(First of two parts)
Circuit Makati is a promising dining destination, with 18 restaurants serving specialties from Thai to red velvet mud pie. We love the laid-back community vibe; diners can bring their pets and parking is still free. Super checked out the food joints, and here’s where you should chill at Circuit:
DINNER AND DRINKS
The Burgery—The Bad Boys of Burger
American-style diner
The burgers are named after big-screen mobsters: Asiong Salonga, Donnie Brasco, Jimmy Bleu Eyes. The biggest burger is The Executioner with three juicy patties, bacon and the works. Score 50-percent off on all burgers every Tuesdays, 3-5 p.m.
Also try out the Southern BBQ Pork Belly and the irresistible Basket of Bacon, perfect with rice—or beer.
Store hours: 3 p.m.-11 p.m., weekdays; 11 a.m.-11 p.m., weekends
Backyard Kitchen + Brew
Comfort food and drinks created by chef Ed Bugia
Backyard is the place for your salted egg fix. It serves Salted Egg Chicken Skin as appetizer or as toppings to the cheesy garlic flat bread. It’s also mixed in the Bibingka Pancake which has kesong puti, ricotta cheese and grated coconut—a good way to usher in the holidays.
Bestsellers include Fried Chicken Sisig, Slow-Roasted Pork Belly and Waffle-Breaded Fried Chicken. Trademark drinks: the Harry Potter-inspired Butter Beer and the Backyard Margarita Fishbowl—a giant margarita bowl stabbed with a bottle of Brew Kettle.
Store hours: 5 p.m.-2 a.m., Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Friday-Sunday
Torch
The restaurant that tries to please everyone
Tomahawk steak, sloppy Joe, tocino or ramen? Torch has it. Pancakes and pudding, too. This fusion restaurant must have had the United Nations in mind while creating the menu, because there’s also Italian pizza and pasta, French onion soup and Hawaiian Chicken BBQ. They even have Dragon Sangria for the Targaryens.
Plus, 90 kinds of drinks from whiskey to bomb shots.
Store hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m., daily
Social House
Bands and booze
Grab a drink and listen to show bands at Social House. Dancing is encouraged, as well sharing sausages, crispy pata and salmon omurice with your squad. In a tita mood? There’s a separate dining area for people who just want to eat and drink, which is also open for lunch.
Store hours: 11 a.m.- 1 a.m. weekdays; 11 a.m.- 2 a.m., weekends; closed on Sunday
Wingstop
The safe choice
Yes to chicken wings and Blue Moon beer. Always.
Store hours: 11 a.m.- 11 p.m., daily
GAMES AND GRUB
Onboard Game + Gastro Pub
For the competitive eater
Onboard’s Nacho Hai is so good that we finished it even after visiting five other restaurants for this guide. It has fried wonton chips topped with soy tuna sashimi, crabstick, nori strips, cabbage and Japanese mayo. There are 500 games, from CSI to Avalon, says “game curator” Raf Vicente.
Share some Bourbon Baby Back Ribs, Beer Fish + Chips and Persian Rice over card games. Fuel your competitive side with craft beer and margarita. Or play Jenga with Nutella Pizza and Mega Milkshakes.
Store hours: 4 p.m.-12 midnight, Monday-Friday; 12 p.m.- 2 a.m., Saturday; 12 p.m.- 12 p.m., Sunday
DESSERTS AND COFFEE
Mudpie Heaven
Circuit’s best-kept secret
On the corner of Circuit’s second floor is Mudpie Heaven, a charming café run by mom-and-daughter Chikky and Ashley Cayuca.
Mississipi Mudpie garnished with edible flowers is the house specialty, a family recipe that calls for Oreo crust, chocolate cake, vanilla and dark chocolate gelato, and chocolate ganache. Other mudpie flavors are S’mores, Blueberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Red Velvet for Christmas.
The creamy gelatos are homemade, as well as the bread for the sandwiches. Savory items include the Osso Bucco Kare-Kare, Crispy Pork Knuckles with three sauces, and the rich and filling Bone Marrow Steak Pie with Mashed Potatoes.
Store hours: 2 p.m.-11 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 12 noon-11 p.m., Friday- Saturday; 12 noon-10 p.m., Sunday
