Restaurant Review: 8 East Bar & Restaurant

Restaurant:
Address: 8 East First Ave, Conshohocken PA, 19428 (484.351.8452)

Rating: ★★★ (3) out of 5 stars
Style: Mainstream American Cuisine
Food: Generous portions; 
Atmosphere: Stylish, up-and-coming bar/club scene for thirty-somethings
Parking: Yes (street and lot parking)
Service: Flawless wait-staff, no reservation needed
Price Range: Average
Unique Feature: Vast drink menu, 5-7pm Happy Hour Mon-Sat

When frequenting Conshohocken, finding a place to wine and dine is like shooting fish in a barrel. That’s why one of the newer additions to the Fayette Street-strip, 8 East, has made sure to stand out amongst its’ competitors . 

From the outside,  8 East offers a trendy nightclub atmosphere, with music that can be felt as you walk in. On a Friday night at 8:15 p.m., there was no wait to be seated (which was a nice surprise, considering I tried to call ahead and make a reservation but could get no one on the phone).

As soon as we walked in, it was clear that most patrons were not there to eat. There are several flat-screen TVs mounted in the dining area showing ESPN highlights and a constant herd of young drinkers talking loudly within ear’s reach. Because of the adjoining bar next to the dining room, as well as the bar/dance floor “Elevation” on the second floor, the music was constantly resonating through the restaurant (, as the music being played dropped the occasional swear word).

As for the menu, 8 East offers a good variety of options, with a spin on traditional American cuisine appetizers (such as Pan Seared Filet Tips, Spinach & Artichoke Wontons, and golden fried Pazotti Bites). We started out with the Parmesan & Garlic Flat Bread, which came out within five minutes. While the flat bread was warm and filling, the large dollops of Hummus on each slice were a detractor. Also, we didn’t actually taste any garlic or parmesan; just the peppers and caramelized onions that topped the appetizer.

While waiting for the entrée, the waitress could not have been more accommodating and helpful. She reviewed the menu with us, discussing her favorite choices and making sure that refills were taken care of in a speedy fashion. After a lengthy deliberation, I ordered Gloria’s Golden Fried Chicken Parmesan (because I was determined to taste parmesan).

Fortunately, my wish came true and the meal was smothered in melting cheeses and marinara sauce, with a heaping serving of well-cooked Penne pasta to boot. The house salad was brought out two minutes before our entrées, so we didn’t really have too much time to enjoy it, but there wasn’t much appeal in the first place; the salad itself was pretty standard, and the lettuce itself was the rubbery type you would find on a burger.

8 East offers several vegetarian-friendly options, such as the No Regret Veggie Burger. Also, be sure to ask for the Roasted Veggie Wrap, filled with fresh zucchini, peppers, Portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, and raspberry vinaigrette. I tried a bite of the wrap and was immediately impressed, asking for a second taste, which is rare when veggies are involved.

And what kind of dinner would be complete without dessert? Though the dessert choices are not listed on the menu, the waitress was kind enough to go through all the options (there were only a few). We went with a slice of ice cream cake called Peanut Butter Explosion, which was simply amazing (peanut butter mousse with chocolate crust, drizzled with caramel, chocolate syrup, and topped with whipped cream). The waitress even went out of her way to draw a chocolate syrup heart on the plate, which I’m pretty sure made my girlfriend jealous, in a good way.

All in all, 8 East satisfied any expectations that we had before dining there. The restaurant itself, as well as their website (www.8eastbar.com) makes no illusions that their target is a younger crowd looking to drink their meal, as opposed to eat it. Granted, the atmosphere wasn’t conducive to a relaxing dinner date on a Friday evening, but I could chalk it up to a case of being in ‘the wrong place at the wrong time.’ I would definitely dine atagain, but maybe on a Sunday evening, or for brunch instead.

Click here to see the Menu

Related Topics: Restaurant Reviews, 8EastBar