Derived from the old street Nebraska, BRASKA restaurant is situated in Manila’s famed district. Located along Jorge Bocobo St., Braska aims to bring back the warmth of the old Malate through the comforting flavors of familiar food favorites in an ambiance that has a relaxing vibe.
Unsurprisingly, the restaurant's ambiance has a casual touch to it. The rustic look using the wooden scraps from the old house located in the same spot before complemented with a few decorative installations make for a relaxing family lunch or dinner. In the afternoon, it offers a quiet space for a cup of coffee and cake. At night, the dim lights are perfect for intimate dinners or a drink or two at the bar with friends to cap off the day.
Creativity, being one of Braska's guiding principles, the restaurant's menu incorporates traditional dishes presented in wonderfully novel ways like the Sweet Potato Shoestring Fritters that would remind you of fried kamote that's a merienda favorite served in an unconventional way.
While avocado is almost in every Filipino home when in season, the fruit is often served as dessert mashed with milk and sugar and frozen before eaten. At Braska, it is served as a refreshing Shrimp and Avocado Salad (P235) drizzled with a tangy cilantro lime dressing. The hues will brighten anyone's day!
Sharing is caring! While waiting for your mains, order the Longganisa Meatballs (P325), which are huge by the way, fried quail eggs wrapped with house made sweet and savory sausage and breaded. Consider ordering the melt-in-your-mouth Chicken Skin Chicharon (P180) which is the perfect bar chow – large pieces of chicken skin fried until golden brown served with a garlic infused vinegar dip.
The menu includes classic dishes like Roast Chicken, Baby Back Ribs and Paella. Those with a truly hearty appetite and hankering for traditional Filipino food will get their cravings satisfied with generous servings of Pinakbet, Laing, Caldereta and Crispy Pata. Braska also offers affordable rice bowls topped with Tinapa, Lechon Kawali, Chinese Sausage and the classic Chicken & Pork Adobo (P215) which will remind you of your favorite adobo your mom puts together at home.
They also have a breakfast menu which includes much-loved waffles with a twist like their Tablea Waffle (P225) using a Filipino element: cacao. Two chocolate waffles topped with peanut butter, fresh mangoes and drizzled with condensed milk. If you want a more refreshing dish to kick-start your day, the Tropical Waffle (P220) has toasted coconut flakes, topped with mango compote and drizzled with a special coconut flavored syrup that's prepared in-house.
For a more filling breakfast, try the Jelly, Bacon & Cream Cheese French Toast (P245) smothered with guava jelly and topped with some sweet potato shoestring fritters for added crunch when you sink your teeth into this sammie.
End your meal with a refreshing serving of Calamansi Tartlet (P145) which pretty much feels like you're on the beach with every bite. It's calamansi custard in a golden crust dusted with confectioner's sugar and topped with ripe mango pieces. If you live the sweet life, their Coffee Mocha Misu (P175) is a must-try. It has homemade crust tucked in layers of bailey's coffee, chocolate cream, coffee cream filling, whipped cream topped with bittersweet chocolate shavings.
Braska's menu is a mix of popular treats that will take you on a nostalgic trip to the familiar flavors of home. Just like this chocolate peanut chiffon cake (P140) with tablea ganache topped with chunks of everyone's favorite childhood chocolate: Chocnut.
Indeed, Braska's menu has its goals straight with creating a balance between the old and the new in its dishes. With a few innovations on classic and popular Filipino food, Braska is successful in coming up with dishes that has nostalgic flavors yet still presents it in an innovative way. And what's important is, everything works.
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Braska is located at 1669 Bocobo St., Malate, Manila. You may reach them at +63 (2) 995 3981 or email hello@braskaph.com. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram for more information.
