Everything from Everywhere All in One Place: Uptown Bonifacio

The world is eagerly reopening, and it feels like we are all waking up knowing exactly what we missed after a long stretch of having to stay in place. Aren’t we all just raring for the excitement of discovering something new?

Uptown Bonifacio, Megaworld’s premier township in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, has a feast of fresh experiences waiting with its well-curated buffet of new and moderately priced restaurants that gives you a little of everything from everywhere all in one walkable space.

Randy’s Donuts in Uptown Parade. The first Philippine branch of the iconic Los Angeles, California donut joint has reopened! If you haven’t yet, grab a taste (or a dozen) of their large, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth, world-famous donuts. Enjoy your treat inside their colorful and lively modern diner-themed shop with a coffee (we recommend Randy Dandy, their take on the caramel macchiato) or grab a box to go from their takeaway kiosk right outside. Either way, you get a bite of bright and whimsical LA.

There’s a donut for everyone with the joint’s four flavor categories. If you’re more into the traditional donut, they have familiar classics like the sugar-raised donut or the chocolate iced cake. If you want something a little extra, you can treat yourself to their deluxe donuts, like the pink raised with sprinkles or the chocolate twist, or you can take it a little step further with their fancy flavors like apple fritter or strawberry jelly-filled. But why not go all out and have their premium donuts, like the Froot Loops raised or Oreo raised?

With Randy’s Donuts, it feels like it’s all happy days. On some days, we deserve a great chocolate-covered donut. On other days, we deserve a great chocolate-covered donut sprinkled with M&Ms.

Secret Kitchen at 4/F Food Hall in Uptown Mall. Cochinillo for regular lunch or dinner? Why the heck not! It almost feels like a guilty secret, but Secret Kitchen now serves up Marvin Agustin’s famous roasted piglet masterpiece in meal-sized portions you can enjoy as a well-deserved individual treat.

Currently, Secret Kitchen has a streamlined menu highlighting the cochinillo with three variations of Cochi Plates that come with a side salad and bone soup. You can pair up the succulent, almost buttery roasted pork with buttered garlic rice, sweet and spicy noodles, or both (we recommend both). There’s a Cochi Salad, too, with the same tasty meat on a bed of salad greens topped with salsa and garlic dressing. There is also a list of baked goods for the sweet tooth, like their Kerot Cake and their Ubae Overload.

Here’s a not-so-secret tip: If you’re feeling like bringing home a grand pasalubong, you can also order a whole suckling pig at least a day in advance and pick it up for takeaway at Secret Kitchen.

Nikkei Robata in Uptown Ritz. Chances are, you’ve enjoyed Nikkei’s Japanese-Peruvian offerings before. But with the newly opened Nikkei Robata, there’s more reason to head off to Uptown Bonifacio for something new. This latest Nikkei concept takes on robata, a traditional Japanese method of grilling fresh meats and seafood and other ingredients over hot charcoal that leaves them juicy and infused with a savory smoky flavor.

The traditional Japanese fare and Nikkei main dishes are still on the menu, but they share the spotlight with new stars like the robata steak and black cod with spicy shiso ponzu. We recommend as well the heavenly scallops with buttery uni sauce and the yakitori platter that features grilled squid, shrimp, tamago, quail eggs, and delectable Esguerra Kurobuta pork belly.

At Nikkei Robata, you can go from dinner to drinks, because they also have a bar list that includes a selection of sake. They have a Bounce Back Hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. during which you can get three drinks (cocktails, beer or wine) for P595.

Nikkei Robata’s cozy and elegant interiors feature a lot of wood and bricks in grey and brown, giving it a modern Zen vibe and making it perfect for an intimate, long-missed, and much-needed get-together.

Wicked Dogs in Uptown Parade. Plucked from the heart of Poblacion in Makati, this hip and uncomplicated specialty hotdog joint is a welcome spice in the BGC scene.

Come for the food. They open at lunch, and they serve all manners of hot dog, from their take on the classic chili cheese dog to their Vietnamese Dong, a bánh mì-inspired hot dog bun, and their Wasabi Dog. And (wicked) plot twist: all their hotdog flavors have burger versions too!

Come for the party. At night, Wicked Dogs turns from thriving to throbbing as the bar welcomes a growing crowd of regulars who just want a nightcap or who are pre-gaming for a full night out. Wicked Dogs also has live music nights and open mic comedy nights.

Wicked Dogs Uptown retains the edgy look of the Poblacion branch. It’s all wood, steel, cement with a stucco finish, and a glowing neon sign that claims “we serve beer colder & cheaper than your ex” that result in warm and welcoming tambayan feel. If you’ve ever wanted a home bar (that is not actually in your home), this is it for you.

Tip: When you get there, you might want to order a Teddy’s Going Home.

Perrochiko in Uptown Parade. We’ve all felt that food is an escape, but Perrochiko turns it into an actual vacation, one with a Spanish Latino vibe. The spacious and elegant interior of the newest Spanish restaurant in town reflects it too, with tropical foliage taking prominent space alongside luxurious seating designed for moderately large groups. It’s perfect for family meals, but it’s also perfect for triple dates or wine and chika with the ladies.

There is a full bar in the corner that serves cocktails and beer all day (order the tequila-laced Fly High). The wine bottles that decorate the wall evoke wine and tapas night, while the wide floor space hints at the promise of dancing. But Perrochiko is ultimately all about leaving you with a more than satisfied tummy.

Their menu offerings are guaranteed to send you to your happy place. They have a variety of tapas with several kinds of croquetas (we recommend the wild mushrooms and black truffle croquetas aside from the classic croquetas de jamón), Catalan-style paellas, a wide selection of charcuteria, aside from mains and desserts that are sure to become instant favorites. Try the divine seared goat cheese salad with strawberry vinaigrette for starters and get the Iberian pork glazed with a sweet pineapple sauce as one of your main dishes.

Salt & Ice in Uptown Parade. Fresh oysters flown in from Aklan paired with craft cocktails? Yes, please. This newly opened restobar is a veritable tour of flavors. Enjoy the oysters in eight styles: oyster tempura, oyster mornay, oyster parmigiana, oyster spinach and malunggay, oyster bacon and cheese, and oyster Kilpatrick.

Salt & Ice’s distinctly international menu features bar bites like edamame beans and truffle fries, starters like chicken satay skewers and steak tartare and sourdough, main dishes like sea urchin pasta and their showpiece 1.5 kg Tomahawk steak, and desserts like the Ferrero Rocher sundae and Nutella pizza alongside familiar favorites like tiramisu and crème brûlée.

And then you have the craft cocktails. You can enjoy the classics, such as a Negroni or a whisky sour, or why not keep the pace up with Salt & Ice’s signature cocktails? You have the Kiss Kiss, which combines Remy Martin, absinthe, and hazelnut, as well as Hajimaru, which blends Roku, Campari, strawberry, and Sakura. But make sure to order the 36th Street drink, which is a blend of Sailor Jerry Rum, mango, macadamia, and milk, to pin Salt & Ice’s Uptown Bonifacio location permanently in your memory because you’ll definitely come back.

* * *

Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.