New York City has always been one of the culinary hotbeds of the world – they say if your restaurant can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Here, people will find falafel stands and mom and pop pizzerias rubbing elbows with snazzy gastropubs and Michelin-starred restaurants.
It’s no wonder that Patrick Santos, Managing Partner of the newly opened Bowery, is so enamoured of this glittering gastronomic capital. While his other restaurant – L.E.S Bagels at Tuscany in Mckinley Hill –serves up a typical New York bagel and lox breakfast, his latest brainchild at Burgos Circle in Forbes Town Center gives diners a taste of New York style comfort food.
His inspiration, Santos described, was the historic Bowery street and neighborhood in lower Manhattan, a rough-and-tumble place that was once known for the homeless, urban decay and high crime (think Gangs of New York’s the Bowery Boys). Yet today, the district is experiencing a cultural renaissance, becoming a hub for trendy art galleries and chic up-and-coming restaurants, attracting artists, rockers and yuppies from all over New York.
Under Chef Cuit Kaufman, Bowery performs the same transformation with homey NYC favorites, elevating it into a more refined dining experience.
“Amongst all our restaurants, I would say that Bowery is the most upscale. I would compare it to Borough because Borough also serves comfort food but here the ingredients we use are more refined. Like the simple mac and cheese, we’ve added ingredients like lobster and truffle oil,” Santos explained.
The Lobster Shrimp Truffle Mac and Cheese has become one of the Bowery’s best-sellers – each bite of this rich dish is a delectable medley of two kinds of cheese- cream cheese and mozzarella, crème fraiche and truffle oil.
Another must-try dish is the Short Rib Grill Cheese. The Bowery’s take on the classic grilled sandwich is a masterpiece of melt-in-your-mouth braised short rib, caramelized onions and cheese, with honey mustard dip for an added layer of flavor and crisp potato chips.
Guests should also try out Bowery’s handcrafted drinks, which feature syrups that were created by Chef Cuit in-house for authentic flavors. Their Cucumber Lime Smash is a refreshing vodka cocktail that pairs perfectly with their sumptuous dishes while wine lovers can order their Red Sangria, which comes with fresh berries, apples and oranges.
Bowery’s brunch menu, available from 10AM – 4PM on weekends and holidays, is another reason to drop by this place on a leisurely weekend. Brekkie fans will love their decadent Brioche French Toast, with whipped butter and honey, cinnamon sugar and fresh fruit (it’s also available in their all-day breakfast menu).
Another plus is that they source their coffee locally from Baguio and their milk from Macalawan, Bulacan, which guests can enjoy with the Kids Cereal for adults, which comes with a choice of a homemade cookie crisp or homemade cinnamon toast crunch.
For dessert lovers, try Bowery’s Free Form Bread Pudding with gobs of delicious rich cream and plenty of tart berries to cut the sweetness. Their Death by Chocolate Cake has seven distinct chocolate components, with chocolate crème anglaise and cocoa nibs for added crunch.
With their diverse menu, Bowery is a great place to hang out in anytime of the day. And there’s even more good news as Santos plans to make Bowery open 24 hours by the end of August, catering to the neighborhood’s need for a chill-out place on late nights or a quiet place for a cozy breakfast.
For inquiries on Bowery and their menu, call 0936-9296073 or email thebowery.ph@gmail.com. Guests can also check out their facebook page and instagram account , @thebowery_ph
