Over time, Annandale has acquired the nickname “Koreatown.” So we decided to try a traditional Korean bakery. Little did we know how much of an actual treat we were in for when we went to to Breeze Bakery Café.

The two-story building is as modernized on the outside as it is on the inside. Its trendy decor is dispersed throughout their combined bakery and cafe. The main floor primarily consists of the bakery portion, with a small dining section. The second floor is just a dining area, with a large terrace branching off of it. For the brisk winter weather, the staff provides customers interested in eating outside with cozy blankets.

Double chocolate cake, cinnamon cake and white bean mondu are just a few of the fresh baked goods that can be found in the bakery. Curious to find out if the pastries tasted as delicious as they appeared, we tried a few of the free samples that were placed in small baskets in front of each type of pastry. To our great pleasure, they were delightful. With so many samples of the breads, cakes, doughnuts and various other pastries, it is hard to resist walking around the bakery trying all of them while waiting for your food to be prepared. The soft bread and creamy fillings are simply savory. Korean pastries tend to have a lighter density and be less sugary-sweet than other cultures, such as American and French. We, personally, thought it gave the pastries a more authentic taste. The bakery also served gelato ice cream near the café, which looked very appetizing as well.

The café has several options for main entrées. They mainly consist of simple soups or sandwhiches, as opposed to a full course dinner meal. The paninis seemed like a popular choice, so we got the Chicken Panini, which was highly recommended by one of the friendly cashiers, and the Turkey and Avocado Panini. Each of the paninis costed around $7, and after our first bite, we realized that it surely was money well spent. Both of the paninis included lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese and mayonnaise on toasted white bread. They also each came with a side of unsalted, crunchy potato chips, which were less than satisfactory. Nonetheless, we both agree that the paninis, themselves, were some of the best that we had ever had.

As a choice of drink, Breeze does not carry any sodas. Instead, they sell frappuccinos, cappuccinos, lattes and a large variety of teas.These drinks are more pricey, costing around $4 each. The type of drinks, however, fit well with the Korean café and bakery theme. The Cafe Mocha Frappuccino and the Pumpkin Latte are two of the many caffeinated drink blends. The chilly Cafe Mocha Frappuccino was average, but the warm Pumpkin Latte was quite heavenly-especially after standing outside in the cool winter air.

Many of the customers in the café were sitting down with their laptops open and their food and drinks to the side. The calming and quiet atmosphere provided a perfect place to relax and get work done. However, there were also a few groups that were either reuniting with a big group of friends over a meal or sharing a giant pastry on a date. So, the environment of Breeze is perfect for working hard, as well as catching up and even intimate moments.

The bakery and cafe are open from 7 a.m. – 12 a.m., Monday through Sunday. We highly recommend you take some time during your weekend to check it out, and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.