Bondi & Bourke

Kalvin Leung

3.0

Popular Aussie resto Bondi & Bourke opened its 2nd branch in BGC. This was the last stop of our website group trip in BGC which began a few hours earlier in Salvatore Cuomo.Ordered Garlic Fries for appetizer. Garlicky good, a tad overburnt. 3/5Then the Crabmeat Carbonara soon arrived. After the usual take turns at taking pictures, we tried it, and it was gooood. Truffle essence, smoked pancetta, sweet garlic cream, and penne cooked al dente blended perfectly. Creamy, lovely truffle flavor, this was the best dish of the evening. At above P600, I think it's a bit on the high side but the quality it apparent, and we shared it enough among 4 people so I think it fits the upscale positioning of Bondi & Bourke. Truffle and pancetta, good, but I hardly tasted the crabmeat. 4/5Soon after arrived the 350gm Australian Ribeye. At P2,190, interestingly, it's more expensive than the US Angus at about P1900, so we had to try Aussie. Great form, thick steak, we asked them to make it medium rare. Arrived in great form, with salad, mashed potatoes and asparagus on the side. Thick, good sear. We took our customary pics then had the staff cut it. Disappointingly, it was tough. For Ribeye, Aussie quality, medium rare, damn... sayang! The flavor was quite good. They kinda screwed that up. Value for money was good pa naman. Either the quality of the cut was not good or they kinda overcooked it at medium, but I'm sticking to the quality of the Ribeye. 2/5For dessert, the absolute excellent Pudding that I tried in Makati gave way to try the Aussie dessert Big Lamingtons. Picking chocolate, it certainly looks very appealing. Sponge cake coated in an outer layer of chocolate sauce and rolled in desiccated coconut on top of cream. It's got decent moistness, good flavor, but relatively forgettable, despite its great form. Guess I was dreaming of that dessert I tried from their original Makati branch. 3/5Also ordered Crackerjack Shiraz. P1000 for a bottle. New age, good flavor and bouquet, easy to drink and got buzzed pretty good, as it went well with the steak.OVERALL, 3.5. For sure, I'll go back and try their other dishes. Their ambiance was consistent with their original Makati branch, though the Makati feels more intimate. This has higher ceilings, more space, and interesting interior. Weird the use of Pinoy Capiz windows as decor on their stairs being an Aussie resto, man, but I'll take it.Note: review written originally after first visit last June 2016; a subsequent visit in July was where I enjoyed a better dining experience, highlighted by their trademark Aussie, the Beef Shepherd's Pie. 4.5/5Reich Torio Ruth Sarno

Jacqueline Wei

4.0

the ambiance is really nice. romantic and quiet. perfect for dates and family dinners. the food is really delicious and worth the price :) they have a nice selection dishes that are worth trying

Drew Somoray

5.0

My friends and I practically had the place to ourselves one Sunday afternoon. We had a late lunch and took advantage of 30% off the food bill if you make reservations through the Big Dish App at 2:30pm. Dining here was nothing short of amazing. My compliments to the chefs that day for a superb meal. We ordered a salad and an appetizer to share, and we each ordered a dish for the main course. 1. Felix Salad - Mixed greens with cashews, ripe mangoes, red onions and cucumbers, which was tossed in a light vinaigrette and then topped with grilled chicken breast that was surprisingly moist and tender. I’m always wary about chicken breast having the tendency to be dry and bland in taste, but theirs was just perfectly cooked and delicious. 2. Oysters in Mornay Sauce - Large, plump oysters on their shells, coated in a rich, cream-based sauce and then topped with melted mozarella. I love how the oysters were huge and they tasted fresh and briny as if I was on the beach. The blanket of cheese helped pull everything together. We all know everything tastes better with cheese and this was no exception. 3. Surf and Turf - This was my choice for the main course. This was to die for! It comprised of 250g rib eye steak, which was sitting on a bed of asparagus. The steak was then topped with 3 succulent prawns. The dish came with a generous serving of mashed potatoes and a side salad. Ordered my steak medium rare. Best enjoyed with a glass of merlot.