Old Stand is a European style pub in the back streets of Itaewon. It’s located in the heart of things across from My Chelsea and next door to Baby Guinness. If you blink you’ll almost surely miss it, so be sure to keep a keen eye out. You’ll be glad you did because it’s a place with much to offer.
Brunch at Old Stand may be spare, but it’s still quite tasty. You have omelets, grilled chicken, and burgers along with Belgian waffles topped with fruits and hagendaz ice-cream. The rest of the menu includes pizzas (margarita, fungi, ruccola, and gorgonzola), pastas, salads, risottos, and fresh mussels. Filetto di manzo herb marinated tenderloin with roasted vegetables, Bisteca rib eye, and the Salmon steak basil marinated in tomato lemon sauce with a ruccola salad round out the main dishes on the menu. Prices for dishes top out at 30,000Won with most running between 10,000 to 20,000won.
Inside the atmosphere is a little cramped. The close quarters don’t offer much in the way of elbow room especially for those long of limb. If I was shorter I guess I’d call it cozy, but I’m not so I’ll stick with cramped. The music is also a distraction as it veers wildly from Frank Sinatra (appropriate) to DMX (slightly jarring given the setting). I suggest sticking with the pizzas and enjoying the company of friends with a bottle of wine.
However, despite the zany musical shenanigans, Old Stand is worth a visit.
