It was way past 1:30pm, and the place was still packed. Still, it's a good sign that the food must be worth the wait. Romulo Cafe is run and managed by the family of the late statesman and ambassador Carlos P. Romulo, and traditional Filipino cuisine is its specialty. The cafe is built on a former residence, and the transformation of the space to a modern and contemporary restaurant is pretty cool. Clean lines and dramatic black & white graphics give the place an edgy yet casual feel. And the food? Definitely worth the wait.
The food is traditional, yet subtle and modern updates are tweaked into some of the dishes. We decided to have a light and healthy lunch, and with the coming holidays and its tempting "unhealthy" temptations, this seemed to be the right move...
Bagnet Pakbet (P 180.00), a regional vegetable dish with shrimp paste and crispy deep fried pork belly. The vegetables should compensate for the pork belly, at least that's what we said to ourselves. The vegetables were fresh, still with a noticeable crunch, and blended nicely with the bagoong (shrimp paste), one of the better tasting pakbets we've tried so far.
Baby Squid in Garlic (P 230), sauteed in olive oil and lots of minced garlic. Delicate flavors with a nice sharpness from a little vinegar. Great with the garlic fried rice.
Halaan Soup, or Clam Soup (P 140), simply spiced with ginger and garlic chives to complement the briny flavor of the clams.
Fresh Coconut Shake, with a little milk. Perfect.
A former residential unit, there are several dining areas including private function rooms on the second floor. A black & white theme is consistent throughout, giving it a very cool yet homey feel. Photos of the late statesman are displayed in all the dining areas.
Good food and value, definitely worth the wait, and definitely worth a second visit. Just look for Steve or any the friendly staff, and get ready for some good times. I'm sure the late statesman would approve.
Romulo Cafe is located at 32 Dr. Lazcano corner Scout Tuason, Tomas Morato, Quezon City or call 332-7275 for inquiries and reservations.
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The food does look worth the wait. I think I'd go with the baby squid with garlic as my first choice, but it all looks tasty. I really like the black-and-white designs as well -- very eye-catching and interesting to look at.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole, pretty cool the way they converted the house into a modern and contemporary resto, and the black & white theme gives it a hip yet very homey feel. And the food was worth the wait. Great to hear from you Nicole, and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteThe first plating looks like the perfect lunch. Vibrant veggies and some chunks of toasty pork! I also like the atmosphere and the fact it used to be someones house. Great choice for lunch and thanks for sharing your dining experience.
ReplyDeleteHello Tina, yeah, it's a great place with good food and a real homey feel. Thanks for stopping by Tina!
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