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COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Padre Noval Street is a food strip popular with U-Belt students and because of its captive market, restaurants here don’t even try to look good or serve excellent food. In this game, price point is more important than taste or aesthetic.
So it was a big deal when a UK-themed American diner opened in March. It’s hard to miss. The entrance looks like the door of a red telephone booth, and The Eatles signage, written in the drop-T font used by the Fab Four, is big enough to stop you on your tracks.
The phone booth isn’t just a call out to London. It’s almost like the Tardis from Dr. Who? You step inside The Eatles and you’re transported to another time and place. A red London bus stands inside the 30-seater diner, as a huge tarpauline of the Fab Four crossing Abbey Road hangs on a portion of the wall. More London memorabilia are displayed on the other side, from posters to records, to what not.
The bus is not really from London, but it is a real bus nonetheless, cut into three parts. Peek inside and you’ll see the kitchen, where all the magic happens. Like the phone, the wipers and headlights of the bus still work, though what for, we don’t really know.
Owner Aris Blas says he’s always loved Europe since he was a kid. “So I thought that this will be a good way to share my interest to the people from the area so that they could get a taste of what it’s like there.”
We’re not sure about the taste, because no matter how strong the London vibe here is, the menu is really just American diner fare.
The Eatles Burger Black Bun (PHP175), a best seller, is inspired by the Japanese bamboo charcoal bun. Each bite is an explosion of sweet, sour and salty — exactly how you want your burgers to be. It is served with home-made thick-cut fries that’s more flavourful and rewarding than fastfood fries.
Pair the Kansas City Chicken Fingers (PHP155) with the Pork Steak in Orange Sauce (PHP165) to make for happy campers in a study group.
You’ll need around PHP300 to have a good time at The Eatles. It doesn’t sound like a lot, we know. But for students, who are the bread and butter of P. Noval establishments, it might a little be too much.
The Eatles, 1175 P. Noval St, Sampaloc, Manila; +632 2309299 +63915 8863777 Daily 6am-12am.
The Kansas city chicken fingers (PHP155) is perfect as pica-pica for study groups
The Four Cheese pasta (PHP195) is hearty, good for truly bad days
Eatles pulled ribs sliders (PHP165) pack a punch. The patties have been marinated for 6 hours with prep time takes at least one whole day
Nowhere Man’s Hungarian Aglio Olio (PHP155) is good! Just, don’t order when on a date because, garlic.
The Eatles Burger Black Bun (PHP175), is an explosion of sweet, sour and salty.
Hard to miss, right?
Inside the entrance, where we can’t help but play with the phone. That actually works, by the way.
It’s British-inspired, but there’s a hard American slant to Eatles, too.
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