The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® (CBTL) has sprouted a new leaf with its open kitchen concept - Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®.  The Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® was pioneered in High Street South amidst the pandemic - October 2020, serving all-day breakfast, gourmet dishes, specialty coffee and teas and pastries for dine-in, take-out and food delivery.

Followings its success, the Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® will be rolled out on more CBTL stores soon!  In fact, the Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® just opened in SM Megamall B.  Can you see its minimalist signage?

We really liked the bright, clean and spacious dining atmosphere of Kitchen.

With this concept, the mainstay of CBTL - a place for coffees, tea and pastries is still there.  Yes, its passion for coffee and tea since 1963 lives on.    You can order drinks and displayed pastries from its typical counter. 

In addition, after your drink or on a separate occasion, you may opt to explore its expansive food menu that offers a wide range of dishes served hot and fresh from its open kitchen.

Food

If you've tried 26th St. Bistro by CBTL before like we did, you'd notice that your old favorites with the same generous sharing portions are offered here at a lower price point.  

 

Salads

California Cobb (395 php)

We had the California Cobb is a large salad plate with fresh romaine lettuce, grilled chicken breast cubes, sliced hard-boiled eggs, corn kernels, diced tomatoes, mozzarela strips, avocado cubes, almond slices and ranch dressing.

♥ Shrimp & Pomelo (395 php)

The Shrimp & Pomelo is a Vietnamese inspired salad with romaine lettuce, cilantro, mint leaves, poached shrimp, pomelo, roasted peanuts, dessicated coconut and coconut lime dressing.

 

Mains

♥ Steak Chimichurri (675 php)

We especially enjoyed the Steak Chimichurri with extremely tender slices of top blade steak with chimichurri served w/ chiptotle rice and fried potato basket. 

Pastas

Carbonara (365 php)

The Carbonara is the classic and homey kind of pasta you miss once in awhile.  The rich and creamy carbonara sauce is complemented by the savory bacon slices and creamy umami-rich poached egg yolk.

Sandwiches

♥ CBTL Burger (455 php)

The  CBTL Burger is worthy holder of its namesake. Biting into the tender and juicy double USDA beef patties, romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cheese & caramelized onions is simply heavenly!  This burger meal is a wholesome and filling one with the soft and thick oatmeal buns, double patty and french fries on the side.

Pizzas

♥ Proscuitto (595 php)

The Proscuitto is a thin crispy crusted pizza topped with the finest ingredients - proscuitto, argula, tomatoes and mozarella.  

Desserts

♥ Tostones with Vanilla Ice Cream (195 php)

 

The Tostones with Vanilla Ice Cream which is a double-fried thinly sliced flower-shaped bananas served with vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce was such a pleasant meal ender.  The precision in the cutting and frying process which gave each tostones a crispy coating and chewy banana filling is commendable!

Coffee & Espresso

 

♥ Matcha Macchiato and Caramel Macchiato (215php)

 As previously mentioned, the best part is you can enjoy your favorite CBTL along with your food.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Dining at Kitchen by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® reminded us of what we missed during the pandemic: 1.) premium quality and well-presented dishes (for sharing) served hot and fresh from the kitchen, 2.) bright, spacious, safe and clean ambiance, 3.) friendly and accommodating service staffs and 4.) a wide selection of drinks and dishes to mix and match.  With its reasonable price point considering the generous portion of fresh and premium quality ingredients in its dishes, good service and the cozy CBTL ambiance, we highly recommend this place!   

I was fortunate to have visited the first Las Casas in Bataan.  It was were my cousin held her premuptials.  I was truly amazed!






While it did not occupy a vast land, it surely did not have less flair in terms of interior to the Las Casas in Bataan.
My favorite part is the spiral staircase overlooking the dining area and the outdoor pool.






Table set up is way better than in Bataan.  I guess that's what the touch of Chef Margarita Fores can do.




especially if you appreciate antiques.



Food

Mains
Enchanting place well-matched with enchanting dishes.  Price is within the usual range of a  Margarita Fores restaurant.

♥ Rabo de Toro (680 php)

♥ Beef Tenderloin Salpicao Mushrooms (650 php)

♥ Chuletas de Cordero, Salsa Verde (890 php)

♥ Chuletas de Cordero, Salsa Verde (890 php)

♥ Paella Valenciana

♥ Tres Leches (180 php)

♥ Tres Leches (180 php)

Others


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Las Casas Manila by Margarita Fores is definitely a must try.  You already have two reasons to go: (1) ambiance (2) food.  More comes with the unique experience.  It is similar but different to Las Casas de Azucar in Bataan.  Another factor is the convenience that it is at the heart of Manila.

A few weeks ago, Berylle invited Sumi and me to have our supposedly annual Christmas Lunch (late by a few months) at Tittos Latin BBQ & Brew. 

I was really looking forward to meeting the girls because we haven't seen each other for almost a year!  I'm mostly guilty for the difficulty with the schedule...

I was surprised at how huge, bright and colorful the place was. 

Everything meshed together gave a casual and festive vibe.

And if your looking for a more cozy experience, check out this cool lofts on the second floor.

Food

Platittos! (Small Plates/Starters)

Nacho el Gigante (375 php)

Better bring the whole gang if you're ordering the Nacho el Gigante.  We failed to finish this.

Elote (195 php)

I never thought I'd love a char-grilled corn until I tried Elote.
 

Elote (195 php)

But, I'm still as lazy so I prefer Elote in this form.  It's a brilliant idea for them to offer diners an option.

Tittos Wings (245 php)

The Tittos Wings is sweet and spicy.  A well-made combination of barbecue and chiptotle. 

♥ Carne Asada Frittas (245 php)

If I could have a bowlful of my favorites placed in a single dish, it would be the Carne Asada Frittas.  Let's see it has grilled skirt steak, melted mozarella and cheddar cheese, molted egg and chimichurri. 

Gambas con Setas (P320)

Fellow mushroom lovers, let's rejoice over addition of oyster mushroom chicharones.  I think that is what made the Gambas con Setas sensational for me. 

Churassco Beef Salpicao (295 php)

The Churassco Beef Salpicao is a savory and garlicky treat with big chunks of tender beef cubes. 


Quezadilla

Pollo Pizzadilla (295 php)

The Pollo Pizzadilla is an open-face tortilla with grilled chicken and pimientos bits drizzled with cheese, sour cream and chimichurri.  This reminds me of a crispy thin crust pizza but with its unique Mexican twist.

Street Tacos

♥ Beef Barbacoa (145 php)

I love street tacos so I was quite delighted to try some again.  The Beef Barbacoa is my favorite among those we tried because of the delicious slow cooked beef belly bits. 

♥ Sisig (135 php)

 The Sisig with liver sauce is simply irresistible.  Everyone adored this!

Salted Egg Shrimp (145 php)

I could never have expected that the salted egg craze which is an Asian innovation could work as a taco.  The Salted Egg Shrimp is so good!

Paellera! (Paella)

♥ Paella de Carne Medio (395 php)

Perhaps the texture of the rice isn't perfect but taste-wise, I couldn't have wished for a more flavorful Paella de Carne.

♥ Arroz Negra Medio (495 php)

I love the surprising tinapa ingredient in the Arroz Negra.  This is a must try!

Entradas! (Mains)

Pollo Asado Mitad (Half) (340 php)

I wonder if there was just too many dishes but I don't remember anything remarkable about the
Pollo Asado.  But, I highly recommend eating it with the sweet mango relish.

♥ Costillitas (310 php)

The Costillitas or their version of cuban baby back ribs is perfect!  A visit isn't complete without it.  The price is so reasonable too.

♥ 18 Hour Gaucho Steak (480 php)

For men and meat lovers who crave for meat in every meal, the 18 Hour Gaucho Steak is of course a must order.

Drinks

Pineapple Ginger (95 php), Tamarind Cola (95 php), Cucumber Elderflower (110 php), Almond Horchata (125 php), and Tittos Iced tea (95 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
There's no other place that can offer a fun and playful twist to latin food like Tittos Latin BBQ and Brew.  I have to commend Chef Jerwyn Rabo for his instinctive choice in ingredients in delivering comfort food for the soul.  And, the price is so reasonable that you can easily invite and share your delightful experience with your friends and family.