I turned something-something years old in the beginning of the year. My sister was in town and my husband said he could watch the baby, so we took the baby-free opportunity to visit République, a place that is not so baby-friendly. On Saturday morning, the place bustled with locals, tourists, hipsters, foodies, young and old. The interior looked like a wide foyer filled with tables and chairs–unconventional, but it worked. You walk through the doors to face a countertop layered with an assortment of pastries, every one of which you want to taste and take home. We ultimately chose the puff pastries to accompany our coffees, then ordered our own breakfast preferences. My sister’s dish had a bacon slice that was an inch thick–melt-in-your-mouth goodness but heart-attack inducing. So good. I saw others who ordered kimchi fried rice, but we’re Korean and we don’t pay for that kind of stuff, especially when it’s $16! Everything is a bit pricey. Overall, I liked the restaurant for its ambiance–a nice place to hang out and talk with friends over coffee. A nice place to spend your birthday morning with your sister (Thanks, Hen-nahhh~ :)).