Village Tavern: American Comfort Food at BHS Central

If I live and breathe Japanese food, then my beau-cum-foodie-partner swears by American cuisine. So after a few weeks of being apart, it was just fitting to finally bring him to Village Tavern, when we were invited by The Bistro Group, in the restaurant-filled Bonifacio High Street Central for a tasting of some good ol' American comfort dishes.
Village Tavern Bonifacio High Street Central

Located in the same wing as 'Cue and The Cake Club, Village Tavern is an American restaurant established in North Carolina back in 1984. And while it's the 11th Village Tavern restaurant, and the first international branch outside of the United States, our own Village Tavern in Bonifacio High Street Central never fails to exude a warm, cozy, sophisticated yet inviting atmosphere inspired by the tradition of the Old World tavern.

Village Tavern Wine Bottles Village Tavern Dining

Although I personally imagine taverns to be more rustic, Village Tavern's approach is definitely on the more elegant end. I'm sure no one can miss the luxurious display of wines near their bar, as well as their dining space in hues of warm browns, reds and blacks, their beautiful antler chandeliers, and their soft velvet banquette seating and posh leatherette chairs. Everything in Village Tavern spelled nothing short of extravagant.

Village Tavern Couch Seating

Now, I know you can already tell that I'm very much into Village Tavern's luxurious yet unintimidating interiors. However, it's time to talk about their food 'cause we definitely visited the place not just for the ambiance but also for their classic American dishes.

Homemade Jalapeño Poppers P290

First on our table was this serving of Homemade Jalapeño Poppers (P290) stuffed with cream cheese and bacon, breaded then deep-fried to a perfect crisp. Even without dipping to its accompanying salsa on the side, this was already very cheesy and oh-so-good. I also loved how the jalapeño peppers gave a hint of spice without being too spicy.

Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Wings P225

We also had the Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Wings (P225), deep-fried flat chicken wings coated with sweet and tangy sesame-teriyaki sauce. Being an avid lover of chicken wings, I definitely enjoyed this plate of appetizer. Each piece is very succulent and packed with Oriental flavors that I swear I can finish even 10 orders of this. Alone.

Fully-Loaded Sweet Potato Skins P240

To complete our starters, we had the Fully-Loaded Sweet Potato Skins (P240) which are roasted sweet potatoes filled with cream cheese, bacon and jalapeños. I know, this combination is very familiar. However, these babies made use of sweet potato instead of the usual white potato casings. And although every bite tasted fantastic (especially since they used sweet potatoes which are a favorite of mine), I had to stop after a piece since this appetizer is definitely very heavy for the stomach.

Black Pizza P395

For pizza, we first started off with the new Black Pizza (P395) made from squid ink dough and topped with Parmesan, mozzarella, Gruyere, pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. Initially, The Bistro Group's new corporate chef, Chef Josh Boutwood, planned to use charcoal for this recipe. However, since the use of charcoal in the food itself might throw off unadventurous diners, he resorted to use squid ink instead.

While I would've preferred charcoal in my pizza, I guess squid ink pizza dough is better for the unadventurous beau. We both really loved the classic and flavorful toppings on the Black Pizza. However, I didn't get to taste the squid ink. (Maybe it was just for color?)

Forest Pizza P475

Another pizza treat we had was the Forest Pizza (P475) topped with Italian Asiago cream, wild mushrooms, walnuts, truffle oil, Parmesan and mozzarella. While both pizzas were made from fairly thin pizza crust, I personally prefer this Forest flavor a little bit more since it was more savory despite not as visually appealing as the Black Pizza.

Texas Baby Back Ribs P650 Half Rack P1195 Full Rack

Next, we had the Texas Baby Back Ribs (Half Rack P650; Full Rack P1,195) coated with the resto's own special cola and chipotle glaze. As a big fan of pork ribs, I'm happy that Village Tavern's version didn't disappoint. It was a delight to cut through the meat as it just falls off the bone. Aside from the lovely tenderness, it was also sweet, savory and a little tangy on the palate. Definitely very enjoyable taste-wise.

Rastelli's Pureland Black Angus Beef Steak

Rastelli's Pureland Black Angus Beef Steak
  • Marinated Flank Steak (8oz. P895)
  • Ribeye (8oz. P1,395; 12oz. P1,950)
  • Fillet Mignon (8oz. P1,450)
  • New York Strip (12oz. P1,995)
Dining at Village Tavern won't be complete without an order of their aged, hand-cut and perfectly-grilled Rastelli's Pureland Black Angus Beef Steak which was very tender, very succulent, very juicy and very enjoyable even as it is. No need for gravy or any fancy sauce, although you can actually request for mushroom gravy if you wish. Even when cooked medium-well (I like my steak medium rare or medium, in general), slicing and chewing through this beautifully marbled piece of meat was a lovely experience.

Cowboy Burger Cowboy Burger P595

Last item for the night was this Cowboy Burger (P595) made with thick pure-beef patty, applewood-smoked bacon, melted cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and barbecue sauce sandwiched between whole wheat buns. Being a burger lover, the beau definitely enjoyed every bite off this meaty ensemble. I, on the other hand, can't get enough of the sweet potato fries and honey mustard dip served on the side. They're seriously addicting!

Very Best Carrot Cake P345

For dessert, we got to try the Very Best Carrot Cake (P345), a moist and tasty carrot with pecan cake covered with warm cream cheese icing topped with fresh carrot shreds. As a carrot cake lover, I can say that this serving is definitely one of the good carrot cakes I've had in a while. Aside from the base cake, I loved the texture the carrot shreds give. However, I felt there was too much cream cheese icing for this plate. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful dessert best shared (price and portion-wise) with friends or family.

Apple Carrot Juice P180 Cappuccino P120

As our beverage for the night, I got the freshly-squeezed Apple Carrot Juice (P180) which was very refreshing and perfectly healthy too. The beau on the other hand, just went for a hot cup of Cappuccino (P120) which he calls a drink and digestive aid in one.

Being an American restaurant under The Bistro Group umbrella, I'm sure you're curious at how Village Tavern sets itself apart from T.G.I. Friday's. Based from experience, both T.G.I. Friday's and Village Tavern serve American fare. However, the former has a bright and casual setting while the latter is more mature and sophisticated. With the food offerings, there are some similar items, although taste is very different. As for the price, both are at the same range, with Village Tavern just a little bit higher. I guess it's safe to assume that it's better to bring kids to T.G.I. Friday's than to Village Tavern.

THE VERDICT

After a night of pure American comfort food at Village Tavern, I can happily say that I'm impressed. Now, this is quite big coming from someone who's not really much into American fare. From the appetizers, main course, even up to the sweet ending, I can proudly admit that I enjoyed every bit of it. Aside from the great food and lovely ambiance, I love the fact that they have a wide variety of food offerings so there's sure to be something perfect for each member of the family, or for every one in the barkada.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5


Village Tavern, Bonifacio High Street Central
2/F Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Ave. cor. 29th St.,
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 621-3245
My Bistro Website
Facebook Page

4 comments:

  1. craving for Village Tavern's Jalapeno poppers and sweet potato skins! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Homemade Jalapeño Poppers and sweet potato fries for me! :D Now, I'm wondering if I can order just the sweet potato fries in a basket XD

      Delete
  2. Couldn't decide between the pizzas but that carrot cake looks like a winner! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Rastelli's Pureland Black Angus Beef Steak is making me *drooooool*

    ReplyDelete

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