Every day, we make choices, even in the simplest things. I’m sure everyone has, at some point, wondered if we could have everything all at once — especially during moments of indecision. In real life, that may seem far from achievable, but not at Y Café and Bar in Makati.
This coffee shop in Makati has everything to satisfy hungry customers. Want coffee? They’ll brew it. Craving alcoholic drinks? They’ll mix it. Hungry? They’ll cook it. Lucky me, I had the chance to try their food menu last July 13, thanks to the Foodies Night Out event along with other food bloggers.
Y Café was formerly known as VC Café, but its theme still pays tribute to the ‘80s generation, featuring murals of iconic shows like Dragon Ball Z, Doraemon, Ghost Fighter, and Sailor Moon. Guests are greeted by a life-sized Gundam robot displayed at the entrance.
Y Café is spacious. It has a live band and indoor games that will not surely get the guests bored. There is also a part of the cafe where you can read books or work on your laptop since the place is more peaceful.
After letting the bloggers watch the AVP, Chef Paolo Manlapaz introduced the food which we will be eating.
Pasta
Chicken and Mushroom Pasta
The Chicken and Mushroom Pasta seems overwhelming at first glance. With flat noodles generously coated in a rich white sauce, I had a feeling this dish would be quite filling. It features button and shiitake mushrooms, chicken breast, and bacon. I appreciated that it wasn’t overly creamy — overall, it was quite good. Oh, and I mustn’t forget the freshly grated Parmesan cheese that added a delightful boost of flavor!
Spicy Aglio Olio
The Spicy Aglio Olio Pasta may look humble with its pale appearance, but that’s where its magic lies. The taste bursts with rich flavors, enhanced by crispy bacon bits and Parmesan cheese. However, the spiciness might be a bit too intense for those who aren’t fans of heat.
Mains
Spicy Shrimp and Sausage
Bathing in chipotle sauce, the Spicy Shrimp and Sausage dish is as good as it sounds. However, it might just be me who isn’t particularly fond of tangy sauces. The dish features sautéed Hungarian sausage, shrimp, potatoes, and corn on the cob.
Pork Chops Ala Pobre
The Pork Chops Ala Pobre is well-seasoned, with an unidentified herb that pleasantly surprised my palate. It pairs wonderfully with garlic rice. However, I wish the meat were a bit more tender.
Burger
Y Cheeseburger
The Y Cheeseburger is impressively huge, featuring a 200g pure beef patty to munch on. Since there were many of us, the bloggers were given mini versions instead of the full-sized burger. While eating, I tried to figure out if the saltiness was coming from the cheese, but it turned out to be the patty itself. Nevertheless, I hope the full-sized Y Cheeseburger isn’t as salty as the mini version we had, as it seems like a satisfying indulgence. It comes loaded with bacon strips, onion rings, pickles, sautéed mushrooms, tomato, and lettuce — just imagine that!
The ambiance of the café, as mentioned, has an ‘80s vibe, with anime and cartoon characters displayed throughout. The front half of the café has dim lighting, where the bar and band area are set. Meanwhile, the inner part of the café is brighter and quieter, making it more conducive for reading or working. The prices are very reasonable, and their food portions are generous — I’d say each serving could easily be shared by two people. I can’t fully comment on the service since it was an event, but given that Y Café caters well to various city dwellers’ needs, I’d give them a 4.5. They have minimal improvements to make in terms of taste, so my final score is…
Ambiance: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Serving: 5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Y Cafe address: Don Chua Lamko Building, 100 H.V. Dela Costa, Makati, Metro Manila
Facebook
