A modern diner with a twist

Manila’s dining scene got cooler with a diverse number of openings last year.

Today’s hottest places tend to be slightly casual, with open kitchens, bare tables, and no dress codes. Still, the menu has to be enticing to attract more people to dine out, especially now that restaurant goers have become savvy.

One such place is Mr. Jones, a neighborhood nook and cozy oasis in the heart of Greenbelt 5. The ‘50s-inspired diner is a throwback to the good old days giving us a slice of American cultural history, and its jazzed-up American comfort food, don’t disappoint.

Mr. Jones is the fifth feather in the Raintree Group of restos’ cap.   Sitting over a bowl of chili, Mr. Jones’ Martin Wisniewski tells me it all started with the actual physical space:

“Seeing the space, ‘diner’ quickly came to mind. Noel Bernardo and EC Studios, who have worked with us since Chelsea (the restaurant in Serendra), understood our vision with the pop culture era-inspired diner car, soda fountain, malt shop — everything from the design, material and color of the chairs and tables and façade. The idea was to draw people into that feeling, but not just gimmick. It must have substance.”

Martin says the name “Mr. Jones” sounded “really Americana to us. We wanted something that would appeal to people who frequent the area, corporate but also the weekend scene.”

They’ve gone as far as to recount to the staff the whole diner history so that they could get into the feel and pulse of that scene.

“The ‘40s diners were actual train diner cars converted into these mini kitchens offering cheap food to an America that was coming out of depression era and entering the war. The ‘50s then saw the drive in, soda fountain, burger joint.

“So we tried to blend all of that but make ours a little more design-oriented: a hybrid of function and aesthetics. We’re not trying to be an authentic diner, but a modern diner with a twist, with splashes of Miami, the southwest, and all that.”

All this is reflected in the menu with face-lifted classics, like macaroni and cheese, good burger, and all-day breakfast. All these are all these are spiced up with new flavors and gourmet oils, cheeses and creams.

As you run through the menu it’s hard to choose from so many fun options like Bowl o’ Chili, Big Mama’s Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, Honey-drizzled Fried Chicken & Home-made Biscuits, and Wicked Truffled Mac n’ Cheese.

The Blue Plate menu features dishes served on blue plates. The classic diner Reuben sandwich is gussied up with Russian dressing and chardonnay-soaked sauerkraut. The everyday all-day breakfast gives your stack of pancakes a makeover with its blueberry lemon ricotta version. The Tapa Overload platter is to die for.Plus bacon and eggs take on a whole new meaning with bacon one-half inch thick and double smoked.

Even the cocktail menu amuses, with drinks called Marga & Rita… Stop Flirting with Me!, plus a whole list of gourmet brewskies with names like Doggie-Style Classic Pale Ale.

Kids from one to 100 will love eight variations on the milkshake and soda-pop dessert classics, my favorite being Apple Pie a la Mode.

Mr. Jones is open daily outside Phase 2, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City. (Tel. 501-3111).