Phat Wong Asian Cafe: Modern Oriental Sharing Menu

Whether it be Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai or any other oriental cuisine, I seem to share an instant connection with the sweet, savory, spicy and distinct flavors of Asian dishes. I guess as much as we try to veer away from stereotypes, being an Asian, it's just normal to love the gustatory delights that are truly ours. And I'm sure, the Lolo Dad's Group also shares the same as they bring us Phat Wong Asian Cafe.

Located in Nicanor Garcia (formerly Reposo), Phat Wong Asian Cafe is a fairly new restaurant offering both a feast for the palate and for the eyes. Although it took the spot of the old Ricco Renzo gallery cum café, Phat Wong retained the art as its quaint dining space doesn't only house long and round tables, but also marvelous pieces of visual masterpieces.

With beautiful paintings and cozy banquet seating over a dim ambient lighting, one would think that only the well-off clientele of Lolo Dad's and La Regalade can afford to dine in Phat Wong. However, fear not as Tonyboy Cojuangco and Chef Ariel Manuel didn't only deviate from offering same ol' French bistro dishes but also decided to carry Asian Fusion items for affordable prices.

In fact, Phat Wong Asian Cafe is so budget friendly that instead of offering degustation, it presents reasonably priced sharing menus. For the month of May, Phat Wong brings us a hearty modern oriental set perfect not only for mom (Belated Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!), but for a family and even for a barkada of three.

This month's sharing menu features three kinds of oriental entrées, and to start our meal off was an Asian Spiced Cured Salmon on Beansprouts and Mushroom Salad. Although I'm not a big fan of beansprouts, I love how the tasty salmon and mushrooms added a savory flavor which complemented the freshness of the whole dish.

My friends and I sampled the Heart of Palm and Peanut Butter Slaw with Sautéed Scallops next. Although we initially found the peanut butter and veggie combo weird, this uncanny salad won our hearts over with the harmonious blend of the sweet, nutty and refreshing slaw, and the salty and savory sautéed scallops.

We then had a serving of the Green Tea Noodle Salad with Soft Tofu and Soy Vinaigrette. Being a big Japanese food fanatic, I felt ecstatic when I saw the generous strips of nori on this highly Japanese-influenced salad dish. However, although I loved the neutral flavors of the green tea noodle, tofu and nori, the dish was quite tiring on the taste buds because of the soy vinaigrette. I guess I was just used to eating green tea noodles with tsuyu.

For soup, we had a solo serving each of the Ox Tail Molo Soup. Generally, I don't like molo as I see it as a trying-hard replica of Chinese wanton. However, upon tasting this, I became a fan. The ox tail molo was very meaty and sumptuous as it swam in the flavorful broth. The molo coating was also very soft, silky and delicate that it beautifully melts in the mouth.

After a series of highly appetite-whetting dishes, it was time to sample the main course. First we had was a serving of Miso-Glazed Chilean Seabass, perfectly cooked and beautifully crusted with miso paste. Although I'm not a big fan of fish dishes, seabass is an exception. With a mild and buttery taste, coupled with flavorful miso, this dish was definitely a winner.

The Steamed Ginger Chicken follows suit. Cooked to a tender white meat, this dish was delicious despite having subtle flavors. Although I still prefer chicken drenched with flavorful sauces, this oriental chicken dish didn't fail to satisfy my taste buds.

We had a serving of Curried Prawns with Yoghurt next. If you've been following this blog for a while, you'd know that I have seafood allergies. But with prawns cooked perfectly like this, I don't mind the allergy breakouts. The curry sauce was also flavorful and nicely balanced by the dollop of yoghurt.

Next up was this serving of Szechuan Sautéed Beef. Coming from a Chinese family, I've had my fair share of Szechuan beef. But although I found Phat Wong's a little less flavorful than the ones I've tried, this plate of moist and tender beef still exudes the mark of Szechuan cuisine -- bold, a little tangy and spicy.

This sharing menu doesn't seem to be much on the paper. But believe me, it was bountiful! After all the viands we tried, we still had a generous portion of Braised Pork Knuckle with Steamed Mini Buns. And although we were already getting full, we made sure to finish off this tender and succulent pork knuckle drenched in sweet and savory sauce. The steamed mini buns were also a nice accompaniment, but I found them a little too dense.

The hearty set for three which can actually satisfy even up to four people, comes with 3 bowls of this Tea-Scented Long Grain Rice. And although I'm a big carb hoarder, I can definitely eat all the main dishes without rice this time since every single viand was worth eating on its own.

To cap the meal off, we each had a petite bowl of Jackfruit Panna Cotta, Toasted Coffee Crouton and Ube Ice Cream with a Banana and Chocolate Samosa on the side. Although it's a given that jackfruit and ube taste good together, it's the first time I've appreciated this lovely combination of flavors. The coffee croutons also added a nice crunchy texture that made this dessert even more interesting. The samosa on the other hand, had a beautiful blend of banana and chocolate. However, I find the sesame coating quite overwhelming.

I know this sharing menu is already hefty. But if you still have room for more, try Phat Wong's refreshing drinks and best-selling Shrimp, Pomelo and Young Coconut in Coconut Milk and Lime Dressing (P270). This salad isn't only a feast for the eyes, but also an explosion of mild and refreshing flavors.

THE VERDICT

Owned by the Lolo Dad's Group, I was surprised at how Phat Wong deviated from its European brothers famous for being notoriously expensive. But aside from its more affordable price tags, I was also impressed with the Asian cafe's beautiful and flavorful plates of gastronomical goodness. So with nice interiors, good service and great food, Phat Wong can definitely expect another visit from The Purple Doll.

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

Phat Wong Asian Cafe, Bel-Air
G/F, LRI Business Plaza, 210 Nicanor Garcia St.,
Bel-Air II, Makati City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 298-3573
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