I rarely eat at Filipino restaurants as I prefer home-cooked Filipino dishes at home. But Braska, with its unique twist on Pinoy food, made me curious. Together with friends, we tried some among their not-so-usual menu.
Entering the restaurant, I felt the marriage of formal and casual, with fully set tables with wine glasses on one side, and a wall of reclaimed wood with colorful artworks on the other side. My friends and I loved the ambiance.
Braska Restaurant. The name comes from the old name of Bocobo Street (where it’s located), Nebraska.
On one side it looks like a formal dining area…
…and the other side looks more casual with an artsy vibe
The wall on that side is made of reclaimed wood from old ancestral houses.
We tried some of their classic and unique offerings. I don’t usually eat meat, but I was curious to try even a few bites of their dishes.
Some of Braska’s specialties
What was particularly interesting was the beef pares, a classic Pinoy comfort food, placed in a panini. Braska chef Poch Hogar was particularly happy telling us about this creation. A simple street food suddenly became upscale. The pares surprisingly goes well with the panini bread.
Braska’s bestseller pares panini. Photo by Mai Flores-Campos
They have other options, too, like the pulled pork panini and the classic caldereta, one of their bestsellers.
Pulled pork panini. Photo by Mai Flores-Campos
Beef caldereta, another bestseller. Photo by Mai Flores-Campos
I ordered vegetable salad. It was a refreshing healthy addition to the meat-heavy menu.
Fresh vegetable salad as a healthy option
Braska also has a bar…
My favorite is their breaded tahong, which is part of their “bar chow.”
…and some pretty good food to go with drinks like this “Bar Chow” – chicken skin, chicken wings, and breaded tahong (mussels)
Chef Poch Hogar sharing about the dishes she created, among them the pares panini.
We stayed overnight at the simple and charming art deco-designed Amelie Hotel, which is adjoining to Braska Restaurant, and so we had breakfast there the next day.
(Read my review on Amelie Hotel.)
There was a buffet table of cereal, soup, vegetables for salad, and more. There was also an option for a la carte. We ordered classic Filipino rice meals like tapsilog to go with the salad and cereal.
The menu also had an option for Guava Jelly French Toast, which I was curious to try, but since we wanted a heavy breakfast, we opted for the rice meals or the full spread of continental.
Breakfast is a combination of buffet and a la carte especially for Amelie Hotel guests.
Cereal section at the buffet table
Breads and spreads
My happy and satisfied breakfast mates
Braska is a chill place to hang out. I love the interiors, and my favorite is the wall of reclaimed wood, as I am partial to ancestral houses. Plus points also for their environment-friendly consideration.
The prices are also quite reasonable. Meals are usually P200 and up.
Braska Restaurant
1669 Bocobo St, Malate, Manila
Open 6:30 am till 12 midnight
I miss our staycations! I’m glad we got to experience the food at Braska, together.. there were some great dishes, and my favorite was the caldereta! I can still remember its distinct taste! 🙂
I like the breakfast spread. 🙂 Staycation mode at another place next month!