Cocktails, Tapas And Hearty Euro-Asian Plates At Mita Kitchen + Lounge In Molito Lifestyle Center

For southies, it's a familiar name associated with soothing brews of freshly brewed coffee paired with comforting cuisine in a quaint casual neighborhood setting. Now, there's more than just coffee behind the name as Mita Kitchen + Lounge presents an entirely new dining concept to highlight a sumptuous menu with their Euro-Asian Plates at Molito Lifestyle Center...

Going beyond and building on the original café dining concept in Parañaque, the family behind Mita Kitchen + Café spins off a new concept with Mita Kitchen + Lounge at Molito Lifestyle Center showcasing an expanded menu. The "lounge" label in the new concept is expressed with an extensive selection of cocktails, tapas and hearty dishes inspired by their culinary take on Euro-Asian Plates. It's a concept that fits in nicely with the Molito Lifestyle Center's market profile as Mita Kitchen + Lounge is poised to be the next exciting dining and bar destination down south. Step inside for some soothing libations. And a comforting meal...

Inspired by the family's matriarch, one already has an idea of the comforting cuisine at Mita Kitchen + Lounge. The newest restaurant lounge in Molito Lifestyle Center in its soft opening phase a just few weeks back, Mita Kitchen + Lounge is now ready to welcome you with their tempting offerings of handcrafted classic cocktails and soon a full selection of specialty cocktails, tasty tapas and pintxos and mouthwatering European-Asian flavors for an all-day dining experience. Helmed by veteran Chef Marco Legasto with extensive experience in prestigious hotel properties, Mita Kitchen + Lounge brings its own novel take on 5-Star cuisine without the 5-Star prices. And that's a winning formula in the competitive and crowded dining scene at Molito Lifestyle Center. 

And yes, you can also enjoy the popular coffee creations made famous by their first original concept in Parañaque at Mita Kitchen + Lounge. But don't pass up on the inventive mocktails like The Sicilian (P 250), a refreshing blend with bold and vibrant lemon notes sweetened by almond syrup transforming any rainy day with a flavorful burst of sunshine with each sip. 

If you prefer more spirited libations, order up a cocktail. And this is where the concept of Mita Kitchen + Lounge shines. The current cocktail menu boasts all the timeless classics like the always dependable Old-Fashioned (P 350) that just hits the spot. Other cocktail options at Mita Kitchen + Lounge include the Daiquiri, Mita's Mojito, Negroni, Margarita, Whiskey Sour and Amaretto Sour for the perfect libation before your comforting meal. And soon, an all new menu featuring their own signature cocktails will be unveiled complementing the classics. 

The Euro-Asian inspired cuisine brings familiar flavors in a seamless blend highlighted by inventive dishes like the Asian Greens Salad (P 280) with its mix of chopped pechay or local snow cabbage, quesong puti, salted egg, tomatoes and onions drizzled in a tart mango calamansi sesame dressing. The play on contrasting notes and textures teases the palate for a refreshing start to your Mita Kitchen + Lounge dining experience. The subtle spicy hints of the pechay and bold notes of the salted egg are perfectly tempered by the creamy local cheese and fresh tomatoes and onions elegantly smoothened by the sweet mango calamansi sesame dressing for that balanced finish. The use of pechay in a salad was a pleasant surprise, and Mita Kitchen + Lounge just nails it with pure and fresh flavors. Other must-try salads at Mita Kitchen + Lounge are the Paco Salad (P 280) with local fiddlehead fern and Berry Greens Salad (P 320) with wild berry vinaigrette. 

A tempting duo of tasty tapas were served next starting with the Smoked Salmon Roll (P 320) on crisp toast. Just think about silky soft salmon rolled with creamy truffle cheese and garnished with truffle honey, then take a bite. That's pure indulgence right there with its luscious blend of premium ingredients on toast. Mita Kitchen + Lounge flexes its cool lounge concept with its cocktails and tapas for an entirely new dining concept from the original café in Parañaque. 

Elegantly plated, the Smoked Salmon Roll tastes as good as it looks, with each bite draping the palate with the fresh and clean briny sweetness from the salmon followed by the creamy finish of the truffle cheese and truffle honey for that flavorful depth. 

Equally tempting, the Uni Toast (P 220) with fresh uni on savory chorizo salsa drizzled with decadent and tart honey ponzu sauce is another playfully inventive rendition reflecting Mita Kitchen + Lounge's Euro-Asian theme. The luscious texture and richness of the uni itself makes this tasty starter stand out, made even more complex with the sharpness from the chorizo salsa and honey ponzu sauce for a balanced weave of flavors. More savory bites? Go for the Croquettas Medley (P 520), Saffron Chorizo Gambas (P 395), Gambas Ajillo with Crab Fat (P 395), Mango Tuna Ceviche (P 295), Pulled Pork Tostada (P 220) and Boquerones (P 220). 

At the heart of the menu at Mita Kitchen + Lounge is an array of comforting yet hearty dishes reflecting its casual and homey vibe. Like the Smoked Mushroom Soup (P 280) with its layers of contrasting notes. Served in a smoke-filled cloche, the dramatic reveal releasing fragrant smoke adds to the presentation of the dish. But it's that first spoonful with its deep earthy and nutty hints infused with gentle smoky notes that warms the palate like a comforting hug. The grainy texture from fresh mushrooms slowly cooked in a light vegetable consommé finished with smoke will have you going for another spoonful all the way until the bottom of the bowl. Other tempting options include the Seafood Bisque (P 280) and Curry Pumpkin & Bleu Cheese Soup (P 280). 

The comforting repertoire of flavors includes creative executions of pasta from the Chicken Miso Pasta (P 320) to the Chorizo Manchego Pasta (P 320), but if you're craving for the day's freshest catch then the Crab & Shellfish Pasta (P 420) is the perfect pick. Loaded with succulent clams, mussels, plump shrimps and crab, the Crab & Shellfish Pasta brings the briny richness of fresh seafood to the palate in a solid pasta rendition. The soft yet firm linguine noodles are tossed in a rich velvety smooth crab and prawn sauce for even more intense seafood flavors. 

Served with crusty bread, the Crab & Shellfish Pasta is a meal in itself. The Euro-Asian inspired theme of the menu provides Mita Kitchen + Lounge a wide latitude in terms of reinterpreting and executing a variety of dishes anchored on familiar flavors. And it's a concept that works defining and differentiating Mita Kitchen + Lounge from the rest at Molito Lifestyle Center. 

Mita Kitchen + Lounge also offers a variety of savory mains from their Signature Steak with Bone Marrow Foie Gras Butter (P 1,100 per 100 g) to Pan-Seared Fish with Foie Gras Duxelles (P 420) and Braised Short Ribs (P 1,080). But it's the Porchetta (P 420) with a slab of crisp and juicy pork belly richly seasoned with herbs and spices that catches my eye. Served with thick-cut fries and a sweet sour liver and berry reduction, the Porchetta is tender and juicy to the bite with the liver and berry reduction cutting through the savory richness for that perfectly balanced finish. It's the near fork-tender and juicy texture of the pork belly with that delicate and lightly crisp layer of crackling that really sets this pork belly slab apart from the usual tough and dry options. 

From cocktails, tasty starters and tapas to savory mains, Mita Kitchen + Lounge redefines the all-day dining format with its extensive menu and value for money at Molito Lifestyle Center. From the original café concept that started it all, one family honors their matriarch as it embarks on a culinary journey with an expanded and redefined full service restaurant at Molito Lifestyle Center offering both comforting and hearty cuisine and value at Mita Kitchen + Lounge. Step inside for a well-deserved round of libations or a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Better yet, stay for a sumptuous and satisfying meal. 

Mita Kitchen + Lounge is located at Molito Lifestyle Center, Madrigal Avenue corner Commerce Avenue, Alabang, Muntinlupa. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/people/Mita-Kitchen-Lounge/ and https://www.instagram.com/mitakitchenxlounge/ for more information and updates. 

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