RM 16
16 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Contact: 535-9212
Open daily from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
IMAGE Ian Santos
(SPOT.ph) Sometimes, the best things are hidden in plain sight—you just have to know where to look. Or who to ask. We’ll give you a hint right now: ask around Tittos Latin BBQ and Brew about RM 16, and they just might lead you to a door so ingeniously hidden, you’d wonder why you missed it in the first place.
IMAGE Ian Santos
IMAGE Ian Santos
It’s really all about spending a nice night out with good company at this new speakeasy—from the dimly lit cozy interiors to the drinks and bar chow. As the accent wall spells out with red letters in stark contrast to the white, in RM 16, expect to have “clean fun.” Fun fact: The names of the owners can be found in their little word search wall accent!
IMAGE Ian Santos
The bar, gorgeously inspired by the Eiffel Tower, features a formidable list of liquor, from scotch, bourbon, and vodka to local and imported beers. But it is the cocktail list, creatively christened with Latin-inspired names (as per their sibling restaurant Tittos), that should rightfully grab your attention.
Spiced Berry
The Spiced Berry (P210), warns co-owner Anton Melocoton, is an acquired taste, but we think it’s one we’d quickly grow to love. The tropical sweetness from the pineapple, raspberry, and blueberry is elevated by the sharp notes of the spiced vodka. The burnt sweet-tangy taste of the caramelized pineapple served on the side rounds it up nicely.
Coquito
The Coquito (P220), with dark rum, chocolate bitters, and coconut milk, will catch the eye of any chocolate lover. Don’t let the vanilla ice cream topping fool you; this one packs a punch.
Tittos Sangria
The Tittos Sangria (P280) is refreshingly fruity and slides down smoothly, masking any hints of alcohol—which is a feat, considering the sangria has vodka, brandy, red wine, and white wine.
Peruvian Sour
You can never go wrong with a bestseller, and for RM 16, it's the Peruvian Sour (P280), a libation of Pisco (brandy) with lime and passionfruit garnished with lime zests and bitters. This cocktail tastes like what sour tape would be like if it were made into a drink! One glass may not seem enough, but trust us when we say three is a little too much.
Mi Soprendes
If you can’t choose from the cocktails, you can always ask the bartender to surprise you—order the Mi Soprendes (P200), tell the bartender your mood and let him whip up a potion that best expresses your feelings. We tried “happy” and got a cocktail of whiskey, Baileys Irish Cream, and Oreos: sweet and indulgent, just how we’d imagine happiness would taste like.
Crispy Sisig
The bar chow by Chef Jerwyn Izen Rabo comes in generous servings, perfect for sharing with friends over cocktails and conversation. The Crispy Sisig (P275), Anton's favorite, is an explosion of textures and flavors with crispy pork mask covered in a tasty liver sauce, and a runny egg with onions and chili for the right amount of kick. It’d be difficult to resist the urge to order rice with this (an ice cold beer works just as well).
Mushroom Chicarones
You won’t be able to stop snacking on the Mushroom Chicharones (P180), which comes with an addicting spiced vinegar and Titto’s crema sauce. And because it’s made with oyster mushrooms instead of pork, maybe you can convince yourself it’s good for you.
Salted Egg Dinamitas
Chef Jerwyn also has his own take on 2016's salted egg craze with the Salted Egg Dinamitas (P290). Spring rolls are stuffed with chili verde, mozarella, and orange cheddar then coated in salted egg sauce for an explosion of heat and salty richness.
Skewers
The Skewers are a must-try and with a minimum order of five sticks, is definitely good for sharing. There’s the Angus Skewers (P105/stick) with a sweet-spicy soy glaze and garlic bits, the Wagyu Skewers (P135/stick) with adobo seasoning and the zestiness of lime, the Bacon Wrapped Quail Egg (P85/stick), which is rich, oily, and salty like all the best bar food, the Chicken Inasal (P70/stick), which is grilled chicken thigh marinated from skin to bone with inasal seasoning and the juicy grilled Pork Sausage (P95/stick).
Delicious food, impressive cocktails, and a dimly lit cozy space will make the hours whiz by, especially in the company of good friends. And these days, there’s nowhere else we’d think of going for clean fun but RM 16.
Photos by Ian Santos