The stretch that is E. Rodriguez Ave. or C-5 in Pasig is known for being a very busy street. Fortunately, commuters can pass the time by having a drink or a meal in any of the restaurants at The Grove, Rockwell Land’s first residential development outside Makati.
“The retail row was constructed primarily to serve the residents. But now, with the recent opening of new restaurants, it also attracts people who live and work nearby,” said Rockwell Land’s senior retail manager Camie M. Salting.
When the pavilion opened several years ago, there were only Starbucks, Hanamaruken (Japanese ramen) and Sunrise Buckets (chicken wings). A second Aruga branded serviced apartment with 80 units now occupies five floors of one of the residential towers (Tower D), and there is also a Rustan’s supermarket.
With the opening of the new restaurants, residents and visitors alike can opt for comfort food, American diner fare, Japanese specialties or Indian dishes.
“We wanted The Grove to be a destination location. When we were drawing up the list, we were partial to unique, chef-driven restaurants,” Salting said.
Inquirer Lifestyle recently sampled the bestsellers in the different restaurants to give you an idea of what to order.
Alley
At Alley, the sandwiches are your best bet. Its Reuben is made with a generous portion of home-cooked corned beef belly, emmental cheese, pickled slaw and honey mustard, while the Patty Crunch has an Angus beef patty, cheddar, crunchy onion strings and Russian dressing.
Alley bakes its own bread, including dark molasses bread, potato bread, brioche and multigrain, so you can be sure what you’re eating is fresh. Don’t forget to order the crispy, seasoned chips (potato, taro, kamote) that are truly addicting.
Asakusa
You can’t go wrong with the tempura sets at Asakusa, which brands itself “Home of Tempura.” Serving portions are generous and are priced reasonably from P228 for the Geisha set (the vegetarian option with shiitake mushroom, squash, eggplant, potato and French beans), to P578 for the Emperor (two black tiger prawns, scallop, shiitake mushroom, kani, fish, zucchini and French beans).
All sets come with steamed rice and a choice of Asakusa or traditional tempura sauce.
It also serves gyoza, maki, hot/cold udon or soba, and rice toppings like salmon teriyaki.
Backyard
If you’re looking for filling comfort food, consider Backyard, which is known for its Salted Egg Chicken Skin that is as delicious as it sounds. Chef Ed Bugia coats crispy chicken skin with salted egg yolk, chili and pineapple vinegar. There is even a flatbread pizza variant with the chicken skin topping on the menu.
Other items include Waffle Breaded Fried Chicken, Thrice-Cooked Pork Cheek Sisig, and Mac & Cheese Nachos to go with flavored beers available. Butterscotch, lychee and passion fruit beers are among a dozen to choose from.
Breakfast & Pies
As the name suggests, Breakfast & Pies offers all-day breakfast and an assortment of pies. Its most popular meals are the Eggs Benny (thick-cut bacon, two eggs, English muffin with asparagus sriracha hollandaise and shoestring fries), Wagyu beef sirloin tapa with garlic kimchi fried rice and a fried egg, and the Ultimate Bacon Rice with scrambled egg and “bacon jam.”
There are nine kinds of pie to choose from, including S’mores and the resto’s version of Momofuku Milk Bar’s Crack Pie. If you like peanut butter, save room for the Peanut Butter Honeycomb with its coco banana milk biscuit crust.
Om Indian Kitchen
Looking for a restaurant that features delectable Indian food? Om Indian Kitchen is a welcome sight in the north where there is a notable absence of Indian-inspired restaurants.
The interiors are simple, modern and littered with oriental-inspired knickknacks also sold by the proprietors. The menu includes Chicken Tikka Masala, roasted chunks of chicken swimming in spicy sauce made of ginger, garlic, onion, chili, yoghurt and coconut milk; and Seekh Kebab, ground pork mixed with ground onions, ginger paste, chili, cilantro, cumin, coriander and cayenne pepper.
To cool the tongue, there’s a Lemon Ginger Cooler that helps remove the hot sensation often left by Indian dishes. Options include a selection of lassi drinks. The fat found in the creamy yogurt drink can counter spiciness.
Hanamaruken
Hanamaruken is a godsend for busy people looking for a convenient and quick ramen fix. The space is filled with Japanese accents, and looks like an authentic Japanese ramen house.
The founder of the franchise, Takaku Arakawa, is renowned in Japan for his company, the Arakawa Pork Company. As such, Hanamaruken is also known for its pork dishes.
Signature Happiness is a truly delectable ramen dish that features a rich, savory shoyu broth topped with succulent slow-cooked pork ribs.
The Drunk Man Rice bowl comes with pork belly pieces cut into cubes and served with two fried eggs.
Sunrise Buckets
One of The Grove’s original restaurants, Sunrise Buckets offers casual American fare for the family. The restaurant is known for its chicken wings which are served in metal buckets, disposable plastic gloves included.
The fish and chips are slathered with the same sauce as the buffalo wings. The Million Dollar Milkshake is perfect to wash away the strong, spicy flavors of the wings.
The Gardens
Gardens is the healthier option for those looking for hearty but guilt-free food.
The menu has the signature Garden Salad, Gardens Brunch Pasta, Couscous Salad and Rum-Glazed Pancake.
The Garden Salad is made with fresh salad greens with caramelized walnuts and cranberry dressing, while the pasta has aromatic herbs, tomatoes, roasted vegetables sautéed with mushrooms, bacon cream sauce, and the place’s signature 7-minute egg.
For dessert, there’s Rum-Glazed Pancake that’s sweet, thick and chewy—a welcome change after all those greens.
BurgerPub
A certified foodie favorite at The Grove, BurgerPub is the go-to place for those hankering for a burger fix.
The Mushroom Burger will surprise, as the taste and consistency of the patty resembles meat very well.
The Pub Sausage platter goes well with the imported beers. The Bleu Burger is the pub’s bestseller, a creation made with a generous amount of bleu cheese.
The Pub Original is a beef burger made with the restaurant’s original sauce, caramelized onions and cheddar cheese.
