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Café Juanita. One Big Beautiful Mess.
My dinner friend commented. “How can a place that’s one big mess look so nice?” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Topsy-turvy and overflowing with what seems like junk, Café Juanita has an ambiance unlike by any other resto. It’s almost as if a junkyard piece procreated with an antique fixture and populated the entire place with little junkyard treasures that proceeded to hyperactively breed their own baby trinkets. The effect of having all these mismatched pieces together is strangely comforting.
The menu is just as confusing and just as enchanting. They serve an
odd mix of Filipino, Mediterranean, Asian, and Japanese favorites.
I’ve been there three times and I’m still looking forward to testing out the abundant food choices. So far, I’ve loved the impeccably presented catfish mango salad. The chicken mozzarella, adobo spareribs, and salmon sashimi were also superb.
The thing that sets Café Juanita apart is their willingness to experiment with dishes. Take the classic Pinoy sticky pudding. They made it toffee flavored and added ice cream. They paired the infamous Sisig, a Filipino dish made of pig brains and face, with tofu. They also have a pasta with taba ng talangka or crab fat. Innovations like that are what keeps things interesting and it’s totally in line with their seemingly, “there’s beauty in chaos” philosophy.
Independent restaurants are wonderful because you feel the love and passion of the people behind it. This place is definitely for those close to your heart. So if the occasion calls for shabby chic aesthetic and inventive food is on the agenda, it just might be time for Café Juanita.
Expect to spend P350-P500 a person.
Café Juanita
21 United Street corner West Capitol Drive
Barrio Kapitolyo
Open daily: 11am to 2pm; 5.30pm to 10pm.
Fridays open until 12 midnight.
+63 2 6320357.