The first time I heard about 22 Jupiter was actually a couple of weeks before I was invited there for a press lunch. I found several people on my Facebook news feed posting photos of the restaurant's instantly famous Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Burger. So when I was invited to try the fare at this Makati resto, I jumped at the chance, and I walked in with every expectation of a cheekily indulgent, possibly crazy, menu.
I was to find that while indulgent was definitely the word for it, the restaurant and its dishes were classier than they were cheeky, although some of the dishes did hint at a sort of genteel madness in the kitchen. It was virtually all to the good, however.
Clockwise from top left: Jalapeño Popper, Seared Tuna, Four Cheese Croqueta, Scallop with Foie Gras and Mushroom
We started off with a plateful of four amuse bouches, which where actually samplers of appetizers on the restaurant menu.
The Jalapeño Popper was seriously spicy, with a medium to high heat level, so the faint of heart had better beware. Even with the generous bit of cheese inside, this will still set your mouth on fire and have you reaching for a drink.
I just loved the slice of Seared Tuna, which was coated in olive oil and crusted in spices and herbs with a distinctly Middle Eastern and Asian bent as far as the flavor profile is concerned. The sear resulted in a crisp coating, and the cut was nice and thick, so you get that freshness from the tuna with that spicy cooked flavor too. I would dearly love to have the recipe, as this is definitely what my own attempts at seared tuna want to be when they grow up.
Next up was the Four Cheese Croqueta, which was a nice balance of breading, cheeses, and a creamy bechamel sauce. This is sure to be a fave, and if you plan on bringing any kids to your meal here, you will probably want to order this dish for them.
The last of the preliminary appetizers was the Scallop with Foie Gras and Mushroom, which I freely admit I fell in love with at first bite, to the point where I was avariciously eyeing the plates of other diners who hadn't had a chance to try their scallops yet. You get a succulent medium-sized scallop seared to perfection and topped with foie gras and mushroom for that extra oomph of flavor. I wasn't the only one who had that had-me-at-hello reaction to this dish either; I watched three other table mates' expressions of polite interest turn into one of revelation after they had a bite of their scallops.
Shrimp Saffron and Chorizo Gambas
Nachos with Chorizo Cheese
Now, I'm not really a big fan of nachos or any sort of chips in general. I mean, I'll eat them, but I won't go looking for them. But most of my family is made up of chip monsters, and I got the sense they'd really enjoy this dish of Nachos with Chorizo Cheese, which was fully loaded and had a bit of a kick.
Paella Negra (P650)
While it isn't too pretty to look at, and it definitely isn't photogenic, the Paella Negra is a must-try dish for anyone who's a fan of squid ink (as I am), as the flavor really comes through. Think of it as a classed up take on adobong pusit with rice.
Wild Mushroom Truffle Pasta (P420)
Like nachos, truffle is one of those things I can pretty much take or leave, especially dishes based on truffle oil, but I know a whole lot of people who are absolutely mad for it, so I had to include this Wild Mushroom Truffle Pasta on my list of recommended dishes. The truffle aroma is very distinctive, and you get a whiff of it the moment the server sets the dish down on the table. I found the flavor itself on the mild to medium side, but then again, something stronger would probably have been a bit overwhelming.
Lamb Rendang (P485)
This was one of those revelation dishes; I was curious when I saw it listed on the lunch menu as I love a good beef rendang. But a couple of bites of Lamb Rendang had me wondering if I'd be able to look at the beef version the same way ever again. The meat was very tender, and it really absorbed the flavor of the sauce.
Bagnet with Thai Sauce (P400)
It seems as if I've seen crispy pork paired with just about everything short of ice cream this year, but I found myself just love, love, loving the Bagnet with Thai Sauce. The meat was cooked well and would have stood on its own, but the hero of the dish for me was really the sweet-sour Thai sauce, so I was more than happy to take home a small jar of it (and I paired it with some spiced pork chops for continued win).
Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Burger (P500)
At last! The Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Burger arrived! It was served on what appeared to be a split baguette, which I found was a good, if slightly awkward-looking, choice because it helped temper the fact that this burger just punches you in the mouth with flavor. You taste the foie gras right off, and right around the time you're appreciating the juiciness of the burger and the way it's got a nice bit of char, the bone marrow launches an attack that has your nape telling you this better be a special occasion treat rather than an everyday kind of thing. It's a dish that leaves you with a burning question: how can something so evil be so good?
Tenderloin with Spiced Taro (P670)
The folks at 22 Jupiter definitely take the "tender" seriously when it comes to the Tenderloin with Spiced Taro, because the beef all but melts in your mouth. The topping of spiced taro definitely has an aggressive flavor that offers up an interesting combination with the beef. It's a bit like laing, so it's not a flavor you'd expect to go with a medium-cooked tenderloin, but surprisingly, it works.
Rum Cake with Butter Dulce Gatas Sauce (P230)
For dessert, we had Rum Cake with Butter Dulce Gatas Sauce. The cake itself was moist and had that sharp rum flavor that stayed on the right side of overpowering. I really, really enjoyed the sauce, so make sure you get a bit of it with every bite of cake.
I learned that 22 Jupiter is a concept by the same 12 people behind 12 Monkeys in Century City Mall, Makati, which I reviewed for TV5's Hitlist earlier this year. This made me stop wondering about the over-the-top dishes like the Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Burger (which might have been classier but was on equal ground in evil-yet-delicious points as 12 Monkeys' sizzling balut in aligue dish).
The interior of the bistro bar has a modern vibe, although the ceiling is lined with wooden panels that, when viewed at the right perspective, make the entire place look like a posh cave. A small stage and sound system is also set up at the far end of the bistro, and we were treated to a live performance during our lunch. We learned that the bistro features live acoustic performances on weekdays after 9:30PM, then they have themed nights on weekends—Friday is '80s night, and DJs or R&B bands take over on Saturday nights.
I'll admit I didn't get to see the al fresco dining area shown above, but from the photos, I'm a bit sorry I didn't explore more.
The bistro opened in August, which makes me happy I didn't try it until late November, since I'm a bit of a skeptic when it comes to very newly opened restaurants (I think that, as a rule, a restaurant only really hits its stride after three or four months in operation). A few months past the initial opening, I can usually be more or less assured of consistency as far as dish quality and service is concerned.
While there were a couple of dishes I wasn't really a fan of (they aren't featured here), the rest of the dishes I tried definitely left me with a happy tummy, and I had nothing but superlatives to describe the scallops, bagnet, and burger with.
The Verdict: I LIKE IT!
Looking to try 22 Jupiter for yourself? This bistro bar can be found at 22 Jupiter Street, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City. You can learn more about it via the 22 Jupiter Facebook fan page and Twitter and Instagram feeds.
