Where Good Friends Dine
There is one entrée at Abe Restaurant which I find indelible for its name rather than its taste. Binukadkad na pla-pla! Try saying it fast a few times and you’ll have as much fun twisting and tangling your tongue up your whole mouth. I’m sure that if this entrée came out as Fried Crispy Tilapia or Special Large Deep Fried Tilapia on the menu, I wouldn’t have ordered it because it doesn’t sound interesting, appetizing and even… shall I say, sexy? We don’t normally use the word binukadkad in the pinoy parlance, so it could have various implications. But to use it in a culinary sense is marketing ingenuity at its finest. That I think explains partly why, regardless of the taste, the dish is popular.
Binukadkad na Pla-pla Abe (ah-beh), a Kapampangan word for friend or companion, came from the same group (LJC Chain of Restaurants) that gave us the legendary Café Adriatico and the popular Café Havana in Greenbelt among others. Abe created a venue for friends and families to enjoy good food and good company. It serves mostly traditional and local favorites from the region of Pampanga.
I like the Abe in Trinoma, QC specially the chic tents and ambient lighting that is perfect for al fresco dining. Overlooking the lighted streets of North Edsa under the stars? …it’s perfect for a romantic date. It lends itself for a good conversation and intimate dining experience.
For the food, I love the Paco Fern Salad, its crunchiness; the texture combined with flavor of tomatoes, onions and salted egg in a light salad dressing. I am proud of this truly authentic pinoy salad. Lechon Cubano is tender meat and crispy/crunchy skin. The sisig is delicious, although I’m a little bit disappointed because I was expecting all sisig to be served sizzling by default. As my friend told me, it is not always so.
Paco Fern Salad Abe Restaurant makes simple dish such as pla-pla taste different and special, making it an art form and a culinary delight. I have never seen this ubiquitous fish presented differently, it is either served grilled or deep fried with talong, bagoong, kamatis and mangga – not that they are bad, but the balo balo and mustasa leaves are a welcome twist.
I also appreciate Abe’s attention and care to customers evident during our visit when I asked for a banana split with turon for dessert. It was not on their menu but the waiter said they can work on it. The dessert came in in no time. That was really sweet of Abe restaurant!
Bottomline, Service is good, I have nothing to complain about. Ambiance is spectacular at Trinoma. Food is traditional with an upscale twist. And yes, it’s pricey.
This is one restaurant that I feel a notch over and above what the traditional Jerry’s Grill and Jay-jay’s can offer. I can imagine myself coming back to this restaurant on my next vacation.
Visit http://ljcrestaurants.com.ph/abe/
‘Where Good Friends Dine’ is the motto used by Abe Restaurant
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