I love the South! Yes, there are a lot of great restaurants and
must eats here in the South, but I need to be fair to the North and say that
they would have countless and unique places and food to eat in that side
of the metro too. Back then, my family and I
would be in my Lolo Joe’s house in Malakas, QC every Sunday for our regular
family reunion, and it was deja vu for me when we were in the same area last
week to try a new restaurant café in town, Mateo’s.
Mateo’s
Restaurant Café has a rustic ambience reminiscent of trattorias in Italy, which I
really, really loved. Still on its soft
opening, they serve homemade Spanish-inspired Filipino cuisine, pastries and
specialty coffee, boasting of recipes passed down from generation to generation. The main area sits approximately 20 people,
and there’s another section, which can accommodate around 30 people.
We went straight to
the main course. They had several dishes to choose from, but we decided
to go for their Spaghetti Alla Vongole,
Lengua Alla Mateo and Creamy Binagoongang Bagnet as they
suggested. Their presentation was
impressive, and we were very eager to try their fusion meals.
 |
| Lengua Alla Mateo Ox Tongue, Mushroom, White Wine, Potatoes and Cream served with Mashed Potato P350 |
 |
| Creamy Binagoongang Bagnet Crispy Pork Belly with Coconut Milk, Homemade Bagoong Spices served with a cup of Steamed Rice P250 |
 |
| Spaghetti Alla Vongole Manila clams sauteed in garlic, Anchovies, Special Sauce with Red Pepper Flakes P250 |
It was a breather on
the typical Spanish and Filipino meals as theirs had a different take/twist on
their dishes. Of the 3, the Creamy Binagoongang Bagnet was our
favorite. The meat had just the right
amount of crisp and taste!
For dessert, we tried their Mateo’s Ensaymada con Queso and Dark Chocolate Mousse Dome (Yes, we love to eat! J).
Their ensaymadas looked very enticing to eat. It was light with just the amount of taste and
texture. You can choose from a topping
of either Cheddar or Queso de Bola, whichever you prefer.
 |
| Mateo's Ensaymada con Queso P40 each |
Their Dark Chocolate Mousse Dome was heavenly. Their serving is good for sharing for 3 to 4
people as it was very rich and is definitely a must for chocolate lovers.
 |
| Dark Chocolate Mousse Dome P150 |
This is definitely one of the places I
will go back to. Mateo’s is a very lovely restaurant cafe with good quality food. It is actually also a nice place to catch up
with friends with a cup of coffee (or for me, hot chocolate J) and a nice destination for a special
meal with your family and loves partnered with Sangria (P250 per glass) or a
bottle of wine (P700 per bottle).
Since they are still on soft opening,
the only parking available is along the street.
Soon though, there will be a parking area for their customers, construction
of which is ongoing.
Thank you, Mateo’s for the delightful lunch!
See you again!
- Jessamine
Average
price per person: P300-P400
Operating
Hours:
Monday to Sunday
– 10 am to 10 pm
76 Malakas
Street, Diliman, Quezon City
(02) 433-8033
mateosph@gmail.com
