Sunday, October 4, 2015

Sarsa Kitchen + Bar: Have a Taste of Elevated Ilonggo Cuisine




Sarsa Kitchen + Bar wanted to introduce elevated Ilonggo cuisine to Manila palate, and it did just that with amazing success. Sarsa, to this day, continues to be one of the most popular restaurants in Metro Manila. It's always packed with people and the waiting line doesn't seem to disappear. It does help when your chef is none other than Junior MasterChef Philippines judge JP Anglo.

Here's what you can expect from dining at the popular Sarsa Kitchen + Bar.



The atmosphere in Sarsa, particularly at the Bonifactio Gloal City branch, felt very beautiful and homey. Lunch at Sarsa is always pristine because the restaurant soaks up all that natural light from outside.

My only issue is that sometimes it tends to get a bit noisy which is really a result of Sarsa being as popular as it is now.



The Sizzling Kansi (Php 380) is definitely the superstar in Sarsa. This dish is the bestseller and is also the most raved about dish in the restaurant. The beef had a butter-like texture that just melts in your mouth. The gravy packs a lot of rich, salty flavor that goes well with the beef. The bone-marrow adds another savory component to the already great dish. Have a taste of this and you'll be craving for another one.



You can also have the Kansi (Php 380) done the traditional way - as a soup. The dish has a very rich broth and is really delicious. Personally, I would much rather get the Sizzling Kansi because the flavor is centered on the beef. The sizzling version is also a lot more fun.



The Sizzling Bangus ala Pobre (Php 295) is also quite good if you're looking for some fish. It packs a lot of flavor as well so having this along with the Kansi might be too much richness for just one meal.



If you're looking for some pancit noodles in your meal, the Pancit Palabok (Php 195) also quite good. The sauce was thick and creamy and as you can see in the photo it's also quite generous on the toppings. I also tried the Lechon Manok Pancit Canton (Php 195) and I'm not a huge fan. It's tasty when you add a  bit of vinegar on it, but I'd much rather have the Pancit Palabok.



As for some veggies, you can't go wrong with Tortang Talong with Crispy Sardines and Kesong Puti (Php 210). Not a lot of words to describe this except that I love it, it's very flavorful, and I loved dipping it in the Chili Banana Ketchup.

I was also able to try the Kare-Kare, Twice-Cooked Pork Belly, Thin-Cut Liempo, and Lechon Kawali. I actually loved them all but I always go for the menu items I highlighted above (except for the Kansi soup). The price tag wasn't too high considering the quality of food and that each plate is good for sharing.

The service was alright. The place is always packed so it is understandable that it's sometimes difficult to call the attention of some of the waiters. They, however, do a pretty good job of helping you out with suggestions on what to order.

Food Quality: 4.5
Service Quality: 3.5
Ambiance: 4.5

Overall Quality: 4.5


Overall, I found everything in the menu to be flavorful and delicious. Sarsa is the Tagalog word for sauce and true to its name it really is the sauce that bring each dish to a whole new level of deliciousness. The Sizzling Kansi, a bestseller, stood out in particular as very flavorful and delicious!

I hope you try out Sarsa's array of delicious Ilonggo dishes and understand why it's one of the most popular restaurants in Metro Manila today.


Further reading you might like:

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Cheers,
Chef Jay

Sarsa Kitchen + Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 
Check out other Sarsa Kitchen + Bar reviews on openrice.ph.

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