COCONUTS HOT SPOT — When I think of Latin America, I imagine its rich ancient civilization, Miss Universe contestants, bossa nova and great football players with Latin America. Recently I’ve added another mental image: grilled chicken.
Thanks to Señor Pollo, this humble but flavorful dish is now available to Metro Manila foodies—and how they come to worship at the Latin American chicken altar! On non-peak dining hours, people are still queuing for a spot to dine in and experience the authentic flavors.
THE LOOK
Housed at F7 building along Scout Rallos Street (a stone’s throw away from Tomas Morato Avenue), Senor Pollo’s open-air ground floor and airconditioned second foor dining exudes a casual vibe that’s very inviting. The smell of smoke coming out of the kitchen grill will definitely whet your appetite. A red and yellow signage displaying the image of a rooster completes the rustic and vibrant atmosphere.
The front area features a few bar stools and wall-facing counter tables that serve as a mini-dining area. Inside is the cashier area where customers place and pay for their order. Behind it is the main kitchen.
You reach upstairs via a staircase with a natural fiber rope as handrail. The dining area has an accent wall that stacks chopped cross-sections of wood. The toilet—the most Instagrammed part of the restaurant—has glow-in-the-dark paint that looks great in the evening. The wall paintings were made by Fine Arts students from UP.
THE GRUB
I had the quarter chicken with two sides, sweet potato mash and coleslaw (PHP215) and it was good. The chicken itself wasn’t that big in size, but it was big in flavor. The spice-infused meat and skin was well-cooked, leaving the meat soft and tender. But the star was the green chimichurri sauce. Must try!
The sweet potato mash was good but the coleslaw was better. The shredded lettuce tossed in honey-mustard and cilantro was a good complement to the grilled chicken.
Señor Pollo also offers other specialties that include fried chicken, wings and quesadillas. For drinks, beer (San Miguel products, plus Corona and Tecate), wine and soda are served.
So if your love for good food outweighs your desire to smell clean and fresh all day, I suggest you visit Señor Pollo now and indulge in this delicious Latin American dish.
Hot grilled food plus ice-cold beer? Its kryptonite.
NOTES
Cost: Approximately PHP250-350 / head for food and drinks
Cleanliness: Can be improved. Smoke from the kitchen deposits soot on the walls and furniture.
Service: The cashier was warm and friendly but it was hard to call wait staff on peak dining hours. We suggest they assign a server just for the second floor.
Sound level: They play mainstream pop.
Lighting: Warm, exciting, cozy at night.
Coconuts Manila dined anonymously and paid for this meal. Senor Pollo, G/F F7 Building, 49 Sct Rallos St, Bgy Bagong Handa, Quezon City; www.facebook.com/senorpolloph, +63 917 8331033. Mon-Thu 11:30am-12am, Fri & Sat 11:30am-2am, Sun 11:30am-11pm.
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