Pangyo brunch and pasta date: house-made meatball spaghetti, Andover

Today I went to Pangyo with a friend and stumbled on Andover, a brunch place with a really pretty atmosphere. The exterior alone was so charming that my feet just carried me over, and I was already excited before going in. Once inside, the mood was lovely and you could feel the care put into every corner, so it's the kind of place you want to linger in! Let me quickly cover the basics of this Pangyo brunch spot, and then on to the review!

Andover in Pangyo: hours, closing day and parking

Andover is at 10-7 Pangyoyeok-ro 10beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam. It is open 11:30–22:00 with a break from 15:30 to 17:00 (no break on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays). It's closed on Mondays and there's no parking, so keep that in mind.

• Address: 10-7 Pangyoyeok-ro 10beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi
• Hours: 11:30–22:00
• Break time: 15:30–17:00 (none Fri–Sun)
• Last order: none
• Closed: Mondays
• Parking: not available
• Reservations: available
• Groups: available
• Corkage: available (paid)
• Delivery: available
• Takeout: available
• Pets: allowed
• High chairs: available

What is the atmosphere like at Andover?

Andover is a small city near Boston, Massachusetts, and I loved that I could feel a bit of that mood while having brunch in Pangyo. From the moment I walked in it felt warm and cozy, and the sentimental interior plus soft music made me feel like I'd gone on a little trip.

Every table felt relaxed, so I was comfortable throughout the meal, and with the view out the window I enjoyed brunch without noticing the time pass. The space itself got me excited before the food even arrived, and spending a leisurely time over tasty brunch felt like a healing break from daily life. I found it really charming that you can get this exotic feeling without going far.

And above all, the staff were all so kind, which made for a very pleasant meal!

How do you order at Andover, and what did we get?

Ordering at Andover is easy with the QR code on each table. Everything on the menu looked delicious, so I agonized for ages over what to eat. There's a wide range from brunch dishes to pasta, and so many I wanted to try that even choosing was fun.

After much thought we ordered the whole tomato marinade, the mushroom cream risotto and the meatball tomato pasta. I was happy with the combination, and I was looking forward to a proper brunch before the food even arrived. Just reading the names made me curious how they'd taste.

Fresh flowers on every table at Andover

Andover sets a pretty arrangement of fresh flowers on every table. Not many places do that these days, so seeing it again after a while put me in an even better mood. It was just one small flower, but it made the table so much brighter and the meal feel more special.

Seeing this care for tiny details, I could feel the effort put into the space, and I happily took photos while waiting for brunch. Little details like this add to Andover's charm, so I was satisfied even before eating.

How does Andover's whole tomato marinade taste?

Andover's whole tomato marinade is whole marinated tomatoes with basil pesto on top of ricotta cheese, a perfect light starter. It came out first, and its colors were so pretty it caught my eye right away. The freshness of the tomato, the softness of the ricotta and the subtle aroma of basil pesto went well together and were easy to enjoy. It naturally whets the appetite, so it's a great way to start brunch. Pretty to look at and nicely balanced, so I recommend it!! haha

The tomato skins had been neatly peeled for easy eating, and since they were marinated cold, the first bite spread a cool, fresh taste through my mouth. The tomato's bright flavor came through without being overwhelming, and with the ricotta it got even softer, so the harmony was really good. It felt like eating a refreshing dessert, and I kept reaching for more. If you like tomatoes, I think you should try it at least once.

Drinks at Andover: organic grapefruit juice and beer

I also ordered the organic grapefruit juice at Andover, and it was better than I expected. The signature fresh, slightly bitter grapefruit taste came through strongly without being too sweet, so it went really well with brunch. Every sip left my mouth feeling clean, which was great alongside the food. If you like grapefruit, please give it a try. Personally, it was the drink I was most satisfied with among everything I ordered that day.

My boyfriend loves beer so much he says he can't live without it, and he said a Pangyo brunch spot is no exception. We ordered a cold beer with brunch and the pairing worked better than I expected. With the great atmosphere it felt like having brunch abroad, and tasty food plus cold beer made the meal even more satisfying.

What is the texture of Andover's mushroom cream risotto like?

Andover's mushroom cream risotto is a cream risotto topped with arugula and big pieces of king oyster mushroom, with the traditional texture where the rice grains are slightly firm. It looked so appetizing it caught my eye immediately, and the fresh arugula and king oyster mushroom made the plating look even more complete. The colors were lovely for photos, and a subtle nutty cream aroma spread as soon as it arrived, which raised my expectations. You could tell just from the plate that it was prepared with care, and I was happy with it from the looks alone.

Personally, I prefer risotto where the rice is cooked soft and tender, so the slightly al dente bite wasn't quite my taste. Still, I know that's exactly the texture traditional risotto is meant to have, so I actually thought it was properly made. My boyfriend, on the other hand, liked that texture much more, said it was delicious and scraped the bowl clean.

Our tastes differed a bit, but the nutty cream and the mushroom aroma went really well together, and I was happy with the flavor itself. I even caught myself spooning it up again and again. It was a dish I could enjoy plenty.

Andover's meatball tomato spaghetti: house-made meatballs and sauce

Andover's meatball tomato spaghetti is a pasta with big house-made meatballs and house-made tomato sauce, and it was one of the dishes I was most looking forward to that day. Maybe because they make the meatballs themselves, the first bite burst with juice, and the texture was so tender it melted in my mouth. There was no gamey meat smell at all and they were moist, so they were great even on their own.

The tomato sauce wasn't just sour either; it had a deep, rich flavor, and with the noodles and meatballs together the harmony was great. I later heard that they make most of their ingredients, including the tomato sauce, themselves, which surprised me even more, and that may be why it tasted clean and made with care in a way store-bought sauce doesn't. Andover is the No. 1 Pangyo brunch spot!!

The noodles were springy and chewy, which made them fun to eat, and the sauce clung well to them, so every bite was delicious. The tomato sauce was clearly different from the usual kind. It wasn't harsh or too sweet, kept the natural tomato flavor and still had depth, so I never got tired of it and kept reaching for more.

It had that one-more-bite charm, and the plate was empty before I knew it. Personally, it was among the best tomato sauces I had that day.

We originally ordered it because my boyfriend, who likes tomato sauce, wanted it, but I think I ended up eating more of it. It was that good. The meatballs especially, probably because they're made in-house, were nothing like the store-bought kind. Each bite was juicy and so tender it melted in my mouth. The meat flavor was rich with no gamey smell at all, so much that I wanted to order extra meatballs on their own. It was a really impressive dish.

Is Andover in Pangyo worth it for a date brunch?

I had a really satisfying time trying a variety of brunch dishes at Andover, a Pangyo brunch favorite. The atmosphere was great and you could feel the care in every dish, so I enjoyed the whole meal and finally had a proper, relaxed brunch after a long time. Whether it's a day you're craving brunch or you're looking for a spot for a date or a get-together with friends, it's worth a visit. I left so happy with the meal that I'm confident recommending it.