Blog Anniversary Giveaway #7: The Burger Project Taft

Customized burgers have been making a buzz in the foodie scene for the past year or two. Luckily for me and the beau, there's now a newly-opened burger shop in Vito Cruz, Manila -- The Burger Project Taft, a franchise of the famous customized burger destination along the foodie street of Maginhawa, Teachers Village in Quezon City.

Located inside The Grand Towers along Pablo Ocampo St., The Burger Project Taft is a trendy yet quaint burger joint which can easily captivate both tenants and passersby alike. From the outside, it has a hip vibe with drawings of burger ingredients. And when you enter the shop, it greets you with a kitschy diner completed with industrial touches.

The Burger Project Taft also sports a nice counter complete with burger topping and sauce choices. And even if I wasn't able to take a photo of their ingredients on display, I can guarantee that they only use fresh ingredients to make their burgers.

While the dining area at The Burger Project Taft seems to seat only about 15 people, there's a mezzanine to accommodate more patrons. And while I already dig how their interior looks like, the mezzanine looks even more cozy and creative! Of course, there are again cute accents with labels of burger toppings. But what I love in the mezzanine is the really trendy chalkboard art. It just gave the whole burger joint its own, fun personality.

Designer BRGRS & BRGR of the Month

I know The Burger Project Taft boasts of being a customized burger destination. However, those who doesn't seem to want creating their own customized burgers can choose from six Designer BRGRS which The Burger Project had concocted.

Although these six Designer BRGRS already have fixed burger toppings and sauces, diners can choose which patty they prefer -- 100% Angus Beef, or 100% Beef. There's also a BRGR of the Month which the burger joint features in line with the occasions related or lined up for that particular month.

Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberry Sauce, Pistachio and Dried Mangoes in Sesame Bun

For this month, The Burger Project puts the spotlight on a very cool kind of burger -- the Ice Cream BrrGR (P125). While the default bun option for this is a butter cookie bun, I went with a sesame bun 'cause I missed eating ice cream with bread.

Create Your Own BRGR

Although the Designer BRGRS look tempting, the beau and I paid a trip to The Burger Project Taft to experience creating our own burgers -- concocted to our own liking, from the patty, bun, toppings, up to the sauce. So after looking around and chatting with the crew a bit, we finally sat down and were given these clipboard-attached forms to fill up.

Basically, you just have to tick which option you like for your burger. You can choose just one for the cheese, toppings and sauce, or choose them all!

• BRGR: Angus Beef, Beef, Chori, Chicken, Tofu
• Bun: Sesame Seed (free), Potato, Oatmeal, Brioche
• Cheese: Bleu, Garlic Cream Cheese, Mozzarella, Gruyere, Cheese Sauce, Cheddar
• Premium Toppings: Bacon, Chili con Carne, Caramelized Onions, Canadian Bacon, Pepperoni, Onion Rings, Sautéed Mixed Mushrooms, Fried Portobello
• Basic Toppings: Mango Salsa, Pineapples, Jalapeño, Red Onions, White Onions, Egg, Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Free Basic Toppings: Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickes
• Sauce: Wasabi-Mayo, BBQ, Teriyaki, Marinara, Honey Mustard, Pesto, Buffalo Wings, Special BRGR, Garlic, Steak

For this trip, the beau went crazy on ticking the choices. He made a tall, meaty and manly burger which was initially unnamed but he eventually calls The Ultimate BRGR.

Triple-Patty Angus Beef, Garlic Cream Cheese, Bacon, Canadian Bacon, Pepperoni, Sautéed Mixed Mushrooms, Fried Portobello, Egg, Lettuce and Special BRGR Sauce in Brioche Bun

I got a taste of the beau's The Ultimate BRGR, and it was seriously good! The Angus beef patties were so juicy, tender and succulent and I like how his burger had generous toppings of bacon. I'm not too crazy with the beau's chosen cheese, but I really like the special BRGR sauce and the brioche bun. I just wish he added another veggie topping.

To pair with his burger, the beau got the Good Ol' Chocl'lit Milkshake (P145). I've heard a lot of raves about this burger joint's milkshakes, but we didn't think it was this good! Between me and the beau, he's the pickier eater and drinker, but he said (and I quote), "Ito na pinakamasarap na milkshake na natikman ko!" (This is the best milkshake I've ever tried.) Now, I thought it may just tickled his preference. But after I took a sip, I can definitely agree. It was rich, chocolatey and very creamy like how a milkshake should be.

Since the beau went for the meaty and manly burger, I decided to make a very healthy option. Actually, a vegan one which I named The Healthy Popper, although I'm no vegan. (Real vegans, don't hate me. I just wanted to try making an all-vegan burger.)

Tofu Patty, Gruyere, Caramelized Onions, Onion Rings, Sautéed Mixed Mushrooms, Fried Portobello, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Lettuce, Tomatoes and Garlic Sauce in Oatmeal Bun

While I still love my meat, I was happy with my Healthy Popper. I really dig how it looked when it was served. It seemed taller than the beau's order, and it looked classier. However, I wasn't expecting an overload of toppings. I ticked several topping choices thinking they'd only be putting some per option. I was wrong though. THEY WERE SO GENEROUS! I got to finish my tofu patty and onion rings, but I wasn't able to eat up all the mushrooms. Don't get me wrong, they were delicious, as good as steak in the vegan world. But, it was just too much in quantity that I had a mushroom hangover after.

I guess I really went on a ticking-frenzy at The Burger Project Taft. However, I have no regrets whatsoever 'cause I loved the taste of my healthy burger. I'm also thankful that I ticked the Blueberry Milkshake (P145). It was one of the creamiest, most awesome milkshakes I've ever had. Although it's sooooo carb and sugar-loaded (4 scoops of ice cream, anyone?), it was just so good and worth the extra dump of calories.

The Sides

Along with the burger ingredients, milkshakes and other beverages, the clipboard-attached form given to us also had options for sidings. If you can't already tell, the beau and I decided to get a total of 3 sides to go with our created burgers and milkshakes.

First siding we had was the Sweet Potato Fries (P60). Being a sweet potato lover, having this fries option made me happy. It was sweet, a little crispy, and very far from being greasy. Dip it in ketchup and it becomes the perfect taste fatigue stopper.

Next, we had some Onion Rings (P60). Just like the onion rings on my healthy burger, these babies are so big, so crispy and so enjoyable especially when dipped in sour cream. However, I've noticed that the onion rings on my burger are crispier and probably fried longer (darker in color) which both the beau and I actually prefer.

Our third and last siding is an order of the Buffalo Wings (P150). These treats are a little sweet, somewhat savory and tangy and slightly spicy. And while I would've loved it more if it were spicier, the beau appreciated that it wasn't too hot. It also had a nice balance of flavors, although the tartness prevails a little bit.

The Menu & The Map

Both the beau and I were really captivated by the idea of creating our own burgers. So to help you decide and to give you an idea of what your perfect burger would be like, here's a copy of The Burger Project's menu-cum-order form you can fill up yourself.

If you'd love to visit The Burger Project Taft but don't know where it's specifically located, then check out the map above. If you're commuting and riding the LRT 1, you can get off at Vito Cruz and walk towards Starbucks Torre Lorenzo or Union Bank. Follow that path (Vito Cruz, a.k.a. P. Ocampo St.) until you reach The Grand Towers.

THE VERDICT

For someone not-so-into-burgers, The Burger Project didn't only tickle my interest, but also satisfied both my palate and my stomach. I seriously haven't been to a burger joint which offered toppings as generous as what we had at The Burger Project Taft. And with loads of choices for creating-your-own-burger, the combinations are endless!

Aside from great customized burgers, we also love the other items The Burger Project has to offer. All our sidings were of great quality, and of course, how can I not mention the milkshakes which we simply love! Overall, both the beau and I were very satisfied after our trip to The Burger Project Taft. This isn't just a burger joint banking on the novelty of customized burgers. They know great quality, service and style.

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

BRGR The Burger Project, Taft
G/F The Grand Towers, 778 Pablo Ocampo Sr. St.,
Cor. Taft Ave., Manila, Philippines
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

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After my awesome experience at The Burger Project Taft, it's now your time to try it out! For this giveaway, 3 winners will each win P500-worth of The Burger Project Taft GCs which you can share with your burger-loving family, friends or special someone.

Prize: (3) winners of P500-worth of gift certificates from The Burger Project Taft.

PLEASE READ!
Guidelines to enter the giveaway raffle:

1. Be a Metro Manila resident or someone (even not within Metro Manila) who can actually use the prizes, or have a person you'll give these prizes to in case you can't personally use them.
2. Free shipping to Metro Manila addresses only. Non-Metro Manila winners can opt to shoulder the shipping fee. (Really sorry about this.)
3. Follow the Rafflecopter mechanics below to join.
4. Make sure you do all the first seven mandatory steps to be eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The giveaway raffle will run from today until December 24, 2012. The winner will be drawn the next day and will be contacted on the 25th, Christmas Day. So join now and experience creating your own burger at The Burger Project Taft.

Disclaimer: Prizes were provided by the good folks from The Burger Project Taft.