Pangyo brunch restaurant for pasta dates: Andover

I went to Pangyo’s Baekhyeon-dong Café Street for a tasty lunch date. With great restaurants and cafés dotted all around, it is a place I often visit for dates because you can have lunch and then stop by a café, too. This time, I visited Andover (앤도버), a brunch spot I had been keeping an eye on.

There were quite a few things I wanted to try, so we picked several dishes this time.

Andover location, hours, and parking

It is on the first floor at 10-7 Panggyoyeok-ro 10beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 to 22:00, with a break from 15:30 to 17:00 Tuesday through Friday. It is regularly closed on Mondays.

You can park in front of the restaurant or on nearby streets, and get one hour free at the Baekhyeon-dong Café Street public parking lot. Baekhyeon-dong Café Street gets crowded with cars around lunchtime, so parking can be difficult. I visited at about 1 p.m. on a Friday, and both the side streets and the public lot were full.

If the Baekhyeon-dong Café Street public lot is full, use a nearby free temporary public parking lot.

A brunch restaurant that felt thoughtful from the reserved table

Since I was planning to come at lunchtime, I made a reservation in advance. When I arrived, there was a “Reserved” sign on the table.

They had placed the reserved sign in a wine bottle, which suited the table beautifully. It was a small detail, but it felt really charming. I was glad I had made a reservation.

Andover QR ordering and what we ordered

Ordering was easy.

Just scan the QR code on the table, look through the menu, and place your order. There were more dishes I wanted to try than I expected, so I spent quite a while deciding.

• Flounder Steak & Baguette
• Andover Anchovy Pasta (spicy)
• Whole Tomato Marinated Ricotta Cheese
• Galvanina Italian Organic Lemon Soda

As the dishes began arriving one by one, they looked lovely and smelled so good that I got more and more excited.

Whole tomato marinated ricotta cheese combination

The first dish out was the Whole Tomato Marinated & Ricotta Cheese. The presentation was so pretty that it caught my eye right away.

It was plated so beautifully that I almost hated to cut into it at first. Under the tomato were basil pesto, oil, and ricotta cheese. The basil pesto was especially delicious. It had a subtle savory depth, and it went so well with the tomato and ricotta.

When I took a bite of the tomato, its juicy moisture burst out, blending with the flavor of the basil pesto and the soft ricotta. The tomato, basil pesto, and ricotta combination was really good. Bright yet creamy, it also worked wonderfully as an appetite-opening dish.

Andover’s pleasantly spicy anchovy pasta

Next was the Andover Anchovy Pasta (spicy). As its name suggests, it had a little heat, but it was not overwhelmingly spicy.

It was nicely spicy and well seasoned, with anchovies adding their distinctive savory depth. Strong anchovies can sometimes feel like too much for me, but this one balanced its umami and heat so well that I kept reaching for it. If you like pasta for brunch, this seems like a dish worth trying.

Tender flounder steak with baguette

We also ordered the flounder steak. It comes with a baguette.

It was good dipped in the sauce, or piled onto the baguette. Above all, the flounder was incredibly tender.

The flesh came apart softly with just a touch of the fork, making it easy to eat. It was mild and easygoing, too.

The mushrooms, broccoli, and other vegetables that came with it also went well with the sauce. Putting the flounder and vegetables on baguette made each bite fun to put together.

Lemon soda that paired well with the food

For drinks, I ordered Galvanina Italian Organic Lemon Soda.

Its bright lemon flavor paired nicely with the food, and after pasta or saucy dishes, it felt like it freshened up my palate. It was a light drink to have alongside a meal.

Seating from tables for two to six

Andover also had a good variety of seating. With tables for two, four, and six, it looked suited not only to a couple’s date but also to meals with friends or small gatherings.

When I visited, there were guests dining with a child in a stroller. The tables were well spaced, so families with young children could comfortably bring a stroller in.

So it seemed like a good option for many occasions: couples’ dates, family meals, dining with children, or get-togethers with friends.

There is also terrace seating, which would be lovely for a meal on a cool day like these. If you are bringing a dog, please note that the terrace is available.

A comfortable atmosphere with gentle music

The food was delicious, but what I especially liked about Andover was the atmosphere.

Gentle music played inside, giving the whole place a calm, comfortable feel.

From the reserved sign in the wine bottle to the overall warm, charming mood, it seemed like a great fit for a Baekhyeon-dong Café Street date or a first-date meeting spot.

The owner was also very kind, so I had a really pleasant time throughout the meal.

Final thoughts on Andover in Pangyo’s Baekhyeon-dong Café Street

Andover was where I went for a lunch date in Baekhyeon-dong Café Street this time.

I liked both the food and the restaurant’s atmosphere. The dishes that stood out most were the Whole Tomato Marinated Ricotta Cheese and the Andover Anchovy Pasta (spicy). The tomato ricotta dish was as tasty as it was pretty, while the anchovy pasta had just the right amount of spice and savory depth. Of course, the flounder steak was also lovely, with tender flesh and baguette and vegetables to enjoy alongside it.

Most of all, with seating for two through six and such a pleasant mood, it seemed well suited not only for dates but also as a comfortable place to talk with someone you are meeting for the first time. It also looked good for get-togethers with friends or family meals. If you are looking for a brunch and pasta spot with a nice atmosphere, or a first-date venue, in Baekhyeon-dong Café Street, Andover in Pangyo is well worth a visit. Next time, I would like to try other dishes I missed this time. :)