Tres Veces Execelente. Alimento Con Pasión!

Ristras

At first glance, it would seem like just one of those restos with its “just-right” servings and moderately priced food stuffs. It was nothing like that at all. First to greet you upon entering would be a bar-like counter where you get to see your food assembled. There was no compromise on taste and quality of ingredients here. All the ingredients used were of high quality and it reflected not only on the looks of the food but also the taste!

We placed our orders in, A burrito Steak with blackbeans and mild salsa topped with cheddar cheese and guacamole, and for GF a Chicken quesadilla topped with guacamole, garlic sauce, shredded romaine cabbage. We thought that should be enough, but later on decided to order a BASKET, yes basket, of nachos with salsa. As the food were being assembled, we suddenly realized we were in for a huge foodie battle. The size of the portions WERE enormous. Definitely 1 order is good enough for 2! The quesadilla was even good for 3 or 4! For the price, it was definitely worth it! I cannot stop raving about how delighted I was to see that size was NOT an issue at Ristras.

The food was quick to the table, no sooner had we sat down the food was served, (yes they do serve the food) to you. I knew it would be good. If it looked good, it SHOULD taste good. (But not always right?) I had high expectations especially after eating at CYMA (last week) and Charlie’s Grind and Grill. (a few weeks back)

As soon as I took the first bite of my burrito, I was in love. Ristras was definitely a place to come back to. I just said goodbye to Mexicali and Taco Bell altogether. This was real mexican taste. The salsa oozed out with every bite and the combination of beans, cheese, chorizo rice, and the steak, with onions tomatoes and pepper just had this magic perfect taste. It was like having all the different flavors just making themselves known one by one. Chef Rob Goco definitely hit a home run with this resto. There was no mash of tastes with either the steak or the cheese overpowering the other ingredients. There was just a harmonious delight to which one is just a spectator to the show that was in your mouth. And that was just the burrito and one bite!

The Quesadilla did not disappoint either. With its thin tortilla and softly diced chicken it had a different approach to taste. It combined both a subtle yet powerful and unique Quesadilla taste which just put to shame tacobell’s or Mexicali. THIS WAS A QUESADILLA! The guacamole added the hint of acidity and complimented the acidic taste of the salsa with its fruity taste of avocados which were not to sweet so as to be identified as Filipino but still sweet like fruit sweet. The food was served warm and not hot. Just the way I like it.

With the great tasting and awesome looking food one would expect that portions would be an issue. But as we munched on, we realized we weren’t even halfway done and already we were full! I tried to measure how big the burrito was and a half burrito was a little bigger than my fist in girth and about as long as my out stretched palm in length. Remember the key word is HALF.

The Quesadilla was as long as the table and it was divided in 4 sections. (I only had one!)

With these large portions, one ran the risk of either compensating by lessening the ingredients or using too much tortilla. But the burrito was packed end to end. (I can’t say the same for Taco Bell or Mexicali!) The quesadilla was also full from the tip to the outer edges. I was uber happy with how I didn’t feel cheated with my food.

They also serve specialty beer and Corona. Sooo if you’re a beer person they serve different kinds of Ale for only Php 40 no matter what kind.

It was another great meal from one of the upcoming resto developers in Manila. So far I’ve only heard about 3 restos he has developed and have tried them all. I never came away disappointed.

As for price, my GF and I averaged Php 700 per meal at Charlie’s and Ristras and Php 1200 at CYMA so not so bad considering the amount of food and quality.

If by any chance Chef Rob Goco you are able to come upon this post and read it, I would like to say thank you for bringing these kinds of Restos to the Philippine Foodie Scene. I shall await your latest opening and will be there definitely!

On a more personal note: Some follow authors, directors, even anime cartoons. Other follow actors and actresses or telenovelas or series’. I follow restos. And I am proud to admit that I am a Chef Rob Goco fanboy!

Cheers & Happy Eating!