Those who stayed at home and endured the waterless Holy Week have all the reasons to go out tonight, even if it’s a Sunday.
The fact that it’s Easter today means there are dining places and clubs open for business. Here are some choices:
Aruba Bar and Restaurant, G/F Metrowalk Commercial Complex, Meralco Ave., Pasig City; tel. no. 6364702. The place is actually open Monday to Sunday, although live gigs are held only up to Saturday. But owner Melinda Chua says she’ll be asking one of the regular acts to play tonight. We hope it’s either Milan or Rox Puno. Aruba has one of the best menu items to go with beer or wine. Try the beef salpicao, gambas and crispy tenga, or ask manager Jokz Aquino for recommendations.
Tiago, 85 Scout Fuentebella St. near cor. Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City; tel. no. 6684240. A restaurant that says it serves “progressive Filipino cuisine,” Tiago is operated by husband and wife David John (DJ) and Sigrid Buendia, who named it after their firstborn, Santiago. We like its own version of adobo—smoked boneless chicken and marinated pork trotter, which DJ says is inspired by his grandma’s tip that it’s good for the nails and skin. For tonight’s special occasion, DJ says he’s preparing an Easter egg concoction made of balut. Expect to hear a good selection of recorded music from the 1960s and ’70s, which DJ discovered from his mom’s collection.
Flavors Araneta Center, Gateway Food Park, Cubao, QC. Originally a night food market at the Smart Araneta Coliseum parking lot that was supposed to be open only for the Christmas season last year, Flavors continues to attract couples and groups wanting to have some drinks after work. Manager Jasmine Abubakar says the place is open tonight, right after the Araneta Easter party.
Eastwood City, Libis, QC. Lots of families will flock to Eastwood City today for its annual Easter Wonderland egg-hunt. But there’s something else for all the dads to look forward to at happy hour, 5 p.m.—a number of clubs in the Citywalk area are also open to add “spirited” fun to Easter.
There’s Rue Bourbon Bar and Restaurant; tel. 5700984, where we sampled caramel beer during Eastwood’s Oktoberfest last year. We liked it so much that we’re coming back for a pint tonight; we also plan to have a taste of the other kinds of special flavored beer on the menu. The place also serves good pizza.
Likewise offering a wide selection of drinks are The Distillery (tel. no. 0915-2577497) and Publiko (4213180 and 0922-8174301), where last year’s Oktoberfest launch was held.
There’s one more place near them, Pasto (tel. 6340157), described as an Italian café and dessert bar. This one is for those who love pizza, pasta and panini. There’s coffee to help digest all that heavy load, although we wish it would serve beer, too.