The original plan was Handuraw, but, we are jealous gluttons, so we went hunting for the new restaurant in The Gallery --- Carnivore. I have seen pictures on the internet and it looked like it was certainly "the place" to go.
Hopping onto the taxi we rode until we reached the curb and turned left to the Gallery. Stepping down into this familiar location always remind me how I felt robbed when KopiRoti decided to close shop. I have never tasted anything near their French Toast. Oh well, first love just probably never dies. A long, deep breath expelled nostalgia and I determined to move on and started looking where the carnivores meet up.
When you were a child and you get asked to draw and color a house, you come up with crazy hues. Maybe brown walls and white windows or a blue-and-orange combination. You wouldn't mind. And Carnivore didn't too when they painted the wall grey, the glass door and window frames -- yellow. It was an odd combination but nonetheless, it looked cool.
Entering its premise, however, is quite a contrast from the simple external. It was a little crowded and you'll notice that there were only about 4 to 5 tables inside. A staircase leading to the second floor, I assumed, promised more dining space but it was under renovation at that time due to electrical wiring issues. Despite that, I beamed at the view of their long metal bar at the side where the crew prepares the meal orders.
It is recommended that you dine with a friend or two just to talk away the 20 -25 minutes wait time. I guarantee that if it was your first time to visit, it won't matter as soon as the order is served. You will be amazed to see the large-sized servings.
Due to a footnote at the bottom of their Menu which said "Split Orders, Politely Declined", we ordered Pork Porterhouse each for ourselves and decided to try out also Cannelloni ( which we secretly agreed to split, anyway ). I suppose they will not etch the rule on our foreheads if we disobeyed their warning. Besides, that was an extra order.
Let's talk about Cannelloni. It is an Italian pasta that is cylindrical in shape filled with meat, mushroom, and some herbs/green leafy vegetables. An Italian red sauce poured over the pasta usually completes the dish. Carnivore's version looked like a white vegetable lasagna and it didn't bother me because I was clueless what it was at that time. What was important was that it tasted great. I could be mistaken but there seemed to be kicks of some cumin or perhaps strong basil in the ingredients. The bechamel sauce and melted mozzarella certainly flavored the pasta well.
Finally, the porterhouse arrived - a steak cut from the pig's loins. It was probably almost half a kilo, sliced into smaller pieces and adorned with spring onions and scalded broccoli. The meat didn't only look so good but it tasted great too. It was neither burnt on the outside nor undercooked inside. The juiciness was perfect as the discharged fat met the absorbed salt and pepper. The hot meal certainly stamped freshness and the balanced taste evidenced for great culinary passion. This awesome experience sustained my appetite up to the last bite even though my jaws already felt rigid due to excessive chomping halfway through.
The experience was happy and it took me a while to realize that the smell of smoke from the grilled food in the kitchen stuck with me the whole afternoon that day. I'd certainly go back. Hopefully to find the place with a bigger space, a better exhaust system, and THE SAME OLD GOOD FOOD!
Wallet Watch: Php 430.00 (Great Value for Money)
Carnivore
Hopping onto the taxi we rode until we reached the curb and turned left to the Gallery. Stepping down into this familiar location always remind me how I felt robbed when KopiRoti decided to close shop. I have never tasted anything near their French Toast. Oh well, first love just probably never dies. A long, deep breath expelled nostalgia and I determined to move on and started looking where the carnivores meet up.
When you were a child and you get asked to draw and color a house, you come up with crazy hues. Maybe brown walls and white windows or a blue-and-orange combination. You wouldn't mind. And Carnivore didn't too when they painted the wall grey, the glass door and window frames -- yellow. It was an odd combination but nonetheless, it looked cool.
Entering its premise, however, is quite a contrast from the simple external. It was a little crowded and you'll notice that there were only about 4 to 5 tables inside. A staircase leading to the second floor, I assumed, promised more dining space but it was under renovation at that time due to electrical wiring issues. Despite that, I beamed at the view of their long metal bar at the side where the crew prepares the meal orders.
It is recommended that you dine with a friend or two just to talk away the 20 -25 minutes wait time. I guarantee that if it was your first time to visit, it won't matter as soon as the order is served. You will be amazed to see the large-sized servings.
Due to a footnote at the bottom of their Menu which said "Split Orders, Politely Declined", we ordered Pork Porterhouse each for ourselves and decided to try out also Cannelloni ( which we secretly agreed to split, anyway ). I suppose they will not etch the rule on our foreheads if we disobeyed their warning. Besides, that was an extra order.
Let's talk about Cannelloni. It is an Italian pasta that is cylindrical in shape filled with meat, mushroom, and some herbs/green leafy vegetables. An Italian red sauce poured over the pasta usually completes the dish. Carnivore's version looked like a white vegetable lasagna and it didn't bother me because I was clueless what it was at that time. What was important was that it tasted great. I could be mistaken but there seemed to be kicks of some cumin or perhaps strong basil in the ingredients. The bechamel sauce and melted mozzarella certainly flavored the pasta well.
Finally, the porterhouse arrived - a steak cut from the pig's loins. It was probably almost half a kilo, sliced into smaller pieces and adorned with spring onions and scalded broccoli. The meat didn't only look so good but it tasted great too. It was neither burnt on the outside nor undercooked inside. The juiciness was perfect as the discharged fat met the absorbed salt and pepper. The hot meal certainly stamped freshness and the balanced taste evidenced for great culinary passion. This awesome experience sustained my appetite up to the last bite even though my jaws already felt rigid due to excessive chomping halfway through.
The experience was happy and it took me a while to realize that the smell of smoke from the grilled food in the kitchen stuck with me the whole afternoon that day. I'd certainly go back. Hopefully to find the place with a bigger space, a better exhaust system, and THE SAME OLD GOOD FOOD!
Wallet Watch: Php 430.00 (Great Value for Money)
Carnivore
The Gallery, Juan Luna Ave.,
Brgy. Kasambagan, Mabolo, Cebu City
Contact: (032) 513-0558 / Facebook
Store Schedule
Monday - Thursday (11:30 AM to 9:30 PM)
Fridays (11:30 AM-10:00 PM)
Saturdays ( 6:00 PM-10:00 PM)
Brgy. Kasambagan, Mabolo, Cebu City
Contact: (032) 513-0558 / Facebook
Store Schedule
Monday - Thursday (11:30 AM to 9:30 PM)
Fridays (11:30 AM-10:00 PM)
Saturdays ( 6:00 PM-10:00 PM)
Oh, Pork Porterhouse!
ReplyDeleteMy bulging tummy didn't ask for food the next meal. :D
Laagholic Buyog
The smell of smoke stayed on my shirt until dinner.. haha
Delete"Split orders, politely declined." One order per person gyud? Dili ko pwede diri kay tihik ko hehehe
ReplyDeleteHaha,.. i think there will always be a way around it.
Delete