High-Rise Dining (and Drinking!) at Nest Modern Table & Bar in BGC

If you’re looking for a cozy spot that can transport you away from the hustle and bustle of the business district, Nest Modern Table & Bar is the place for you. Situated atop the W Building in BGC, Nest is a quick hideaway within the city—a place where you can just sit back and unwind, sip on a cocktail, and indulge in great food.







An entirely different scene awaits guests who walk into the elevators and go out into the roof deck—it only takes one glance to realize what Nest is all about. There’s the pseudo-“al fresco” dining set up: mini-gardens positioned around plush couches and cocktail tables; beyond, the vast skyline dotted with city lights; high glass ceilings offering a view of the sky. It’s so easy to get lost and forget you’re in BGC!

Nest recently launched its new modern-fusion menu and I was lucky enough to be invited to try their new lineup of food and signature drinks. The event was attended by foodies, fellow bloggers, food writers, journalists, and celebrities—including Slick Rick and Paolo Paraiso, who were two of the owners. Nest’s beverage consultant, Lee Watson kicked off the night by showing off his cocktail-mixing prowess—explaining the elements that make up his unique creations. Afterwards, Nest’s head chef, Chef Benjo Tuason, presided over his table and demonstrated how to make two of the restaurant’s new appetizers.


Shortly thereafter, dinner was served. We started with the Chunky Butternut Squash and Chickpea Soup (PhP150)—a rich, flavorful bowl that packs both creaminess from the squash and an exciting spicy kick. I loved the strong aftertaste, as well as the texture provided by the squash seeds.

The other appetizer, the Foie Gras and Mushrooms (PhP550), was a bit more indulgent: imagine a perfectly-seared piece of foie gras and a poached egg, lying on a bed of mushrooms, croutons, and cherry tomatoes, then drizzled with balsamic, and topped with parmesan. The dish is packed with contrasting flavors and textures, but overall, it worked—and really well too, I must add.

I couldn’t emphasize enough how much I loved the next dish. Our first entrĂ©e, the Pan-Seared Snapper (PhP470), was simply exquisite. A simple snapper fillet, seasoned with herbs, and a bit of skin still on—adding more smokiness and flavor. Underneath the generous cut is a delicious prawn and salmon roe risotto; you’d think this plate was some sort of a seafood overkill, but amazingly it works!

If you’re allergic to seafood (which I fortunately am not, yay!), try Nest’s 5-Spiced Roast Pork Belly (PhP250)—tender slices of Kurobota pork belly, herb-crusted and laden with a sweetish glaze, peppered with sesame, and served on top of garlic and soy noodles. This dish’s flavors are distinctly Asian. I love the cucumber slices that I could munch on every time the tastes get overpowering.

For dessert, we had Donuts and Dips (PhP200) and Reese’s Sans Rival (PhP200). I don’t really like donuts so I tried only one piece—just so I could try the dips! There’s salted caramel, peanut butter cream, and strawberry jam—but I honestly think the cinnamon coating ruined the experience of savoring the dips’ flavors. However, Nest’s rendition of the Sans Rival totally killed me. In place of butter cream, they used Reese’s chocolate, and even added a bit of chocolate ganache on the side. For someone who loves Reese’s and sans rival, this was a total treat for me.

A lot of bars (not just in BGC) sell shitty drinks—but I’m happy to announce that Nest isn’t one of them. Forget about the syrupy poisons and overpriced vodka-Sprite (Tosca?! Cossack?!) you get from nearby clubs; if you’re looking for decent cocktails, you might want to try Nest’s bar list. Lee Watson makes sure that each cocktail he concocts is perfectly balanced. Sweetness? Acidity? Potency? Alcohol content? Bitterness? Name it. I guess you just have to try them yourself.

The Spider Web (PhP331) is made of Dewar’s White Scotch, Cachaca Brazilian Rum, passion fruit syrup, and lemon. As you know, I would gulp down anything with whiskey in it—this one is perfectly balanced in terms of sweetness and punch, as promised. The Green Mojito (PhP414), while delicious, wasn’t the best I tried. The interesting thing about this version though is that aside from rum (they used Bacardi Silver), apple juice (green apple puree), and mint, Nest’s version has ginger beer, adding another layer of “buzz”. My seatmate and fellow blogger Mitch couldn’t finish hers—all she had was one sip!

My favorite was the Smokin’ (PhP441): Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch, coconut syrup, honey, and lime. I couldn’t remember the last time I drank a cocktail with coconut syrup and this was amazing! The scotch’s flavors are not lost amidst the syrups and sweeteners. And yes, the cocktail is served flaming.

For the casual drinker (which I am … most of the time), a bottle of ice cold beer is enough to satiate a craved-for nightcap or to relieve the stresses of the day, but for the more discerning drinker, a great drink is hard to find. For sure, one can find the best mix if he chooses to make it for himself at home, but there are times when you just need to bid adieu to solitary drinking and go out for a drink with some actual friends.

Luckily for us, Nest is only a drive away, cradling not only an exciting cocktail lineup but also a creative menu—and a posh, relaxing ambience to match. Who knew that sanctuary is only a few floors up from here?



~*~
Nest Modern Table & Bar
Roofdeck, W Bldg., 5th Ave cor. 32nd Street, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City (not to be confused with the other W building that houses Skye Lounge)
For reservations, contact: 0917.874.9999
5:00PM – 2:00AM
Email: info@nestmanila.com
Twitter: @nestMNL
Instagram: @nestMNL
Budget: around PhP700 and up

What's your favorite cocktail? Have you been to Nest Modern Table & Bar?

Special thanks to Zomato and Nest Modern Table & Bar. All opinions in this article are my own.

If you like my posts and would love regular updates on travel photos, food finds, restaurant reviews, dance articles, and drunken tales, follow Pepe Samson on Facebook!

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4 comments :

  1. It was nice to finally meet you, Pepe Samson! Hope to see you again soon! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. It was nice meeting you too! See you around!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Renz! Thanks for the compliment! Means a lot, coming from you! :)

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