COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Maginhawa Street in UP Village, Quezon City, used to be a quiet residential area until commercial establishments and houses-turned-restaurants popped up there. Back when only a few yet interestingly unique concept dining places were in it, it was a foodie’s secret haven. But then word slowly got around, and now it’s considered an “it” place to be.
As new restos and cafés have mushroomed, the area has established itself as a culinary hotspot; it is mostly frequented by foodies and students out for group studies. Despite its popularity, though, Maginhawa Street has managed to retain its cool and hip appeal, leaving regulars excited about new hole-in-the-wall hangouts that could possibly open up and newcomers intrigued as to what all the fuss in this area is about.
As a regular myself, I chanced upon this new place that seems like a hidden gem. It’s located towards the end of Maginhawa Street, an area quite farther from where most of the hangouts are. It’s hard to miss, though, what with its witty name.
The name, Chef Diego’s Lord of the Wings, readily hints at its specialty: chicken wings, which has become a trend in the country’s resto circuit.
The place looks like a garage converted into a resto. It’s casual, quaint and homey. The of-the-moment chicken wing-concept is offset by an old world vibe, courtesy of tables covered in old movie posters like Casablanca and The Godfather, Audrey Hepburn and The Beatles painting decors, and Elvis Presley music looping in the background.
Zeroing in on the menu, Lord of the Wings offers seven flavors of “Groovy Wings”—JKC’s Soy Korean, Spicy Soy Korean, Honey Barbeque, Chipotle Lime, Garlic Parmesan, and Classic Buffalo (P115 – four pieces / P170 – six pieces / P215 – eight pieces).
My friend and I ordered three flavors of chicken wings. Mexican food lovers will love the Chipotle Lime, which tastes simple yet packs a punch. The Garlic Parmesan was okay, but there wasn’t really anything special
about it—same with the Classic Buffalo, which, sadly, didn’t come with the typical blue cheese dip. The chicken wings’ sizes were small as well.
What’s nice about Lord of the Wings, though, is that it has a pretty varied menu as compared to other restos specializing in chicken wings. The menu also features Dory’s Fish and Chips (P155), pasta choices such as Crispy Adobo Pasta (P160) and Charlie Ong’s Pasta – Lord of the Wings’ take on the classic Kung Pao (P155), and pizza like Pepperoni Classic (P345) and Spaghetti Pizza (P335).
But for me, the absolute must-tries are the Pinoy Klassiks: Lucia’s Bistek (P185) and Nana’s Adobo (P165). I think the takes of my lola, mom, and soon-to-be mom-in-law on these viands are among the best, but Lord of the Wings’ versions definitely don’t pale in comparison. They’re both value-for-money choices since not only are they flavorful, they come in big servings too!
Desserts are likewise available. There are the Moist Apple Loaf a la Mode (P129), Nutella Cookie a la Mode (P129) and Tease Me Cupcake (P55). I wanted to try the Nutella Cookie a la Mode, however, it wasn’t available when I visited.
As for the drinks, I noticed that most of the clients opted for the Psychedelic Blue Lemonade (P35), and it’s not surprising why. It tastes different in a good way and completes the Lord of the Wings dining experience.
Lord of the Wings is at 36 Maginhawa St., UP Village,Diliman, Quezon City (11am-3pm & 6pm-12mn)
