I’ve been going back and forth this post’s title for a while because I’ve been having the hardest time capturing this thought:

If you want to impress your boss/date/future MIL or FIL,
you MUST bring them to Relik

Good food can be hard to find. But with Relik, it’s worth searching for. The Fort’s newest restaurant, Relik is the kind of place you either stumble upon with luck or track down with a GPS navigation device. But it’s this low-key approach, from facade to food, that makes Relik such a worthwhile discovery.

Inside, diners are led to plush leather sofas under warmly lit lamps. Vintage touches like an old radio, typewriter and refurbished turntable-turned DJ booth add sentimental charm, making first-time customers feel instantly at home. In fact, almost everything about the place is comforting, especially the food.

Relik is also the perfect place to have lunch. Hearty lunch sets that are easy on the pocket are available. Each set includes soup, salad and one main course. A typical lunch set would consist of Roasted Pumpkin soup with Crème Fraiche, Caesar Salad and Lengua. Other days, one can expect some French Onion Soup with Manchego Crouton, a Garden Salad and for the main course, Chicken Parmigiana with Sweet Potato Fries. The set lunches vary regularly so there’s always something new and exciting to try out during the week. Various desserts like the Vanilla and Amaretto Panacotta with berry compote or homemade cakes are also available for the sweet-toothed.

Relik’s homey ambience and cozy interiors have made it a favorite hangout for those who have visited the place at least once. The restaurant’s “modern vintage” theme is apparent in the mix of urban and retro designs. A quick look at the walls shows vintage items from which include wooden tennis rackets, a vinyl records and framed images from the 50s and 60s. Relik also has a private non-smoking room that’s perfect for executive lunches or meetings. This room can be rented out for events and parties.

How can you go wrong with a restaurant this rustic yet beautiful? I’d love to be brought here by my date or associates may it for power lunch or themed nights. *hint, hint* Let’s get down to business and let do the nosh do the talking.

Tapas:

Jamon Platter
Jamons, Cured Meats, Olives, Cheeses

Baked Australian Brie
Creamy Yarra Valley Brie wrapped in jamon & lightly glazed with honey (serves 2 to 3)

Quesadillas
Served with guacamole & tomato salsa
Choice of fillings: Garlic shrimp, Pulled pork, or BBQ chicken

Soup:

Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Creme Fraiche

Mains:

Relik’s Mixed Paella

Lengua Bourguignon
Slow-cooked Wagyu cow’s tongue in red wine, demi-glace, mire poix & lardoons

Gambas with a Kick
Shrimps sautéed in garlic, hot paprika & 2 kinds of chili

Mother Ann’s braised Ox-tail
Slow braised Australian ox- tails served with pomme puree & buttered carrots

Vanilla & Amaretto Panacotta
Cooked cream with a berry compote

What will I reorder on my next visit (here’s the menu for your reference)? Can I start with everything? While everything’s great, I painfully loved the following:

• Jamon Platter — can’t stop grabbing the parma ham!
• Baked Australian Brie — haven’t tried anything like it in Manila except when I was in culinary school
• Roasted Pumpkin Soup with Creme Fraiche — a sweet-savory treat to whet my taste buds
• Lengua Bourguignon — strong, savory, perfect
• Mother Ann’s braised Ox-tail — I have no words to describe the ecstasy in my mouth when I tried this. Nothing comes close.