Crisostomo

My friend Inna had an intimate birthday dinner two months ago in Crisostomo, a new Jose Rizal-inspired restaurant that serves Filipino cuisine. Like the name of the restaurant, which pertains to the lead character in two of Rizal's greatest work in literature, the dishes are also named after the other characters of the same novels.

Calamares ni Tales (Fried Golden Calamares, coated with Desiccated Coconut,  served with Garlic Mayonnaise dip) (P225)

Their calamares was perfectly cooked. It was not rubbery at all. I was a bit skeptical at first when I read about the desiccated coconut but you can hardly even taste it. It tastes like normal breading to me, which was good because I'm not really a big fan of desiccated coconut.

Crazy Sisa Squid (Green Mango with Crispy Squid Salad) (P200)

This salad was just so-so for me. It is lightly dressed in like a sweet asian sauce that coats every piece of vegetable. The squid on top was crispy and gave a nice bite to the dish.

Don Rafael (Crispy Pata with Garlic Sauce and Soy Vinegar) (P550)

The crispy pata was especially good. The skin was crunchy but not tough. The meat was fork tender and tasty. This dish was gone in a span of minutes. I also liked how it was served with two different sauces so you get to choose which one you like or you can mix both of them if you wish.

The different sauces for different dishes

Sinigang Gomez (Sinigang na Baboy sa Sampalok) (P365)

I really enjoyed the way the sinigang was presented to us. It was served in a cute (and rather small) ceramic bowl that was heated by a candle placed right under it. The dish itself was also not disappointing. The vegetables are perfectly cooked, still vibrant in color and not yet wilted. I wish it were more sour though. I love my sinigang extremely sour but I guess the taste was just right so it could be enjoyed by everyone, even those who don't like their soup too sour. The pork was tender and a bit fatty.

Salo Salo Sari Saring Sinugba (Pork BBQ Liempo, Chicken, Pusit, Bangus, Oyster, Inihaw na Talong at acharang Ibarra) (P1, 200)

This platter is perfect for a group of diners. It has a lot of assortments that everyone can try.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a photo of the whole restaurant. It has a nice and classy ambiance. The interior does not look typically Filipino at all. It actually kind of reminds me of the baroque French era. Nevertheless, it has a quiet and enjoyable vibe. This restaurant is worth trying even though the dishes are smaller and more expensive than the usual Filipino restaurants.

Crisostomo

2/F New Eastwood Mall, Libis,

Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(63 2) 710-1693