With the booming economy and culture in Metro Manila, it was only a matter of time till places with unique concepts that emphasised on small group hang out spots that served beverages aside from alcohol came to fruition. Commune PH in Poblacion Makati serves a place for people to 'commune.'

The place is vibrant with little details that say 'a woman's touch' was the inspiration for the interior design. This is why it feels like home. Think of it like how your mom would add finishing touches to your home.  

Well lit and relaxing!

The Ambiance

Commune is the building on the corner of polaris street in poblacion. You can not miss it because of the huge glass windows and the long balcony on the second floor. The thing about Commune is that it screams 'a woman's touch' in its interiors. Most of the furnishing is custom made which gives this unique feel whenever you stay.

Huge windows with custom made furnishings!

There is the long bar in the middle with the high table on the left and the low tables on the right. The huge windows give this feeling of openness that makes the place perfect for either working calmly or relaxing with a group drinking coffee. 

Commune's Mocha comes with adorable Latte Art! (in this case a pug)

The Coffee, The Beverages and The Service

They offer the coffee classics like the Espresso, Capuccino, Mocha, Latte and the like. To pair with your coffee they offer decadent deserts like Cookie Bar's cookie shot glass and Fog City creamery's Ice cream. You can even have the cookie shot glass and the ice cream in one.

Cookie Bar's Cookie Shot Glass with Fog City Creamery's Vanilla Ice Cream!

The beans they use are all locally sourced. They proudly market their Philippine coffee advocacy. I personally prefer the local beans while their house blend is has a nice balance between flavors where it has the coffee kick that is strong enough to keep you up but the flavor never over powers which is good if you will be having this blend as your regular beverage. I highly recommend trying their Commune blend prepared via the Aeropress.

The Commune Latte!

They also offer foam art for your cappuccino. In this case we got a puppy trying to hug you. Isn't that just heart melting?  A bit of warning though, the foam tends to add a lot of air into your drink and may affect the flavor. 

A puppy trying to hug you!

The service is wonderful. The waiters and baristas have made a habit of being near your table should you have any additional request. There were times where the wait time was extended because they were still in soft opening but I think this will be ironed out after a while.

One of the better Red Velvet cupcakes I've had.

 The Price

The basic espresso starts at Php 90.00, while the rest of their coffee line can vary from Php 110.00 to Php 158.00. Their sandwiches, their pastries and their deserts start at Php 75.00 and can reach Php 400.00 while their classic rice meal will set you back Php 220.00. At the end of your stay, you'll also be charged an extra ten percent for their service. As you can see their prices are reasonable and within the expected prices from a coffee shop.

Do you want to Contact 'Commune PH?'

Address: 36 Polaris cor Durban Street, Poblacion , Makati City, Philippines
Telephone number: (02) 275-6324

Instagram: @communeph

 Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12NN to 10PM; Fri-Sat: 12NN to 12MN; Sun 10AM - 6PM

I have heard of a coffee shop that serves #YKW coffee beans that is hidden at the heart of Legazpi Village right across the Park, but you won't find it if you weren't looking for it. Like any other day it was time to satisfy my curiosity so I set out to find this hidden coffee oasis.

Once you see the Cyrano Wine Shop along Legazpi you may find yourself a little confused because the wine shop itself isn't too big yet you will find the standard sauvignons and merlots on the shelves, but soon after you will notice a normal sized bright brown wooden door at the edge of the room which appeals to your curiosity and pulls you in and as you open it, you will find yourself into the Curator!

The wood from the upholstery and the bar and the artworks are sourced locally sourced

The Ambiance

The Cyrano wine shop's aesthetics is your typical store with huge windows and with huge shelves to accommodate their wide selection of wines, but once you see the Curator you will be surprised by the total departure from that design language where there are a lot of textured concrete with accents of steel pipes, steel switches and wooden upholstery. It is a modern take on concrete rustic look which amazingly is classier than the sum of its parts.

The wood from the upholstery the bar and the framed artworks and the art themselves are sourced locally which is a reaffirmation that Filipinos are capable of world class craftsmanship that leaves you smiling whenever you sit down and relax at this place

 

The Coffee, The Cocktails and The Service

Similar to Satchmi, they get their beams from #YKW, so EDSA Beverage Design Group staples like the Winds of Winter, Ethiopia Yirga Cheffe and the Panama Carmen Estate are present which in my book is already a winner. All that's left is whether their machine and their baristas are up to par.

As I've had my Ethiopia from EDSA once before I already had my expectations set; however, I was surprised that the signature fruity flavor at the end which I am not a big fan of wasn't as strong as I remembered. I liked it and with that two-thirds of the equation is set!

I then asked the kind baristas as to how this was so. Apparently, It is still up to how the barista who calibrates and who prepares  the ingredients. I promptly asked for the barista who calibrated and praised him.

This wasn't the first time that I had a lot of questions and Giann, Sonny and Ivan were all very kind to accommodate my curiosities and observations with regards to the beverages and the coffee. Their passion for their craft really shines as they patiently listened and answered my queries with out fail. It came to the point that they let me inside the bar and let me try making my own espresso.

It immediately catches your eye because of its copper color and Steam Punk Aesthetics!

Their machine is the Italian made Victoria Arduino which immediately catches your eye because of its copper color and steam punk aesthetics. It was wonderful to take her for a spin even though it was just pulling the huge lever that made a clicking sound to tell you it's done.

As for the cocktails I was only able to try their latest creation, the Shako-WHAT-o which at the time was only three days old. It was an amazing creation that was made from different ingredients and their home made cold brew which the only draw back was the fact that I couldn't sleep that night which could be a huge appeal for some people.

The Chakawhato is made with several ingredients along with their home made cold brew!

I am already finding reasons to come back so I can try the following: the Catcher, the Miss Gardner and the Rye 'n Gosling. I hope to come by again real soon.

The Price

Their coffee starts at Php 120.00 while their juices and cocktails start at Php 250.00 and can max out at Php 800.00 per drink. They also serve a variety of coffee partners like Beef tapa Brioche, and the Doughdealer Cookies that start at Php 90.00 where it can max out at Php 450.00 like the chiken Pastel.

A showcase of their Barista's Skill at Latte Art!

The Verdict

Overall Verdict: A

Beverage Quality: A

Service Quality: A

Bang for your Buck: A

Do you want to Contact 'The Curator Coffee and Cocktails'

Address: 194 Legazpi St. cor. C. Palanca St., Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Telephone number: (+63) 916-355-4129
Website: www.thecurator.com.ph
Instagram: @thecurator_
 Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs: 7AM to 2AM; Fri-Sat: 7AM to 3AM; Sun: 7AM to 6PM

I was born and raised in the streets of Metro Manila for as long as I can remember and in those years I was blessed with family who worked hard and made a life for themselves but never forgot their roots, especially the family recipes of Filipino cuisine passed on from every generation. You could say that I was raised up to this point with Filipino food which to my taste is best filipino cuisine I've had and will ever have. Nothing beats home cooking. So you could see my reluctance to ever be excited at eating at any Filipino restaurant. 

Revolutionary Cuisine is a play on two (2) meanings!

Among the busy street of Chino Roces Avenue is a hidden restaurant called Andres, a revolutionary Filipino Cuisine.  The Revolutionary Cuisine is play on two (2) meanings. The first is they aim to revolutionise or give a twist to the classic Filipino dishes and the second is a play on the Philippine revolution. From Andres itself, it is a homage to Andres Bonifacio. In fact if you read their extensive Menu, it is Katipunan inspired. Feel free to eat it patriotic pride.

Free from the Bamboo and wooden upholstery design Language!

The Ambiance

with high ceiling and huge glass window

Chino Roces Avenue (Formerly Pasong Tamo) is a long road with several establishment and the nearest landmarks for the restaurant are Don Bosco Makati and Mitsubishi Pasong Tamo Dealership which are right across Andres. The facade of the restaurant is covered by tall palm trees so it is easy to miss which is a sad thing. 

On the outside it would seem to be one of those high ceiling with huge glass windows type of establishments. There are numerable tables on the outside, the ground floor and the second floor.

Interiors carry Filipino Modern Aesthetics!

The facade is covered by palm trees

When I first heard of this place, I was plagued by thoughts of  Filipino restaurant stereotypes. You know, like buffet lunch with the usual kare-kare with krispy pata, the not so bright lighting and ambiance, and  the interior design inspired by bamboo and wooden upholstery.  Not that those are awful, it is just there are a lot of those restaurants. 

I am happy to tell you that Andres' interiors carry Filipino Modern Aesthetics. One of my favorites is the Sun and Star shaped Lighting fixture sitting above you yet it easily catches your eye as you first wonder in.

At the edge of the bar is a stairwell that leads to the second floor where along the way they feature several Paintings from an Artist of the month. Once you reach the end of the hall way you will find two VIP Rooms that can hold eight (8) to twelve (12) people. The Price for the VIP is consumable so eat and drink to your hearts content.

The Food

As mentioned earlier, they are inspired by the Philippine revolution specifically, the Katipunan and they strive to revolutionize classic dishes by adding different twists to them. For example, the classic tinola is known to have clear flavorful broth that warms your tummy. Their take on it is that they made the soup thick and and creamy which may sound weird but It works really well! In fact it is one of their most sought for dish which they call the Tinolang Katipunero.

As you read through their menu, it becomes apparent that their creativity is something to take note. You will find dishes like the Broccoli Y Tuyo and the Tapa Y Pasta. All of their dishes have different takes and sometimes the combinations sound counter intuitive but I encourage you to try them. It usually is the unique dishes that are the best and are the most gratifying.

The Balut Ala Procopio arrived first. We couldn't not notice because as soon as the sauce hit the sizzling plate, the aroma just reached our noises. I took an egg and sliced it with my knife and stabbed it with my fork. I then took a bite and my gosh. The well seasoned garlic brought out the flavors of the oyster sauce which was apparent all the way deep inside the egg yolk and the chick itself. I was blown away.

Kalderatang Kambing Topped with Cheese and peppered vegtables!

Their take on the Kalderetang Kambing is an interesting one. At first glance you see the normal brown and oranges of the classic Kaldereta but with more vegetables like bell pepper, carrots and potatoes and it is topped with cheese! As you take that first bite, you feel each strand explode with flavor from the marinade individually and all come together like fireworks where smaller fire cracker pellets explode together to form an even bigger explosion of flavour that leaves your mouth in awe. The saltiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the carrots and potatoes then follow to balance the spiciness of the Kaldereta. It was like a school dance of flavors in your mouth. 

The only gripe I had with the Kaldereta is the sweetness tends to aggregate over time and gives you that 'nakakasuya' feeling. If you will have it for a few bites it  isn't apparent but If you are eating with friends and plan to stay and talk for a while with bursts of digestion then the sweetness may take its toll.

It becomes apparent that their creativity is something to take note.

The Broccoli Y Tuyo was quite a pleasant surprise because I never thought that the saltiness of the 'Tuyo' would be a nice mix to the broccoli flower.

What I usually hate when I eat vegetables is when it isn't fresh and it isn't prepared properly. On dishes like the Broccoli Y Tuyo and the Sizzling Calamarez, the vegetables did not taste like grass nor was it soggy. It was crunchy and well seasoned that the flavors were brought out wonderfully, distinctly when they touched my tongue.

 Crunchy and well seasoned that the flavors were brought out wonderfully!

The Service

When I arrived I was greeted warmly, asked promptly if I had a reservation and if I would have company. Victor, our waiter lead us to our seats and gave us each a menu in one smooth motion. he must have had a lot of practice.

I asked them of the details of Andres. What followed was me reaching for the menu and exchanged questions with Victor regarding the finer details of the different dishes. He was able to describe and recommend based on my personal specifications. It was a long exchange as it was my first time there. He recommended that we at least order an appetizer first so they can prepare it while we pick the main course and damn, can he sell it. Good Job for their team. 

VIP rooms have their own Karaoke System

The Price

The price range of the dishes start at Php 180.00 and can get up to Php 550.00 depending on the ingredients used. They have several Promotions like a Lunch Buffett for Php 250.00 per person and DRINK ALL YOU CAN for Php 250.00 from SMB products and select cocktails. They even have a Happy Hour promotion from 5PM to 10PM where you can buy six (6) bottles of San Miguel Beer Products and get a free side dish (Pulutan) from a list. 

If you love live music, they have Acoustic Nights happen every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The VIP Rooms have their own Karaoke system, and their own air conditioning units and they cost only Php 6000.00, consumable. 

The Verdict

Overall Verdict: B+

Food Quality: B+

Food Service: A

Bang for your Buck: B+

Do you want to Contact 'Andres Philippines?'

Address: G/F Patriach Bldg., 2224 Chino Roses Ave. Corner Don Bosco Street, Bangkal Makati City

Telephone number: (02) 403-9525

Instagram: @Andresrestaurantph

Operating Hours: Mon-Sun: 11.30AM to 12MN