I can’t believe its been 10 years already since Sentro 1771 first opened in Greenbelt 3, the trendiest mall at that time.Their crowd drawer was their brand of sophisticated Filipino food bannered by the unique Sinigang na Corned Beef. I was quite excited when I got an invite to try them out again since I have not been back in quite a long while.
It was a buzzing Saturday night which entailed a long time looking for a parking space in the basement. We finally got to the restaurant and it was quite full, there were even diners sitting outside, something I’m averse in our hot and humid climate.
Lookey there, what do I see on our table, a plate of complimentary butong pakwan ( dried watermelon seeds). I admit, free stuff while waiting for my dishes is always a big plus.
We started the meal with a plate of Fried Kesong Puti (P180/solo). Its the perfect appetizer, small bite sized pieces thats crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Kids and adults will love this like we did.
Next was Fresh Smoked Fish Spring Rolls (P270). Looks like the usual rice paper spring rolls but whats enveloped inside is smoked fish for a nice flavor contrast. It’s served in individual containers so you can add vinegar to your delight without messing up your plate.
Sizzling Tofu (P250) was the next dish. Reminiscent of the classic sisig but made a bit healthier with pieces of tofu replacing the pork. Its tossed with a bit of mayonnaise and finished off with a squeeze of calamansi.
Looking for something to wash down the food, then you might like their Sago’t Gulaman (P110). Its refillable to your heart’s or tummy’s content.
Sinigang na Corned Beef (P420/solo). When I tried this dish before I was not exactly bowled over despite my love for corned beef, I just found it a bit weird. This time around I quite liked it, the soup base was just right and not too sour as many are wont to do and maybe because my palate has evolved. The corned beef pieces were tender and the slight sour soup managed to temper any cloying taste.
Rated GG (P230), a great discovery according to their menu and I really have to agree. Irene and absolutely loved this simple dish. I don’t eat galunggong (big-bellied round scad) since I don’t like the looks of the fish, most of the time long and thin. These galunggong fillets were quite sizable and
so enticing just fried in olive oil and finished off with toasted garlic. This caused me to eat a bit too much of the Garlic Rice (P55).
To finish off the meal we had two different desserts, Fried Suman and Mangoes (P180) and Sentro’s Cheesecake (P220). The suman is fried thus giving the sticky rice a different toasted flavor as well as crispy corners for a different texture. The cheesecake is served with Queso de Bola and salted eggs. Try getting a piece of cheesecake, and eat it together with the sharp cheese and salted egg for a flavor explosion.
I enjoyed my return to Sentro 1771, I’d gladly go back just for the Rated GG and cup of rice. Hmmm, maybe an extra plate of that addicting fried kesong puti to start. The food is good and prices are reasonable, no wonder they are still packing it in despite being in the business for 10 years, a period where lesser restaurants have fallen by the wayside.
Sentro 1771
Level 2, Greenbelt 3Ayala Center, Makati City
757-3941
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