Placemat: Lutong-bahay for the budget-conscious

Tired of those fine-dining restaurants along Tomas Morato Avenue (Quezon City) where an order of steak can bear a hole in your wallet? Longing for lutong-bahay, the kind which your dear mom serves when you get home starving from work? Restricted by a limited budget because payday is one week away and you have exhausted your borrowing privilege with your better-salaried friend?

Don’t dispair; there’s hope.

Check out a cozy little café called Placemat Pinoy Café which opened only on June 30, located at the corner of the upper ground floor of Lansbergh Place (also housing the Nokia Center) near the corner of Roces Avenue and Tomas Morato where Le Figaro used to be.

That’s what celebrity photographer Richard Chen and I did Monday last week upon the invitation of the three owners who are too shy to have themselves identified, saying, "Let the food speak for us."

And the food did "speak."

We were amused by the names of the items on the menu and the way they were described in, I should say, mouth-watering way, to wit:

• Tocino Turnover (Perfect pork cuts glazed to perfection, served with fried egg, atchara and rice), P130

• Arroz Ala Pinoy (Spanish-inspired and Pinoy-flavored, also served with fried egg, atchara and rice), P140

• Adobo Stripped (shredded pork adobo deep-fried to crispy goodness!), P85

• Holy Cow! (tender and juicy lean beef cuts marinated the Placemat way), P130

• Virgin Burgers (Placemat Pride; plump beef burger patties like you’ve always wanted them to be; no extenders, no preservatives), P140

• Pinoy Purranesca (A classic choice bound to make noise!), P95

• Kesolicious (The Pinoy cottage cheese makes a grand pasta debut in Placemat’s version of the Pomodoro!), P100, and many more!

If you’re not in a hurry, you can take your time and have a little chat with your companions either in the dining area inside or the area outside (which is part of the corridor). The whole place can accommodate around 60 (hungry!) people. Placemat was packed full with customers the afternoon we were there.

When the space was occupied by Le Figaro, it was done in earth colors. Now with Placemat there, it has been transformed into something brighter, with the walls adorned with paintings (yes, for sale) and sketches of herbs. The kitchen, visible from the dining area, is spotlessly-clean. The tables and chairs are very native, done in rattan.

Already, Placemat is attracting showbiz folks who may not be budget-conscious like you and me but who crave for lutong-bahay just like everybody else.

Want to know what the stars order again and again?

Dingdong Dantes and girlfriend Karylle love the Tossed in Tuyo (A possibility no one dared to explore until Placemat decided to conquer! Unimaginably addicting!), P120.

Janice de Belen and Richard Gomez go for the Bongga-Longga (Longganisa bits now play a major pasta twist!), P120.

• Lucy Torres-Gomez is getting addicted to the Cut the crab (A generous aligue harvest poured over freshly-cooked pasta!), P150.

• Jolina Magdangal never seems to have enough of the Very Bistek (It’s so good you wouldn’t want to share!), P150.

• Gabby Eigenmann will have Tinapsi Tops (A tinapa rice serving too tempting to resist!) anytime, P75.

"Our food is cooked in virgin olive oil," said Mr. P, one of the three Placemat owners.

Richard and I left Placement burping, promising to return and try every item on the menu. Why don’t you?

(Note: For inquiries and reservations, call 373-7188.)

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