The Porch by Casa Verde: A Haven Along Anonas Ext

When In Manila and in search of American dishes tweaked to satisfy the Pinoy tastebuds, The Porch by Casa Verde is one restaurant that won’t disappoint.

A Pinterest worthy set up.

Situated along the busy street of Anonas Extension, The Porch by Casa Verde is a haven amongst the hustle and bustle of cars and tricycles scurrying to their next destination. The restaurant’s cream and white colors are a paradox to the grays of the buildings across, and its interiors, a classic balance of chic and cozy.

Fancy a book to keep you company while you wait for your food?

The Porch is filled with little trinkets that help add to its pleasant ambiance.

The 3 month old restaurant is considered a little sister of the Casa Verde restaurant (found in UP Town Center and Cebu). It’s a cross between a fast food joint and a casual dining experience with its express counter and wooden furniture. Customers are asked to look at the menu found above the counter, give their orders to the sliding window, and find an area they’re comfortable with.

As it is an express restaurant, service doesn’t take too long, either. It also doesn’t hurt that the restaurant has a number of books and displays that help keep its customers entertained while waiting.

Best Sampler (P328)

The Porch’s Best Sampler features a medley of three appetizers: Golden Fried Cheese, Potato Skins, and Buffalo Wings. Each comes with its own choice dip of Marinara Sauce, Sour Cream, and Bleu Cheese. My particular favorite would have to be the Potato Skins which were generously topped with cheese and bacon bits. The sharpness of the Cheddar on the potatoes was mellowed out by the sour cream — something that I really enjoyed.

The Dax (P348). Don’t forget to mention how well you want your steak cooked beforehand.

The Dax featured a USDA eye fillet steak drizzled with gravy as well as a handful of shrimps complete with tartar sauce dip. The plate also came with a serving of harvest rice and a side of vegetables. If you’re a die-hard steak lover, you might want to have your gravy served separately. Personally, though, I thought the gravy paired really well with the steak.

Brian’s Ribs (P250), a delight for the carnivores.

The Porch by Casa Verde brings something new to the table in the form of Brian’s Ribs. It’s a massive slab of baked pork ribs slathered in a sweet tasting glaze. Though the sauce is a far cry from the usual hickory and smoky taste of ribs, I found myself enjoying this dish – especially when the meat had sucked in all of the glaze’s flavors.

They also offer Ribs by the Bucket over at The Porch, which consists of 4 huge servings of Brian’s Ribs, a hefty serving of rice, and to help wash it all down, a pitcher of iced tea.

Fisherman’s Platter (P328)

One of the standout elements of this plate was the Battered Fish Fillet. It was so incredibly delicate that it practically melts in the mouth. The homemade tartar sauce is also something to commend as it paired well with both the fish and the shrimp.

Instead of the usual marinara, the calamari was served with the restaurant’s own concoction of sweet chili sauce which in my opinion was a tad bit too oily. Although I agree that marinara sauce would have been too heavy for the delicate squid, I still hope the sweet chili sauce would be improved.

Bliss O’Berry (P248), genius on a plate. Take my word for it.

This, though – this is the pièce de résistance. It’s a block of homemade ice-cream based cheesecake infused with a hint of orange and topped with strawberry compote. I’m not the biggest fan of cheesecakes, but the idea of having it in both ice-cream and cake form was enough to get me curious. And boy, was I in for a treat!

As with most citrus-flavored desserts available in the market, I was afraid that the taste of orange would overpower the entire cake, but I was pretty surprised when it did the exact opposite. The subtle hint of orange balanced out the cake’s mellowed flavor; and the strawberry compote complemented the cake’s smooth texture.

The fruity tastes when partnered with the lightness of the cheesecake made the dessert so refreshing — an absolute palate cleanser that was very much appreciated after all the meaty dishes tasted beforehand. I’d be more than happy to drop by The Porch again if it meant getting another serving of this tasty dessert.

The Porch by Casa Verede is definitely something to look out for in the next coming months. At three months old and counting, it’s bound to attract more customers with its food and ambiance. So, when In Manila, and on the lookout for a new restaurant to add to your favorites, head on over to The Porch!