Restaurant: NTMY (Nice To Meet You)

area: PNU

coffee: available

grub: top quality

overall rating: shocking (98/100)

GET THE MEATBALLS.

We went to NTMY again this morning, so it only seems fair to blog about it. NTMY (shorthand for Nice to Meet You) is charming and the food is well above the quality we usually find in Korea - especially for the price, and even more especially for Western food. It's definitely one of our favorite brunch haunts.

The infamous Brunch Set.

First of all, the menu is an iPad, which is super fancy. They're open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and the bar remains open well into the night. The waitstaff is awesome and can passably communicate in at least three languages (Korean, English, and Japanese). The cooks are super friendly and everyone there makes you feel like you're wanted. It's a nice feeling. (We saw one of the cooks walking around a shopping district one evening, and he remembered us and said hello!)

Limited time Mashed Potato Pie, though.

Every single thing we have tried there has been exceptional. Really, we want to know where they get their ingredients. Not only are the menu items interesting and well-made, but at the basest level you can tell it's good, healthy food. It makes such a nice change. They have a nice selection of wines and beers as well as a full bar.

Tacos! :D

The music is almost always great. One brunch in particular was just a loop of Beatles early hits, which we think is excellent breezy brunch music. The color scheme in the restaurant is gorgeous, with big open windows and intriguing decor. We want living rooms like this place. We just realized we have no pictures of the atmosphere, which means we'll have to go back again soon. OH NO.

But I hate it.

The biggest drawback to NTMY is the inconsistency of its hours. Sure, its hours are posted, but they are often randomly closed. We still find ourselves walking past just to check if it's open,  because the food and atmosphere are truly outstanding.

Directions: From PNU Subway Station, go out Exit 3. Walk right. Take a left on the first block you come to (there will be a convenient store called "C Space" on the corner). Walk down until you see a flower shop on the right side of the road. Turn right. NTMY will be on your left, on the second floor of a building.

Coffee Shop: Playground

area: Pusan National University (PNU)
coffee: quality
grub: scrumptious
overall rating: thunderfunsies

Some days you're having a nice latte and think to yourself, "This would be better in a fort." And if you're in the PNU area, you're in luck.

Welcome to Playground. Cafe Noriter (a Korean term for playground) has a near perfect setup. Most tables are surrounded with pillows rather than chairs, and you're invited to take your shoes off while lounging.

Comfy.

The music ranges from somewhat shitty pop to delightful indie. We've even stumbled across some new artists we had to look into.

We've only ever gotten the Mint Americanos, because they're perfect and we never want anything else. Our friends tell us other drinks are good. We're sure they're right.

Their food menu is short but delicious. The honey butter bread is so good it's a problem.

Treat yo self.

They were recently closed for refurbishment, so we don't have any updated photos since they reopened. But trust us, it's still awesome.

Directions: Go out PNU Subway Station Exit 3 (on the orange line). Walk right. Take a left on the first block you come to (there will be a convenience store called "C Space" on the corner). Walk until you see a Paris Baguette (almost until you reach NC Department Store and the Main Gate of PNU). Take a right at the Paris Baguette. Just a few doors down on the same side as the aforementioned Paris Baguette  is Playground, on the second floor. There's a yellow entryway with AstroTurf leading up to it. There is also a very inconveniently placed bus stop in front of the doorway. You may have to push your way through some college kids. It's worth it.

Coffee Shop: Cafe Agami

area: Pusan National University (PNU)
coffee: epic nomfest
grub: scarce but surprising
overall rating: totally presh

Cafe Agami has an adorable style, delicious coffee, and scrumptious treats, but what really stands out is the resident cat. He's lovable and friendly, and if it's not too crowded he'll wander around the cafe visiting the customers. Once, while some friends were visiting for Christmas, Yamii jumped up on the table and joined the conversation, making sure everyone gave him some cuddles. Then he settled onto one of our jackets and hung out until we left. He's worth a visit by himself.

"This is my coat now."

Yamii is devoted to his daddy, the owner of Cafe Agami. He's an incredibly nice and chill guy, and he speaks a bit of English. Not enough for a whole conversation, but he can explain a few things. He's really generous, and he even hooked us up with cake once.

The cafe has an at-home feel. The decor is unique, with wooden tables, window trimmings, potted plants, and hand-painted murals (of cats). It's V's favorite color scheme, with oranges, teals, and grass greens. There's a bookshelf filled with a eclectic selection. The books are in Korean, but there are plenty of photography books to peruse and a few with other languages. It's the kind of place that invites you to stay a while. You can read or study, and no one makes you feel pressured to leave or awkward for being alone. There's even single-seating by the window. There's always a chill jazz song playing in the background, but never loud enough to distract you.

Caffe Bailey's and a Mint Choco Frappe!

The coffee selection is terrific. In addition to the usual fare, there are cinnamon, maple, and sweet potato lattes. If you like something unusual, he's got interesting twists like Bailey's, Kahlua, and something ambiguously named Blue Secret (perhaps). The ice blended coffee drinks (the menu calls them frappes) are fabulous: great texture, decadent, and they come in a few interesting flavors. Ellie thinks they might be the best ones in town.

It is actually the cutest place.

Directions: From PNU Subway Station, go out Exit 3. Walk right. Take a left on the first block you come to (there will be a convenient store called "C Space" on the corner). Cafe Agami will be on the right side of the street, directly across from New Balance. There's a picture of a cat in a cup and a sign over the door. If you reach the Art Box, you've gone too far.

Coffee Shop: Carpe Diem

area: Pusan National University (PNU)
coffee: tasty
grub: outstanding
overall rating: awesomesauce

Behold your salvation.

Carpe Diem is one of our favorite hangouts in Busandae. We return with comic frequency. The friendly owner remembers and is genuinely happy to see us, and the waitstaff is always kind (and eager to practice their English). The coffee is good, the food is great, and the ambiance is killer.

Mmm. Squashy.

The atmosphere in Carpe Diem is what sells it. We love the old-fashioned pink velvet loveseats that take the place of regular booth seats at the tables, all squishy and covered in cushions. The music selection is exactly what you want in a cafe. There’s a lot of jazz and what we might call laid-back indie music, which is ideal for conversation or reserved contemplation. There is plenty of seating and we never feel encouraged to leave immediately, even when alone, which is the norm in South Korea. The owner has a great attention for detail, from the brick dividers that set the tables apart to the tiny cacti and succulents (for purchase) that adorn every ledge in the shop.

The coffee is above average for Korea, but not exceptional. It is the sweet fare that brings us back. Order the Cinnamon Waffle. Do it. It comes with plenty of ice cream and fruit (usually bananas and kiwi, though we’ve had surprises). Drizzled with chocolate sauce and dollops of whipped cream, this thing is the dessert of dreams. Expect to wait ten to twenty minutes for preparation, but don’t worry: they’ll bring you your coffee right away, and this is the sort of establishment you want to take your time and enjoy.

They have other food to offer, but seriously. Cinnamon Waffle. Tell your friends.

There’s a computer with internet access (presumably for paying customers only) that’s free to use. There is a bathroom, which is nice in Korea, the land of no bathrooms. There's no English menu, but it's the standard Korean coffee shop fare: Americano, Cafe Latte, and the like.

Directions: From PNU Subway Station, go out Exit 1. Directly across from exit 1 is a street. Go straight down it. You will pass an intersection with a Baskin Robbins. Keep going straight. Carpe Diem will be on your right, on the second floor above Jundol Jeans. There is a white sign with a cup of coffee and a waffle on it. :D

There it is!

Here's a close-up of the sign!