Good Food Trips: A Quaint Cafe in the Metro

A lot of people have recently discovered this café and have listed it as their favorite. Find out why it should be yours too!

The Chateau 1771 Group of Restaurants has welcomed yet another gastronomical success into their team. Simply called Café 1771, it is a fresh and recent addition to the lineup of this successful group (Sentro, Chateau 1771, and Sidebar Cafe). This time though, they not only concentrate on providing delicious and exquisite dishes. Café 1771 gives literal meaning to it being a wholly different dining experience.

With distinctive rooms designed with various personalities, it is clear why this fresh café is nothing but a crowd favorite. Their rooms (aptly named: whimsy, lounge, and the winebar) is literal and has no hidden pretentions.

The Lounge room gives a character of a library where there are no strict librarians enforcing their rules on being quiet and to whisper to your friends. In fact, it steers away from this prejudged discrimination since diners are allowed to be as loud as they want, with the concern for the other diners of course.

The Whimsy room is nothing short of an imagination coming to life. Filled with bright colors pink, blue and white, this room tells the story of a fun loving and classy aunt who whips up a killer dish and still manages to entertain her guests. Diners who choose to sit here are given an impression that Alice will join them anytime soon.

A trip to their Winebar, on the second floor, is a totally different experience. Armed with brown colors, leather, marble, and glass, this room fits the personality of a cool uncle well into his forties and is still a living legend of what life has provided him. He is a bachelor and lives his days entertaining friends with his extensive knowledge on wine appreciation.

Truly, the rooms alone stand out on their own. They await a story to be told upon the experiences of the guests of a home that stands to be shared with the public.

Café 1771 boasts of their slow cooked dishes and other favorites from their sister company, Chateau 1771. It is no question why many people love to return to this quaint little café to experience their delectable dishes that only they are masters of.

Their Korean Ribs in Guava Glaze consists of tender cross-cut beef short ribs that have been marinated in a fine mix of garlic, ginger and rice wine. But this does not end there. The ribs are finished with a touch of barbecue guava glaze- a taste that falls short of the unexpected.

Another dish that is a must try is the Swiss Cheese Toast, which is an open-faced sandwich that has been generously covered with melted Gruyere cheese and topped with prime choices such as Salami Milano, Prosciutto di Parma, poached egg, or their very own home-made ham.

A unique dish to try is their Baked Eggplant Rolls. Among the many restaurants in the city, Café 1771 is probably the only one to have this included in their menu. If not, they are the only ones that have been able to capture the exquisite taste of the mishmash of eggplants, garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper and melted Pecorino cheese.

A local favorite is their Pasta Chorizo. If you are new to the whole Chateau experience, then this is a dish you may want to try. It consists of spaghetti that has been tossed in a special chorizo sauce reduction and topped with endless amounts of Parmesan cheese.

Of course, the meal does not end without dessert. And when it comes to this, Café 1771 tells the story of an untold experience hidden in their delicious tarts, pies, and mousses. Take for example their version of the Valrhona Chocolate Ganache Tart. It is a unique persona explained by dark chocolate goodness with the tart bottom. Surely, one can never get enough as this is the perfect dessert: not too sweet, nor too bitter.

For those who are looking for an afternoon of pretty, they can choose to sit and sip a cup of tea or coffee from the variety enlisted on Café 1771’s number.

Aside from the ambiance, setting, and the food, Café 1771 should also boast of their service. With fully trained wait staff ready to embark on the toughest needs of the diners, they sure are something to be proud of. The staff gives meaning to the term ‘hospitality’ as they attend to their guests’ needs, asking how their food is—genuinely something that an educated host exhibits.

Indeed, the Chateau Group of Restaurants has done a remarkable job with Café 1771. It is the perfect place for those who wish to spend a lazy afternoon with friends: quiet, unrushed, and a true feeling of being at home.

Café 1771 recently opened in March 17, 2010. It is located in El Pueblo Real de Manila, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. For reservations, please call 02.631.7340.