Makati's busy Salcedo Village never fails to surprise wandering palates with its wide array of sumptuous dining spots. Like a perfectly good slice of brick oven pizza. Tucked away in the narrow backstreets of Makati is one real gem of a find...
Inspired by rustic Italian flavors infused with Filipino soul, Pampanga-based Pep & Ronnie Pizza House heads south with its first branch in Makati showcasing its tempting selection of both traditional and playfully inventive brick oven pizza creations and more. Ready for a slice? Then, read on...
As you pass through San Agustin Street, you might even miss it. But keep your eyes open and just look for the neon pizza slice. Searching for a parking slot in Makati's Salcedo Village is like embarking on a treasure hunt. But at Pep & Ronnie, you get free parking inside the building for plus points. Oh, and free WiFi too. And that's just the first in a string of pleasant surprises at Pep & Ronnie...
The main signage is almost hidden from the street, but once you find it prepare for a flavorful ride. The proudly homegrown concept from Pampanga has a solid local following anchored on its brick oven fired pizza offerings and the brand's expansion to Manila presents a unique opportunity to widen its reach in a new and established market. And there's a whole lot of positives going for the local brand as it aims for a larger slice of the pie...
Pep & Ronnie is also a bar with its own cocktail specialties, transforming in the evening with a whole new vibe and feel with featured guest DJs. But on a cloudy and humid afternoon, the freshly squeezed Orange Juice (P 180) was just too good to pass up for a refreshing libation. One soothing sip immediately hits the spot with its sweet and tart notes opening up the palate for Pep & Ronnie's tasty bites...
Start with a garden fresh and crisp salad course like the signature Ronnie's Salad (P 360) with its bountiful harvest of mixed greens, roasted vegetables, peanut brittle, egg, Cheddar and Pepperoni tossed in a silky smooth and creamy dressing. The delectable play on contrasting textures and rich medley of notes combine for tasty bite after bite for the perfect starter. Other salad options include the Caesar Salad Tacos (P 380) and Quinoa Salad (P 400).
Then, Pep & Ronnie pulls out another unexpected surprise with its Truffle Potato Thins (P 320). Imagine the ultimate bowl of thin and crisp chips slathered in cheese. This is it. The bowl of thinly-sliced potatoes, bacon, Mozzarella, Cheddar and truffle oil is one solid flavor experience at Pep & Ronnie high up on my list of personal picks.
Simply scoop up a heaping load of chips and enjoy the delicate crunch followed by the creamy richness of the Mozzarella and Cheddar blend capped by the deep nutty hints of truffle oil. Just perfect.
And don't forget the Baked Oysters (P 60/pc) topped with the creamy PNR Sauce too. Other must-try starters include the Salt & Pepper Fries (P 250), Pep Corn (P 320) and the spicy Chili SPAM Fries (P 400).
One more Baked Oyster? Go for it.
Pep & Ronnie offers both traditional and creative pasta renditions from the classic Pasta Alle Vongole (P 490) to the Sizzling Mac & 4 Cheese (P 420), Blonde Chicken Parmigiana (P 490) and Salmon & Aligue Pasta (P 580), but it's the Makati exclusive Aldwyn's Gambas Pasta (P 530) that draws my attention...
The dish reflects the culinary personality of Pep & Ronnie, blending Italian flavors with Filipino soul. And it works. Succulent shrimps, loads of crisp garlic, Spanish paprika on spaghetti noodles in olive oil, that's another winning dish from Pep & Ronnie's creative kitchen.
Reinventing and transforming familiar notes is Pep & Ronnie's specialty resulting in new flavor experiences which you'll soon discover in their variety of pasta and pizza creations. The fresh briny sweetness and bold garlic hints are smoothened by the olive oil for a balanced finish. Simple yet unrestrained fresh flavors drapes the palate with each tasty bite. And this one's exclusive to the Makati location of Pep & Ronnie.
And finally, the pizza is served fresh off the brick oven. I opted for a non-traditional pizza option with the Sushi Pizza (P 520-10"/P 720-12") topped with fresh salmon, sweet mango, wasabi, Mozzarella, Japanese mayo and arugula on a crisp and rustic crust. The charred blistered edges on the crust is a good sign along with the fresh toppings...
...with that first bite delivering a vibrant burst of fresh flavors. The briny sweetness of the salmon is complemented by the mangoes and silky smooth Japanese mayo for luscious flavors and textures contrasted by just a whisper of sharpness from the wasabi and mild bitter hints of arugula.
The contrasting medley of flavors all come together seamlessly in one bite. And the crust? Crisp, mildly chewy and buttery, it's the perfect base absorbing even more flavors from the various ingredients with the charred and blistered edges adding even more intense notes.
The Sushi Pizza is a welcome change from the usual. Fresh ingredients and a solid legit crust, it's great pizza that delivers on both flavor and value. Pep & Ronnie offers an extensive selection of brick oven pizzas from the classic Pepperoni (P 360-10"/P 480-12"), White Cheese (P 360-10"/P 480-12") and Margherita (P 360-10"/P 480-12") to the 5-Cheese (P 420-10"/P 620-12"), Italian Sausage (P 420-10"/P 620-12"), Garlic Spinach (P 420-10"/P 620-12"), Breakfast (P 420-10"/P 620-12"), Buffalo Chicken (P 420-10" to P 620-12"), Prosciutto Hawaiian (P 520-10"/P 720-12"), Truffle Mushroom (P 520-10"/P 720-12"), PNR (P 520-10"/P 720-12") and Paro, the Capampangan word for "shrimp" (P 520-10"/P 720-12").
Makati's Salcedo Village is familiar territory for hidden culinary gems. And you can add Pep & Ronnie to your growing list of go-to spots when you're craving pizza with a refreshing twist. Or pasta. And more.
Pep & Ronnie is located at 102 San Agustin Street, Salcedo Village, Makati. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/pepandronnie.makati/ and https://www.instagram.com/pepandronnie.makati/ for more information and updates.
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