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.

Drake St Kram

4.0

Taste: Worth a try. We started with the Warm Mushroom Salad which was filled with microgreens. When I initially saw it, I was hesitant because I saw a lot of greens and I wasn't really a big fan of salad but I actually took a second heaping of this. The mushroom was complemented by the many microgreens that you see in the photo. It wasn't icky to eat. It was really appetizing.They also served some canapes which in itself was filling. The sausage rolls and the mini pie was really good. The mini pie was my favorite because once you cut into it, smoke comes out and the smell of the beef inside fills the air. If I wasn't aware that I had to make space for the steak that was coming, I would have eaten a lot of these.The foie gras was my favorite and also the favorite of my brother. It was only recently that I started to fall in love with foie gras but I fell hard. Before the main star was served, we had the Lebanese Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce on a bed of tomato and cucumber salsa which was wonderfully refreshing and really tasty. It may look simple but trust me when I say that I had 2 skewers of this and I wanted more.Now, we give you the Roasted Prime Rib-Eye. I'm not a fan of steak but I actually had 2 slices of this and I have to say that even I admired the pinkness of the meat. It just looked absolutely perfect and it melted in your mouth. I thought I would have to chew hard but no, it just melts in your mouth.We ended our lunch with the Sticky Toffee Pudding and this was where we were a little confused. Perhaps because it was cooked one after the other, one ended up a little dry and the other was perfect. Thankfully, I got the perfect version haha. This wasn't too sweet and I finished once piece all by myself.Price: This is not for the faint hearted. Ambiance: Classy all the way.

Elif Doğanay

4.0

Full review:One of the most underrated cuisines of the world is probably one that originated from a country that is huge – very huge in fact that it is a continent and a country on its own. That’s right, Australia. We all wonder, what is Australian Cuisine? Do we even know one dish that is purely Australian? This is where Bondi and Bourke comes into play. This new restaurant in town brings along with it the flavors of “down under” spearheaded by no other than one of the acclaimed chefs in Australia – Chef Wade Watson.Bondi & Bourke BGC is the 2nd store to be opened following it’s flagship outlet in Legaspi Village in Makati. Upon entering the posh restaurant, you’ll be greeted by well-trained staffs. The wall at the right side is enamored by live microgreens with the restaurants logo. The high ceilings and glass panels give a warm, bright and fresh atmosphere – a rarity among chic restaurants. Across the receiving area is the open kitchen and the open bar where you see the hardworking chefs in action – including the executive chef! At the front panel of the kitchen you will see boxes of microgreens which they heavily use as garnish and as a salad ingredient.There are more seating space upstairs that combines dark wood with comfy sofas. Surely, one will find it to be a place to relax and have a great meal. Bondi and Bourke wants its customers to enjoy food and feel at home.

Divaa Nabila Arumsari

4.0

Took my mom here for Mother's Day! Place was nice, but the stairs were bit hard for my mom to climb. Lower floor was full.We got the Mushroom Soup (php365), Mahi-mahi Fillet (php945), Roasted Half Chicken (php695), Side Salad (php125) for lunch.We loved the Roasted Chicken! Serving size can be for sharing. Staff were nice. Parking is available (entrance at Forbestown, php50/hr). Reservation is recommended during peak hours.

Trisha Rose Valencia

5.0

Decided to eat dinner here since I’m missing Australian food! Everything I ordered is great — The seafood bisque, kilpatrick oysters, and the U.S prime rib eye 300g! Going back again to try their brekky food.

Hazal Gülcü

5.0

It was a fine afternoon when I went here, which was great, for I was expecting a huge crowd. Thankfully, I pretty much had the place just for myself, which made the experience more relaxing, and intimate. I started off with their famous Spinach and Bacon Fondue, and my, it was really good. I didn't know what type of cheese were in it, but it surely had several, but mozzarella was the most obvious as it had the stretch-and-pull character of the cheese, other than being topped by a generous layer of it of course. 😊 The waitress was kind enough to give me another round of toast to finish the whole pot. 😊 I went on with a bowl of their Prawn Carbonara, and it was surprisingly good! Surprisingly I say, for I have a discriminating taste when it comes to pasta, most especially for dishes with white sauce, and this version of a carbonara was really on a league of its own. It was really, really flavorful, exaggeration aside. Though at first I thought that the serving wouldn't be enough as the bowl seemed small, but don't be fooled, the serving was hefty, and surely worth-it every forkful. As for my main dish, I chose a plate of their Roasted Half Chicken. Presentation-wise, it was divine. Impeccable. Served on a bed of creamy mash, and different kinds of beans, all while generously topped with a rich, and very savory mushroom gravy, it was roasted chicken heaven! 😊 Every mouthful had be looking for a cup of rice! 😀 As for the service, it was on-point. The young lady who assisted me throughout was very pleasing, and polite, and even initiated to have the dishes served in courses, which worked well for me. 😊 And though I didn't enjoy my food with any alcohol, I would highly recommend this place for a place for such casual dining impulses, the type one would visit for good food, and few bottles or so.

Bengi Su Akyalçın

5.0

Bondi & Bourke is without doubt my favorite all-rounder restaurant in Manila. Their menu covers all bases but maintains a strong self identity. The Aussie parmas and pies are a much needed slice of home which are actually better than most bars and restaurants in Australia.

Doc Francis Allanigue

3.0

Went here on a Friday evening. Loved the cocktails and the starter of Middle Eastern Dips. Classic Australian Parma was quite disappointing though. Both our cocktails - Jura Sour and Caipirinia - were well made with the right quantity of spirit! Trio of Middle Eastern Dips with 3 different breads was good. Hummus, baba ghanoush and tabneh were all good.Chicken Parma was a large dish of flattened battered pieces of chicken breast topped with mozzarella and padano cheese and tomato sauce. Bland tasting. Surely this is not the best version of Australia's famous dish