It probably takes a college student to appreciate something like a burger made with a fried chicken patty battered in rice krispies, and this is exactly what the owners of Skull & Bones located at the second floor of UP Town Center had in mind when they conceptualized their unusual lineup. From the same owners of The Bowery, Nolita, Les Bagels and Borough, Skull & Bones promises to be the perfect hangout spot for college students and those longing and reminiscing about their good ol’ college days.
Located near the busy college campuses of UP Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, and Miriam College, UP Town Center has become an automatic dining destination for those studying or living in the nearby Loyola Heights and Katipunan Avenue areas. Living with Lupus forced me to miss out on those cherished college campus years, and I always have that tinge of regret on not being able to experience that crazy formative period with friends and classmates as most normal people do, so it is refreshing to discover what my lifestlye and cuisine would probably have been like if I had been able to complete my college life.
Skull & Bones opened in October last year and has been attracting a diverse crowd of students, yuppies, and families who have been enamoured with their lineup of unique and casual university comfort food.
The interiors of Skull & Bones are quite relaxed, with colorful and comfortable seats and sofas scattered all around the area which mimics a college clubhouse where students can hang around after or in between their classes. Textbooks, sports paraphernalia, posters, and other miscellaneous campus items can also be seen hanging on the walls.
Old black and white pictures of Western universities and college events give the place a modern frat house feel where everyone can just let loose and relax.
They even have drinking games and other cool and silly activities which youngsters often compete at. I have never tried Beer Pong before but for those who are quite skilled in this drinking game, this is where you can practice your skills. I can just imagine how wild and crazy it would be here during school nights.
I’m not sure how this tipping jar system works but I guess it has something to do with basketball.
Skull & Bones serves as a great watering hole and they serve all varieties of beverages including local and imported beers as well as their own house cocktail mixes.
The Gummi Bear (P160-glass/P640-pitcher) is a sweet mildly alcoholic beverage suited for those with a sweet tooth and a sweet palate. You might not even notice its alcohol content at all, but be careful not to let your younger cousins or children drink this by mistake.
The Coco Champagne could be a better alternative with its yummy coconut flavors, just like drinking a coconut shake but with a mild kick.
I was happy to spend the afternoon at our Skull & Bones clubhouse with the rest of my “classmates” as well as our Daddy Richie (seated) and our Godfather Spanky (standing). If university days were spent like this then I wouldn’t mind spending a coupe more years in college.
To start our class, we opened with the Curly Fries (P110) which are very long fries served with a creamy sauce.
I preferred the Curly Cheese Fries (P220) version which is doused all over with melted cheese.
Nachos are great appetizers and their Nachos with Pulled Pork (P380) puts it at a higher level with crunchy nacho chips and savory pulled pork generously covered with creamy cheese sauce. A bit expensive but this one is good for the barkada.
College students who suddenly find themselves craving for a midnight snack with no one to cook for them would probably appreciate the Trailer Park Mac and Cheese (P290). This is something that looks assembled by a youngster combining anything he can find in the kitchen with its Sky Flakes toppings, but it actually works!
Recess needs something a bit heavier like the Shrimp Pineapple Salsa Burrito (P490) which is filled to the brink with Spanish rice, beans, garlic shrimp, pineapple corn salsa, sour cream, mozzarella, Monterrey Jack cheese all wrapped in a homemade tortilla.
A healthier albeit less tastier alternative would be the Popeye Burrito (P330) with brown rice, black beans, spinach, pico de gallo, sour cream, mozzarella, Monterrey Jack cheese, all in a spinach tortilla. Not really too fond of this one but veggie lovers would definitely like it.
Skull & Bones also has some meaty hot dogs on its menu. The Pitbull (P300) is a beef and pork frankfurter with swiss cheese, smoked ham, chopped pickles and onions, sliced Jalapenos, garlic lemon aioli, all on a griddle-pressed brioche bun lined with mustard. This is how hot dogs should be built, loaded with toppings and meaty ingredients.
Take a look at the Super Mario (P300) and see if you can even find the hot dog itself! It has a fried and breaded homemade chicken sausage, covered with sauteed peppers and onions, extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of chili flakes, mozzarella, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley on a brioche bun. I just love this hot dog even if it comes with a mild spicy flavor. I will definitely come back for this one.
Now it’s time for our lunch break! The Blue Palasky Burger (P340) has an all beef patty that comes with sweet caramelized onion relish, topped generously with blue cheese on a brioche bun lined with blue cheese spread. Just look at that overflowing blue cheese sauce.
I’m not sure who got left in the kitchen and came up with this invention. The Dirty South (P280) has a fried chicken patty battered in Rice Krispies, topped with imported honey and red cabbage on a brioche bun lined with mayonnaise. Childhood fantasies come alive with this unbelievable burger creation that seems suited for Disneyland.
A more manly burger would be the Macgruber-ger (P320) named after the comedic Saturday Night Live character. This all beef patty comes with Monterrey Jack cheese, sesame sauteed mushrooms, pico de gallo, spring onion, blue cheese spread, and a towering stack of fried noodles on top. If you can find a way of eating this in one piece, then you deserve an award.
Another unique burger creation would be the Grilled Cheese Burger (P320) which is a cheeseburger and a grilled cheese sandwich rolled into one. The all beef patty comes with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, fresh sliced tomato, roasted tomato salsa on brioche bread grilled with pan seared butter.
But for those sudden cravings in the afternoon or in the middle of the night which college students usually experience, the perfect solution to your hunger pangs would be the Spicy Beef Dorm Room Ramen (P200). This was actually my favorite dish for the class with its light and very flavorful ramen broth and meaty ingredients. I have tasted various imported ramen dishes all around the metro but I could not believe that I was so happy with this simple ramen dish. It is quite cheap as well.
Another ramen variant would be the Gingered Pork Dorm Room Ramen (P200) for those who like the flavor of pork broth compared to beef broth. This is highly recommended as well and I won’t mind eating these ramen any time of the day.
Dismissal time won’t be complete without desserts and Skull & Bones has a medley of sweets and chocolates for everyone. On the left are Fruit Loops and Rice Krispies Treats (P110); above are Poptarts (P80) which come in chocolate, strawberry, and apple variants; and on the right are the Mudpie (P80), Homemade Twinkies (P45), and Raspberry Zinger (P45).
Finally, they also have the Fluffernutter (P100) and the Fluffernutteller (P140) which comes with Nutella to finish on your way home. Skull & Bones gives everyone the opportunity to once again relive the good old college days with their lively and relaxing ambiance and more importantly, their unique university comfort food. There are just so many exciting new restaurants around and Skull & Bones at UP Town Center is definitely one place you should go and visit.
