Restaurant Review: Sarsa Kitchen + Bar by Chef JP Anglo at BGC Forum

Here's a thing about celebrity chef restaurants: they are usually over-priced.

And in this world, there is no worst feeling other than emptying the contents of your wallet just for a dish with a serving size good for a newborn baby.

Good thing there's Sarsa Kitchen + Bar. This restaurant by Chef JP Anglo promises to deliver "your favorite Filipino comfort food and then elevate it". But what's even better is that it's affordable. Really really affordable.

The interiors pretty much reflects the essence of Sarsa: simple, unassuming, homey, but still current and beautiful.

We had to wait for an hour to get a table, which is something we expect since we went there on a Saturday evening. Good thing the lovely crew serve us some peanuts and cornik to munch on, which made the waiting not so bad.

Dinuguan Chicharon Bulaklak

The dinuguan is definitely one of the most sinful dishes I've ever tried in my life. Pig's blood + deep fried pork mesentery + chopped pig's intestines = the perfect recipe for hypertension and higher cholesterol levels! But believe me, this dish is worth the pain in the neck. And is definitely perfect with a cup of steaming white rice.

Monggo-nisa (Monggo topped with longganisa bits)

Everything about this monggo dish is perfect: the cook on the beans, the seasoning on the dish, and the crispy longganisa and chopped chicharon sprinkled on top. You can even eat it on it's own, it's that good!

Inasal na Pecho ng Manok

Chef JP is a proud Ilonggo, and he definitely takes pride in his inasal. Sarsa's take on this ubiquitous chicken dish is perharps the best in the city: the meat is moist and beautifully cooked, the charring on the skin is amazing, and the flavors are spot on.

Ginamos Fried Rice

Although most of the dishes in Sarsa are best paired with plain white rice, one should definitely give the restaurant's signature ginamos fried rice a try. It has the right amount of shrimp paste flavor, enough to give your appetite a little boost (not that you really need it).


Sarsa is one of those restaurants that would leave you very very satisfied once you leave, and will definitely make you want to go back for more.


Pros:
Worth your money dishes
Simple, no fuss menu
Nice restaurant interiors

Cons:
Not all servers are attentive. Some are very warm, others looked pissed
Parking can be difficult
Very sinful dishes


Rating:

SARSA Kitchen + Bar: The Forum, 7th Avenue Corner Federacion Drive, BGC, Taguig City

Kanin Off: Namnam versus Fely J's

The Battle of Pinoy Cuisine in Greenbelt Makati

In the first edition of Kanin Off! we take a look at two of the most prominent (and somehow reasonably-priced) Pinoy-themed restaurants in Greenbelt: Namnam and Fely J's Kitchen.

Both restaurants boast extensive menu that covers the fundamentals of Filipino cuisine - from inihaw to sisig to kare-kare to the Pinoy staple kanin.

On the Namnam table: Butterflied Fried Pla Pla with Buro and Mustasa, Crispy Pata with Garlic Chili Bits, Pinakbet, and Tinapa Rice

The best thing about Namnam is that you could control the portions. Each item on their menu comes in three serving sizes: Small (good for solo eaters), Medium (good for 3) and Large (good for 6). This setup is very beneficial for foodies because it allows them to taste as many dishes as possible without breaking their wallets.

The flavors of Namnam are spot on. There's nothing too complicated nor too fancy in their dishes, yet each bite feels like a warm embrace from your lola who cooks your favorite sinigang during the rainy days; or a kiss from your mom who whips the most stunning piniritong manok to reward you for scoring 98% in your exam.

On the Fely J's table: the free kropek (YAS!), Sinigang na Boneless Bangus in Guava Broth, Lechon Kawali, and  Sisig Fried Rice.

The Fely J's dining experience could be summed up in one word: refined. From the restaurant interiors down to the execution of the dishes in their menu, you definitely get that polished feel. The food tastes exactly how you would've remembered it from your childhood, but with a hint of sophistication. 

Fely J's might be fancy, but Namnam hits it closer to home.

NAMNAM, Level 1, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center Makati City.

FELY J'S, Level 2, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center Makati City.