Pablo's Pub & Restaurant Opens in BGC!


In case you have been leading a hermit-like existence, let me be the one to break this wonderful news to you: Pablo’s, a new pub and restaurant in the likes of Bugsy’s and Dillinger’s 1903 Steak and Brew, has opened in BGC! But instead of joining the nightclub bandwagon, Pablo’s is set to take its path into an altogether different direction and establish itself as the first-ever whiskey bar in the vicinity! Fuck, did somebody just say whiskey?!

Located on the second floor of the Forum Building—a stone’s throw away from the NBC Tent—Pablo’s Pub and Restaurant celebrated its grand opening last Saturday, finally opening its doors to a bigger throng of guests. With its small yet carefully assembled menu and huge assortment of booze (with my best friend, Good Old Whiskey, as the star) Pablo’s is ready to disrupt what BGC has gotten used to recently.

If you read my post on how to choose a bar to hangout in, you will have learned that the concept is the first thing I look at as a customer. I am particularly inclined to quaint little places like The Distillery, but now that Pablo’s has entered the scene (and just as my favorite Distillery branch has turned into Tomas Morato), I am tempted to unravel BGC’s newest secret. Pablo’s concept is pretty simple: loosen up your tie after work, sit down to a delicious dinner, and get your whiskey nightcap as you chat the night away with friends. When I entered Pablo’s, what I saw was exactly my lifestyle!

Store your booze inside one of Pablo's whiskey lockers. (photo credit: Pablo's Pub & Restaurant)


The space occupied by Pablo’s, although a little small, is sleek and classy: leather booths, light-and-dark paneled walls, dim lighting, wooden blinds—almost like Dillinger’s except that Pablo’s boasts of a secret area called the Glenlivet Boardroom, a V.I.P. room hidden behind a sliding door disguised as a bookcase. It was way to cool!

Discover the secret beyond. (Photo credit: Pablo's Pub & Restaurant)
inside the Glenlivet Boardroom
Ideal for private partying with a big group, the Glenlivet Boardroom is available for reservation at P20,000 (consumable).
Dark and mysterious, alongside being elegant and modern. Now that’s what I call concept, do you agree?

Hungry guests straight out of work can order some dinner first and indulge on their luxurious booth seats, then hop over to the bar area for drinks after. By 9pm, the lights are dimmed even more so everyone could just bask in the music churned out by Pablo’s resident DJ.

My friend and eternal food buddy Aleli were enticed by all these things. Quickly, we got some starters as we settled in. First served was the Chicharon Bulaklak, Pablo’s take on one of the most loved Pinoy pulutan.

Chicharon Bulaklak, P250 
Just when I thought Central BBQ Boy serves the best Chicharon Bulaklak, Pablo’s sprouts from nowhere and proves me wrong. The perfectly seasoned pork curls are so crispy, even after dipping it – or in my case, soaking it – in the mind-blowingly delicious spicy vinegar that comes with it. The next time my friends and I ever play body shots, I swear I am insisting that we use Pablo’s vinegar, haha! It’s so addicting! I can drink it until my whole mouth turns white!


I’m not a big fan of wings, but Pablo’s South American Wings certainly did not disappoint. Blanketed in unknown spices, the wings were incredibly juicy and flavorful, no need for the dressing! I found the sour cream dressing to be delicious but a little runny though; I prefer sauces thick and heavy.

Pablo's South American Wings, P375
For the main dish, I chose The Escobar, a 1-inch thick US Angus Rib Eye Steak, served with mashed potatoes and buttered veggies. It was 400 grams of carnivorous nirvana!

The Escobar, P998
The steak was so succulent and juicy, easily sliced and chewed. I ordered mine medium as usual, and even paired it with a double shot of Glenlivet (12 years), as was Pablo’s recommendation. I have never ever paired whiskey with steak (with wine, yes), and I absolutely loved how the smooth whiskey fired up my stomach to devour more steak! Haha!

that's Glenlivet on a Chivas rock glass :p
Aleli, on the other hand, got the house specialty: the Pablo’s Pub Half-Pounder. An all-beef patty, perfectly grilled, and layered with American cheddar, Pablo’s secret burger sauce, and fresh lettuce and tomatoes. Finally, I have found a burger to rival that of Chili’s, which for me holds the title of the Best Burger of All Time. Pablo’s Pub Half-Pounder is a close second, and so far nothing else has reached this position.

Pablo's Pub Half-Pounder, P285
While eating my steak I kept on swiping at Aleli’s food because I really found the burger so good. I couldn’t get enough of the Paprika fries either! It was so good I wanted to send silverware flying out towards nearby people.

photo credit: Pablo's Pub & Restaurant
Add-ons like bacon strips, foie gras, and blue cheese are available, and I wish I had piled on some bacon to stretch sinfulness to the extreme! LOL!

Even after this filling dinner, I still found it tempting to get a bottle of beer and lounge around while listening to cool music. Perhaps the reason why I really like Pablo’s is that it was just like The Distillery, but with the amazing food and minus the dancing. Pablo’s offers an incredibly relaxing vibe – something to get people off the usual bar scenes in BGC: queuing up, standing up all night, dancing with a drink in hand, trying to flirt with people. That kind of scene now tremendously bores me. There are times when I miss it, but most of the time, I prefer to have a laid-back night and use my energy somewhere else, like dance training, for instance. Ghad, did I just say that? I speak like a 30-year old!

photo credit: Pablo's Pub & Restaurant
In any case, if you’re looking for a spot where you can roll up your sleeves after a hard day’s work, indulge in a lavish dinner, and unwind with a glass of your favorite whiskey, head over to Pablo’s Pub and Restaurant RIGHT NOW and cuss me and have me ambushed if you leave Pablo’s disappointed. Best time to do it is now, while they have just opened and you can still find a peaceful spot, because I guarantee you that if people discover and start flocking to this place, you will absolutely hate yourself for not going when it was still “private” and “not that popular”. As for me, when that time comes, there will be a need for me to engage in warfare.



~*~
Pablo’s Pub & Restaurant
2/F The Forum, 7th Ave. Cor. Federacion Drive
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Operating Hours: Daily, 5pm-2am
+639166187045
Facebook: Pablo's Pub
Twitter: Pablo's Pub
Instagram: @pablospub_bgc

* Special thanks to Ms. Maita for an intense, matter-of-life-and-death discussion about Harvey Specter. :)


pepe samson

About Pepe Samson

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.
    Disqus Comment
    Facebook Comment

2 comments :

  1. I so love the private room. :)) i'm not a whisky fan but the food looks enticing :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They serve really good food! You should give it a try and let me know of your experience. :)

      Delete

Let me know what you think!