Restaurante Pia Y Damaso

 

I can’t count the times I’ve passed by Restaurante Pia Y Damaso at Greenbelt5. Though small and have few tables inside, the restaurants looks inviting that anyone would want to eat. You can say that the interior and menu is reflective of the restaurant’s personality - the inspiration they got from the book Noli Me Tangere written by our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

It was my first time to dine-in at Damaso, yet I immediately felt the comfort of my home – cozy and relaxing! It has a nice interior with elegant furniture from sofa, tables, wall details even the “kubyertos” and plates often found in wealthy Filipino families.

You may prefer to be seated at the veranda and enjoy the view of the Greenbelt Church.

For starters, we had Almond Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Bacon (P175). Crunchy bacon filled with scrumptious filling of soft almond stuffed dates.

The Crispy Adobo chicken skin and tails (P160) is the best eaten while waiting for other appetizers and main dish to be served, and even without the beer you would certainly enjoy chewing the crispy chicken skin and tails. Yum!

Filo Tart with Pork Asado, Apple Relish (P220) – I can’t find exact word to describe this dish except for – heavenly! I just love Damaso’s filo  tarts filled with perfectly-seasoned pork asado in a crunchy filo pastry with caramelized apple relish on the side. It’s sooo divine!

It was my first time to eat crocodile’s meat, the dish called Elias (P450) is a seared marinated crocodile from Davao mixed with tomatoes, mixed greens, shallots, mango cilantro vinaigrette and caramelized pineapple. It tasted like chicken.

The are sandwiches too and you should try Kua Pao Pandesal (P250). I was delighted to have it today since I missed eating pan de sal. With ingredients such as soya, anise and garlic braised pork belly topped with roasted peanuts, sweet mustard leaf confit and fresh cilantro leaves.    

I can say that they are not shy in adding flavors making it more appealing to one’s palate.

Placido Penitente is a forbidden black rice risotto with cuttlefish and fish roulade with lemon.

Fried Chorizo Cubes, Potatoes, Eggs and Pandesal (P475)

Ode to Heidelberg (P1,500 good for 3), a German dish of boiled smoked pork hock, bacon, four kinds of sausages and potatoes. The idea of Restaurante Pia Y Damaso came from the famous characters in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere while the dish, is a tribute to a place in Germany where Rizal finished writing the “Noli Me Tangere”. It comes with four kinds of sausages and potatoes. The boiled smoked pork hock is rich in flavor, try it and see the difference with the traditional crispy pata.

The restaurant has wide array of desserts. You could try bibingka waffle topped with kesong/quezong puti and homemade coco jam on the side – it’s a perfect meryenda treat for me! Sisa’s dementia, a truffle cake with white chocolate almond pastille, dark chocolate mousse and ganache? Just a few bites and you’ll get crazy over chocolates! There’s macapuno cake too!

For the owner, opening this restaurant is more of passion and love for food and Filipino cuisine.

Anyone would be reminded of the history. For me, it’s an adventure trying the crocodile meat and indulging myself to an array of flavors. I would definitely come back to try their “Brazo ni Dona Vicki” and “Pepay The Dancers Halo-halo”.

 

Visit Restaurante Pia Y Damaso at the 2nd level of Greenbelt 5, Makati City