Napa Bar & Restaurant
No. 12 Scout Borromeo, South Triangle
Quezon City
Tel. No. 414-8272
Open daily at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Too much space only means more room for family, friends, and food. Click for more.

(SPOT.ph) Size, or too much of it, is the first thing that comes to mind upon seeing the latest eating spot along Scout Borromeo Street in Quezon City. Where a house once stood is now Napa Bar & Restaurant, a new QC haunt which offers popular Italian-American fare. What used to be the front yard is now a massive al fresco dining deck and bar that stretches all the way to what must have been the driveway. Little touches of rusticity line every corner, separating it from the usual bar scene; potted plants, glass tabletops over vintage wine barrels add a homey touch. The warm effect extends to the main dining areas.  Think garden-vineyard (you guessed it, Napa Valley to be exact) sans the mud, ants, and fear of a sudden rain shower.

The surprisingly wide space has an arrangement of pea-green couches, mismatched wicker and metal chairs, and lots and lots of woodwork. Napa attracts different types of diners: there are quiet corners for romatic dates, long tables for family dinners, lounges for barkadas, and function halls for meetings. On one side, a panel of pale-green shutter doors work to design and divide the space. On another stands a pair of wine racks—the lone reminder of the restaurant's predecessor, the now defunct Bistro Napa (formerly located at Il Terrazo).

The menu has been updated—the fine dining selection has been traded for familiar favorites: pizza, pasta dishes, and risotto. Pizza lovers will go crazy over the Napa Special, with its chewy hand-tossed dough topped with homemade spicy Italian sausage, bacon pepperoni, ground beef, red and green bell peppers, black olives, onion rings, and mushrooms. A milder option is the Cinco Formagio, a savory combo of mozzarella, Swiss cheese, cheddar, and heaps of blue cheese. Here's a tip: You can ask the waiter to divide your pizza order into two flavors.

First-timers should also opt for the Shrimp Pesto, a creamy pasta dish topped generously with fat, juicy shrimps, and the Pork Chop Grande, a huge hunk of pork perfectly grilled and smothered with a red wine reduction. When it comes to side dishes, we recommend the mashed potatoes. Other must-trys include the Beef Cabernet with Mushroom Risotto, Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Beurre Blanc, and Chicken Diablo. For dessert, order the decadent Lava Cake, a fluffy chocolate cake with warm chocolate ganache served with ice cream.

Customers may also cross-order from adjacent restaurant, 8 Spices, which serves Thai food.

Photos courtesy of Rich Ilustre