A little sweaty and tired but with tummy filled up with different influences of Filipino cuisine we headed to Malate to have dinner at famed Café Adriatico.
Café Adriatico, opened in 1979 by Larry J. Cruz, has become an icon in Manila, occupying that corner of Remedios Circle, it has served as a meeting place for artists, writers and lovers. I don’t remember ever having eaten at Café Adriatico before but I do know I’ve eaten at the other restaurants it has spawned in the same area.
Sinigang na Bangus Belly sa Bayabas (P220) started our dinner. The skies started drizzling when we arrived so the soup was a nice hot start to the meal. The guava used in the sinigang was not as sour as I expected. I particularly enjoyed the vegetables in the soup.
The Lola Ising’s Adobo (P330) was excellent, pork ribs are used for this adobo which is not usually the case. The ribs were fried before being cooked into the sauce which gave it lots of smoky flavor. I’m quite proud of the fact that I did not eat a single spoonful of rice, my little penance for all the eating I did that day.
Multiple servings of Knockout Knuckle (P510) were laid out for us to share. I got a small piece only to start since cripsy pata is so sinful, good thing because their version was quite spicy already without any sauce.So better beware if you are there and in the mood for crispy pata.
Claude’s Dream (P120). Good thing, I held off on the rice, this was a great dessert. I could have gone for 2nds of the creamy macapuno ice cream topped with buko slices and pandan gelatin. Thinking about it again is making me crave for it.
The dinner was a fitting end to a day full of bite after bite of mouth watering local food, which we sometimes take for granted. I’m glad that Sooo Pinoy has taken the cudgels of increasing local appreciation of Filipino cuisine for both diners and chefs. Filipinos should be knowledgeable and proud of their own cuisine, which is second to none.
Café Adriatico
1790 M. Adriatico St., Remedios Circle,
Malate, Manila
738.8220
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I hope that I’ll visit one day the Café Adriatico and try those foods that you suggest for my WK Adventures