Dining Snippets: Rumba x Mango Tree Café

RUMBA

One of the first few outlets that opened in The Shops at Ayala Triangle Gardens would be the Mediterranean concept, Rumba. Despite its relatively limited seating capacity, it boasts of high ceilings and gorgeously gilded interiors. The prices were a bit steep– but thankfully, as it’s part of The Bistro Group, you’re bound to get discounts either through its credit card tie-up’s or The Bistro Group’s own loyalty card.

HOUSE BREAD

We started with their house buns – which were soft and wonderfully toasted – and yes, don’t worry – this is refillable!

PEPINO LIMON

I ordered a non-alcoholic refresher to pair my meal with, the Pepino Limon boasted of a nice combination of fresh cucumbers, lemon juice, sugar syrup – with the perfect ratio of soda water.

CONFIT DE PATO (P2415)

A lot of its main dishes are meant for sharing; so, since I was just having dinner with my mom, our order selection was extremely narrowed down. We decided on the Confit de Pato – so that we’ll still get a taste of their risotto (an ala carte order of their risotto is also meant for sharing). It was a delicious Duck Confit – as the duck was extremely juicy and boasts of crisp golden skin. This is paired with a really creamy and delicious mushroom and truffle risotto – that pairs wonderfully with its blueberry sauce. Definitely, a must-have!

GAMBAS AJILLO (P730)

We also ordered the Gambas Ajillo – which had one of the tastiest squid ink spaghettis I’ve ever tried – it may be simply topped with fresh juicy shrimps, garlic and chili – yet, this was an absolute flavor bomb!

COULANT (P415)

We ended with the Coulant – which featured a cup-size Gianduja chocolate cake that’s paired with dulce de leche and salted caramel ice cream. This dessert would need some prep time – so it’s best to advise your server ahead of time when you want it to be served. It’s definitely worth the wait – but it’s simply too small to be shared – as you’d definitely be fighting over the last bite of it!

Rumba

Ground Floor The Shops at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati, Metro Manila

Date of Visit: Nov 26, 2022 with Lily Chua

MANGO TREE CAFÉ

I’ve always found the Mango Tree brand a reliable source of quality Thai food – but despite my frequent visits to its BGC branch, I’ve never really found its dishes noteworthy or memorable.

YUM SUM O GOONG (Pomelo Salad with Shrimp – P450)

That’s why when my family and I had an impromptu dinner at its more laidback café version located inside the Promenade Mall, I didn’t really have any expectations save for that I’ll have a filling, quality meal ahead. It didn’t help that we started with a really sad version of the Yum Sum O Goong. Despite coming at a relatively high price tag of P450, we were served with a tiny plate of shredded pomelo (I would have preferred chunks of pomelo) with barely noticeable shrimp pieces. Its sauce failed to strike the balance of the tangy-savory-sweet Thai trifecta standard as it seemed to be too watered down (probably because of the pomelo).

TOM KHLONG HUA PLA (Tom Khlong Norwegian Salmon Head and Chilean Black Mussels - P620)

Instead of the usual Tom Yum soup, we decided to try the Tom Khlong Hua Pla – and boy, was it marvelous. Its soup was a refreshing broth characterized by a perfect blend of spices (lemongrass, kaffir lime, bird’s eye chili, galangal and basil) and the fragrant essence of the Chilean Black Mussels stewed in it – honestly, just give me the soup and a bowl of plain rice, and I’m good to go! However, Mango Tree elevates this dish by topping it with a perfectly crisp deep-fried Norwegian Salmon Head. This was a definite game-changer - finally, a spectacularly memorable dish from Mango Tree!

MOO SAM CHAN YANG (Thai Grilled Pork Belly – P650)

The Moo Sam Chan Yang boasted of thick slices of perfectly grilled pork belly with gorgeous charred sides – each slice was juicy and well-marinated already but if you want to amp up the flavor profile, dip it in its tasty chili sauce. Pair this with the Khao Phad Kai Khem or the Salted Egg Fried Rice (P580).

TAKO KHAO PHOD (Coconut Custard with Sweet Corn -P320)

I have a special weakness for coconut-based desserts so we had to end with the Tako Khao Phod – the custard was incredibly creamy and wonderfully infused with coconut flavor. A perfect ending to a surprisingly stellar and memorable meal!

Mango Tree Café

Date of Visit: December 28, 2022 with Lily Chua, Jared Chua and Jem Chua