Grifoni's of Kermit Brings Italian Flavors Closer to Home at Their New BGC Joint

Grifoni's of Kermit

5th Avenue corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Contact: 0966-069-4046
Facebook: facebook.com/grifonismnl
Open Sundays to Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and on Thursdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

(SPOT.ph) Local pizza and surf shop Kermit has ruled over Siargao island's Italian food scene for the longest time. Italian expat Gianni Grifoni's concept is known all over—yes, even internationally—as the place to hit up for close-to-authentic Italian eats when in the island paradise. Since stepping back from Kermit Siargao in 2020, Grifoni has also opened Kermit La Union, and now, one much closer to our Metro hearts. The Italian chef and restaurateur has opened Grifoni's of Kermit right here in BGC. Fans of the OG Kermit Siargao can go on a trip down memory lane as they feast on familiar flavors and tons of new eats from the man behind the resto Conde Nast Traveller touted as having "what might be the best pizza and fresh made pastas in the country.”

Also read:
The SPOT.ph Guide to Italian Food
10 Places for Great Italian Food in Manila

Check out Grifoni's of Kermit:

To set the record straight, Grifoni's of Kermit does not carry the exact same dishes as those in the OG Siargao branch. According to chef and owner Gianni Grifoni, he took inspiration from what worked in the first couple of branches and tweaked it to adapt it for the Manila crowd. "Everything in Manila is fast, fast, fast. The energy is different here, so you can't bring Siargao or La Union exactly. Grifoni's has new dishes, some similar to Kermit, but they are not the same," says Gianni.

He has taken the time to research and develop new recipes from different parts of Italy, using a bunch of new techniques and ingredients, he tells us. "Grifoni's will make you feel like you are having your grandmother's cooking," says Gianni. 

The best example of this innovation in the menu is Grifoni's Lasagna della Nonna (P495). This new dish, as the name implies, is a lasagna dish just like your grandmother would make, but it takes a traditional Italian family recipe for lasagna bolognese and gives it a new life by using fewer layers and adding a special vodka cream sauce, lending the typically very filling pasta dish a slightly tart edge.

The ambiance at Grifoni's of Kermit:

While Gianni Grifoni cannot bring the complete island vibe to Manila, they did what they could to give their space a tropical feel. Notice the touches of tropics-inspired decor scattered around the restaurant; Wooden and woven accents, easy furniture, and shades of browns, greens, and neutrals dominate the interiors.

The space looks like it's been lifted from some beach destination, except where you would expect the cool breeze from the sea, you get a slight chill from the AC. Don't worry about missing the sunshine, thanks to their huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

The restaurant feels like a homey vacation from the bustling BGC landscape — complete with its own bar by the beach with signature and classic cocktails that'll give you a buzz if you're not paying attention. 

The Food in Grifoni's of Kermit:

Both of Gianni's previous restaurants are famous for their Neapolitan-style pizzas and handmade fresh pasta, so you would expect Grifoni's to be at par with its predecessors—and it does not disappoint.

You still get that soft, chewy, light, and moist crust with a flavorful yet simple tomato sauce cooked to perfection in a Neapolitan-style oven and garnished with only the essentials.

Don't believe us? Try out their best-selling Pizza Margherita (P420). It's simple, with only the essentials, but my god, does it pack a punch. Pizza purists, it can't get any better than this. Think tangy tomato sauce, salty mozzarella, and fresh basil over a perfectly cooked, thin, chewy crust. We're salivating just thinking about it.

Beyond the pizzas, all the food at Grifoni's is as close as you can get to authentic Italian food here in Manila.

We say close because, as any Italian cuisine purist will tell you, if the ingredients are not from Italy, then it isn't really Italian cuisine. At Grifoni's, sustainability and accessibility of ingredients and helping local purveyors take precedence over staying 100% authentic.

Ingredients used at Grifoni's are mostly locally sourced. The recipes have been tweaked to use local produce and proteins as much as possible, with Gianni and his team taking the time to really search for supplies that can get the same (or better) flavor and texture without having to import.

Take, for example, their mozzarella cheese, which they source from a local cheesemonger who uses milk from cows bred in Italy but grown in Visayas; the way they substitute local mahi-mahi for imported white fish traditionally used in the Linguine al Cartoccio (P595); or the use of Manila clams and local mussels for Cappelini ale Vongole and Mussels (P420), which has arguably given the dish its signature briny yet sweet flavor.

Regardless of where they source their ingredients, Gianni Grifoni is still Italian, so you can count on him to use premium ingredients to best elevate the flavors of their cuisine. And where there are no substitutes available in the country, like for the perfectly cured, thinly sliced, salty prosciutto used on their Pizza alla Burrata (P795), an ingredient that can make or break the dish, Grifoni's imports only from the best—Italy, of course.

How to book tables and dine at Grifoni's of Kermit:

If you're looking for a casual, tropical vibe for your next date or even for a family gathering, you can count on Grifoni's to bring in the flavor and the homey ambiance you can expect from any Italian kitchen.

Grifoni's of Kermit BGC is at Seven/NEO, 5th Avenue Corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. You can find Grifoni's by Kermit on Waze and Google Maps by pinning Grifoni's. 

Walk-in diners are accepted. For reservations and to book a table, you may message their Instagram account or message 0966-069-4046. 

Also read:
These New Must-Try Restaurants in Siargao Prove It's Time to Revisit the Island
Get Ready, Pizza Fans: Kermit Is Opening in La Union

Photos by Hans Fausto

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