Dining Snippets: Nagi Izakaya x La Ragazza x Ooma

NAGI IZAKAYA

I’ve always loved dining in Ramen Nagi, so trying out Nagi Izakaya – which offers an extended menu of grilled skewers and drinks + features some Limited Kings as part of its regular menu (like the Truffle King), was a no-brainer.

MAGIC MUSHROOMS (P268), CHICKEN YAKITORI (P120), BACON WRAPPED ENOKI (P150), BUTABARA (P150)

One good thing about Nagi Izakaya is that you can order its sticks individually (some izakayas require minimum orders). Shio and Tare are offered as options for your sticks.

There’s nothing particularly special or unique about their sticks, but they were cooked perfectly + were reasonably sized and priced – which makes them perfect appetizers to your ramen bowls or pulutan for your beer. However, if you want something different, opt for an order of their Magic Mushrooms – fresh Japanese mushrooms cooked in a mouthwatering bath of butter, garlic and onions. Rice vinegar cuts through the fat and richness of the butter; while a mixture of nori and leeks that serves as its topping, lends color, texture and flavor to the mushrooms.

EBI KING

I paired this with the Limited King of Ramen Nagi at that time, the Ebi King. One of the few Limited Kings I actually don’t mind eating on repeat, it builds on Ramen Nagi’s signature tonkotsu broth by adding a dollop of fire sauce, drizzling it with a cream sauce and pairing its chashu with fresh plump shrimps.

I thoroughly enjoyed the extended menu of Nagi Izakaya, but its branch at The Podium can be quite inconvenient to dine in as it just has limited seats on the Ground Floor; most of its tables are situated a flight up, and feels quite cramped. One good thing about it though is that it’s perfect for people watching – if that’s your kind of thing.

Nagi Izakaya

GF, The Podium, 18 ADB Avenue, Pasig City

Date of Visit: May 11, 2023 with Jared Chua and Jem Chua

LA RAGAZZA

I was pretty excited to try La Ragazza ever since I saw a random feature on it on Let’s Eat Pare – apart from its fun and colorful interiors, it boasts of a proper oven that consistently churns out its pizzas which makes it truly exciting.

Its interiors reflect classic diner fixtures; but the choice to mix it up with eccentric and colorful décor give it a modern flair.

Stacks of takeout boxes can be seen throughout its kitchen area – showing the restaurant’s popularity in takeout/delivery orders.

PROSCIUTTO COTTO E FUNGHI (P490)

The Prosciutto Cotto e Funghi was a beauty – at an insane price of P490, the pizza was surprisingly lavishly topped with gorgeous strands of prosciutto with shavings of parmigiano Reggiano and basil leaves; all held together by a delightfully tangy San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and evoo. I loved the thinness of the pizza; but I was still yearning for the charred taste of its dough.

IBERICO CHORIZO AND EGG (P520)

I was actually more excited about the Iberico Chorizo and Egg; as I don't think I ever had egg on my pizza before; but unfortunately, it failed to live up to the hype – the toppings, save for the egg, were simply too sparse to enjoy. Yes, the base was still made of the same tangy San Marzano tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese; but ultimately, there wasn’t enough chorizo to enjoy the pizza with. Fortunately, La Ragazza’s spicy tomato sauce does wonders so do apply liberally! If they decide to retail the sauce, I would gladly order a bottle!

La Ragazza

Glorietta 4, Makati City, Metro Manila

Date of Visit: May 19, 2023 with Lily Chua

OOMA

I used to frequent Ooma – back when it was just starting out. I looked forward to visiting its Megamall branch and being mindblown by its Hanger Steak and Buta Kakuni even if I order them all the time. As it expanded, somehow, the quality of its food stopped being consistent so I just simply stopped going (especially since we’re quite spoiled with quality Japanese options in the Metro).

BARA CHIRASHI DON (P655)

However, while taking a shopping break at The Powerplant Mall, mom and I decided to give Ooma another shot. I decided to try its Bara Chirashi Don – and it was an absolute party-in-a-bowl! It married a colorful assortment of salmon, unagi, tuna, tamago and uni over a soy and dashi-flavored rice topped with nori sheets. A pleasant addition to this bowl would be perfectly grilled baby octopus pieces. It was definitely a delight in terms of colors and textures; but somehow, objectively speaking, if you’re basing it on the strength of the seafood alone, it was just okay – it could have been fresher, slices could have been bigger, quality could have been better. Definitely, not enough to make me fall in love with Ooma again.

Ooma

Powerplant Mall, Hidalgo Drive, Makati City