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Cheap Eats
Cheap Eats
AFTER experiencing extremely expensive steak at Bistecca, I figured it was time to eat cheap. After all, it would be a sin to have P3,500 steaks every week. Fortunately, Bistecca (and similar restaurants) is the exception rather than the rule. The good news is that it is possible to eat out and have a good time on a budget. After all, the wisdom of "Reality Bites" states, "This is all we need: a couple of smokes, a cup of coffee, and a little bit of conversation. You and me and five bucks."
In fact, even in Makati, where a meal can cost more than an average Filipino's monthly income, it is possible to have your steak and eat it, too. That is the case in a restaurant off Metropolitan Ave. and Pasong Tamo Ext. called Batangus. Pun intended.
The specialty is steak and the unique selling point is the price. What would cost P800 to P1,200 for the Ladies Cut at other restaurants is offered here for only P300. The Barako Double Cut is less than P500 (P480). And a serving of a kilo, good for six persons, hitting almost P3,000 at the high brow restos, is priced here at only P1,600.
While it is no rib-eye, not laden with fat, nor enormously juicy, the "specialty" steak at Batangus is extremely satisfying as it is cooked knowingly to the point of a desired tenderness. The servings also come with sides of mashed potatoes or fries. These are not of the quality of high-end restaurants that make you drool for more or make you feel extremely opulent (remember the fries with truffle oil at Bistecca or Terrace at the 5th), but if you seek to be content, here you go.
Another great thing about Batangus is that while they have beerhouse prices, this steakhouse is no garage. In fact, the ambiance seems to have been inspired by another great steakhouse, Tagaytay Highlands. The doors have a bull's horns for handles and the seats have faux branding iron marks on them. There is air-conditioning, too.
Unlike another hole in the wall in Pasig which is literally a garage. In San Antonio Village (across the Caltex station near Tapa King), on Delgado Street, Pasig, is Adobo 'To, an adobo house – or rather, adobo garage – that serves spicy adobo, coco adobo and – get this – cheesy adobo. Of course, there are other items on the menu such as the sisig, complete with crunch, chili and chicken egg, but you come here for the adobo. It reminded me of Garaje in La Salle, where even the wealthy soccer-playing, San Mig hanging, Trussardi-wearing tisoys and tisays would allow themselves to smell like barbecue because the food was so cheap yet so good. You order cafeteria-style from a counter, although food is served by a waitress (or by the owners themselves).
The cheesy adobo is something very interesting. It is your regular pork or chicken adobo, but they clothe it with Chiz Whiz and cheddar cheese. It is surprisingly delicious, in a very homey sort of way. The spicy adobo is also interesting in that the spice slowly makes itself known as you chew away; while the coco adobo is a thumbs up winner of an adobo sa gata. Note: none of these are served with frills. They are simply put on a plastic plate with some tomatoes and a hard boiled egg. But the flavor is not lacking, hence the appeal of the garage. Even their beef tapa is delicious.
Unlike the new rising star of Jupiter Street in Makati, Chicboy. The name cracked me up for its wit: it is short for chicken na liempo and baboy na liempo; ergo, chicboy. But what it has in wit, it lacks in flavor. The Chicboy, sadly, is pale; a starvation of marinade. The Cebu liempo, while laudable in the glory of its lemongrass, had skin that lacked the crunch a liempo eater would look for; the barbecue, while sweet, was soft in flavoring; the sisig lacked character, and the chicken liempo was nothing extraordinary. We found satisfaction in this restaurant, surprisingly, in the Sinigang na Baboy, which was very good and priced at only P48!
Another place with great sinigang, and even better bulalo and the best prices, is Bakahan at Manukan on Roxas Boulevard. Even the most picky of eaters have rated this place to have the best bulalo in the metro, and I agree. Girls, just don't scream too loud when you see a cockroach. It is in Manila, after all.
So after all this, there is only one conclusion: while the perks that come with high prices are foregone at cheap restaurants – hard to find ingredients, classy ambiance, royal service – whether it comes in a plastic plate or in a golden bowl, a good meal will always be a good meal.
Batangus Grill.
Metropolitan Ave. near Pasong Tamo, Savana Market
across Shopwise beside Office Warehouse. Tel. 403 3970.
Adobo To.
31 General Delgado St., San Antonio Village, Pasig City.
Tel. 631-3667. Accepts delivery in the Ortigas area, minimum P150.
Chic-Boy.
112 Jupiter St., Bel Air Makati. Tel. 513-6393. www.chic-boy.com.ph.
Bakahan at Manukan.
Sta. Monica St. cor. Roxas Blvd, Pasay. Tel. 832-5579, 831-5015.
In fact, even in Makati, where a meal can cost more than an average Filipino's monthly income, it is possible to have your steak and eat it, too. That is the case in a restaurant off Metropolitan Ave. and Pasong Tamo Ext. called Batangus. Pun intended.
The specialty is steak and the unique selling point is the price. What would cost P800 to P1,200 for the Ladies Cut at other restaurants is offered here for only P300. The Barako Double Cut is less than P500 (P480). And a serving of a kilo, good for six persons, hitting almost P3,000 at the high brow restos, is priced here at only P1,600.
While it is no rib-eye, not laden with fat, nor enormously juicy, the "specialty" steak at Batangus is extremely satisfying as it is cooked knowingly to the point of a desired tenderness. The servings also come with sides of mashed potatoes or fries. These are not of the quality of high-end restaurants that make you drool for more or make you feel extremely opulent (remember the fries with truffle oil at Bistecca or Terrace at the 5th), but if you seek to be content, here you go.
Another great thing about Batangus is that while they have beerhouse prices, this steakhouse is no garage. In fact, the ambiance seems to have been inspired by another great steakhouse, Tagaytay Highlands. The doors have a bull's horns for handles and the seats have faux branding iron marks on them. There is air-conditioning, too.
Unlike another hole in the wall in Pasig which is literally a garage. In San Antonio Village (across the Caltex station near Tapa King), on Delgado Street, Pasig, is Adobo 'To, an adobo house – or rather, adobo garage – that serves spicy adobo, coco adobo and – get this – cheesy adobo. Of course, there are other items on the menu such as the sisig, complete with crunch, chili and chicken egg, but you come here for the adobo. It reminded me of Garaje in La Salle, where even the wealthy soccer-playing, San Mig hanging, Trussardi-wearing tisoys and tisays would allow themselves to smell like barbecue because the food was so cheap yet so good. You order cafeteria-style from a counter, although food is served by a waitress (or by the owners themselves).
The cheesy adobo is something very interesting. It is your regular pork or chicken adobo, but they clothe it with Chiz Whiz and cheddar cheese. It is surprisingly delicious, in a very homey sort of way. The spicy adobo is also interesting in that the spice slowly makes itself known as you chew away; while the coco adobo is a thumbs up winner of an adobo sa gata. Note: none of these are served with frills. They are simply put on a plastic plate with some tomatoes and a hard boiled egg. But the flavor is not lacking, hence the appeal of the garage. Even their beef tapa is delicious.
Unlike the new rising star of Jupiter Street in Makati, Chicboy. The name cracked me up for its wit: it is short for chicken na liempo and baboy na liempo; ergo, chicboy. But what it has in wit, it lacks in flavor. The Chicboy, sadly, is pale; a starvation of marinade. The Cebu liempo, while laudable in the glory of its lemongrass, had skin that lacked the crunch a liempo eater would look for; the barbecue, while sweet, was soft in flavoring; the sisig lacked character, and the chicken liempo was nothing extraordinary. We found satisfaction in this restaurant, surprisingly, in the Sinigang na Baboy, which was very good and priced at only P48!
Another place with great sinigang, and even better bulalo and the best prices, is Bakahan at Manukan on Roxas Boulevard. Even the most picky of eaters have rated this place to have the best bulalo in the metro, and I agree. Girls, just don't scream too loud when you see a cockroach. It is in Manila, after all.
So after all this, there is only one conclusion: while the perks that come with high prices are foregone at cheap restaurants – hard to find ingredients, classy ambiance, royal service – whether it comes in a plastic plate or in a golden bowl, a good meal will always be a good meal.
Batangus Grill.
Metropolitan Ave. near Pasong Tamo, Savana Market
across Shopwise beside Office Warehouse. Tel. 403 3970.
Adobo To.
31 General Delgado St., San Antonio Village, Pasig City.
Tel. 631-3667. Accepts delivery in the Ortigas area, minimum P150.
Chic-Boy.
112 Jupiter St., Bel Air Makati. Tel. 513-6393. www.chic-boy.com.ph.
Bakahan at Manukan.
Sta. Monica St. cor. Roxas Blvd, Pasay. Tel. 832-5579, 831-5015.
There is no sincerer love than the love of food. - George Bernard Shaw
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