The Breakfast Experience
85 Scout Fuentebella corner Tomas Morato, Quezon City
Contact: 0917-300-5272
Open from 7
(SPOT.ph) Nicole Zialcita and her business partner originally wanted to open a Japanese restaurant in Tomas Morato. In fact, they’d already built the perfect sushi counter for their future shop. But after a few sushi-making classes, they realized running one would be too demanding. And so they had to come up with something new and fresh. What was missing in the area, they thought, was a mid-range, all-day breakfast place.
The Breakfast Experience serves homemade, all-time breakfast favorites. They want to be your new favorite neighborhood hangout, just as much as they want to elevate morning classics like pancakes, eggs, and coffee. “It’s important to choose the right ingredients and get the right mix,” Nicole says.
From the items on the menu, down to the ingredients and the way they prepare and cook their dishes, you’ll get a sense that these are all a culmination of Nicole and her partner’s travels abroad. Some of their dishes are inspired by breakfast plates from Australia, the U.S., Japan, India, and, of course, the Philippines.
Walk further down to the end of the restaurant and you’ll see a brightly colored nook where big groups can hang out—there are comfy chairs, board games, magazines, and books. While it’s common to see morning joggers drop by, it’s also a pet-friendly destination for people who want to bring their furry friends along.
Chicken and Waffles
One of their
Strawberry Fields Forever
Monkey Business
Another crowd favorite is the Strawberry Fields Forever (P175), or thick pancakes made of pure, fluffy goodness. It’s topped with fresh strawberry and kiwi slices, syrup, wafer sticks, and a dollop of decadent whipped cream. Meanwhile, the Monkey Business (P190) is another pancake masterpiece, but this time it’s finished with torched and caramelized banana and Nutella syrup.
Avo and Bacon Eggs
For those craving something savory, their Avo and Bacon Eggs (P265) is a good choice. They’re basically eggs benedict on a bed of perfectly crunchy bacon and a hefty layer of avocado paste. The Breakfast Experience makes the hollandaise sauce fresh daily. The sauce balances the acidity of the dish while the creamy avocado absorbs the richness of the bacon—a brilliant move that keeps the dish from feeling too overwhelming.
Adobo Sisig
The Adobo Sisig (P180) is made up of chicken flakes, cooked in the style of sisig. The best way to eat the dish is to mix it with rice to create a beautiful mess of Filipino flavors. Combining two all-time favorites in one dish is a match made in heaven.
Pinoy Big Breakfast
If you want something more traditional, you can always go for the Pinoy Big Breakfast (P305), a set meal of
Salisbury Steak
The Breakfast Experience has also started serving lunch meals. Included in the noontime lineup is the Salisbury Steak (P165), a meaty burger steak served with golden crispy fries and a mound of steaming hot rice. Hold your horses, though, as it comes with a twist. Instead of your usual gravy, it’s replaced with a deep red, zesty tomato-based sauce. After a few bites, it may dawn on you that the dish is actually inspired by India’s famous butter chicken.
Banana Nutella Milkshake
For drinks, they have the Banana Nutella Milkshake (P165), made with chocolate malt and banana. The Kahlua Iced Latte (P135) is a beach-inspired cold coffee drink laced with a distinct coconut flavor. An interesting refreshment is the Spiced Iced Tea (P85), a Southern-inspired iced tea that’s created with cinnamon and cloves, which provides a unique, spicy flavor.
The restaurant’s servings are big enough to be shared by two hungry grown-ups. But we wouldn't blame you if you feel like being a bit selfish. Here, it’s perfectly alright to indulge.
Photos by Nicko de Guzman