COCONUTS HOT SPOT—By definition, gastropubs are pubs that serve high-end beer and high-quality food. Most gastropubs offer Western food and drinks, and Luna J is probably among the first ones in Metro Manila to give that concept a Filipino spin (save for the fact that the only beer brand they carry is San Miguel). As we passed by Luna J one hot July day, we wondered if it was named after Filipino artist and political activist Juan Luna, and if their food was just as bold and heroic.
THE LOOK
The huge lit sign declaring “Home Cooked Meals + Beer” was all we needed to see to pick this joint as our dining spot. Located in a corner neighborhood mall along Tomas Morato Avenue (there’s a Rustan’s supermarket and Beijing Foot Spa inside), Luna J has two seating sections: inside, a cozy air-conditioned dining area where you have a view of brick walls and a black ceiling with drop down Edison bulbs with exposed filaments; and outside, a not-so-private area for those who want to drink and smoke in full view of the public.
We sat inside and were immediately taken in by the clean design. Apart from the new furnishings, the minimalist approach made the place more spacious and inviting. The bar section features an overhead wine display that lends an industrial tone. The black leather seats’ vintage design instantly added a touch of class. The place looks modern and mimics some of New York’s cool wine shops and cafés. If not for its name and the food, you wouldn’t think this was a Filipino pub.
THE GRUB
Wanting to cool down on an unusually hot day, we ordered two bottles of ice-cold Cerveza Negra. After some confusion with the wait staff on whether or not the beers were in stock and cold enough, they finally arrived. Beers are served “below zero” or right before freezing point.
For chow, we ordered pork sisig, which was served the traditional way and tasted great. Unfortunately, there was too little of it. The sizzling plate was tiny. It was served bubbling hot and the raw egg cooked easily when we mixed it with the sisig.
We enjoyed the kilawin tuna. The cool slivers of raw tuna meat together with the vinegar, ginger, peppers, onions and spices gave a wonderful explosion of flavors. Like a Juan Luna painting, the contrast of cold and fiery, sour and sweet, were very much at play.
Overall, our experience at Luna J was a pleasant one. The food was good and the ambiance was enticing, but they really should train their wait staff and work on the kitchen-waiter coordination. I actually look forward to trying the kare-kareng bagnet and some barbecue specialties soon. Hopefully they can improve their food portions.
NOTES
Cost: Average PHP300 per person for food and drinks. Food portions were very small.
Cleanliness: Spic and span, almost everything is new.
Service: Poor. Some staff weren’t even familiar with the menu.
Sound level: Not too soft, not too loud. They play current pop and RnB music.
Lighting: During the day, mostly natural light, as it takes advantage of the huge glass walls and corner spot. At night, strategically placed yellow lighting fixtures give it a chic, urban feel.
Luna J Gastropub, UG/F Il Terrazo, 305 Tomas Morato Ave, Bgy South Triangle, Quezon City; www.facebook.com; +63 2 373 4668. Daily 11am-12am.
Coconuts Manila paid for this meal and dined anonymously.
Photo: James P. Ong
