URBN Bar & Kitchen: Contemporary Comfort Food in BGC

As a self-confessed party pooper, it was unlikely for me to visit one of the hottest bars in the Metro's party scene. But aside from being a destination for party-goers with a busy nightlife, URBN Bar & Kitchen is also a good foodie destination. And if you don't believe me, then let URBN's gastronomic and drool-inducing dishes convince you otherwise.

More Restaurants in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig:

• Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge: For Modern Spanish Comfort Food
• NACI: Revisiting The Improved Comfort Food Destination
• Wrong Ramen: Not Your Conventional Authentic Bowl of Ramen
• Sweet Bella Cafe: More Than Just Cakes and Pastries
• Kuppa Roastery & Cafe: The Family That Knows Coffee
• Bistro Filipino: Modern Filipino Cuisine by Chef Laudico
• Toro Restaurant and Bar: A Fusion of Japanese and Mexican Flavors

Located in the 3rd floor of Fort Pointe II Building, URBN Bar & Kitchen is the new brainchild of the same brilliant people behind Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge. And similar to its bar and resto sibling, URBN Bar & Kitchen brings us yet another hip destination not just for clubbing, but also for palate satiation as expected from Chef Benjo Tuason.

Smoking and clubbing area (lights go off by 10pm)

Dining and lounging area -- where we stayed

Unlike Relik which has more of a rustic ambiance, URBN Bar & Kitchen on the other hand gives off more of a neo-industrial vibe in large doses with its high ceiling, exposed steel pipes and light installations, LCD TV, hardwood furniture and fixtures, and big, mismatched lounge chairs right smack in the center of the smoking-cum-clubbing room.

Home Made Potato Chips (P250) and URBN Cosmo (P258)

We first had some Home Made Potato Chips while waiting for the main dishes. Served with an aioli and a pesto dip, these chips satisfied the potato lover in me. Each piece was thin and crisp as what good and addicting potato chips should be. I also had an order of URBN Cosmo, a concoction made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime juice.

✓ Double Baked Manchego Souffle (P395)

After the bar chow, this beautiful plate of Double Baked Manchego Souffle with crispy Jamon Serrano and Manchego bechamel sauce was served. At first, I actually thought this is a potato and cream dish. But after knowing the name and getting a forkful, I just can't help but to dig in some more. With an explosion of savory, salty, creamy and cheesy goodness, this is a dish true-blue cheese lovers shouldn't miss!

URBN's House Salad (P220)

We also had a serving of URBN's House Salad which is a light and healthy mix of greens, poached pears, candied walnuts and shaved Parmesan drenched in a raspberry vinaigrette. Although this green dish has somehow been overshadowed by the flavorful Manchego item it followed suit, this is still a great plate compared to most salads I had.

✓ Seared Scallops (P590)

I'm a really big fan of scallops, so just imagine my delight when this beautiful serving of Seared Scallops was brought to our table. And while my photo definitely doesn't justify how delicious this was, I can say with full conviction that this plate of big, juicy Australian scallops with Jamon Serrano atop a bed of cauliflower purée is worth coming back for.

Spicy Shrimp Cocktail (P280)

To further whet our palate, we had the Spicy Shrimp Cocktail with mangoes and cucumber which was a harmonious blend of sweet and spicy, and soft and crunchy. Usually, I don't really care much for shrimp cocktail items. However, this one is definitely an exciting appetizer that successfully enticed us in preparation for the main course.

Mac & Choreese (P290)

While I like the conventional mac and cheese, Chef Benjo's Mac & Choreese rendition with big chunks of chorizo surely got my attention. It's as creamy, as cheesy and as hearty, but with an added bonus of the savory and flavorful chorizo bits.

✓ Australian Rack of Lamb (P960)

The meal starter portion may be long, but this Australian Rack of Lamb was definitely worth all the wait. Crusted with herb and horseradish and served with a roasted pumpkin wedge, this rack of lamb has got to be my most favorite item that night. Eaten with or without the garlic yogurt sauce, a forkful of this lamb is so meaty, so juicy, so succulent and so savory, but minus the gamey taste lamb meat has been notoriously known for.

✓ Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs (P550)

Another highly satisfying meaty dish we had was the Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs served with rice pilaf and chili-butter sweet corn kernels. While I'm not a crazy fan of BBQ ribs, I felt like I became a convert after getting a taste of the sweet and smokey sauce-coated savory fall-off-the bone tender pork ribs URBN Bar & Kitchen served us. Yum!

✓ Crispy Duck Leg (P560)

Unbelievable as it is, another great dish in the form of Crispy Duck Leg followed suit. (Everything has been consistently good!) Served with a creamy, tasty mushroom risotto and braised carrots and asparagus, this serving of duck leg has a moist, succulent meaty inside and a really crispy skin basking in red wine jus. And while duck doesn't normally top my list of yummy foods, I can't deny that this serving is simply delicious.

Chicken Fried Steak (P390)

While the name made our whole table think this serving of Chicken Fried Steak with veggies and mashed potato, is really chicken, we had a "wow mali" moment when Chef Benjo told us this is actually beef sirloin just prepared like buttermilk fried chicken -- coated in buttermilk batter, deep fried, and finally topped with mushroom gravy. And as expected, everyone started digging in more and more after the surprising revelation.

24 Days Dry Aged In House Rib Eye Bone (P2,800 for 450 grams)

Closing our main course was the 24 Days Dry Aged In House Rib Eye Bone which is a huge serving perfect for sharing with the whole family or the whole barkada. And as a steak lover, I can't help but be giddy when I saw this piece cooked in medium rare doneness -- my preferred way of enjoying steak. And while I'm not so sure if those are steak juices running freely on the plate, it's also smothered with Shiraz jus which perfectly blended with the super succulent, tender and meaty lava rock-grilled piece.

✓ URBN's Salted Caramel Cheesecake (P150)

After a meaty meal, we started closing off with URBN's Salted Caramel Cheesecake. It only took one bite and I knew I was in love. The cheesecake itself is good, but after getting pimped with a drizzling of salted caramel, it became more heavenly with a beautiful blend of subtle creamy cheesecake goodness, and sweet and salty caramel.

Chocolate Classic Souffle (P300) and ✓ Mango Classic Souffle (P300)

The Classic Souffles which come in chocolate and mango flavors were also equally satisfying dessert items. Served with a combination of chocolate and vanilla sauce, or mango and vanilla sauce, these treats are perfect in my book -- soft, fluffy and airy with a molten center. And while I'm usually partial to chocolate variants, I have to say the light and refreshing Mango Classic Souffle won me over this time.

Chocolate Love-ah Cake (P250)

To finally mark a sweet ending, we had the Chocolate Love-ah Cake which was drizzled with some extra virgin olive oil and even sprinkled with rock salt. Even without the added salty flavor, this in itself is already a well-executed lava cake as the center oozes out with rich, gooey molted chocolate. And since this chocolatey goodness is even pimped with salt, it tasted more amazing in my book! If I have to be nit-picky though, I guess the chocolate cake itself can still be improved when it comes to moistness.

THE VERDICT

Relik has taught me that bars can also be good destinations for foodies, and this trip to URBN Bar & Kitchen has further instilled this in me. Seriously, everything we had that night was consistently good, starting from my first piece of potato chip until my last spoonful of chocolate love-ah cake. So if you're like me in the past -- skeptic that a bar can serve great food, then give either Relik or URBN Bar & Kitchen a try. I'm sure you'll not only find yourself drinking or socializing, but definitely eating the night away.

Taste - 4.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

URBN Bar & Kitchen, Bonifacio Global City
3/F Fort Pointe II Bldg., 28th St.
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Metro Manila, Philippines
(0917) 564-9333
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