Pablo's Pub and Restaurant: One gorgeous package
MANILA, Philippines--Pablo's Pub and Restaurant promises to be among the district's night scene highlights with its lavish bar chow, relatable young owners, classy Mafia-inspired interiors and excellent drinks.
Co-owner Jam Mabanta showed us around Pablo's on one of its launching nights and graciously ushered us to a moving bookcase leading to a hidden room appropriately named The Glenlivet Boardroom, after the pub's brand of single malt scotch whisky.
Mabanta said the room can be rented for a whole night for a meeting among colleagues or a video game between college friends--unexpectedly hip for a place inspired by a legendary Colombian trafficker.
"It's named after Pablo Escobar, the drug lord. We tried to imagine where he would meet his associates and go for a drink," Mabanta told Philstar.com, explaining its inspiration for the interiors.
The bar at Pablo's
Some of Pablo's features (from left): A bookshelf opening to a private room, a DJ booth and interiors giving a modern twist to London's 19th century private men's clubs.
Pablo's glass panes, wood trappings, leather booth seats and paneled walls might attract whisky-loving, middle-aged executives. But don't let its looks fool you. Pablo's lights start to dim at around 9:00 p.m. when the DJ turns the table to light club music and yuppies from nearby offices march in for beer.
True to type, Mabanta and his other twenty-something co-owners Nicolo Villonco, Nathania Villonco, Joy Mabanta and The Morning Episodes frontman Miguel Escueta vow that the pub is "the one place to seek solace from the daily grind."
Committed to oppose kitschy clubs in the city, the young partners builT Pablo's ambience for guests to unwind and enjoy their drinks, perhaps kept in one of the tavern's whisky lockers, after a long day.
However, Pablo's also prides itself with its menu hand-picked by Escueta, the music man who also happens to be a food enthusiast.
Pablo's South American Wings appetizer at P360 is served with a sour cream dressing serves well as an introduction to a satisfying meal ahead. The restaurant's incomparable Chicharon Bulaklak (P250) is something all guests should owe themselves.
The creators of Pablo's Pub Half Pounder (P285) are confident the burger would be a hit, and with its tender, all-beef patty, American cheddar, specialized burger sauce, fresh lettuce and tomato enclosed in a potato bun is indeed an easy favorite and is something to return to the pub for. Pair it with the full-bodied Jacob's Creek Shiraz to cap a full, fast-paced week.
Truffle Carbonara (P390) may be a disappointment to those expecting the "authentic" carbonara recipe, done without cream and completed with pancetta. Overall, however, Pablo's take is a rich, al dente fettuccine meal with cream, drizzled with truffle oil and generously peppered with bacon. It is also best paired with Jacob's Creek Chardonnay.
If there is a real heavyweight at Pablo's following the Half Pounder, don't miss The Escobar (P998). Affordable for its features: one inch thick, 400 grams of succulent US Angus Rib Eye steak served with mashed potatoes and buttered vegetables. It's medium rare is too rare, but still so enjoyable you would think it deserves a pairing of the perfect glass of whisky.
Not to be left behind is the pub's Sirloin Beef Tapa (P98) with two eggs for those who like their breakfast at the end of the day.
Pablo's is located in the 2nd floor of The Forum building, 7th Avenue corner Federacion Drive, Bonifacio Global City. Operates daily from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
