| 8-18 |
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| Written by Editor |
| Friday, 07 May 2010 14:56 |
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I can comfortably (and happily) say that 8-18 was my first dinner in Cartagena. Had I not realized I was in the historic district, the inside of 8-18 would have convinced me otherwise. It has a decidedly Miami feel and while prices here aren’t that far off from the states, it does represent a new and unique dining option in a world of constantly revolving it-spots in Cartagena dining.
8-18’s namesake is a format which, if you’re not familiar with it already, can be seen above just about every doorway in Cartagena. The downstairs is extremely small, only a handful of tables and an open kitchen, while the more popular upstairs has a few more tables. 8-18 gives new meaning to Cartagena cool with a minimalist, all-white décor accented by plants, artwork, and an attentive set of employees. Sitting down at our table, I removed what I thought was a twig that had blown in through the window (in fact, a decorative touch intended to, I don’t know, cleanse your palate?). Some of the flare seemed over the top but the food was dead on. For a city by the sea, 8-18’s overwhelmingly seafood menu does the coast justice with a number of ceviches and carpaccios fresh as could be. There was also heavier, more traditional meat offerings but they somehow outweighed the meal: they somehow overshadowed what I assumed was the dining theme: light, fanciful food. The service at 8-18 was impressive: our waiter always there when we needed him and absent when we didn’t. The restaurant is a good symbol of Cartagena’s improving foodie allure, with samplings and innovations that’d not be out of place in New York City or L.A. |
