Whistlestop in Jupiter St. Makati ride has been satisfying palates since 1977. Founded in the late 70s, it was a quaint little convenience store right beside the LRT (thus the name Whistlestop). It was closed for sometime and has since been remodeled by entrepreneurs Lex Ledesma and Dennis Gan.
Let’s talk about the interiors, shall we?
I’m a big fan of vintage art. Once you enter Whistlestop, it’s like a time capsule. The dimly-lit room has the cutest vintage furniture, analog cameras, old luggage, old unicycles and bicycles and even cute golf clubs! Let me tell you: taking photos of the interior was half of the fun of the whole experience and we hadn’t even started eating yet.
I came with my best friends Sayuri and Cris to sample their bestsellers.
Whistle-izzas (Php175)
This is a reproduction of the pizza and the tacos with lean meat topped with tomatoes and cheese baked to a crisp. It’s surprising how sweet the meat is. Instead of onions, they use shallots to bring out the sweetness of the meat.
Buffalo Chicken Wings (boneless with bleu cheese) (Php220)
This is too good! I didn’t even recognize it as wings because it was de-boned. They are very crunchy (almost like chicharon!) and you get to dip ‘em in awesome cheese! Okay, wipe the drool off of your faces.
Hainanese Chicken (Php250)
I heard this is one of their famous dishes. Inspired by Singaporean cuisine, the chicken is prepared by boiling it with garlic and ginger. It’s de-boned lean chicken marinated in light spices and served with rice and a variety of dips, mainly ginger, chili, and oyster sauce.
Mixed Sate (Php220)
A combination of sate or a dish of marinated, skewered, and grilled meats served with sauce – in this case, peanut sauce. Meats include shrimp, beef, chicken, and pork. The peanut sauce is a bit bland for my taste, but it really balances out with the mixture of meat. Plus, the bagoong rice is a win!
Pasta ala Pobre (Php200)
Angel hair pasta with tuyo, salted egg, and tomatoes. Not your typical pasta, that’s for sure. It was unexpected. You can really taste the tuyo, and the overall taste is very Filipino.
Beef Salpicao with Garlic Rice (Php230)
My mom used to make chicken salpicao, but never like this. Traditionally, salpicao is made with cubed beef sirloin or tenderloin, lots of minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, and some liquid seasoning (the seasoning can either be oyster sauce or soy sauce). This salpicao is definitely my favorite! As it approached the table, garlic fumes were everywhere, and I happen to be a big fan of garlic. Everything about it is perfect: the tenderness of the beef; the stir fried aroma of the onions, mushrooms, and garlic; and the sauce’s subtle sweet, salty and sour taste. It is just too awesome!
Time for cocktails!
Strawberry margarita (Php150)
Caipirinha (Php130)
I’m a big fan of cocktails. Actually, its the only alcoholic beverage I enjoy. This concoction of white rum, brown sugar, and tonic water is absolutely refreshing! It felt like the only thing missing was my sun hat and tanning lotion along with the waves of the ocean.
Did I mention the fruit infused iced teas? Only Php80 for the biggest glass of iced tea you could ever hope for. They have Lychee Iced tea and their signature Whistlestop Iced Tea with Mango. No exaggerations: it’s the most refreshing iced tea I’ve ever had! Did I mention it’s only Php80?
The desserts are yummy and simple:
Banoffee Pie (Php150)
Layers of cream, caramel, bananas, and a thick moist crust. My favorite dessert! It is light, flavorful and not overwhelmingly sweet.
Photo from ajay.net
Chocolate Cake (Php120)
When I first saw this, my impression was: “Ugh, another one of those red ribbon chocolate cake that will rot my teeth and just taste like chocolate mixed with sugar.” Dude, I ate my words—literally.
Layers of divine chocolate – plain and simple. It made me feel like a kid, actually. That is always my basis of how good a dessert is: when it reminds you of your childhood. The chocolate is extravagant: very chewy, moist, and rich.
When in Manila, be sure to have a whistle stop at Whistlestop after a late night of partying in Makati! They’re open 24/7 and will serve you awesome food while you relax in their lovely ambiance. All the food we tried was pretty awesome, but I highly recommend the Beef Salpicao if I had to pick just one! Oh, and do try their Fruit Infused Iced Teas!
Whistlestop Restaurant
28 Jupiter St. Makati
8961989
