Seonhwa-dong pasta restaurant, no break time: 3:30 pm risotto at Plate

What kind of restaurant is Plate in Seonhwa-dong?

Plate is a pasta restaurant in Seonhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, serving carefully made Italian dishes in a cozy space. Seonhwa-dong is a neighborhood where Daejeon's old charm and newer vibes live side by side, and it's fun to hunt for hidden restaurants down its alleys. Lately, Plate has been quietly gaining word of mouth among pasta lovers. You can drop by for an early lunch or a late afternoon meal without worrying about timing, so it feels like a secret hangout in Seonhwa-dong.

Does Plate in Seonhwa-dong have a break time?

One of Plate's biggest perks is that it has no break time. Most restaurants in Seonhwa-dong close from 3 to 5 pm, so if you get hungry at an awkward hour you end up stamping your feet outside. Plate is open whenever you need it, which makes it an oasis for travelers and anyone who likes eating late.

I strolled in at a quiet 3:30 pm, and the soft lighting and warm wooden-toned interior welcomed me with a comfortable feel.

What did I order? Meatball bolognese risotto and bacon cacio e pepe

My picks at Plate that day were the classic meatball bolognese and the bacon cacio e pepe, two dishes that show off Plate's identity well. The classic meatball bolognese gives you deep, rich meat flavor, while the bacon cacio e pepe lets you taste the essence of cheese and pepper. The meatball bolognese can be switched from noodles to risotto, so I customized mine as risotto to fully enjoy the texture of the rice with the sauce.

Plate set menu: soup + salad + bread

Since I ordered the set menu, soup, salad and bread came with it.

Great value and it tastes good too. The best! 👍🏻

The bread comes with whipped cream.

You can get refills on the whipped cream, too.

What does the classic meatball bolognese taste like as risotto?

Plate's classic meatball bolognese risotto was a hearty, generous plate: big meatballs sitting on a rich, red bolognese sauce. When it landed on the table a moment later, the look alone was overwhelming. Big, round, plump meatballs were piled on top, and swapping the noodles for rice gave a risotto base soaked in sauce that felt even heavier and fuller.

First, I broke a big meatball apart with my spoon. Unlike its firm look, the inside was surprisingly tender and the spoon slid right in. The juices that filled my mouth and the natural nutty flavor of the meat were excellent. There was no gamey smell at all, and you could taste the care that went into these handmade, well-kneaded meatballs.

How is Plate's bacon cacio e pepe?

Plate's bacon cacio e pepe takes the traditional Roman pasta flavored with cheese and pepper and adds thick-cut bacon. It arrived showing off a different charm just as I was marveling at the heft of the bolognese risotto. In Italian, cacio means cheese and pepe means pepper, and true to the name, the dish gets its flavor only from cheese, pepper and an emulsion with the pasta water. Plate tops it with thick bacon to take the flavor up a notch.

I twirled the noodles into a big bite, and the salty, nutty taste of Pecorino Romano wrapped my tongue, followed by the spicy punch of whole peppercorns that cut the creaminess that could otherwise feel heavy. The bacon pieces, crisp outside and juicy inside, added smoky aroma and salty savoriness with every chew. It was a wonderful pasta, far more varied than the original cacio e pepe and a perfect fit for Korean tastes.