There’s a newly-opened restaurant in Poblacion called Elm’s Grill & Bar. It’s a quaint little corner serving the all-time favorite Filipino food. The place itself is part of a group of restaurants around Metro Manila—their other branches are in Kapitolyo, Commonwealth, and Novaliches, just in case you’re curious. This one in Poblacion is their newest addition and I was excited to try it out for myself.
Ambiance
You get a laid-back ambiance right away upon stepping into the establishment. The restaurant is an al fresco dining experience, so the air flows freely throughout the place, and you get the quiet hum of the city life in the background. The interior is decorated in classy black and wood fixings. There are some pops of color here and there. I liked the different kinds of chairs and the cool Portuguese tile flooring too, they made the place much more inviting. There’s even a bar area, lined with a lot of alcohol bottles, as if all ready for a good night.
Service
Although fairly new, the service was good. They have other branches already and aren’t new to the food scene, so it’s unsurprising that the staff was well trained. They were engaging and approachable during our visit.
Food
Now for the food that we had, which was a lot. I liked their clean and simple food plating. There were no overly designed plates to distract you from your dining experience.
We had their highly recommended Pritong Native Itik (P300), which is fried duck. The duck was cooked well and not too dry. It paired well with the dipping sauce that they served, although it can be eaten on its own already.
Next up we had their Beef Kare Kare (P500), a classic Filipino dish with vegetables like pechay, string beans, and eggplant. The kare kare itself was very creamy and the beef was tender to eat. There was also a whole serving of Roasted Garlic Chicken (P350) that was moist and tasty all throughout. Another highly recommended dish was the 5 pieces of Garlic Longganisa (P280), and Longganisa Nachos (P280). They were savory and flavored really well, perfect as a bar chow with cold beer.
I think the star of my whole dining experience was the Pritong Hito (P300). The catfish was not too oily or dry even if it was fried. It was also served with burong mustasa or pickled mustard leaves. I thought the buro went really well with the fish. I would definitely recommend this when you drop by.
My Verdict
After eating at Elm’s Grill and Bar, I am reminded of why I have always loved Filipino food. It’s these simple dishes that bring back a lot of good feelings and memories.
I think that we all want a little something familiar and comfortable with us. Especially in such a busy city as Makati, it’s easy to get distracted and stressed with everything. If you’re looking for a place to chill and hangout after work with friends, I recommend visiting Elm’s Bar and Grill. They’re even open almost all day, starting from mornings all the way to the wee hours of the next morning. So if you need to satisfy a craving for Filipino food, just drop by before work to de-stress.
They offer good Filipino comfort food that we have grown to love. Filipino cuisine has always been meant for enjoyment and sharing, and what better way to enjoy it over a few bottles of drinks and yummy fried favorites with our friends. If you’re not into drinking, you can grab a cup of coffee instead, either way they will surely have something for you.
Address: 5072 SGC Building Corner P. Burgos, Poblacion, Makati City
Operating Hours: 8AM-3AM, Daily
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