Perrochiko
G/F Uptown Parade, Uptown Bonifacio
Contact: 0916-660-3947
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PerrochikoPH/
(SPOT.ph) There are times all you want to do is get out of the country. Or at the very least, out of the daily grind. Sure, you could go all out: pack your bags and leave on a jet plane (don't know when you'll be back again)—or, maybe, simply step out of the routine a bit by heading out for great food, drinks, and company in some place special. Know what we're talking about? Check out the newest swanky spot to open up in Uptown Parade: Perrochiko.
Situated right at the corner of 9th and 36th, you can't miss this Spanish restaurant's floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The spacious interiors scream a funky Copacabana vibe in shades of bright green and light wood. Splashes of velvet emeralds and dark mustards come courtesy of their ultra comfy seats and there's no way to miss their lights. Oh yes, there are booth tables you can sit at right by the windows for prime people-watching real estate.
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If you frequented this area in The Before Times, you probably recall this spot used to house a Choi Palace, and you'd be right. Janica Lao, the owner, joked "We noticed that people still go the Annapolis [branch], so what was the point?" The pandemic gave one silver lining in that it was the perfect time to try something new, and so they decided to go the Spanish route.
And as for the cheeky name, it comes from a typical Spanish childhood experience shared by one of their chefs who hails from the Iberian peninunsula. As his anecdote goes: Imagine you are at lola's home, or in this case, abuela's, and of course she has piled on your plate high. "Tienes mas hambre que un perro chiko," she says, which loosely means "eat like you’re hungrier than a small dog." Lao laughs and says she doesn't particularly like telling customers that last part, lest they think she's calling them a small dog—but really, we think this fun anecdote spells out the place's vibe perfectly.
Come hungry to this new Spanish restaurant Perrochiko:
Croquetas always make for fun, satisfying bites, and Perrochiko delivers in taste and variety. There are the carnivorous classics: Croquetas de Chorizo (P320) and the Croquetas de Jamon (P380), both amping it up in plumpness and meatiness. For earthier and cheesier options, give the Croquetas de Setas y Trufa (P380) and Croquetas de Escalivada y Queso Ahumado (P320) a try. The former is a crunchy orb stuffed with mushrooms and a bit of black truffle; the earthiness is a lot subtler than it sounds. Meanwhile, the latter is a creamy bomb in your mouth, one of roasted veggies and soft gouda.
What self-respecting Spanish restaurant wouldn't have some form of paella? Perrochiko serves up a whole slew of different takes on the classic dish: De Pollo (P880) a classic Valenciana style; Negro (P880) a seafood feast embraced in squid ink; Del Señorito (P1,675), which as the name commands, is essentially an absolute seafood treat made even more luxe by the fact that they all come without a shell (Read: no need to labor for your food); and the more unexpected Fideua de Marisco (P780) which uses noodles instead of rice. All takes are amped thanks to the aioli served on the side or sometimes on top, adding a rich creamy layer to a dish already full of depth.
The Mahi Mahi a la Mantequilla (P780) is a full plateful of zest and sea. A slab of tender Mahi Mahi cooked in bright, calamansi-infused butter and then placed atop a zesty slaw. The Salmon Glaseado (P860) follows suit in a subtly sweet, teriyaki-esque glaze on a bed of cauliflower puree.
And because you're at Perrochiko to have a good time, they've made sure to have a very well-stocked bar with some very fun drinks. A sangria always looks good in one's hand, and their take, the Sangria Perra (P350) amps things up with a cinammon stick and large slices of tropical fruits. For something out of the box, give the Fly High (P350) a try. It comes in a bird. Well, a glass shaped like a bird that happens to contain a bright mix of tequila, apricot brandy, passion fruit puree, and pineapple and lime juice.
Perrochiko isn't the type of place where you're meant to take yourself seriously. In the same way they've taken Spanish cuisine and given it their own fun, arguably Asian-inspired twist, you're welcomed into the place to let loose. So go on, while you can't exactly just fly off to Spain, Perrochiko has everything you need for a quick sanity break.
Photos by Hans Fausto