Restaurant Review: Krave Restobar in Makati

Everybody likes to eat good food and  it's always nice to get invited to try out new dishes at places where the chef has excellent taste. I've sampled Chef Vince Rodriguez's creations during a RED Garlic Bistro food tasting event and we had a great time. So when I got invited to dine at Krave Restobar in Makati, I didn't have to think twice. I know the food would be excellent because they are also Chef Vince's concoctions.

The interior of Krave looks very classy but also very cozy. There are comfortable booths where diners could enjoy their food without too much distractions from other guests. This is a great place to go on a date or hold small client meetings in. During weekends, families could also bring their kids there for a gastronomic treat.

My friends and I started with a few appetizers. As a certified shrimp fan who also happens to like the taste of wasabi, the Rock Shrimp Popcorn was a definite winner for me :) It comes in two flavors: Wasabi Mayo and Spicy Mango.

Rock Shrimp Popcorn - P325

Next, we tried the Krave Texas Steak Roll which reminded me of RED Garlic's Alaskan Salmon Roll. It has US Angus steak with cream cheese inside, wrapped in nori and deep fried in wasabi batter. This steak roll is very flavorful although a bit spicy. But I still finished a whole piece by myself.

Krave Texas Steak Roll - P425

The Foie Gras Nigiri is quite pricey for a three piece dish but that's a given since foie gras is gourmet food and is not available in just any restaurant. Foie gras aficionados would enjoy the unique combination of cranberry compote and teriyaki balsamic reduction on top of each piece.

Foie Gras Nigiri - P645

It was my first time to eat sushi-like food that has flames on it while it was being served. The Lava Roll is another tasty treat filled with US scallops, tempura shrimp, and mozarella cheese wrapped in nori with spicy cream sauce.

Lava Roll - P385

The aromatic thin crust Beef Carpacio Pizza came out next and I enjoyed every bite! Aside from slices of beef tenderloin, I love that it has fresh arugula leaves tossed in olive oil and lime vinaigrette on top then drizzled with balsamic reduction. It's a perfect snack to share with friends and is quite similar to the great taste of RED Garlic's Torre del Griego pizza.

Beef Carpacio Pizza - P395

We were all impressed when the Tuna Tower came out of the kitchen. It's very nicely presented and tasted really good. It's has layers made of fresh tuna, kani, ripe mango, radish, Japanese cucumber and sushi rice. We tasted it by forkfuls and realized too late that we should have mixed it up first like a regular salad :p

Tuna Tower - P365

To date, nobody has satisfied my taste buds like Chef Vince does when it comes to barbecued ribs. I'm glad to have sampled Krave's Dinosaur BBQ Beef Ribs with meat so tender it easily falls off the bone.  The apricot cranberry BBQ sauce made it all the more delicious. This is a must try when you visit this restaurant.

Dinosaur BBQ Beef Ribs - P595

Aside from the flaming lava rolls, we were also awed at the presentation of the Angus Pinwheel Steak which was served hanging from a metal stick and lit up with from underneath. This mouth-watering dish is made from 25oz. of USDA Prime Rib Eye served with side salad and twice baked sweet potato. It is served with three kinds of sauces -- steak oil, Pepper Mill dressing, and red wine sauce -- which are best appreciated when combined on top of slices of steak meat. Wanna impress your date? Order this one! :)

Angus Pinwheel Steak - P3495

As to dessert, it was another first for me to eat Panacotta with sweet reddish caviar on top! It tasted more like a kind of berry than fish eggs which made the experience more unforgettable. This is served with its partner panacotta topped with fresh fruits.

Caviar and Fresh Fruit Panacotta - P195

One sweet thing I miss most from the RED Garlic menu is Chef Vince's Yorkshire Bread Pudding with French vanilla sauce and, wonder of wonders, it is also available at Krave! Although it's served in a martini glass instead of the red square dish I'm used to, the melt-in-your-mouth heavenly taste is the same. 

Yorkshire Bread Pudding - P155

Krave Restobar is located at 109 C. Palanca St. Legaspi Village, Makati City. They are open from 11am - 2:30pm and 6-11pm everyday. For more info, please visit their Facebook page.