Poco Deli: My First at Kapitolyo

Although I'm a self-confessed foodie, I haven't been out and about in scouring for new food destinations. Aside from the streets of Maginhawa in Quezon City which I have been dying to visit, Kapitolyo in Pasig is another foodie haven housing hole-in-the-wall food spots patiently sitting on my bucket list. Luckily, I was able to finally pay it a first visit last Thursday after a quick snack at Spam Jam. Along with fellow foodies from Pinoy Exchange, I spent my first Kapitolyo trip at Poco Deli.

Poco Deli is a small neighborhood deli in East Capitol Drive boasting of slow-cooked, handcrafted sausages and deli meats. Upon entering, you'll definitely feel the inviting quaint atmosphere of the place paired with its slightly dim yellow hued lighting. There are also framed paintings, photos and vintage accents giving off that cozy vibe. And if you've got your eye on those wine bottle decors, you'd have more to feast on when you see Poco Deli's library of beers and wines.

Being in a delicatessen, our group didn't miss feasting on one of Poco Deli's pride -- its double German Sausage & Cheese Platter with Sauerkraut and Bagel Chips (P480).

This meaty platter made up of Nürnberger, Chicken Sausage and Kielbasa with 2 types of gourmet cheeses and bagel chips, was a sure hit. Although I'm not a sausage connoisseur, I'm definite that these grilled German sausages -- each as flavorful as the other, are made of all natural ingredients and without any extenders. The platter also came with some black olives and Poco Deli's homemade sauerkraut, a pickled cabbage siding that balanced the juicy and smoky nature of the sausages.

Our group also shared a serving of the Truffle Oil Pasta with Seafood (P265) which uses spaghettini. Even before the dish was served on our table, the aroma had already successfully enticed us making it a challenge to control ourselves from getting a forkful even before taking decent food shots. And yes, the smell was as good as its taste. The truffle-oil infused white sauce was so creamy, savory, and a delight to eat along with an al dente-cooked pasta and some seafood. Personally, this pasta dish is one of my favorites that night.

We also sampled a serving each of the Pomodoro Pasta (P180) and Aglio Olio (P180) which also used spaghettini strands. Although I am more partial to tomato-based pasta dishes, Poco Deli's Pomodoro Pasta was quite forgettable compared to the first pasta we tried. The Aglio Olio on the other hand, was quite good except that I would've preferred sweet slowly-caramelized garlic than bitter toasted garlic bits.

For pizza, our group got the crowd favorite -- Quattro Formaggi (P330). Like most good 4-cheese pizzas, Poco Deli's make use of 4 kinds of melted cheese over a thin and slightly crispy dough. Although not a head-turner, this pizza was definitely cheesy and simply delish.

We also got to try the Prosciutto Pizza (P330) which is a simple mix of tomato and cheese on a pizza crust but pimped with prosciutto, a thinly-sliced dry-cured ham. Being a big ham lover, the mere presence of prosciutto already got me giddy. It gave the plain pizza a nice, salty twist.

After the series of good food we got to sample at Poco Deli, we finally had to end it with some sweet treats -- cakes.

Being a part of Spot.ph's Top 10 Chocolate Cakes in Manila, our group just had to try Poco Deli's Blackout Cake (P130). It didn't fail to tickle my taste buds as it stayed very true to its promise of a moist chocolate cake covered with chocolate chips.

However, although the Blackout Cake was good, 2 other cake contenders managed to steal the spotlight -- it's Poco Deli's own Red Velvet Cake (P130) and New York Baked Cheesecake (P150).

Although I haven't tried a lot of Red Velvet Cakes in my life, I definitely love Poco Deli's. The base cake was moist and very soft. Its taste is of a light and tart chocolate cake with a really delicious cream cheese frosting. It's not overly sweet too. So the next time I'll visit Poco Deli, I'll definitely get 2 slices for myself.

The New York Baked Cheesecake on the other hand, was quite confusing when it was served to us. We were expecting a plain cheesecake, but it turns out that Poco Deli's version is actually a blueberry cheesecake. However, we were still equally impressed. The cheesecake was soft and had a nice balance of tartness and sweetness.

By the way, sorry if the photos are yellowish. We were seated in the section where there was a strong yellow light. I tried my best to salvage the photos by adjusting the color balance and hues, but this is all I can do.

THE VERDICT

I was very fortunate to not only have great company, but to also have great food on my first Kapitolyo trip. Everything we've ordered -- from the deli, carbs and even the desserts, were of very good quality. Although a few food items didn't make a significant mark on me, I definitely see myself returning to Poco Deli really soon. If you're wondering, I plan to order a platter of their German Sausages, along with the Truffle Oil Pasta dish and 2 slices of Red Velvet Cake all for myself.

Taste - 4.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Poco Deli, Pasig
21 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo
Pasig City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 477-4332
Official Website
Facebook Page