Saturday, January 17, 2009

Abe - where good friends dine, Makati

I Had a quick lunch in Abe last week. It was only my second time to eat there. First time was about 6 months ago. One thing I have noticed about this restaurant: It is ALWAYS full. No matter when you go or what time you go its always packed. You will usually have to wait to get seated. We were lucky we got there at 11:30 and it was empty but as soon as the clock hit 12 - it was packed.

Food is consistent and good. It specializes in Filipino food but with a little twist in some of their dishes like Lamb Adobo and others. Service is good. My only complaint is the size of the restrooms - they are tiny and claustrophobic. I'm sure they could have done a better job in designing the restrooms...anybody 6 feet tall will definitely have a hard time getting in there...

We started off our lunch with some appetizers:
* Burong Mangga
* Mango with Bagoong
* Baby squid in olive oil



I loved the Burong Mangga - it had just the right sourness and hints of sugar. The Bagoong was a disappointment - I tasted like the Bagoong you buy in the grocery (Barrio fiesta)..The squid was excellent, with olive oil and garlic plus a little of squid ink...

Four our main course, we ordered:
* Lumpia
* Gising Gising
* Lamb Adobo
* Crispy Tadyang
* Bamboo Rice




I enjoyed all the dishes, most specially the Lamb Adobo. Tons of garlic and very tender lamb cuts. The adobo sauce was not too sour nor sweet- a perfect dish. I ordered Gising Gising(Baguio beans with ground Pork) expecting it to be like the one that I normally have in a Filipino restaurant called Recipes, but it was quite different. It hardly had any 'Gata' at all - but it was still a very tasty and refreshing dish.

The Lumpia was also a bit different - no meat nor vegetables but it was stuffed with garbanzos (chick peas). The Bamboo rice is one of the specialties: Rice that is steamed/served in a dried bamboo branch. Very original. I hardly tasted it since I'm avoiding carbs but I can say that it is good(I've treid this before). As for the Crispy Tadyang (crispy beef ribs), it was indeed very crispy. I think it was overdone and too crispy since you could hardly taste any meat - but I guess that's hows it should be since its called 'Crispy' Tadyang. ??

Over all Abe is a great place if you want to eat Home cooking Filipino food at very reasonable prices. In fact I was expecting it to be more expensive being in Serendra, but surprisingly it's not. It is always full, so if you plan to go, try to make a reservation or go very early.

8 comments:

Noel said...

As for the Crispy Tadyang (crispy beef ribs), it was indeed very crispy. I think it was overdone and too crispy since you could hardly taste any meat - but I guess that's hows it should be since its called 'Crispy' Tadyang. ??

You should be able to taste the meat, the outside only should be crispy. My cook does this very well (see: http://eyeonwine.blogspot.com/2008/08/local-dishes-with-3-spanish-wines.html). I can e-mail you the recipe if you want.

Best,

N

Miguel said...

That's what I thought - but this was just fried to death...hardly any taste...

I'd appreciate the recipe :)

Noel said...

Ok, will send. That dish of Baby Squid in Olive Oil looks delicious!

Socky said...

I always order the pako salad (fiddlehead fern). Abe is one of the few restaurants that have it in their menu. Fely J in Gbelt 5 does, but that's also a Larry Cruz Restaurant. Otherwise, I drive all the way to Kusina Salud in Laguna.

Anonymous said...

Hi Migs,

You should try Abe's Lechon Cubano. Great contrast between Crisp skin and very tender meat.

Best regards,

Tonico

Miguel said...

Socky - I love pako salad..I should have orderd that but we just had too many plates in our table already...

Miguel said...

Tonico - Sounds delicious and deadly - I will try this the next time I go :)

Lets have lucnh next week with Edwin..

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