MAKATI CITY | KABILA FILIPINO BISTRO
A
selection that is straightforward, locally sourced and outright Filipino is
what Kabila Filipino Bistro in Makati City boasts. It was a Saturday late lunch
for me as I found my way to Makati City after work, in a hurry not to be caught
by the heavy downpour about to commence any minute.
In a
matter of minutes, I made it at Ayala Museum and the Museum Café just in time
when the lightning made its presence known and the heavy downpour follows. Right next door the Museum Café is the Kabila
Filipino Bistro - literal to its name.
My
friends started the lunch feast as I enter the restaurant. Beside our table is a cabinet of pickled jars
displayed not only for aesthetics but can be tasted on as appetizers as well.
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| THE PICKLED JARS |
The
walls are covered by glass with a high ceiling constituting its interior. The ornaments displayed are quite interesting
that it gives a museum-feel. The hanging
pieces adds character to the restaurant.
Like its interior, food served is traditionally Filipino but with a
twist.
 |
| THE LIGHTING FIXTURES |
Fresh Lumpia
sa Kabila, is a favorite for the
majority. I am not into fresh lumpia,
thus, I opted not to try but looking at my friends’ faces as they consume the lumpia, it must have been good for them
to be satisfied. The fresh lumpia is made of fresh ubod,
shrimp and pork mince, sweet garlic sauce, fresh garlic and ground
peanuts.
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| FRESH LUMPIA SA KABILA (PhP295.00) |
Even
if I have not tried lumpia, I found
myself consuming most of the Ensaladang Kabila, in a mixture of
ripe mango, green mango, guapple,
pomelo, turnip, native tomato relish, salted egg, pili nut croutons, calamansi vinaigrette and home-made bagoong.
 |
| ENSALADANG KABILA (PhP295.00) |
On
main course, everything is perfect and palatable. Without budget constraints, I would recommend
all dishes to be tried. Kabila’s
Pork Bagnet with choices of sukang
Ilocos, sili, rock salt and “KBL- Kamatis,
Bagoong Balayan and Lasunga Relish” as
a complement was first placed on our table.
 |
| KABILA'S PORK BAGNET (PhP395.00) |
For
cure of hangover and simply the love for sinigang
(I assume), the Seafood Guava Sinigang was also a hit. The dish has scallops, bangus belly, river prawns, clams, kangkong, labanos, sitaw and cherry tomatoes to add flavor.
 |
| SEAFOOD GUAVA SINIGANG (PhP525.00) |
Fish
and chicken is a typical Filipino favorite.
Kabila Restaurant provides its best-sellers for us to taste test, these
are: Slow-Grilled
Gindara on charcoal with a sweet soy calamansi glaze served with pickled green mango and my all-time
favorite, BBQ Chicken Inasal with sinamak
and chicken oil on a charcoal grill.
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| BBQ CHICKEN INASAL (PhP375.00) |
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| SLOW-GRILLED GINDARA (375.00) |
I
had cough that day and so as refreshments, I ordered hot lemonade and it
somewhat lessen the frequency of coughing.
 |
| THE REFRESHMENTS |
For desserts, Leche Flan Turon served
with chocnut sauce and Buko
Pandan served with melon shreds, landed on our table.
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| LECHE FLAN TURON (PhP195.00) |
 |
| BUKO PANDAN (PhP195.00) |
We
only have tasted the best-sellers of the restaurant, but definitely there’s more
to the list that gives us a glimpse of the varied cuisine the Philippines offers.
 |
| THE ALL-TIME FAVORITE |
Like
what a typical Filipino family is, dining at Kabila Restaurant is for sharing
and pairing. The local favorites were
given a different version, which definitely are a must-try.
KABILA FILIPINO BISTRO
Ayala
Museum Complex Makati Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street,
Makati
City
+632
757-3000
Operating
Hours: 8AM to 11PM
Kabila
is part of the innovative concepts of Raintree Restaurants.
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