Cafe Adriatico Express

Rizal Ramadhan

3.0

For some decades I've been hearing about Cafe Adriatico especially from my tito's and tita's who frequents the area before and I was delighted (aside from living somehow near the area) when I was invited here for an LJC x website Food Crawl where us bloggers can try what the EXPRESS branch serves.Cafe is quite small. Maybe it can accommodate around 50-60 people at the same time.Ensalada Esmeralda (P299)👊👊👊Chicken Macaroni (P125)👊👊Pork Empanaditas (P175)👊👊👊Garlic Chicken Wings (P195) 👊👊👊Baked Salmon Rice Topping (P250) 👊👊👊 BBQ Pork Belly (P195)👊👊👊American Beef Stew for (P295) 👊👊👊👊Pepperoni Pizza for (P195)👊👊👊Primavera Pizza for (P225)👊👊👊Mushroom and Bacon Pizza for (P195)👊👊👊Our Famous Pancit Palabok for (P225)👊👊👊French Kiss for (P185)👊👊👊👊When it comes to the taste department, all taste so-so, flat in some cases except for the American Beef Stew and the French Kiss dessert which I give 4/5 👊👊👊👊.💆‍♂️ SERVICE:Very accommodating crew and helpful on requests.OVERALL:I hope they work on the menu. Because when it comes to value for money, I would find the taste of the food not worth the money I paid for.—YOU CAN FOLLOW ME IN MY OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:FACEBOOK: @jacexperienceINSTAGRAM: @jacexperienceYOUTUBE: Jacexperience

Sedat ÜLKER

4.0

Got invited to a website meetup so we could sample their special menu tailored for the North crowd. It's a small corner in SM but I like how they managed to capture the charm despite the limited space. The servers were really nice too!On to the food! We got to try a lot of items from their menu, which I think all hit the spot for those looking for a classic Filipino meal. I'll be honest, the flavors aren't mindblowing and new but it's the familiarity that would make you want to keep coming back.My favorites from the meetup are:Empanaditas, something I could gobble down without stopping! The ratio of meat to bread was perfect and it was fresh too.Garlic chicken wings, a must eat with the garlic clove for a perfect balance of flavorsBaked salmon rice topping, coz I'm a sucker for cream and salmon. The simplicity of the flavors brought me back to my childhood but would love it if it had more ulam!French Kiss, a perfect end to a feast! It was so buttery and tasted amazing with the blueberries and syrup.

Jinyu Lee

5.0

Let me preface this review by expressing my gratitude to the LJC Group, and website for an exclusive invite to feast on some of the dishes (17 dishes in total! 😀) from all of LJC's nine food concepts, some of which are yet to be fully offered on their respective restaurant menus starting this September. ♥️ As for the Cafe Adriatico Express, we got to try their Fish n' Chips, and their Strawberry Shortcake. Of all the offerings we got served with, I would have to say that the dishes we got from this concept was the least memorable. The fish and chips were okay. For adults, I don't think this would make much of an impression, but surely, the same cannot be said about for kids. It's a kid-friendly dish after all. The fish was tender, and served with a generous serving French fried potatoes, it's a fool-proof meal for the younger crowd I guess. The Strawberry Shortcake on the other hand, won me over with its tastes. I love anything strawberry, and this was a nice way to utilize the fruit as an ingredient. After pigging-out on a whole spread of dishes, finishing it off with something so fresh, and fruity is a refreshing way to end such a hearty meal.

Andrea Catral

4.0

Cafe Adriatico serves a full Menu of Spanish-Mediterranean dishes and a variety of delicious light snacks. As a tribute to Larry J. Cruz, The annual LJC Good to Dine Campaign, which will happen on LJC’s birthday, September 17 and ends on December 31. P10.00 of every featured dish or drink ordered within the campaign period will be donated to the PGH fund.Another celebration is the LJC Festival of Flavors where they will feature new signature dishes from LJC’s Chefs. Two new dishes includes:Fish n’ ChipsBreaded fish fillet serves with thick-cut fries potatoes and tartar sauce. Strawberry ShortcakeI absolutely love Cafe Adriatico’s strawberry shortcake. The filling and frosting were perfect! Not too sweet. Thankyou website and LJC Group!

Alwin Aguirre

5.0

I found something new at Cafe AdriaticoFish n’ Chips. Breaded fish fillet with French fried potatoes and tartar sauce. Very Tender and flavorful.Strawberry Shortcake. Strawberry compote on the white sponge with creamy icing. The icing is too thick for me.

Mars Yahata-Gonzales

4.0

Budget: 1000 for twoFood: Good. We went here for a quick snack only. The cake is nice.Place: Place is good. Not so crowded and I like the interior because it feels Spanish. The staff were also very friendly in this place:)

Summerwinter In Life

4.0

Despite the growing number of international brands coming in, offering different authentic and modern cuisines, I still place our own Filipino food on top of the list. Our simple seasonings combined with certain ingredients is enough for me to love it. On our table we had Spareribs Adobo Rice and Pinakbet, I shared these with my mom and sister. Adobo was well-seasoned while the Pinakbet’s ampalaya I found too bitter, affecting the whole dish. This cafe also offers international cuisines, they have pasta, salads, pizza, and sandwiches. Cafe Adriatico Express got you covered with pastries and cakes as well.

Dian Darwis

4.0

Ordered the following for lunch:- Ensalada Esmeralda- Garlic Chicken Wings- Spaghetti Aglio Olio- Roast Spring Chicken w/ Mushroom Sauce- Roma- Florence- French KissWe loved the salad (dried cranberries, almond slivers, crunchy greens and apple slices coated with their yummy yoghurt dressing), garlic chicken wings (served to us freshly cooked and the garlic flavor seeped thru the tender chicken meat) and french toast (my kind of sweet ending).  They could do better with their garlic bread (I find them soggy) and roast chicken (didn't quite like the herbs).  If you feel like having pasta, go with their express meals (pasta + salad + pizza bread + iced tea) as they're more cost-efficient than their ala carte.

Pooja Malhotra

4.0

Cafe Adriatico Express is nested near the Supermarket. To cater the fast-going people is the major goal why this branch is opened. Serving the same classic dishes from their regular branches, CAE brings out another exclusive dishes shoppers will enjoy. Starting with the Ensalada Esmeralda, the greens are crisp and dressing is fairly sweet. It's amazing that chia seeds are topped in this "healthy" plate. Chicken Macaroni seems to be quite creamy but less of the chicken flavor. Pork Empanaditas is one of my favorite items. The stuffed minced pork and vegetables burst inside the mouth graciously while the pastry gives the crunch and flaky dough. Garlic Chicken Wings is one of the exclusives and it's also one of my favorite. The strong garlic flavor makes these golden brown wings a delectable finger food. Pepperoni, Primavera, and Mushroom & Bacon Pizzas are chewy enough considering it not being cooked in a brick-oven. Though the dining spaces feel constraining, you can still enjoy biting and munching on their not-so-high price versus the nearby non-fast food establishments. Service is a strong point to CAE. Each and every staff are attentive and showed extra mile by positively anticipating and serving customer's needs.Good job to Cafe Adriatico Express. #ljcxzomatofoodcrawl

Tiffany Cheng

4.0

The flagship of the LJC Group of Restaurants, Cafe Adriatico opens an "Express" version at SM North The Block. Though inspired by Cafe Adriatico's old time favorite menu, they offer exclusive dishes where you can only find here. I think the concept of having an express is to accommodate the fast paced environment where the restaurant it situated just near the grocery and also the many competitors that are considerably at a standard price point. Added factor is the consistency with the ambience and vibe you experience from the other branches, from the interiors, furnishings and decorations. They had us try their best sellers and new items starting off with the salad, Ensaladang Esmeralda - fresh fruits on a bed of greens, dried cranberries and almond flakes served with raspberry yogurt dressing topped with chia seeds. I loved the combination from the inside out - everything is fresh and energizing. A classic Filipino favorite, the Chicken Macaroni was next and it was really good. They told us the secret ingredient but well, not a secret anymore on how their Chicken Macaroni tastes differently but I would not tell so it's up to you to try it out. We got Garlic Chicken Wings and Pork Empanaditas as additional starters which are also appetizing. Though I prefer the flaky texture in an Empanada, the stuffings stood out and the chicken wings are perfectly crisped and garlicky in taste. Main Courses served were the BBQ Pork belly, Baked Salmon Rice Topping and American Beef Stew. They were all equally satisfying but I find it a bit pricey as opposed to the serving sizes nevertheless, I enjoyed tasting each dish. I would recommend the Baked Salmon because I liked the creamy and flavorful toppings on rice however, the Beef Stew needs to be more tender and the veggies were slightly half cooked as I noticed hence, the flavor is there. We also tried some of their 9 inch Pizzas, Mushroom and Bacon, Primavera, and Pepperoni. Nice chewy texture and generous toppings the way most of us liked Pizza as it is. Their Famous Pancit Palabok is also available as part of the All Day Merienda - check out their Express Meals as well for a complete set with an affordable price. Last one we had is the French Kiss - chilled brioche French Toast with whipped cream, blueberries and maple syrup - a perfect ending for a scrumptious meal. Overall, it was a wonderful afternoon since we all enjoyed the food. The staff is very accommodating and friendly. Kudos!