JoChef's

Dyah Indah Pratiwi

3.0

JoChef’s is this little contemporary place in Tiendesitas. I wouldn’t really call it ‘contemporary Filipino’ as they advertise themselves. Yes, there are Filipino dishes on their menu, but other dishes too that originate from other countries. Maybe ‘contemporary world’ would be more on point.With JoChef’s so conveniently close to work, I do come here a bit. Been eating here since its opening days actually. I don’t know what it is about the place, food or whatnot, that only has made me only eat 2 items on their menu. Seriously?! Yes, website me is very dead serious and shocked that I haven’t tried anything else. And these items would be the Carbonara and the Buffalo Wings.The Carbonara is nice and creamy. Taste is good enough, I just wish it was a little richer. The dinner roll is good to wipe the sauce clean of the plate. At times I wish it was garlic bread though. Just one peeve though that I have noticed when eating this dish over time, in the beginning they were using freshly grated parmesan cheese and that eventually changed to Eden I believe. Doing the change I think would be common sense budget wise, but I wish they had the option of parmesan cheese at a little extra cost. It makes any pasta dish totally better. Don’t you agree?As for the Buffalo Wings surprisingly are quite good and tasty. The sauce is tangy and spicy enough to just tickle ones taste buds. There are times though were I found them a little dry and sometimes not juicy enough, the consistency isn’t always there. But I do wish they had the option of the wings as is for half or a full dozen pieces. Sure, having it as a rice meal is nice, but just a huge load of wings for yourself or to share with friends sometimes needed—no rice. The sauce though could be better. I can’t exactly pinpoint what’s mixed in it. It isn’t a bleu cheese dip, but somehow trying to get there. My taste buds get a little confused, but in the end, I still finish the dip.JoChef’s in terms of price, I’d say it’s pretty affordable. Food tastes good and is filling. Though I would admit I have ordered 2 orders of wings perhaps twice in a single sitting. Hey, like I said, half dozen and dozen options to order would be nice. Service is another thing. Sometimes it’s good, they can be attentive. There are times though they are really not focused on the customer dining area that you have to call their attention more. But it is nice to see the food being cooked in a somewhat open kitchen.I know that JoChef’s has more than 2 dishes to offer and that they are delicious as well. The Beef Pares is their signature item and best-seller on the menu. The servers always recommend it and at times, when I look at the kitchen, there is an out of stock sign for it. Even my co-workers have tried it and said it is the best that they have tasted. Unfortunately for me, years ago, I ate beef pares at this restaurant and there was just too much star anise for me. They (not mentioning names) ruined beef pares for me, and since then, I have never eaten it again.Will I get out of the safe zone of just ordering my usual 2 and try the Beef Pares? At this point, I don’t even know the answer myself. Maybe it’s a tiny, tiny, tiny yes.

Ageispolis

2.0

Nothing special. The aglio olio and carbonara is lacked of taste. The calamansi cooler doesn't taste good, it's like you just add calamansi in a gulaman and it's smells like damp cloth.

Rica DP

4.0

A very nice place to chill and hangout. Very friendly chef! Comfort food at its best. Love the aglio olio, carbonara, and beef pares. They serve homemade ice cream too, banana walnut, and avocado - new favorites!