Cuaderno: Fil-Mex Fusion & Book Cafe

Rafael Jose T. Buya

4.0

I've been to Taft more often this year compared to the past so I could visit food establishments near the universities here. One of the stops I did was for Cuaderno Book Cafe, a Fil-Mex restaurant that's also a hub for bookworms. It's a fitting concept that appeals to students from DLSU, CSB and St. Scholastica who are just steps away. The ambiance cooperates with its homey interiors. Why Fil-Mex? Maybe a burrito or taco on one hand and book on another makes more sense. The price points here are also friendly and so are the owners, Chef Anthony Marvin Espino and Alexa May Losaria, who took care of us on this sponsored visit. So we had a fusion of two cuisines with some tweaking needed to get it more apt. We got first the standard Nacho Grande (Php 145), a cheesy delight made tastier with ground chorizo. This appetizer made us crave for more. We had Sisig Burrito next, a leaner bite from the usual fatty features and Sisig Tacos which was topped with a runny sunny side up egg. Both had strong sisig aroma, these are suggested orders if you like this Pampanga born Filipino food. Another starter, they called Toastadilla was served, a combination of bread and quesadilla. We got the Beef and Cheese varitey (Php 129). This had definitely more carbs if you are a fan of that, I personally prefer the crispier traditional variety. For some meat, they offered us the Mexican Braised Ribs (Php 180), a tasty concoction glazed with orange and sugar. It had a nice balance of citrus and sweetness, a personal favorite here. Like most restaurants around, they also serve wings and they call their Mexican Buffalo Wings (Php140). This was decent and could have had more kick to make it interesting. Its wings though were meaty so that is always a good plus. Did you know that Cuaderno also has a charity side? They accept books for them to share with their chosen communities. Where to find this awesome place? They are at 1013 Estrada Street, Malate, Manila.

Charlene Santillan

4.0

Mexican food and books? You've come to the right place then 😀Food (⭐️⭐️⭐️) - You should try their NACHOS. I loved every second I was devouring it 😂Price (⭐️⭐️⭐️) - Justifiable and affordableShould I visit again? MAYBE, if my taste buds' craving for Mex 🌮

Kutay Güçlü

4.0

The nachos is good! Iced tea is too sweet. Too bad coffee wasn't available. Ambiance needs improvement.Love the fast Wi-Fi and the books :)Will surely come back soon.

Asporca Keser

4.0

With over 600 books in their collection, Cuaderno Book Cafe offers a save haven for bookworms and students seeking recluse alike. With De La Salle University, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and St. Scholastica’s College right around the corner, Cuaderno is a great place for students to spend their long breaks in given Cuaderno’s chill ambiance and student budget-friendly prices. Unfortunately/fortunately (depending on your perspective), the establishment can’t serve alcohol given that it is in the vicinity of these campuses. [Read More]

Angeline Febriani

3.0

So far, the only thing I've tried here in Cuaderno is their Beef and Cheese Nachos and it tastes so good. The serving size is good, one regular-sized plate. I would definitely come back, order it again and try other dishes as well :)

Nikka Diane Gumera

3.0

Cuaderno Fil-Mex Book Cafe is the first book café near Taft Avenue, Manila. It offers dishes with modern take on Filipino and Mexican fusion cuisine, and opened September 2016.This is the second time we visited this cafe and we must say we are very proud of how far they've come. Imagine, from 300 books and a simple menu, they now have over 500 on display and additional dishes to offer.Ambience-wise, all the artsy stuff, including calligraphy, paintings, and other decorations in the café may appeal to millennials.Food, Price and RecommendationThe price range of their food is between P99 and P180, while the drinks cost around P30 to P140.We tried their following specialties:Mexican Braised Ribs (P180), Mexican Buffalo Wings (P140), Sisig Burritos (P130), Nacho Grande (P145), Beef and Cheese Tostadillas (P129), a Darth Vader Waffle (P139) for dessert, and their Hazelnut Frappucino (P140).The flavor of their ribs was consistent from our previous try: sweet with a hint of orange.Their Mexican Braised Ribs is one of their best-sellers. However, The Eatventurers recommend their sisig. You can try the Sisig Burritos, Sisig Nachos, or their Sisig Nachosilog.It might be a little spicy for some but we find it delicious.Sisig Burritos also comes with free nachos.They also offer Tostadillas, pin-rolled bread filled with your choice of: cheese, ham and cheese, or beef and cheese, breaded with nachos.We also tried their Mexican Buffalo Wings and we loved the flavor on the skin.The rice meals come with free a free glass of iced tea making it budget friendly for students. Their Hazelnut Frappe, on the other hand, is quite expensive at P140 but it is a must try.Another dessert we tried is the Darth Vader waffles. The taste did not disappoint! It comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, wafer sandwiches, chocolate sprinkles, and wafer stick - his light saber!With the free wifi, the air-conditioning, the books, and the art, Cuaderno is definitely worth the visit.Full post at www.eatventurers.com The Eatventurers

Haddy Suhardimansyah

4.0

Discovered another student hangout spot in Taft, Cuaderno. Sharing about their awesome and student-allowance friendly Fil-Mex dishes. Cuaderno is a Filipino-Mexican Fusion and Book Café which is just a few steps away from DLSU's College of St. Benilde. The owners, Alexa and Anthony, are a couple who came up with this concept from the heart. Alexa is a bookworm and would love to share her collection with their dear customers (you can read from her collection), while Mark is a hotel chef (who also heads Cuaderno's kitchen) and his dishes are amazing.

Adlinelesmana

5.0

Cuaderno Manila is prolly the comfiest café in Taft. For readers who are looking for a spot to eat and read, this one's the perfect place for you. From snacks to heavy meals and even unli-wings, you can have it all here. They serve Mexican Food with Filipino twists plus they have hundreds of books on their shelves for free use :) I think their collection is around 500. You may either use these books, or do your work/readings here. Electrical outlets are also available. Everything on their menu is student-friendly. All food and drinks are below P200.00 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻Should you happen to have old books ready for donation, you may also leave it there. They're in partnership with Books For A Cause -a charitable institution committed to giving books to less fortunate kids, schools, & communities in the remote and depressed areas in the Philippines.-Nacho Grande-This is their best seller. Can serve 2-3 personsAnd it's just for P145.00. Served with a bed of warm nachos topped with their signature meat sauce, salsa, chilis, and drizzled with creamy cheese sauce.-Quesadilla-My personal favorite. Didn't really got the chance to look what's inside it. NAUBOS AGAD. -Chili con Carne-This is comparable to Filipino giniling but theirs is made with pure meat, no carrots, potatoes or other veggies. Perfect for non-spicy eaters who wants to eat chili con carne. There's spiciness in it but it's really really tolerable. -Chicken Wings-Generous serving of wings. You'll definitely ask for another cup of rice with this. Perfectly glazed, a bit hot, and best eaten with beer! 😂-Chicken Tenders-Crispy chicken tenders with cheeeeeeese sauce. Comes with rice, egg- cooked your choice, and some nacho chips. All of that for only P99.00. They also have these with longganisa, ham, sisig, baloney, and lechon kawali under Nachosilog meals. 👌🏻😁

Nadhira Syifa

4.0

Summary:The strong points of this place are it's fast Wi-Fi, simple interior that feels like home if not a library, delicious food, cozy vibe, and peace and quiet to some extent.Ordering:Walk up to the counter at the end, check the menu, and Pay As You Order. Ring the bell if needed.Place:Bandwidth results displayed 7+ Mbps for a customer count of less than 5. Space is limited but don't think the place is tiny based on the outside view only. You can faintly hear music at the back door but no biggie.Food:"Lechon Kawali" had the most value. It's more affordable and tasty, including some crisssspy skin; I couldn't emphasize that more."Mexican Braised Ribs" were mildly sweet and spicy but fairly delicious. I didn't feel its full value and the rice could've been fresher."Nachos" goes FTW for its delicious ground beef, melted cheese, tomatoes, and maybe jalapeno. It can be shared or eaten alone.

Amq

3.0

First time I've been here was like 2 weeks ago , place was nice and cool for a person like me who can't stand the heat. Bookshelves with some Stephen King on em. I ordered the chicken wings which were like P18/pc and tbh it was okay, not that good but not that bad, sauce was but too rich for me and has thick consistency that turned sticky after a while but taste wise, good enough for P18. Have yet to try their other choices.