the restaurant to serve more fresh and tasty dishes.

"Under the concept of a la minute, which refers to a style of cooking where a dished is prepared to order rather than being prepped in advance, our chefs make an array of tasty dishes on the spot',' master chef said. "Our open kitchen and on-the-spot cooking systems show that we are committed to making safe and healthy food for our customers'.'

In the hot corner, barbecue, pasta, pizza and mostly Italian food are served, along with steaks and other meat-based dishes. In the cold corner, raw fish, sushi and other seafood-based foods please the diners' taste buds, while the Asian corner offers homemade dim sum and other Chinese and Korean dishes.

The Parkview also serves fresh fruits, cookies, ice cream and other homemade desserts.

Moonlight Swimming

For those seeking to experience an outdoor barbeque, Hotel Shilla Jeju has everything they need. Guests can enjoy outdoor barbecues in a luxury tent. The tent is equipped with a fireplace and a large-sized bed that can accommodate up to 4 adults.

Barbeque food includes sausages, seafood, beef, pork and lobster, along with fresh vegetables and other side dishes. The barbeque set also includes tomato, seafood ramyeon and seafood fried rice, as well as assorted fruits, cheese cake and macaroons for dissert.

The cost is 100,000 won per person, exclusive of 10-percent tax. Guests can stay in the tent from 6 p.m. to midnight. The children's menu, which includes seasoned beef steak, salad and assorted fruits among others, is priced at 35,000 won, plus 10-percent tax.

After the barbeque, hotel guests should try the outdoor swimming pool, which is open until midnight. They can swim in the pool or sit in a Jacuzzi, while listing to a live band.

For more information on the Parkview and other amenities at Hotel Shilla Jeju, call 064-735-514 or visit its website (www.shilla.net/jeju).

leehs@koreatimes.co.kr