At a breezy corner of Century City Mall is a place you can sink into a chair and enjoy breakfast and try Middle Eastern fare. At this restaurant on the fourth level, they also get playful with food — think salmon in your milkshake and bacon in your coffee. It's quirky, yes, but Chaplin is also definitely warm and welcoming that waking up early for breakfast here is a treat.
Why not begin your brunch at Chaplin with some fries? There are no rules for hunger and their Poutine (P285) satisfies, a heaping of thick and meaty pieces smothered in homemade cheese sauce, with mushroom confit and bacon bits for good measure. There's bacon in it, so this can totally pass off as breakfast.
Chaplin also takes pride in making their own bread and pastries, so do give these bready dishes a go. The Italian Bruschetta (P385) is a treat — don't expect the typical bruschetta decked with tomatoes, though. Their version turns it into a breakfast treat, three pieces of home baked bread slathered with cream cheese topped with slices of smoked salmon; sunny side up eggs greets you a good morning like the warm sunshine. For a Middle Eastern breakfast, a must-try is the restaurant's version of Bourekas (P280) a flaky pie that reminds one of croissant that's both crisp and fluffy at the same time. The puff pastry pocket is presented open faced, with a smear of pesto sauce and topping of tomatoes and boiled egg. It is also served with a side salad that refreshes the palate, and curiously, even some fries.
For a flavor-loaded breakfast with Middle Eastern on your palate, though, Chaplin's Shakshouka does the job best! This dish, redolent on three things I adore (tomatoes, runny eggs, and spices), is comfort food served on an iron skillet. Added in the saucy dish are onions, chili peppers, and bell peppers. Tear off a piece of the side of freshly baked ciabatta that comes with it, and mop up everything really good, enough to soak the soft bread like a sponge. You can have their shakshouka in several ways: with Black Olive, Eggplant, and Feta (P365), Jalapeno Mozzarella (P345), Meatball (P375), Plain or Vegan (P295), and Solo (P220).
Taking this saucy Moroccan and Israeli staple and letting it travel to Italy is the Shakshouka Pizza (P325). It makes sense to transform the dish into a pie–it's bread and a rich stew of tomatoes, so here the pizza sauce is the shakshouka, with a combination of red bell pepper, onions, paprika, cumin, gram masala, mozzarella, and pesto. Two eggs are cracked right in the center of the pizza before it is baked. Eat a slice once the pie is served — it's best when hot off the oven!
The playful twists also come in form of beverages here at Chaplin. The most peculiar things I've seen on the drinks list were a Salmon Milkshake and a Meatball Iced Tea (such madness!), and from what my companions ordered, they say it's quite strange at first but it does work. Maybe next time I'll be more curious to try it, but a soothing hot drink was in order for me after a filling brunch, so I try a couple. There's Bacon Cappuccino (P145) smooth and creamy with waves of saltiness coming from the pieces of cured pork, and my new favorite, Chaplin Tea (P160). The ingredients are simple and pretty common, but when they come together for this tea, the kind of refreshment you get is unique and flavorful! A cup gets much love from honey, fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick, an orange slice, and mint leaves.
Chaplin is located on the Roof Deck level 4 of Century City Mall, Makati. Open daily from breakfast till midnight. Follow Chaplin on Facebook (/chaplin.cafe.philippines) and Instagram (@chaplin_ph).
