Abè: Where Good Friends Dine on Great Pinoy Food

When I was asked to feature the best Filipino restaurants to help guide tourists, the only name that sprang to mind was Abè. Of course this does not mean that there are no other good Filipino restaurants but I realized it’s the only one that surprised my Pinoy taste bud---in a wonderful way.

Abè restaurant manila
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
As a Filipino, I already know how adobo or kare-kare should taste so if it does meet my expectations, heavens don’t open up for me which is why other Filipino restaurants usually make no impression. And if it deviates from the traditions, it’s thumbs down for me. But in Abè, they have somehow managed to make delicious Pinoy food better. A friend attributed it to being Kapampangan (from Pampanga) where people really know how to cook.

Abè restaurant manila
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Abè restaurant manila
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Abè restaurant manila
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Abè restaurant manila
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
According to its website, Abè (ah-beh) is a restaurant “dedicated to Larry Cruz’s father, the late artist-writer, gourmet and bon vivant, E. Aguilar ‘Abe’ Cruz.” Its interiors serve as a tribute to a bygone era with its photo murals, paintings, and sketches. Sometimes, to add to the ambience, they play regional music but they didn’t when I was there for this review. Instead, it was kind of noisy for a fine dining restaurant. To be fair, the noise was coming from a large group seemingly celebrating a birthday with most wearing a Chinese birthday red color. They were not rowdy but it would have helped if they kept the tone down. 
 
Abè restaurant manila
Free Appetizer: Prawn Crackers
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Upon arrival at its Trinoma branch, we were readily shown to our table even without a reservation. The table however was kind of wobbly so they improvised by putting folded paper underneath one of its legs. Our orders were taken and we were served with free prawn crackers as appetizers. Its Serendra branch usually serves pickled mangoes which I prefer but free is free.

There was no time to be impatient as our order---all of the items---came out together just a few minutes later.

Abè restaurant manila
Paid appetizer: Sinute Baby Pusit (small squid sauteed in olive oil and seasoning)
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Its sinute baby pusit is probably the best dish on their menu. I always order it each visit and never get tired of it. I order it at other restaurants but they are not at par with Abè’s.

Although it’s an appetizer, I eat it as a viand and sometimes it’s the only thing I eat with my rice, letting my friends enjoy the rest. Each baby squid is flavorful and although it is swimming in oil, it does not leave one’s lips greasy or with an after-taste.

Abè restaurant manila
Laing with Tinapa (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with smoked fish)
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Laing with Tinapa (Taro leaves cooked in coconut milk with smoked fish)

I usually stay away from laing as I am not fond of vegetables but I don’t know what possessed me to order it. Turns out it was a good decision. Most laing are salty and seeing that it is cooked with smoked fish, I expected it to be dehydrated afterwards but it wasn’t salty at all and I soon forgot that it had smoked fish. It was rich and creamy.

Abè restaurant manila
Crispy Tadyang (deep-fried marinated beef ribs)Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
I felt the ribs were a bit too dry that I had to eat it with laing sauce. Unfortunately, the ribs weren’t that crispy. To be fair, it wasn’t rubbery either but I’ve had better crispy ribs elsewhere. This explains why it was the only dish that had leftovers for us to bring home. I think it would become even drier after we microwave it. I wish I had ordered the lamb adobo instead.

Abè restaurant manila
Guisadong Hipon (sauteed shrimps with sliced kamias and shrimp paste)
Copyright Photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
I love shrimps and because the picture on the menu beckoned me, I ordered it but ended up disappointed. It almost had no flavor in spite of it having the sourly kamias (bilimbi fruit) and shrimp paste. The shrimps somehow reminded me of those frozen ones that I buy at supermarkets. Abè had another shrimp dish which I wished I had ordered instead.

Abè restaurant manila
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
If ever there is a reason for Pinoys to love Abè, it is their free-flowing rice. I wish I was still in high school where I could eat anything without gaining any weight. I would have probably consumed three servings of rice as opposed to---sigh---a half serving. Their rice was steaming hot which makes it perfect.

Although I enjoyed Abè, I have to call attention to the problem of the peripheral vision of some of their servers. I had to wave frantically a few times even though they were in front of me. One was even on the phone while at the bar. Another was literally a breath away and yet he didn’t see me giving him the signed bill. His colleague who was to his right came up instead to receive it. But they are all very polite and accommodating once you have their attention.

I also didn’t like that a staffer came up to our table offering Abè’s credit card program. Although she was polite, I find it intrusive. Perhaps they could just provide the brochure at the table or present it together with the bill instead of engaging in sales talk with their guests.

Over-all, I love Abè and would continue to return to try its other dishes. It is one of those restaurants that one can be proud to bring their friends (Pinoys and otherwise) for a good Filipino meal in a classy setting.

For Abè branches and business hours, click here. Menu prices range from P250-500.

1 comment:

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