From Andrew and Sandee Masigan (of XO 46 Heritage Bistro fame) comes another restaurant that will surely turn into your go-to tapas place in Bonifacio Global City.
The concept for ¡Oye! Tapas and Grill was inspired by the couple’s numerous trips to Spain, one of their favorite places in the world, according to Sandee.
While the concept has been brewing for a couple of months, it was a serendipitous meeting during their recent trip to Spain that sealed the deal.
Andrew, CEO of Advent Manila Group, met a young and imaginative chef named Joseba Sola and immediately called Sandee to meet him. After hearing about the concept for ¡Oye!, Mortel was more than willing to travel all the way to Manila to turn their plans into reality.
Together with Bilbao-native Sola, ¡Oye! also harnessed the culinary geniuses of Spanish chef Juan Mortel and XO46’s executive chef Tanya Dizon.
The menu is a tapestry of bold flavors playing between nostalgic Filipino cuisine and classic Spanish dishes. Thanks to the three chefs, each dish had a twist that sets it apart from other Spanish restaurants in the metro.
Our ¡Oye! experience started with a serving of house-baked bread, a tasty chilled tomato soup called Salmorejo, and a bowl of game-changing Chicharron del Veedor. The chicharron was served cold yet for some reason it was still intensely crisp and bursting with flavor.
Before they brought out a selection of tapas, we were offered drinks. A delightful glass of White Wine Sangria was perfect for hot Manila afternoons. While their signature drink, La Puñeta, is perfect for socializing with fellow #TitasOfManila with its healthy dose of vodka mixed with lemon and mint.
They soon placed three serving boards in front of us. We had the Lengua con Salsa de Pimiento Verde (braised beef tongue with green pepper sauce on top of fried potatoes) and the dangerously addictive Croquetas de Chorizo (fried potato croquettes with chorizo and served with bechamel).
The third board had Grilled Foie Gras with Pedro Ximenez over Crostini and it is as indulgent as it sounds. The foie gras was cooked perfectly that it melts in the mouth like luscious butter.
For the main course, we were served Grilled Chicken Majada with Chimichurri and Pollo Ma Brasa con Salsa Masada. While the meats were not as juicy as we hoped, the addition of the chimichurri and salsa not only added moisture but imparted flavor to the meat like no other. The chimichurri itself is worth noting with its beautiful balance of herbs.
The grilled meats were paired with — dare we say it — the best fried rice we’ve ever tasted. The rice was sautéed with garlic and the fat rendered from their Chicharron del Veedor. Yes, it was cooked in chicharron fat because they’re geniuses that way. It was served with a perfectly cooked quail egg with its golden yolk still runny, adding more decadence to an already sinful dish.
For dessert, we had the Tarta de Queso Clasica con Pure de Mango — the perfect combination of savory bleu cheese and sweet Philippine mangoes. This dessert was inspired by Sandee’s love of anything bleu cheese and Joseba Sola’s self-proclaimed love for our local mangoes.
Whether you’re looking for a place to dine with family members or hunting the metro for a good drink with amazing tapas, ¡Oye! Tapas and Grill has something for you.
¡Oye! Tapas and Grill | Upper Ground Floor, Uptown Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig | (02) 541 7025 | 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
