Over the weekend there was a silent opening for a restaurant that is near and dear to my heart. It's called The Eights, and it is owned by my friend Peter Rouff and operated by my fiancé Amelia Schineller. Although The Eights is not serving food at this point, and the bar is only open for Sabres games and Friday and Saturday nights, it won't be long before the business hits full stride as a healthy breakfast and lunch bistro-style cafe.
Ultimately, operations will be three-fold. Its central location to the Medical Campus will provide workers with a relaxing place to grab a cup of coffee and a house-made bagel, cereal flakes or 'Pop Tarts'. Vegans and vegetarians will delight in thoughtfully prepared non-meat lunch selections ranging from vegan Philly cheese steaks to vegetarian chicken finger subs to vegan tuna salad sandwiches. For the meat-eaters, there will also be offerings including honey-glazed bacon and Brie on a baguette, ham and pear crisp with fontina and Swiss with a pumpkin spiced spread. To top it off there is going to be a bar menu specializing in comfort food classics re-imagined without the chemicals and unnecessary fillers such as homemade 'Doritos', tater tots, mozzarella bites, etc. Whenever possible, meat selections will be free range and organic - the concept of The Eights is to serve up food that is purchased from local farms and as many of the ingredients as possible will be made in-house, such as infused oils, homemade aiolis and mayos (vegan included) and even house-made mozzarella.
Bar and beer-lovers might be surprised to find that an old-world bar has sprung up in this location, built under the watchful eye and skillful hands of master woodworker Robert Sturm (Bob the Builder) and craftsman Jim Watkins (Swannie Jim). The two have spent weeks creating an extended mahogany bar complete with antique columns and English beer engine. Featuring nine draught beers and thirteen bottles (Rusty Chain, Southern Tier Pale Ale, Weihenstephan Hefe Weiss, Tyskie, Goose Island Honker's Ale), as well as a selection of red and white wines. The English beer engine will ultimately be restored into a working cask system in order to showcase limited brew selections served by guest beer pourers. Combined with low lighting, candle lit tables, splashes of color, a signature painting by Peter Fowler and oversized front windows, The Eights hopes to become a relaxing Main Street escape for anyone who appreciates a morning stop-in before the grind, a lunch meet-up, or an after work wind down.
The Eights will be hosting the monthly WAM event this Wednesday, which should be the bar/restaurant's first big night for anyone interested in stopping in to see the place (open to the public - no cover charge). Or stop in on Tuesday, Friday or Saturday nights of this week to watch the Sabres play.
The Eights
888 Main Street (next to Roxy's)
Buffalo NY 14202
716-939-2815
View image
Ultimately, operations will be three-fold. Its central location to the Medical Campus will provide workers with a relaxing place to grab a cup of coffee and a house-made bagel, cereal flakes or 'Pop Tarts'. Vegans and vegetarians will delight in thoughtfully prepared non-meat lunch selections ranging from vegan Philly cheese steaks to vegetarian chicken finger subs to vegan tuna salad sandwiches. For the meat-eaters, there will also be offerings including honey-glazed bacon and Brie on a baguette, ham and pear crisp with fontina and Swiss with a pumpkin spiced spread. To top it off there is going to be a bar menu specializing in comfort food classics re-imagined without the chemicals and unnecessary fillers such as homemade 'Doritos', tater tots, mozzarella bites, etc. Whenever possible, meat selections will be free range and organic - the concept of The Eights is to serve up food that is purchased from local farms and as many of the ingredients as possible will be made in-house, such as infused oils, homemade aiolis and mayos (vegan included) and even house-made mozzarella.
Bar and beer-lovers might be surprised to find that an old-world bar has sprung up in this location, built under the watchful eye and skillful hands of master woodworker Robert Sturm (Bob the Builder) and craftsman Jim Watkins (Swannie Jim). The two have spent weeks creating an extended mahogany bar complete with antique columns and English beer engine. Featuring nine draught beers and thirteen bottles (Rusty Chain, Southern Tier Pale Ale, Weihenstephan Hefe Weiss, Tyskie, Goose Island Honker's Ale), as well as a selection of red and white wines. The English beer engine will ultimately be restored into a working cask system in order to showcase limited brew selections served by guest beer pourers. Combined with low lighting, candle lit tables, splashes of color, a signature painting by Peter Fowler and oversized front windows, The Eights hopes to become a relaxing Main Street escape for anyone who appreciates a morning stop-in before the grind, a lunch meet-up, or an after work wind down.The Eights will be hosting the monthly WAM event this Wednesday, which should be the bar/restaurant's first big night for anyone interested in stopping in to see the place (open to the public - no cover charge). Or stop in on Tuesday, Friday or Saturday nights of this week to watch the Sabres play.
The Eights
888 Main Street (next to Roxy's)
Buffalo NY 14202
716-939-2815
Sounds ambitious and looks interesting. Good location.
Let's wish them the best, and more importantly, stop in and try it out.