Location

12 Seongdeokjeong 15-gil, Seongdong-gu
Sortie

Sortie is approximately a 15-minute walk from Seongsu Station’s Exit 3, directly in front of Gate 5 of Ttukdo Youth Market. Its proximity to the market creates a unique blend of Seongsu-dong’s trendy vibe and the nostalgic feel of Ttukdo Market, making it an intriguing spot for both visitors and locals.

Menu

The menu at Sortie is primarily based on French cuisine, offering a variety of small plates. Most dishes are priced between 15,000 to 20,000 KRW, while wines start from the mid-50,000 KRW range. We decided to order the Beef Carpaccio, Cacio e Pepe, Chicken, and Sausage & Sauerkraut, accompanied by a bottle of French red wine Côtes du Rhône Rouge.

What I Ordered

Carpaccio is an Italian appetizer that usually consists of thinly sliced raw meat drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice. Sortie’s Beef Carpaccio also featured paper-thin slices of beef but was uniquely topped with arugula and truffle aioli sauce.

The luxurious aroma of the truffle aioli was prominent from the first bite, complemented by the refreshing zest of lemon juice and arugula, making it an ideal appetizer that would also pair well with white wine.

Next was the Cacio e Pepe, one of Sortie’s signature pasta dishes and a traditional Roman recipe. ‘Cacio’ means cheese, and ‘Pepe’ means pepper, highlighting these two ingredients as the co-stars of the dish.

Sortie uses hand-rolled fettuccine in its Cacio e Pepe to provide a more fresh and chewy texture, with generous toppings of cheese and coarse black pepper. While the ingredients are simple, the balance between the sharpness of the pepper and the softness of the cheese delivers a classic flavor—a suitable choice for a light dish to accompany our main dish and wine.

Sortie’s chicken featured a boneless chicken thigh steak, perfectly grilled with a seared crust. Drizzled with hot & creamy chipotle sauce and garlic yogurt cream, the chicken steak had a sound balance between spicy and tangy flavors.

The dish also had notes of tandoori chicken with its smoky aroma, which blended well with the Mexican-inspired sauce. The accompanying jalapeño jam also provided a spicy and refreshing kick, elevating the overall flavor.

Our last menu was the Sausage & Sauerkraut featuring Toulouse sausage, a staple from southern France seasoned with white wine, salt, pepper, and spices. This sausage unexpectedly reminded us of Southeast Asian flavors (ie. spices from Vietnamese pho or Indonesian satay chicken.)

The grilled brussel sprouts were generously sprinkled with black pepper similar to the Cacio e Pepe, which added a robust flavor while the tangy sauerkraut also provided a refreshing contrast.

Wine Pairing

Sortie’s Wine List

Sortie’s wine list was too extensive so I didn’t take any pictures of it but they offered a diverse selection of red, white, champagne and more, with prices starting in the mid-50,000 KRW range. FYI even though we didn’t bring our own bottle this time, the corkage fee at Sortie was 35,000 KRW per bottle.

André Brunel Côtes du Rhône

After careful consideration we went for the French wine Côtes du Rhône Rouge, a blend of Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache. Before aeration the initial taste presented strong notes of leather and spice, which mellowed over time to deep blackberry flavors.

Compared to the recent Californian red blend we had, this wine had a noticeably richer tannin presence and stronger aroma, but its smooth body & finish paired perfectly with our chosen dishes.

Vibe & Atmosphere

Sortie’s impressive cellar spanning an entire wall alongside the sleek bar table created a cocktail bar-like atmosphere. Despite the modest exterior, the bar extends to accommodate several more tables for larger groups. The cozy yet trendy lighting and music created a perfect laid-back ambiance for enjoying Sortie’s wine and food.