Four Of A Kind: Four Restaurants In One Cool Spot At The Split In BGC

Providore, Friends & Family Upside Down, Saboten Express and Chotto Matte. Four innovative culinary brands in one convenient location. Step inside The Split in BGC...

Raintree Hospitality, one of the country's leading restaurant groups, unveils yet another innovative concept in its growing portfolio. Four brands for split cravings and a shared vibe with a totally new and unique personality, The Split in BGC presents interesting dining options all from one kitchen. Ready to step inside the four-in-one concept? Then, read on...

Imagine this. Four restaurants in one place. Whenever your cravings spillover to different restaurants, The Split is your best bet. Aptly named, The Split satisfies your sudden cravings for Filipino and Japanese food at the same time and then some. Traditional yet playfully inventive local flavors at Friends & Family Upside Down, Japanese cuisine at Saboten Express and Chotto Matte and comforting dishes at Providore, you'll find all these in one cool space at The Split. 

Each of the four featured concepts brings the signature flavors developed by Raintree Hospitality Executive Chef Kalel Chan reflecting the multiple personalities of The Split.  Yet everything comes together seamlessly at The Split for a unique dining experience. But first, a refreshing libation to cool you down from the summer heat. The Blend Up (P 350) with spinach, kale, passionfruit syrup, fresh buko juice, ripe mango and lychee is a super boosted upgrade to your usual smoothie. One sip and you know it just feels right. And that's because it's good for you too. 

Familiar Local Flavors With A Cool Twist At Friends & Family Upside Down

Following the success of Friends & Family with its creative and even quirky take on traditional local cuisine (more on my post, Weekend Afternoons & Good Vibes, Ube Champorado & Birthday Spaghetti...At Friends & Family from 2019), the new concept features Friends & Family Upside Down with a much wider creative latitude with its pleasantly unexpected renditions of Filipino dishes. Inspired by the flavors of the familiar pakbet, Executive Chef Kalel Chan creates a unique salad with garden fresh and crisp greens along with all the vegetables from your typical pakbet plus talong and kalabasa purée tossed with bagoong calamansi vinaigrette. Meet the Pakbet Salad (P 350), a dish you'll only find at The Split.

Pumpkin slices, bitter gourd, eggplant, crisp cubes of tofu and tomatoes with crisp mixed greens are given that elegant textural finish with the velvety talong and kalabasa purée adding layers of subtle sweetness and nutty notes. The familiar pronounced sharpness of the bagoong calamansi vinaigrette completes the flavors. Familiar yet refreshingly different, it's dishes like the Pakbet Salad that highlights the playfully inventive and creative vibe and style of Friends & Family Upside Down. But Executive Chef Kalel Chan isn't done just yet...

The traditional sinigang goes a notch higher with some soothing heat with the Spicy US Beef Mala Steamboat Sinigang (P 550) with an assortment of fresh sinigang vegetables, spicy mala chili, fresh cilantro and special patis dip. The style and presentation makes this another must-try rendition at The Split. 

The savory richness of the fork-tender beef is perfectly tempered by the spicy mala chili and bold salty hints of the fish sauce dip while the medley of fresh vegetables adds a subtle layer of sweetness to the tart and sour sinigang broth. Bold yet delicately balanced, Executive Chef Kalel Chan transforms a local staple into a lavish spicy feast. 

It's the fresh ingredients that drives the flavors, masterfully orchestrated by the kitchen at The Split. From the Pakbet Salad to the Spicy US Beef Mala Sinigang, the Friends & Family Upside Down portion at The Split offers comforting, nostalgic and even surprisingly unexpected spins consistent with the brand's playful and inventive character. And there's more dishes to try on your next visit. Like the crisp Shokoy (P 275), their take on the classic okoy, the Tokwa't Baboy (P 420), Kare-Curry (P 550) and Bagnet Binagoongan (P 520). One down, three to go...

Fresh And Savory Picks At Chotto Matte

Chotto Matte has long been known for their intricate nigiri, gunkan, sashimi and Chotto Rolls along with their signature Highballs (more on their Japanese offerings on my previous post, Sushi And Highballs At Chotto Matte from a decade back). That day, the Chirashi (P 475) with fresh and succulent tuna, salmon, tamago, ika, tobiko, chuka wakame and cucumber on soft sticky rice was on my list. Paired with  soothing bowl of miso soup, pickled vegetables and wasabi, the Chirashi offers the day's freshest catch for a sumptuous meal. The briny sweetness of the fresh seafood lingers long on the palate with its clean and uncluttered notes...

...while the Spicy X.O. Gyoza (P 295) drizzled and laid on fiery negi oil teases the palate with its soothing heat. Soft and firm with a savory filling, the tasty dumplings with its lightly seared bottom for contrasting textures brings a rich play of bold flavors with each tasty bite. That subtle and mild spice is the perfect finishing touch. Next time you visit The Split, don't forget to try Chotto Matte's signature Chotto Rolls and the new Sizzling Teppan Plates like the Truffled Mushroom Miso Cream Wafu Steak (P 595) and the Crispy Pork Omu Yakisoba (P 395). Just like the creative renditions of Filipino dishes at Friends & Family Upside Down, Executive Chef Kalel Chan brings the same creative spirit to classic Japanese cuisine at Chotto Matte at The Split.

Japanese Classics At Saboten Express

Mention Saboten and the popular Katsu Bowls immediately pops up. The Katsu Curry (P 275 Tenderloin/P 250 Loin/P 275 Chicken) always hits the spot with its juicy and tender pork coated with a delicately crisp layer of breading on soft and fluffy rice slathered with rich, creamy curry. The moment the curry hits the palate, all the other components of the bowl just comes together in a seamless weave. Perfectly executed, the Katsu Curry still rocks after all these years. You can also opt for the Original Katsu Sets and Specialty Sets from Saboten Express at The Split. 

The Perfect Sweet Ending At Providore Bakery & Cafe

Providore Bakery & Cafe provides the perfect sweet ending with its Thai Milk Tres Leches (P 420) at The Split (for more on their comforting cuisine, see my post The Great Eatscape At SM Aura Premier: A Return To Comforting Classics At Providore from 2016). The lavish dessert with Chantilly, Cha Yen Sabayon, Coconut Tres Leches and Chattra Dust becomes an east-west inspired rendition of pure indulgence. Other must-try desserts include the Miso Caramel Vintage Chocolate Cake (P 295 Split/P 495 Whole), Mango Sticky Rice "Sipa" (P 350) and A Halo-Halo "Mess" (P 295) for a decadent play on the classic Eton Mess with a local twist. 

Pair your dessert with the Dirty Earl (P 250) from their Cold Cream selection. The refreshing blend of Earl Grey Tea, syrup and a shot of expresso tingles on the palate with its refreshingly deep and soothing notes followed by a mildly sweet finish. That's how you end a sumptuous feast with all four brands at The Split. 

The competitive and extremely cluttered restaurant scene in BGC demands constant innovation to remain relevant and top-of-mind among diners. Tapping four key brands from its portfolio of culinary concepts transforms one space with its multiple flavors and personalities as Raintree Hospitality redefines the dining scene in BGC. 

A sudden craving for Filipino and Japanese dishes followed by indulgent desserts used to be a complicated situation. Raintree Hospitality simplifies that with four brands for split cravings and a shared vibe with a totally new and unique personality in one cool spot. Step inside The Split and follow your cravings...

The Split is located at the Ground Floor, Seven NEO, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/TheSplitPH/ and https://www.instagram.com/thesplitph for more information and updates.

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