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.