After the meal, we tried several cocktails from the menu. Since the place makes you feel like you are inside a wine cellar, it is but right to have a drink or two after dinner. We had the Yaku Soju, Vampire’s Wine, Deep Blue Sea, and Jim’s 7th Heaven.
The Yaku Soju, from its moniker, is a combo of Yakult and the popular Korean wine, Soju. This cocktail can be shared, which is similar to how they do it in Korea where the eldest brother splits the drink amongst his siblings. This is a sweet cocktail and the taste of Yakult is overpowering than the Soju.
A strong cocktail is Jim’s 7th Heaven. If you want to have a head-start on a drinking night, get a glass of this drink.
The Vampire’s Wine is Mad for Garlic‘s version of Sangria. You get the picture, right?
The Deep Blue Sea  is a refreshing cocktail that contains vodka, white rum, triple sec, iced tea, and pineapple juice. It is named as such because of its aquamarine color reminiscent of the ocean.
Just when we thought the meal was over, we were served with desserts. I heard there is always room for these. Or better make room for these. We were able to try Garlic Sprinkle Gelato (PhP 175), a unique ice cream flavor that is eaten with a piece of garlic cookie. It has a  piquant taste due to the small bits of garlic on the gelato.
Lastly, we had Mad for Garlic’s Panna Cotta (PhP 225), which is a perfect combination of richness and creaminess. This is probably the only dish that night that we had without any garlic in it.
Mad for Garlic is not your traditional restaurant. It has quirks coming from a Korean descent but specializing on Italian food. It has a wide range of food and beverage options, and aside from cocktails, you can buy wines by the bottle. Just give them a ring in a advance so they can reserve it for you.
At present, there is only one branch of Mad for Garlic but it will soon open another at the New Shangri-La East Wing possibly by November.
Mad for Garlic now has personal sizes for diners who eat solo or who want to try out different dishes in minimal quantities. Moreover, Mad for Garlic also has Cellar Nights that starts at 2PM with cocktails starting at PhP 120 and 3 draft beers for PhP 195.
Special shoutout to the Mad for Garlic’s team for serving us with scrumptious, garlicky dishes and answering all our curious questions.
When in Manila, Mad for Garlic lets you have your garlic fresh and in any way, and eat a lot of it too.
Photos by: Ivica Rae Sy, RunNurse
Words by: KC Canlas, SpreadSomeAwesome
W Global Center,
30th Street corner 9th Avenue,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Contact No.: (02) 808 9517Â
Mad for Garlic – The Scent of Good Food
