Aruga Café: Cucina Victoria, Reincarnated
If I would have to eat in only one restaurant for an entire year, I’d easily pick Cucina Victoria in a heartbeat. It has always been my family’s go-to restaurant in Powerplant Mall; and it has been my go-to restaurant whenever I’m in need of a pick-me-up.
Not only does its blue-and-yellow interior resemble a cozy dining room in a warm home, its straightforward home-cooked dishes never disappoint! I loved how it didn’t see the need to introduce eclectic dishes, or name its dishes in a fancy manner. Its charm does not only lie in its food but also in the friendly hospitality of the servers which help make it feel more like home.
This is why my heart broke when it closed its doors early last year. I even messaged its Facebook page admin to ask if there’s any other way for me to be reunited with their dishes. once more Months passed, without any reply. What did I expect from a closed down restaurant, right?
However, half a year after; I got an unexpected message. The admin apologized for the delay in response but promised that they’re planning bigger things in 2015.
Thus, in the first quarter of 2015; this plan was unveiled in the form of Aruga Café. From a feel good homey ambiance, the restaurant reflected a more sophisticated and modern restaurant. It’s not located inside Powerplant mall anymore; but it’s still a stone’s throw away from it.
Its menu looked intimidating; but I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw all my favorites still there (but with a P100 premium on each one’s price tag)! Without giving it a second thought, we ordered all of them.
CAPTAIN’S CLAM CHOWDER (P455)
We started off with the best thing on the menu; the Captain’s Clam Chowder. You start off by tearing the chewy and crunchy sourdough top with your hands and spread the herb butter on it before dipping it into the best clam chowder I’ve ever tasted. The soup is a wonderfully creamy blend of clams, potatoes, and bacon bits; however, do slow down in taking that first bite (I’ve burnt my tongue too many times with this mistake). Scrape the bread bowl away with one to two more people because this is quite filling!
Another dish perfect for sharing would be the Oriental Salad (P525) which features fresh greens and fried vermicelli drizzled with a delectably sweet and tangy sesame dressing. Fried chicken fillet pieces and tasty dumplings lend a savory dimension to this delightful dessert.
GAMBAS (P405)
Aruga opted to serve its Gambas dish as an appetizer; pairing it with melba toasts in lieu of their tasty garlic rice. The delectable garlic based sauce is brought to life by the spicy kick of the thinly-sliced green chilies; however, I believe the dish shines better with rice, than with bread.
BEEF SALPICAO (P525)
The succulent Beef Salpicao is another favorite, as it features melt-in-your-mouth chunks of beef in a savory garlic-and-soy sauce topped with chopped garlic bits.
ROAST WHITE COBBLER WITH FUNGHI ALL’ERBE (P495)
However, the best entrée of the restaurant would remain to be its Roast White Cobbler with Funghi All’erbe. The cobbler had a perfect meaty bite to it; and is topped with the tastiest mushrooms ever! The mushrooms are packed with intense flavor owing to the medley of sundried tomatoes, herbs, and capers that came with it.
Aruga Cafe’s sleek interiors made the ambiance a bit more intimidating than Cucina Victoria’s; however, its straightforward dishes still evoke that homey feeling that I keep coming back to. Despite a mix of new faces to the waiting staff, it's a comfort to know that they have sustained the warmth and quality of their service.
Kudos to its comeback!
Aruga Cafe
Aruga Serviced Apartments, Edades Building
Rockwell, Makati City
Droolworthy Dishes: Captain’s Clam Chowder, Roast White Cobbler with Funghi All’erbe, Oriental Salad
Date of Visit: March 22, 2015 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua, and Jem Chua
