COCONUTS HOT SPOT — I have always appreciated music from different eras and genres. And even though I prefer 1990s alternative rock music, I had a great time at Café 80’s. Here, one gets a taste of the “new wave-big-hair-dance-pop-electronic” decade. More than the music, you are also treated to classic 1980’s movies, good bar chow and drinks.
THE LOOK
To reach Café 80’s you need to take a steel outdoor staircase gonig to the second floor. Inside it feels as though you are in a dark basement. Lighting comes from some neon signs, lamps, illuminated beer signs and flatscreens.
On the walls are vinyl records, cassette tapes and some laser discs. They feature recording artists such as Psychedelic Furs, Michael Jackson, Tears for Fears, Swing Out Sister and Duran Duran.
They also play ’80s movies like Porky’s and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. I thought Bill and Ted’s was shown in the early 1990s but the bartender Googled it and confirmed that it was, in fact, released in 1989.
THE GRUB
Even the menu is named after music artists like New Order and Flock of Seagulls. We sat by the bar and ordered dinamita, garlic mushrooms and a couple of sausage sliders. Surprisingly, the food was better than we expected.
The dinamita was hot, crisp and freshly deep-fried. Seven sticks of cheese-stuffed jalapeno were served together with a spicy red dip. I also tasted butter and it upped the flavors nicely.
The thinly-sliced garlic mushrooms were sautéed well and the bits of pepper and garlic, combined with butter (this seems to be the secret ingredient), worked wonders for my taste buds.
Each gulp of San Miguel Super Dry refreshed my palate for more. The sausage sliders were served with fries and is a good choice for those who want something a little heavier.
Only San Miguel beer products are served, but they offer it at sub-zero temperature. It was a rainy Monday night but more and more people came in as it got late into the night.
The bar seems to have already built a loyal following in the eight years that it’s operated in the area. Occasionally, celebrities from a nearby television network drop by the bar.
Café 80’s is a cool place. They play good music and the food is better than most bars. Try to visit it on a weeknight as it is packed (standing room) on Fridays and Saturdays.
NOTES
Price: PHP250-450 per person for food and drinks.
Service: Good. Staff might find it hard to see you if you are sitting on the far corners of the bar.
Cleanliness: Couldn’t see if the place was clean because it was so dark.
Lighting: Very dark.
Tip: Use your smartphone backlight to call wait staff.
Coconuts Manila dined anonymously and paid for this meal. Café 80’s, 40 Eugenio Lopez Drive cor Sgt. Esguerra, Bgy South Triangle, QC; www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-80sBarandResto, +63 2 9669170. Daily 5pm to 3am. Photo via Facebook page of Cafe 80’s.
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