Brew-Kus: The Bev-Wich Shop in Salcedo Village

Saturday, April 28, 2012
On a scorching hot summer day, it's just nice to lounge at cafés, get a light snack and enjoy a refreshing drink. And in Makati where life is undoubtedly fast-paced, a bev-wich shop by the name of Brew-Kus generously offers good Continental comfort food along with an extensive selection of equally comforting drinks.

Brew-Kus Storefront Brew-Kus Dining Area

Having only opened last November, Brew-Kus which is a wittingly conjoined word of brew and cuisine, is a young and laid-back café drenched in purple, lime and cream. Subdivided into three sections -- coffee shop, casual and fine dining, Brew-Kus' interiors generally evoke a sense of comfort amidst its busy location. And with a cozy atmosphere, an inviting ambient lighting, and a color scheme made up of my most favorite colors, it's a no-brainer that Brew-Kus is my kind of a hangout spot.

Brew-Kus Interior Brew-Kus Cafe Area

Headed by Chef Sheilla Lopez who has an extensive culinary experience both local and international, Brew-Kus is not only the place to chill, but also the destination to enjoy good food with good company. So to start off our delightful afternoon snack, we had the Crisp Mushroom Ravioli (P180).

Crisp Mushroom Ravioli P180

Unlike the usual Italian filled pasta, Brew-Kus' version is a deep-fried combination of shiitake mushrooms and cream cheese sandwiched in wanton wrappers, and comes with a tomato dip. Although I try to avoid fried foods for my thighs's sake, I can't help but continuously munch on these lovely babies. The crisp golden crust was a delight to bite onto, and the soft flavorful mushroom surprise was one savory treat.

Grilled Veg & Mozzarella P250

We also had a serving of Grilled Veg & Mozzarella (P250), an open-faced grilled gourmet sandwich topped with pesto-basted shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and beautifully melted mozzarella, served with house coleslaw on the side. Though I'm not a big veggie eater, I very much enjoyed this healthy dish. Every bite was definitely a treat, and with flavors as savory, who needs meat on their sandwich!

Shrimply Loaded P250

Our foodie group also got to sample the Shrimply Loaded (P250), another gourmet sandwich generously filled with a mix of sautéed shrimps in garlic and asparagus, cream, Parmesan and lettuce, served with a siding of coleslaw. Being a seafood lover, this sandwich definitely satisfied my seafood craving. Every bite was an explosion of succulent shrimp goodness. And the next time I visit Brew-Kus, forget my seafood allergies, I'll definitely order this!

Wild Mushroom Pasta P250

For more carbs, we were served with an enticing plate of Wild Mushroom Pasta (250). Made with diced shiitake and button mushrooms swimming in a rich cream-based sauce and topped with prosciutto slices and premium white truffle oil, this pasta dish was definitely one of the tastiest I've had in a while. The mushroom-infused sauce was very savory but nicely balanced by the saltiness of the prosciutto. However, I definitely recommend eating this with a few companions as the flavor of the truffle oil can be overwhelming for one man alone to finish.

As our afternoon snack was drawing to an end, Chef Sheilla demonstrated how she makes the perfect beer batter for the famous comfort food, Fish & Chips. And indeed, it was how most of us wanted our fish -- crisp and thinly coated.

Chef Sheilla's Beer Batter Beer Battered Fish & Chips with Tartar Sauce

Served with a choice of either a tartar sauce or a pesto dip, these Beer Battered Fish & Chips were phenomenal and honestly, one of the most generous portions I've had in a while. With oven-baked potato chips on the side, this combo is definitely one tasty treat.

Assam Tea Latte Large P90 Breakfast Magazine

Of course, our trip to Brew-Kus wouldn't be complete without trying out their drinks. So to get the brew part down, I had a large Assam Tea Latte (P90) at 50% sugar level. Being a milk tea lover, I can say that this cup was good. The drink wasn't too sweet and I really got to pick up the notes from the black tea.

Before giving out my verdict, I'd like to thank Breakfast Magazine for this awesome Breakfast Club meeting at Brew-Kus where we didn't only get to have a great afternoon dining experience, but also had the chance to meet cool food lovers. We were also privileged to get a sneak peek of what the 2nd issue got in store for foodies like myself. So if you don't have a copy yet, hit the bookstores and look for the beautiful Iza Calzado on Breakfast's cover.

THE VERDICT

With the number of cafés continuously growing, it's hard to spot which ones are good and which ones are not. But after this trip to Brew-Kus, I can definitely say that this bev-wich shop in Salcedo Village, Makati is worth your time and money. With a good selection of delectable food items, a wide array of tea and coffee beverages, a relaxing yet hip ambiance, and a set of affordable prices, I don't see why I wouldn't want to pay this café another visit.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5


BrewKus, Salcedo Village
Unit G-02, 139 Corporate Center,
139 Valero St, Salcedo Village
Makati City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 856-7656
Official Website
Facebook Page

46 comments:

  1. The look of the Mushroom Ravioli is enticing. And yes, I love shrimps so that shrimp loaded dish would serve me well. I've never been to Brew-Kus but thanks for featuring a place worth checking.

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  2. It is worth trying to see if how good the servings and the food are and most especially their brewed cofffee. For the price ,i don't thin that the ordianry can hang out here daily for lunch or snack,too pricey

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  3. I want to try that Crisp Mushroom Ravioli! That looks absolutely appetizing. :)

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  4. the wild mushroom pasta caught my eye! it's been a while too since i had a good pasta. i love milk tea too but it seems that i'm almost always stuck with oolong tea at 100% sugar.

    (btw, how many times do you go to a resto / cafe in a week?) :)

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  5. @tess: Actually the portions at Brew-Kus are definitely good for sharing. Maybe 3-4 people can share each of the dishes and it makes eating out more affordable :)

    @athena: I always stay away from ordering milk teas at 100% sugar level.. haha.. But I guess if it's Oolong tea, it's not so sweet naman? ^^ Anyway, I usually eat out at restos and cafes about 4x a week. But I make sure to eat less and healthily when I'm at home :D

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  6. You had me at mushroom ravioli. LOL. XDD it looks interesting! I'm not sure I like the interior, or maybe I'm just used to how cafes look like in the philippines. Brew-kus looks alot like the usual restaurants, though.

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  7. Lovely photos. As always. u make everything look soooo yummy! :) My fave is the wild mushroom... I miss carb loading and I miss u guys! :)

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  8. I miss the wild mushroom pasta! :) See you again Sumi! :)

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  9. Oh my so much carbs but wow i want to try this out. :D yummy! i am so curious with the mushroom pasta!

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  10. looks tempting. Not a a coffee lover but I always have fancy of staying inside a cafe for some easy listening and a sumptuous meal :)

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  11. This is tempting really, though I am in the diet but I guess this is exempted lol

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  12. The crisp mushroom ravioli looks interesting. I mean I haven't tried ravioli gone crispy. Hehe. :P

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  13. The pasta with the white truffle oil interest me the most. I'm so sick of the usual pomodoro sauce that the combination you described seemed all the more tasty! :D I wish there was brew-kus near my workplace in Ortigas. Then I'd definitely hang there often. I also love the color scheme and the food selection seems really, really up my alley! :D

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  14. ang daming magagandang kainan jan sa Manila. nakakaselos na. huhuhuhu.. SOON! :D sasama ako sa food trip mo sis! nyahahahaha.. <3 tapos sabay turo ng food photography. nyahahahaha <3

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  15. i reaaly wanna try this place. it's my kind of food!!

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  16. Mmmm-mmmmm! Lovely! Nakakagutom! =p~

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  17. now im hungry :) nakakagutom! i wanna try this place sometime :)) if you have time check out my blog too :))

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  18. That Shrimply Loaded sandwich looks really great. Yum! :p

    http://iifatree.blogspot.com/

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  19. Looks like a nice place to hang out! I wonder if they are open on weekends? It's easier to navigate in Makati on weekends...

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  20. the food looks great! can't wait to go there when i visit Manila.

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  21. i would love to get the recipe of that wild mushroom pasta. they look so delicious and my bunchies at home loves pasta but never tried with a mushroom. this must be a good place to visit.:)

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  22. all the foods looks great and yummy! its really so hard to stay on diet if u see kind of foods like this! xx

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  23. The wild mushroom pasta and assam tea latte got me salivating! It's too far from both my home and work place though. Do they have branches in QC or Manila?

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  24. Are they open on Saturdays? I want some Raviolis and Fish and Chips. And I work at the heart of Makati CBD. ^_^

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  25. Uy na invite din dyan si sis! Sarap ng mga kinain nyo!

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  26. I'd love to try that Crisp Mushroom Ravioli. I just wish Makati is near my place and is traffic-free.

    Visiting you from Our Food Trip.

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  27. Great! You visited brew-kus! it's really nice, and it's nice to know that you enjoyed it too. I went there for breakfast and had a great one. And there's so many dishes that I have yet to try!

    Sharing my post about Brew-kus at Valero: http://heftyfoodie.wockynest.com/brew-kus-valero/

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  28. woohooo see ya at the next Breakfast Club meeting, Sumi!

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  29. Oh definitely a must try! Thanks for posting.

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  30. a must try!!! :))

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  31. That mozarella dish is so yum! :)

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  33. i also love to hang out at cafes these days. it's too hot to do anything else. the food all looks delish. would definitely drop by here when we go to makati.

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  34. The ravioli looks so yummy. I miss living in this area of Makati. There are so many places to eat at. I use to spend weekends at either Salcedo or Legaspi Markets or checking out a new restaurant. I live in the South now so Makati seems so far, but this post is making me think it might be worth the car ride from the South.

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  35. The Beer Battered Fish & Chips looks interesting!!! :)

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  36. wild Mushroom pasta sounds so weird, but it definitely looks enticing.

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  37. First saw their menu and photos from my older brother's friend's facebook account, wife of chef Ian Isip...thought then that he would head this resto...and thought then too, this place would surely be a hit.

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  38. Crisp Mushroom Ravioli looks yummy!

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  39. I have not tried dining there. Thanks for sharing this post... the place looks cozy and conducive for hanging out and food looks yummy too. Would you like to ex-link with me? I'd be glad to be back in the future. Farida :)

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  40. The interior look great, very cozy! great for chillin' out. The food also looks delicious, meron ba dito yan sa Davao?

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  41. Great shots! Good job Sumi!
    I'd like to try the Grilled Veg & Mozzarella if ever I get a chance to try this resto.

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  42. The food all look so delicious! I especially want to try the Wild Mushroom Pasta. If I get the chance to go to Makati, I'll check out this resto. Great photos, as usual, Sumi! :-)

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  43. I wanna try that shrimp sandwich. Looks unforgettable hitsura pa lang! Ay, kagutom lang!!

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  44. Brew Kus provides for excellent food and as wel some tasty and refreshing drinks. Useful information

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