Date Places Philippines

A lot of people have been pointing us to Pino Resto Bar along Maginhawa Street at Teacher’s Village for a long time, and finally we had the time to take a trip there to try it out. Funny, now it takes a 20-minute car ride to get there, when three years ago I just used to walk along the street if we wanted to eat – I used to live with an ex at the street parallel to it. Anyway, that aside, Pino Resto Bar was just there waiting.

Definitely a looker, Pino Resto Bar is a quaint and homey place that won’t disappoint you and your date, especially if you’re yuppies. It’s casual and organic, yet tries to be chic as much as it can with wooden tables, elegant wares and pretty plating. No ceramics, of course, but imagine dining in an organic store display at the mall.

To add more artsy and as to impress your date, point out the WeWillDoodle work on the walls – they’re done by a local group that does doodles on anything – even cars!

WeWillDoodle at Resto Pino

Menu

Now, the Resto Pino menu is something to rave about. Full of innovative fare that will make you want to order everything, it’s pretty hard to choose. It might actually be best to dine here with friends so you can all sample each others fare, or at least do a double date.

On to the Resto Pino menu items. Look at some of the entrees here: Kare-kareng Bagnet (P245), Crispy Tenderloin Tapsilog (P210), Red Wine Adobong Tadyang (P185), Pino-Style Chicken Inasal (P225), Bacon and Cheese-stuffed Chicken Breasts (P225), Porkchop Tonkatsu with Longganisa Rice (P165), Calderetang Lengua (P190) – doesn’t it make your mind go nuts and want to order a sampler?

Resto Pino Menu

More items at the menu

Anyway, we finally settled for the bestsellers – Karekareng Bagnet and Tenderloin Tapsilog.

The Bagnet is more like Lechong Kawali but it’s forgivable – I’ve never actually tasted real Ilocos-style Bagnet here in Metro Manila anyway. The peanut sauce it comes in compliments it well though, and I would actually go as far as wishing the meat was smothered with it.

Karekareng Bagnet at Resto Pino

Karekareng Bagnet at Resto Pino

The Tenderloin Tapsilog comes with a unique fried quail egg topping – pretty interesting visually, but it leaves you wanting some more eggs since the yolk is quite thin.

The quail eggs are cute... but bitin

The beef strips are a hit, however. It’s soft and dissolves on the tongue.

Pino Tenderloin Tapsilog

Lastly, we got the Buko-pandan Leche Flan for dessert, even if we initally wanted the Choco-Tempura – too much fried stuff got us wanting some smooth, creamy dessert. The Flan came topped with a cherry, and though I wouldn’t want all my flans done this way, it’s an interesting take on the classic dessert.

Buko Pandan Leche Flan with Cherry

Prepare at least P300 each for the fare, drinks and some dessert you can split. It’ll be well worth it.

I said this earlier but go on a double date so you can sample more food from each other’s plates.

Pino Resto Bar
122 Maginhawa, Teachers Vill., QC
Open daily 11am-2pm & 5pm onwards
Now accepting Credit Card payments!
Contact 44-11-773, PinoRestoBar@yahoo.com, or facebook.com/PinoRestoBar

Impress your date and give him/her some leche flan next time! Here is a fool-proof recipe: