Mambobola talaga! 11 January 2006
Cafe Bola. Last night was the first time I ate here. I have been purposely steering clear of this place because … well, for no real reason at all. Maybe because I am a little cynical about anything that’s remotely considered “modern” Filipino. Or I am just time warped on my concept of “Filipino food?”
I semi-enjoyed my meal. What I did enjoy immensely was that I was in such good company (right, Sharon, Lea?).
Ok, ok, pasta in a Filipino joint seems a little off. And following suit, the tomato sauce with my pasta was sweet! What I did like was the effect of the crisp, salty danggit flakes atop the spaghetti, intermingled with the creamy kesong puti (white cheese)! Oh, I’ve never ever seen basil chopped so thinly, and so evenly, it seemed quite unedible.
The Ceasar salad was ho-hum. I am pretty put off by iceberg lettuce what so many other tastier greens out there. But it was nice to start off the meal with the shared salad.
A taste of Sharon’s naked Ilonggo chorizo (yes, there was a naked Ilonggo) atop rice, was well … just that, minced chorizo, atop rice. We Filipinos can be so dang creative! (smirk!)
The service was pretty good through. Despite the fact we were seated next to a long table that was jampacked, generally their orders seemed to be coming in pretty quick. And we didn’t have to wait too long either.
What I didn’t particularly like about the place is that I felt like I was in an upscale canteen. Sure, they have entire wall covered with those funky brown and orange circles, and nice black and white prints of Filipino life here and there (very nicely done, I might mention). And all that orange, talk about hip and funky! But noise levels weren’t too comfortable … and when things got a little rowdy somewhere in that huge expanse of tables, you could barely hear yourself think. I guess I was straining to hear what my two companions were saying, which was why I noticed it.
Based on prices of my usual eatouts, I was a little put off the fact that we spent close to 800 pesos for three, and without any dessert! (No dessert, NO! When meeting with girlfriends, dessert is the staple of the meal!). For that amount we could’ve had a scrumptious meal at Sakura, or added on a bit and we would have been happily full in Bollywood, both just a stonethrow away.
Fusion is as fusion does. Though I really couldn’t consider myself a purist, the Filipino version of pasta just isn’t my cup of tea. But if you are up to paying overpriced Filipinized pasta or a nice-looking Filipino meal, you may just like it.
We hurried off elsewhere to get dessert and more conversation at a nearby tea-coffee joint. A wonderful way to end the night, err, day.
Cafe Bola
2nd floor
Greenbelt 3, Makati City
You should try banana leaf at powerplant mall, its awesome. Have curry sauce and naan and lemon grass iced tea.
hi pavel, funny you should mention banana leaf. it is one of my favorite restos! eating at cafe bola was a one time deal, for sure.
We’ve eaten there a couple of times. It’s owned by Kris Aquino, right? (So, who cares??? ha ha). Anyways, I liked their juices. Their calamias juice was pretty good. Overall, though I found it pretty expensive because the ambience wasn’t reall “cozy”, the servings weren’t that big, and the food tastes were…. well…. just okay.
ah talaga? i didn’t know that! (you’re right, who cares). i didn’t see their calamias juice, but come to think of it, i did have lemongrass tea, and that was pretty good.
kind of mediocre all around for the price, i guess. sige, di tayo kakain diyan pagpunta nyo ulit.
Nope, It’s not owned by Kris Aquino(still who cares, LOL). Roel says it’s owned by the Araneta’s. One of Araneta’s nephew, Oye Fores (former boss of roel), runs the business.
medyo palagi kaming kumakain sa cafe bola. hehehe
hindi ko din siya paborito or anything like that pero hindi ko din siya hate. i only order two things doon. either grilled chicken tocino or tuna spaghetti. 
ang nakakabanas lang ay minsan some of the waiters don’t exactly know what “well-done” means.