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COCONUTS HOT SPOT — When Relik Restaurant and Bar opened four years ago, it quickly earned a reputation for being a “stugstugs” party lounge despite the fact that people were actually going there for the food.
A few weeks ago, they cleaned up the walls, changed the flooring, added more lights and fattened up an already awesome menu.
Goodbye, party people. Hello, earnest diners.
Chef Benjo Tuason likens the restaurant to a cave where people can go to escape their worries and have a proper good meal. “I’d come here after a long and hard day at work, eat, and forget about my stress,” he says. “Di ba, parang cave?”
It sure looks like a man cave. Trendy red brick walls feature vintage décor like old tennis rackets, trophies, and framed black and white photos. Odd-size tables with unmatched chairs in the middle of the floor. A DJ booth near the smoking area playing upbeat tunes to fill the 120-seater restaurant with good energy.
Relik is popular for its bar chow, listed as appetizers on the menu. The beef salpicao (PHP359) features tender beef cubes swimming in thick sauce with a hint of curry. The Chorizig (PHP228) is choriza cooked sisig style, which chef Benjo created after realizing that he “can’t do a proper sisig”.
But it will be a pity if you stop right there and overlook the mains. Our favorite? The Grilled Salmon (PHP388), two perfectly grilled fillets of salmon, cooked and garnished with orange slices. The tender fish meat has hints of orange lifting up the flavor. The salmon fillets lie on a bed of mashed potatoes and served with buttered vegetables on the side.
New on the menu is the Milo dinosaur cheesecake (PHP149), the unexpected star of the meal. Milo powder that reminds you of your childhood sits on top of a real cheesecake — no gelatin extenders here — that’s almost like ice cream. Thick, a tad sour, and nothing too overwhelming. A sweet Graham crust at the bottom completes the entire extravaganza.
These days at Relik, eating trumps partying.
Relik 2/F CommerCenter Building, 31st Street cor 4th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. +63917 5298333. Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, 5pm til late. Sat 5pm til late.
While just an appetizer, the Beef Salpicao (PHP359) is good enough to be your viand already. Order a cup of rice (PHP35) and you’re set to have a really good meal.
The Grilled Salmon (PHP388) is a delicious feel-better meal.
The Slow-Roast Beef Belly (PHP375). The beef belly is roasted for five hours resulting is super tender fall-of-the-fock beef. Can’t help but wish the red wine sauce isn’t too overwhelming.
The Milo Dinosaur Cheesecake (PHP149). New on the menu and oh-so-good!
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