PB Station Downtown Miami – Pubbelly’s Latest Sensation

PB Station is in housed in the Beaux-Arts architectural and historical Langford Hotel in downtown Miami’s emerging Arts and Entertainment District, under its glass-enclosed mezzanine level lobby, is the newest jewel in the Pubbelly Restaurant Group’s culinary treasure chest.

The young and creatively-fueled Pubbelly Restaurant Group is led by founding partners Andreas Schreiner (Managing Director),  Chef Jose Mendin (Culinary Director), and Sergio Navarro (Chief Designer). The Pubbelly Boys have opened several, highly-regarded gastropubs, including their signature restaurant, Pubbelly Sushi, in Miami’s Sunset Harbour neighborhood as well as Food Republic on the Norwegian Cruise Line’s ship, the Escape.

Executive chef, Chef Guillermo Concha, executes Mendin’s progressive American-inspired concept, while also reflecting his own Argentinean roots into PB Station’s menu, which he continuously reinvigorates with new dishes.

PB Station’s chic retro décor uses elegant large black and white ceramic tiles to create a train station theme, and is labeled with popular city destinations of a bygone railroad era.

On our invited dining visit, we enjoyed several innovative and delicious from PB Station’s First Stops:

BBQ Dates – Fat, sweet and soft Medjool Dates are filled with tender Smoked Brisket, wrapped in thick slab Bacon and barbecued with a BBQ Mustard glaze, and served along crunchy Coleslaw. These luscious, sweet and savory bites paired well with our pre-dinner drinks mentioned later.

Yellowtail Ceviche Taco – a crispy tortilla shell generously filled with Citrus-cured, fresh raw Yellowtail, dressed with Ginger-Soy and Corn-Miso; then topped with ripe Avocado. Each crunchy chomp was a flavor party in our mouths. A Must Order!!

Broiled Oysters –a plate of Blue Points very lightly covered with Grana Padano (a sweet-flavored, hard Italian cheese), sprinkled Brioche Butter bread crumbs, seasoned with fresh oregano along with thick Crouton fries to dip into the garlic wine jus. Although, this dish was meant to be shared, I did my best to finish these briny oysters, with a sweet aftertaste, all on my own.

Along with these delectable appetizers, we each enjoyed cocktails crafted by Derek Stilmann the bar chef of the Langford’s rooftop-housed lounge, Pawn Broker. Andreas Schreiner, himself, designed four bar menus. Each menu is a collection of suggested cocktails, wines or beers according to your liquor palate – Fruity, Aromatic, Complex or Rustic.

We tried the Honeysuckle Rose – dried rose petals float atop this frothy cocktail with made St Georges Chile Vodka, Rose syrup, Egg Whites and Honey, and the Yogi Berra – a playful old fashioned made with Templeton Rye infused with Cracker Jacks and Peanuts, Anitica and Walnut bitters and garnished with skewered Caramel Popcorn.

We both were thrilled with the Tropical Storm –an adult version of creamy Thai Tea made with Brugal Anejo Rum infused with Banana, Thai Tea syrup, sweet and thick Evaporated Milk, and spicy Ginger Beer. The latter makes a great liquid dessert.

Under PB Station’s Salad and Soup section, we tried a unique take on classic French Onion soup, -a cast iron ramekin with braised Short Rib meatballs covered in French Onion soup, and smothered in Gruyere Cheese.

Our Pasta course was an imaginative take on classic Bolognese ragu, which featured sauce-braised Octopus spiced with Saffron Aioli, and served over housemade Cavatelli. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and this inventive dish was scarfed down by our Editor-in-Chief.

The main course highlighted the chef’s preparation of the Daily Fish, which, fortunately, on our visit was Swordfish. The seared giant fish steaks were bathed in a buttery and garlicky White Wine Sauce, and accompanied by bright and fresh Ramps and Tomatoes. I doggie bagged the remains of the hefty portion, and the aromatic leftovers drove me crazy during my drive home.

Among the many enticing side selections, we savored the purple and orange Jumbo Carrots glazed in Maple syrup with a Rosemary Streusel topping, and oven-roasted and caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Nueskes Bacon and chopped Peanuts. Both veggie dishes are Must Orders too.

PB Station is located in Downtown Miami inside The Langford Hotel at 121 SE 1st St, Miami, FL 33131. For reservations or more information, visit:  pbstation.com

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