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We’re all familiar with the quirky neighborhood archetype we see onscreen, where everyone around the block knows each other, and there seems to be that one spot everyone hangs out at. One look at this cafe in Mandaluyong, and that’s exactly what you’ll get from it.
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Situated at the heart of the surrounding neighborhood, Santiago’s Cafe is a quaint cafe and restaurant with all the intimate quirks you’d expect from a family-run business: pink and playful interiors, a menu consisting of all owner’s favorites from their mother’s recipes, and the fact that the shop is named after the first apo in the family.
Coasting their way purely from trial and error, none of the owners have any formal culinary training or restaurant management. The family has actually been in the film industry for 50 years, with their own production house called Black Maria Pictures, The Print Shop by Black Maria, and microcinema Black Maria Cinema, which are all within the same block and intersect with each other.
With Santiago’s Cafe as their fourth venture and first dip into the food scene, they imagined a third wave coffee shop where moviegoers dine before or after.
The playful interiors symbolize a great part of the cafe’s personality. Designed by a co-owner of the store (who is also the in-house director of their production house and the wife of one owner), the aesthetic as a whole was inspired by hip, suburban coffee shop you’ll typically see on Pinterest, which fell right in with their flamingo logo. The influence of the film industry comes into play, because the whole store looks like a scene right out of a Wes Anderson movie.
Fun fact: Can't get enough pink flamingos? Wait 'til you step inside their restroom.
Upon the cafe’s conception, dishes were purposefully chosen to complement their specialty coffee, which fit perfectly with their bestselling pasta and panini dishes. But as the menu expanded, they started to add their favorites from their mom’s home-cooked recipes like Beef Stew and Pork Binagoongan. They boast of a few unique selections as well, like their Adobo con Tsokolate and Ginger Latte.
Bacon Express Panini
Slices of thick bacon, arugula, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, and egg in a panini sandwich, with honey butter chips on the side
Bacon Mushroom Truffle Pasta
White sauce with bacon bits, truffle, parmesan cheese, on penne pasta with 2 strips of bacon and garlic bread on the side
Their bestseller!
All Day Breakfast
3 types of sausages: Hungarian, Cheese and Longganisa, with 2 strips of bacon, egg, and garlic rice
Adobo con Tsokolate
Pork marinated and simmered in sugarcane vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, black peppercorn then browned in butter and chocolate
Adobo sa Atsuete
Chicken meat with liver and gizzard marinated and simmered in spiced vinegar, garlic, black peppercorns then browned in chili peppers and achiote oil
Lattes
Choose from signature lattes, including their unique Ginger latte!
Milkshakes
From left to right: Santi’s (Vanilla espresso), Gelly’s (T-Rex blend with espresso), and Sarah’s (Blueberry cheesecake)
Fun fact: Their special milkshakes are named after the family members based on their favorite flavors!
If you have want to celebrate an occasion at their beautiful space or bring their specialty dishes and coffee to you, they offer catering services and private events!
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779 San Rafael Street, Mandaluyong
(02) 532-0540
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