Daejeon Italian restaurant for spicy rosé chicken pasta: Plate

I had some errands in Daejeon, then stopped by this atmospheric Italian restaurant for lunch. Plate Dunsan Branch (플레이트 둔산점) was satisfying both for its food and its lovely setting, with everything from pasta to steak on the menu.

Window seats filled up even at weekday lunch

I visited around weekday lunchtime, and when I first arrived, about half the restaurant was occupied. But people kept coming in while we ate, and by the time we left, more than two-thirds of it was full. The window seats in particular filled up in no time—seriously, so fast. For a weekday lunch, I thought, okay, this really must be a popular spot in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon, hehe. The first thing I felt upon walking in was simply that the atmosphere was so nice.

The whole place was clean and had such a date-friendly feel, so I think it would suit anyone looking for a Dunsan-dong date spot in Daejeon. The window seats looked especially pretty, which is probably why they seemed to fill first.

A spacious restaurant with group seating and high chairs

The restaurant was also much bigger than I expected. There was a room farther inside that looked ideal for groups; judging by the tables, it seemed to fit around 20 people comfortably, and perhaps even more. That made me think it would work well for company dinners or larger family gatherings. They also have high chairs, so families dining out with babies should feel more at ease!

Fresh pasta and a steak set

The menu includes pasta, gnocchi, steak, fried rice, and pizza. I tend to enjoy all kinds of Western food, so I spent quite a while debating what to order.

One thing I would pick as Plate's strength is that you can choose the pasta noodle type to suit your taste. All of the noodles are fresh pasta, and I think being able to create your own preferred pasta is a real plus.

We ordered the steak set. It came with bread, a scone, and salad first, followed by pasta and steak, and it was more generous than I expected for two people. This is how neatly the basic set arrived.

Even the first bread and scone were delicious, so I was already happy before the mains arrived... The salad was also nice alongside everything, and the set overall was really well put together.

Personally, I really love soup, and this one had just the right thickness and savory depth.

Spicy rosé chicken-leg pasta I kept eating anyway

The pasta I chose was the spicy buldak rosé chicken-leg pasta. It has a whole chicken drumstick over spicy rosé sauce, and it looked seriously delicious from the start. But it is spicier than you might expect. I am not great with spicy food to begin with, and they say it is hotter than buldak... For a spice wimp like me, it did get a little tough as I kept eating, haha.

Still, the funny thing was that I kept eating despite saying it was spicy. It was not just hot—the rosé sauce itself was delicious, with a spicy flavor that kept drawing me back.

If you do not handle spice well, it is worth keeping that in mind when ordering, but it really was so good. The chicken drumstick on top was nicely browned outside and tender inside, and dipping it into the rosé sauce was an absolutely perfect match. Eating the drumstick between bites of pasta also made it feel properly filling.

Tender steak and potatoes make a great pairing

I was happy with the steak too. First of all, the doneness was excellent. It was tender rather than chewy, and the meat itself tasted great; it was even better with the sauce served alongside it.

There were potatoes on the side too, with a softly mashed texture. Having the steak and potatoes together with the sauce was such a good combination!

A fit for both dates and family gatherings

The food was delicious overall, but I was even more satisfied because of the atmosphere. I think it would be a great fit for anyone looking for a pasta restaurant in Dunsan-dong, Daejeon—whether for a date or an atmospheric meal with family. There is plenty of group seating and high chairs too, so it would be nice for family gatherings as well. Next time, I want to try another pasta or a pizza that I missed this time.

Even though I cannot really handle spicy food, I am already thinking about that spicy rosé chicken-leg pasta again... I think I will revisit next time I am in Dunsan-dong :)