Jeepney Restaurant (154 Matahimik St, Sikatuna Village, QC)

We normally give newly opened restaurants a few months to operate before we consider writing about them, but this bright spot along the stretch of Matahimik Street had us at hello —  literally. It was a Sunday night and there was no one inside Jeepney but one server. When she saw us, she welcomed us with a sincere greeting. Of course, the ka-pow interiors also helped lure us in.

THE SPACE: Eight tables with four chairs each, with outdoor seating. 

THE LOOK: Bright, festive colors contrast with bleached wood tables and chairs. Place card holders carry rectangular metal placards that jeepney drivers use to write their destination, while aphorisms (“God knows Hudas not pay”) and samples of the Pinoy’s politically incorrect humor (“Basta sexy libre, pag chaby doble”) and passion (“Basta driver, sweet lover”) hang on the walls inside and outside the room. Check out the tassel work on the window treatment by the entrance, and the massive mural of an actual jeepney covering an entire wall.

THE MUSIC: Unfortunately, on our second visit, the radio was blaring Andrew E songs. We’re not sure if that was part of the ambiance or merely coincidence. Either way, we asked them to tone it down. They did. On our third visit, they were showing music videos of Lionel Richie and Kenny Rankin singing “Say You, Say Me”. Not necessarily better, but at least this time we could hear each other over dinner.

THE FOOD: We like this restaurant for having a streamlined menu. Under “Pampagana” you have tortang talong (PHP100), adobong kangkong (PHP80), pinakbet (PHP150), ensaladang talong with salted egg and KBL (PHP120) and two kinds of kinilaw (PHP150 tanigue; PHP100 talaba). Under “Pan-dagdag” are six kinds of inihaw (all priced at PHP150) and relyeno na bangus. They also have set meals called “Driver’s Tipid” rice meals (PHP80 & PHP85) with choices of pork or chicken barbeque, liempo or pinakbet. They have set menus for big groups.

WHAT WE ATE: Apart from the streamlined menu and cute ambiance, we liked that there was only one server in the room and she was in control. The food took around 20 minutes to be served, but that’s because the kitchen cooks everything per order. Ah, the joys of slow cooking! Everything tasted fresh. The kinilaw na tangigue was a welcome burst of flavours with the tartness of vinegar and the mild kick of chili, and was the perfect way to kickstart our meal that consisted of an enjoyable two-eggplant omelet, pinakbet (a bit salty), and a grilled tilapia with delightful tomato, onion and ginger stuffing. On our first night, we had grilled hito (catfish) that disturbingly smelled like buttered popcorn. We had saging con yelo (PHP50) for dessert, but the chopped bananas, sadly, were tough and inedible.

WHAT WE DRANK: Plain service water. They don’t serve beer, but there’s iced tea and sodas. 

WHAT WE RECOMMEND: Start with the kinilaw na tangigue, follow up with the tortang talong and inihaw na tilapia.

Jeepney Restaurant, Unit D 154 Maginhawa Bldg, 154 Maginhawa St, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City; +63 2 435 6824. Tue-Sun 10am-10pm

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