For 28 Cafe and Sandwiches in QC Is Your Next Stop for Great Bread

(SPOT.ph) You might not know it, but you’ve probably had bread made by 28 Derby, even if you’ve never ordered from their online store. For the last nine years, the bakery has been providing various restaurants with their breads. If you’ve had a smash burger served on a brioche bun, it’s likely that the bun came from them.

Their commissary is on the corner of Rustia and E. Rodriguez in Cubao, and they’ve decided to open it up with a rather large cafe-slash-events place. They call it For 28 Cafe and Sandwiches, and while it is obviously meant to be a showcase for 28 Derby’s baked goods, it aims to be a lot more than just that.

“We wanted to create a safe space for the community,” says Migs Santiago, co-owner of For 28. And what a space it is: comfortably seating maybe thirty to forty, with lots of natural light from the large picture windows, and sockets for those who need to recharge. It’s definitely a cafe, but there’s enough floor space to imagine a lot of other things being done there. “We’re thinking of live gigs and drag shows,” Santiago says.

They’ve had pen enthusiasts gather there. Soon, it’ll play host to Magic: The Gathering players. Santiago and his wife Erika are board game enthusiasts, and want to play host to some gaming sessions soon. Space offers potential, and For 28 has a lot of that. There’s even a second roof deck currently under construction, where they’re thinking of adding some modular bar elements. That bar will eventually be used to serve brunch cocktails at the cafe, but its presence offers up more possibilities for future events.

But its day-to-day existence will be as a cafe—one that serves sandwiches, all of them using 28 Derby’s breads. In their current soft opening, three sandwiches are available. Two are served on focaccia—a breakfast sandwich with bacon, egg and cheese (P380), and a salami and arugula (P360). The other option is eggs benedict (P350), served on an English muffin. It’s all very straightforward with these sandwiches: it’s just good bread matched with good fillings. The focaccia is quite rich, but maintains a fluffy crumb, and it serves as a fine accompaniment to the rich, salty components within. (Pro tip: Get the Pizza Foccacia with marinara to dip.)

As of this writing, they’re working on a french dip sandwich, to be served in a baguette, as well as a smash burger for their brioche buns. Santiago also talks about having tomato soup on the menu. But they’re keeping the menu small, and keeping their operations fairly simple, despite the large kitchen.

For 28 seems to keep an eye towards serving as a platform for other people, as much as it is a place where people can easily access the products of the bakery. It could be a place where an up-and-coming chef might serve their first solo dinner, testing the waters for what could be a future top restaurant; it could be a local concept's launch of a completely new menu. "We’re open to whatever the community needs," Santiago reiterates.

But yes: it is also a place that serves Derby 28’s very fine breads. The front counter is dominated by a bakery display that features their products, alongside some pastries made specifically for the cafe. Their sourdough is one of the best deals in Metro Manila, at just 170 pesos for a loaf. The cafe serves a warmed half loaf with whipped butter for P200, and you can get a small wheel of brie to accompany it for an extra P250. If you like the focaccia, they serve a pizza version of it for P210, served with a side of marinara. The focaccia in the pizza seems to have extra olive oil in it, making it even richer. And the side of marinara just calls to be sopped up by that beautiful bread.

There’s a lot of thoughtfulness evident in For 28. One might notice, for example, that there are feminine products laid out in the comfort room. It just feels like a lot of their decisions are driven by kindness, and that will certainly go a long way in making it a beloved fixture in the community. Time will tell, but this place feels like a safe bet.