Dongtan Station pasta restaurant, weekday brunch set with Mom: Paol

Why Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch for a mom-and-me date after daycare drop-off

Today I dropped my kid off at daycare and, for the first time in a while, went on a brunch date with my mom at Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch (파올 동탄여울공원점) near Dongtan Station. Mom has been so busy lately that even sitting down for one quiet meal together wasn't easy... So I wanted somewhere with a nice mood and good food, and I picked Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch, which has a reputation as a go-to pasta place near Dongtan Station 🩷

It's close to Yeoul Park, so it's a perfect spot to combine with a stroll. The round, cream-toned outer wall has a clean PAOL logo on it, so it stands out even from far away, haha.

What's the atmosphere like inside Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch?

Inside, white tones, wooden chairs and soft indirect lighting come together to make it really cozy :) The wall shelves display wine, pasta noodles and moody books, so it's great for photos too!! Every table has a small mood lamp and a tablet for ordering, which makes it easy to order, haha. As soon as she walked in, Mom said "Oh, this place is pretty~", which made me extra proud 😊

The Paol brunch set, a good size for two

What I picked at Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch was the brunch set: crab rose pasta + steak risotto + salad + coffee, all in one. The menu is really varied, from sous vide flat iron steak as the main dish to ricotta pomodoro, gambas al ajillo, clam vongole, ragu pasta, whole bacon carbonara and cheongyang chili cream ravioli. I agonized over it before settling on this combination, and it was just right for two ❤️

It felt much more satisfying than ordering things separately! It had been a while since I'd had a Western-style meal, so we ordered a bit of everything: pasta that Mom likes, risotto that I like, and coffee for afterward. We really enjoyed it all at Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch 🫶

The included salad

The salad that comes with the Paol set has fresh greens topped with shine muscat grapes, cherry tomatoes and orange, plus plenty of cheese sprinkled over. The sweet-and-sour dressing really wakes up your appetite, so it's great before the meal, haha.

How does the crab rose pasta taste?

Paol's crab rose pasta has a whole crab on top, and the look alone was overwhelming! I gasped the moment I saw it, hahaha. The rose sauce is thick yet smooth, and you can taste the deep sea aroma from the crab. A slight spiciness comes up at the end, so I never got tired of it all the way through. Recommended!!! 😆

The writer's top pick: steak risotto

And my number one pick is Paol's steak risotto! The popping texture is really good. Tender sous vide steak, arugula and cheese sit on top of creamy risotto, and the meat is seriously moist and soft! It's rich and deeply savory, so it was the dish I enjoyed most!

With coffee to finish, is it a good brunch date course?

Finally, sipping the coffee that comes with the set while chatting with Mom about this and that was pure healing. From the meal to dessert time, everything is settled in one spot at Paol Dongtan Yeoul Park Branch, so it's a perfect brunch date course 👏👏👏

• Lovely interior, perfect for a date!
• A generous set with pasta, risotto and salad!
• Close to Yeoul Park, so a stroll after the meal is great too 👍👍

I confidently recommend this Dongtan restaurant to moms who want a relaxed brunch after daycare drop-off, and to anyone looking for a nice place with a partner or friends! Next time I'll have to come back for steak with my husband and our kid 🥰