PHI: Bistro Remedios
Getting knocked out by the 'Knockout Knuckle'?
I chanced upon Bistro Remedios while doing some research on the food scene in the capital city of the Philippines. It's located at Remedios Circle, a roundabout that gives the restaurant its name, which is said to be the centre of nightlife in the city. Note: I only went to the area in the afternoon for lunch. :P
It's one of the recommended places to enjoy authentic Filipino cuisine in a chic setting, away from the sweltering heat outside.
Kinilaw na Tanigue PHP 275.00 (~S$7.30)
Taste: 8.5/10
Kinilaw (lit. eaten raw) is a Filipino seafood dish that relies on the use of vinegar to denature the protein. What we got the other day was a plate of delightfully bouncy wahoo fish cubes, which actually tasted pretty similar to mackerel, steeped in palm vinegar. The refreshing sour of the dish jolted my senses awake.
Chicken and Pork Adobo PHP 345.00 (~S$9.15)
Taste: 6/10
Bistro Remedios' rendition of the all-time favourite meat stew wasn't sterling, but not too bad. While the pork meat was tender, the same couldn't be said to the chicken meat. The gravy was pretty flavourful with an adequate amount of vinegar, but it was quite oily.
Knockout Knuckle PHP 650.00 (~S$17.25)
Taste: 8.5/10
The best thing I've ever tried in the Philippines is the roasted suckling pig called lechon from Zubuchon in Cebu. As we couldn't seem to find an awesome one in town, we settled for the pork knuckle that was marinated well and had a truly crispy skin. The meat was moist, but I'd give a higher score if it were to be juicier.
Bicol Express PHP 275.00 (~S$7.30)
Taste: 8/10
I'd been hearing about Bicol Express for so long, but that was the very first time I got to dig into the dish of French beans, bitter gourds, ladyfingers, eggplants and shrimps cooked in coconut cream. It turned out to be truly appetising without any cloying sensations on the palate.
Maja Blanca Remedios PHP 105.00 (~S$2.80)
Taste: 7/10
Made of coconut milk, cornstarch and sugar, the pudding-like local dessert had an adequate amount of sweetness, but I felt that it could have a better, velvety texture. It was topped with coconut meat, rice cereals and corn kernels.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7.5/10
Ambience: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Pika's advice: Fans of beef may want to try their Crispy Tadyang, priced at PHP 525.00 (~S$13.90), a dish of deep-fried beef ribs that's "widely copied [elsewhere], but in vain". To end off, here's a picture of the interior of Manila cathedral.
Bistro Remedios
1911 M. Adriatico Street
Manila
Philippines
(Mon-Fri: 11.00am - 3.00pm, 6.00pm - 11.00pm;
Sat-Sun: 11.00am - 3.00pm, 6.00pm - 12 midnight)
*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and 12% VAT.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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