It all started with a Kambingan concept. A place where diners who wants to eat goat meat can come to eat and feast on a variety of goat dishes to choose from. Amid the pandemic, a group of friends wanted to put up this business, courageous idea really when many businesses and establishment is closing their doors, either temporarily or permanently. But seeing the ancestral house located at changed their mind. Instead of the Kambingan as they first planned, Architect Ignacio thought the location calls for another plan. So they turned it into a restobar or a bistro with a menu that serves delicious cuisine created with the ingenuity and passion inspired by Traditional Filipino Home-style cooked dishes.
Moreover, it become an opportunity to hire people in the resto business that have lost their jobs during the pandemic. Thus Anonas Bistro was born.
Spearheaded by its Chef Severino Palunday, Chef Severino Palunday hails from Northern Luzon. Chef Sev, as he is fondly called, is a Sous Chef at a reputable European Cruise Ship for 28 years thus bringing with him an array of delicious cuisine focused mainly on Traditional Filipino Home-style cooked dishes. Yes, Anonas Bistro takes great pride in serving you improved and more delicious favourite Filipino dishes.
Last week, I have the opportunity of trying their menu first hand. The place, located in residential area is a welcoming place. I love that as you enter, you are welcome with great smile from the people in the Bistro. Welcoming you like friends. The bistro feels homey, comforting but with an elegance that i think comes from the feel of the place. I love the tables and chairs, the kind you mostly see in homes up North. And the wall paintings by Roland Rosacay is colorful and elegant.
It really is as what their website say, premium Casual Dining Restaurant that provides “the comfort and elegance of fine dining restaurants, yet offers the cozy ambiance and the full environment of casual dining restaurants”. The kind of place you can unwind after a long day of work. I’m not really surprise that the place is packed from sunset to the wee hours of the night.
Then we come to the most awaited part of my day at the Anonas Bistro, trying out thier dishes. We were first served with their Creamy Vegetable soup which you can order and its FREE and the Ampalaya Apple Shake which is kind of refreshing and delicious considering it is really a vegetable blended into a juice! The Creamy Vegetable Soup is a hearty one with its mix of vegetables. The term sabaw pa lang busog ka na is true with this dish. But the best is yet to come as we were served with Chef Severino Salad (P275), the killer part is the salad dressing, a simple dressing of vinegar and other ingredients but potent when mixed with the Salad. It was delicious even if you are not a veggie eater like me. We also happily munched on it along with the Fried Lumpiang Ubod (P195) and again the sawsawan is great. Makes you think how great it is with ice cold beer. Luckily the bistro also serves wine, whisky and beer perfect for Happy Hour but no Red Horse for you!
Next came the Kare Kare (P480), Creamy Tofu (P135) Grilled Tuna (P325) Gising Gising with Shrimp (P275) and I am in my happy place. I cannot describe how delicious the Kare Kare is. Its peanutty, the sauce and the fresh vegetable with the ox tongue is perfectly combined. Its a super must try. Don’t ever leave the place without trying it.
I super love Tofu and the way the bistro cooked the Creamy Tofu is out of this world. Really creamy, tasty and the onions added more flavor mixed with the chunky Tofu. Its more delicious than the famous Tofu of another Pinoy resto. Believe me, I’m a tofu dish expert. I dont know what the Chef did to this menu bit its quite addicting that I ordered a take home because i want to taste it again.
The Gising Gising is so good with rice and the veggies crunchy and paired it with the Grilled Tuna and you are set to an enjoyable meal.
The dining athmosphere is full of good vibes and filled with laughter as we enjoyed our food. Ms Lea, the Chef’s wife made us feel so welcome and gamely ride on to all our craziness. Just perfect enjoying good food filled so much fun and laughter.
Of course, we cannot end the meal without one of its yummy dessert. The Banana Ala Mode with Cherry on the middle. The Turon was tender and made even more delicious with the Ice Cream.
Overall it was a great meal amid the cozy ambiance of the place. Pure good vibes. We went home with our belly full of delicious food.
If you want yo try, which i really think you should. Come visit Anonas Bistro and experience premium casual dining. Anonas Bistro is also a place for meeting-up of friends, colleagues and for corporate meeting.
ANONAS BISTRO located at 145 K-6th, East Kamias, Quezon City. Open Monday to Sunday 7am to 10pm.
My verdict – BABALIK AKO!
