Thursday, February 2, 2012

PL8 KITCHEN


210 SW 2nd St.
Downtown Ft Lauderdale
(954) 524-1818



As if committing to a cuisine weren’t hard enough, it’s even tougher to narrow down entree selections at most restaurants these days with prices remaining high amidst the recession and lower paychecks. The people behind former Riverfront staple, Himmarshee Bar & Grille, knew this and decided to take bold measures -- they scrapped their 14-year-old success story for a totally revamped new concept restaurant focusing on smaller plates and representing an array of global delicacies. South Florida, meet PL8, the best new place to hit downtown Fort Lauderdale since ROK:BRGR settled in last year. 

At PL8, you can expect to find lots of exciting flavor combinations featuring everything from garlicky Italian style meatballs to Korean grilled short-ribs in pineapple ponzu glaze. Utilzing fresh, local ingredients, from the heirloom tomatoes and watercress with the buratta cheese caprese, to the watermelon adorning the fried chicken sliders, the chefs at PL8 always overcompensate for their “small” plates with BIG booming tastes.

Speaking of sliders, PL8 has five varieties and a Thursday special where they’re sold for $2 each. The seared scallop sliders with spicy aioli and house-made purple kimchi will give you that moment of culinary bliss you’ve been missing; the Creekstone Farms beef sliders with ground brisket and
short-rib, topped with raclette cheese, caramelized onions, garlic-herb spread and ketchup will give PL8’s aforementioned burger-slinging
next-door neighbor a run for their money. There’s also shiitake mushroom sliders with spinach, grilled tomato, mozzarella and balsamic aioli, and grilled bratwurst sliders with violet mustard and red potato salad.

My recommendation is to go to PL8 when you want to look like a winner on a first date. With a chill, unpretentious vibe and menu offerings for any kind of eater, whether they possess an adventurous or Plain Jane palate, it will provide the perfect ingredients to jump-start any evening and make a great initial impression based on your restaurant-picking abilities. The interior features plenty of interesting eye-appeal, including an enormous chalkboard wall with inspiring culinary quotations, to add to the charm. The buzz you’ll get from the craft beers and artisanal cocktails will make the experience even more memorable.

Grab a bite at PL8 the next time you find yourself at a loss for where to eat in Lauderdale, and you’ll be pleased by the surprising international choices, as well as the wallet friendly prices. From the rosemary, garlic, and caramelized onion covered brick oven chicken wings, to the pancetta and brussels sprouts pizza, to duck-fat roasted marble potatoes, there will always be something intriguing to try when you dine at this extraordinary new eatery. 

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