11:52 AM
Flavors of Manila
Abe is a part of the LJC chain of restaurants and, according to the company website of LJC, this place primarily serves traditional Filipino food, which is mainly Kapampangan in origin (I’m not too sure though).
AMBIANCE AND ENVIRONMENT
I did like Abe’s interiors, except for some minor things, which I think are not really going to drag down the overall appeal of the place.
What’s noticeable is that the design of the restaurant is very modern although it still has some details that are uniquely Filipino. From how I saw it, the tables are made of hardwood (probably Narra or Yakal) and the chairs had backrests made of woven Banig.
I adore the chandeliers too! They’re really unique and they give the whole place an elegant air. Also, the windows and sliding doors are made of tinted Capiz framed in varnished wood, giving the place a uniquely Filipino look.
Anyway, one of the things I didn’t like about the restaurant is that it can get too crowded inside, especially during the peak hours. I went to Abe with a friend. The place was almost empty when we got there. However, as soon as the clock ticked 6:00 PM, people started flocking inside the restaurant and I thought that, since then, the place had become extremely noisy.
FOOD AND DRINKS
The food in Abe restaurant is probably one of its stronger points. They serve various Filipino dishes, which I find appetizing, and the food is served hot and fresh.
Calamares in su Tinta (P 210.00)
For the appetizer, we opted to try out the Calameres in su Tinta. It was supposed to be like the Adobong Pusit with the dark (almost black) sauce from the ink bags of the squid but we preferred to have them deep-fried instead with a crispy coating like how it’s done in the streets of Morayta, Manila (aka Hepa Lane).
This was a really delicious treat, which was served hot, but I think there’s nothing special about it. The sweet and sour sauce was nice too but definitely pales in comparison with the vinegar-based sauce the sidewalk vendors usually pour over the Calamares sold on the streets.
Pastel de Lengua (P 330.00)
Lengua (ox tongue) is a popular dish in the Philippines but I have never really tasted Pastel de Lengua before. I have only tried several other variants of Lengua, which do not have the baked crust on top, so I really was excited to try this out.
I did like Abe’s interiors, except for some minor things, which I think are not really going to drag down the overall appeal of the place.
What’s noticeable is that the design of the restaurant is very modern although it still has some details that are uniquely Filipino. From how I saw it, the tables are made of hardwood (probably Narra or Yakal) and the chairs had backrests made of woven Banig.
I adore the chandeliers too! They’re really unique and they give the whole place an elegant air. Also, the windows and sliding doors are made of tinted Capiz framed in varnished wood, giving the place a uniquely Filipino look.
Anyway, one of the things I didn’t like about the restaurant is that it can get too crowded inside, especially during the peak hours. I went to Abe with a friend. The place was almost empty when we got there. However, as soon as the clock ticked 6:00 PM, people started flocking inside the restaurant and I thought that, since then, the place had become extremely noisy.
FOOD AND DRINKS
The food in Abe restaurant is probably one of its stronger points. They serve various Filipino dishes, which I find appetizing, and the food is served hot and fresh.
Calamares in su Tinta (P 210.00)
For the appetizer, we opted to try out the Calameres in su Tinta. It was supposed to be like the Adobong Pusit with the dark (almost black) sauce from the ink bags of the squid but we preferred to have them deep-fried instead with a crispy coating like how it’s done in the streets of Morayta, Manila (aka Hepa Lane).
This was a really delicious treat, which was served hot, but I think there’s nothing special about it. The sweet and sour sauce was nice too but definitely pales in comparison with the vinegar-based sauce the sidewalk vendors usually pour over the Calamares sold on the streets.
Pastel de Lengua (P 330.00)
Lengua (ox tongue) is a popular dish in the Philippines but I have never really tasted Pastel de Lengua before. I have only tried several other variants of Lengua, which do not have the baked crust on top, so I really was excited to try this out.
I should say that this dish was quite satisfactory and was well put together.The Lengua was so tender and well-cooked and there wasn’t even a tinge of offensive flavor in the meat.
Overall, it was a satisfactory dish but I think the serving was too small to be shared by two or three people. If I were to dine in Abe and order just this and a cup of rice, I’d probably end up still hungry after the meal. .
Lechon Cubano (P 420.00)
This one’s the star of the night. The meat of the pork was very juicy and so tender it slips right off the bone. The skin was perfectly roasted and had that distinct crispiness I always look for whenever I eat Lechon. The sauce though was too ordinary for such a wonderful dish but the flavor of the Lechon made up for the blandness of the sauce.
A piece of advice though: finish it as soon as it is served as, after a few minutes, the skin can become too rubbery and the meat cold and chewy.
SERVICE AND OVERALL SATISFACTION
I would say that the service in Abe was not really that satisfactory. When we ate here, there were plenty of people dining and there were only a few waiters, who were mostly preoccupied with other customers. We often felt ignored, especially during those times when we asked for water or a refill of our rice (plain rice is refillable, by the way).
On a lighter note, the food was served on time. The waiters were also very polite and attentive to our orders. In fact, one of the waiters even suggested that our Calamares be converted to the fried version, which made us really happy as we didn’t want to try out the one with the squid’s ink on it.
VALUE FOR MONEY
I think the food in Abe is just a bit too expensive considering the serving size. Most of the food here are also ordinary and are somewhat not commensurate with the price they charge for them. There are plenty of other Filipino restaurants out there that serve more delicious food for a cheaper cost.
FINAL SCORES
Ambiance - 4/5
Overall, it was a satisfactory dish but I think the serving was too small to be shared by two or three people. If I were to dine in Abe and order just this and a cup of rice, I’d probably end up still hungry after the meal. .
Lechon Cubano (P 420.00)
This one’s the star of the night. The meat of the pork was very juicy and so tender it slips right off the bone. The skin was perfectly roasted and had that distinct crispiness I always look for whenever I eat Lechon. The sauce though was too ordinary for such a wonderful dish but the flavor of the Lechon made up for the blandness of the sauce.
A piece of advice though: finish it as soon as it is served as, after a few minutes, the skin can become too rubbery and the meat cold and chewy.
SERVICE AND OVERALL SATISFACTION
I would say that the service in Abe was not really that satisfactory. When we ate here, there were plenty of people dining and there were only a few waiters, who were mostly preoccupied with other customers. We often felt ignored, especially during those times when we asked for water or a refill of our rice (plain rice is refillable, by the way).
On a lighter note, the food was served on time. The waiters were also very polite and attentive to our orders. In fact, one of the waiters even suggested that our Calamares be converted to the fried version, which made us really happy as we didn’t want to try out the one with the squid’s ink on it.
VALUE FOR MONEY
I think the food in Abe is just a bit too expensive considering the serving size. Most of the food here are also ordinary and are somewhat not commensurate with the price they charge for them. There are plenty of other Filipino restaurants out there that serve more delicious food for a cheaper cost.
FINAL SCORES
Ambiance - 4/5
Food - 4/5
Service - 3/5
Value - 3/5
TOTAL - 3.5/5
Abe Restaurant
(02) 901-5692
3/F Trinoma Mall, EDSA cor. North Ave.
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Posted in: abe,dining,filipino cuisine,food,philippines,restaurant,restaurant review,review,reviews,where good friends dine
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