Va Bene Pasta Deli : Sosyal Gas Station Food

Gone are the days when a gas station is where you get, well, gas and maybe grab a quick snack from the convenience store. Now, we have super gas stations with fast foods, outlets stores and small playground for kids. But high end food establishment? This I got to see.

At the second floor of a building inside Petron gas station at Pasay Road corner Edsa (right across from Dusit Thani Hotel and beside MRT Ayala Station) in Makati is this small food establishment called Va Bene Pasta Deli.

simple sign 

Although small and unassuming, it hides an impressive lineage. Opened by Chef Massimo, the former Chef de Cuisine of Mi Piace of Peninsula Manila, their website calls this the "only Italian restaurant in the Philippines who serve all fresh pasta everyday - no boxed pasta!". Our Awesome Planet says its "Best authentic Italian place in Makati". Really? Well, with that come-on, of course we had to try it.  

very small space - probably good for 20-25 people 

We came in the night before a holiday. Traffic was crawling, as usual, but we were able to arrive at 6pm. Good thing we called in for reservation since the space was small and it quickly filled up. 

complimentary bread with tomato and EVOO dip

Started with complimentary dip - nothing special but we were already hungry so this was gone in a nanosecond.

Polpette which is traditional Italian meatball cooked

in tomato sauce with ricotta cheese in thyme crostone - P390

The Polpette were huge!  The picture above didn't do it any justice but each one is the size of a small closed fist. Each serving had 4 meatballs (!) and could easily be shared by 4 people. No kidding. The sauce was really really good - not too sour like some other tomato based sauce -  with a hint of sweetness. The meatball did not have any extenders like carrots or whatnot. It tastes like good meat loaf. The ricotta cheese on the bread was a bit bland. I wanted to ask for salt or pepper but was afraid that it might insult the chef.

Paperdelle with chicken bolognese, fresh tomatoes and
pecorini cheese- P450

Paperdelle are these long, very broad pasta noodles similar to wide fettuccine. The dish may sound and look simple but it was packed with really nice flavor. I thought they'd use the same sauce as that on the Polpette but thank the heavens they didn't. I hate having 2 dishes taste the same. The paperdelle sauce had a more subtle taste but the noodle is the star. Cooked al dente, it tasted light and fresh. Did not have that starchy aftertaste that some pasta dishes have. Maybe making the pasta from scratch does make a difference.

Crab Tortelloni with prawns and zucchini in safron
seafood sauce - P450

This one is my favorite. Tortelloni are pasta shaped like belly buttons and usually stuffed with meat or cheese. At Va Bene, they stuffed theirs with crab. I was pleasantly surprised that the crab meat seemed fresh and they were quite generous. Safron seafood sauce was soooooo good. Sosyal or not, I had to scrape the last bit of sauce. Love, love, loved it! Good, earthy flavor which has the making of a good soup.

the best according to Esquire

Lemon Tart with Coffee Ice Cream and Fig Compote - P190

This dessert had a crusty layer on top that had the quality of a creme brulee. The tart itself was too lemony for my taste (not too fond of sour desserts) and the crust was very good although a bit thick. The fig compote was okay. The ice cream was the best (Selecta, I was told). Combine everything and it was a very nice dessert. 

at night

The Bad and the Ugly

*  Space is limited so better make reservation. You can still take your chances by getting there early and the waiters will usually accommodate you up to a specific time. Limited space means limited place where you can put your bags :( 

* Parking area is almost non-existent and very hard to navigate. Expect to double park and pay a parking fee. Va Bene does have parking validation for only up to an hour. Parking fee is P30/hour. No other place to park in that area. Well, unless you live in Dasma (good for you, lucky *).

* Even though the food and prices feels like high end dining, the interior is not. Not a fan of canteen- like tables (similar to what you find in food courts) which wobbles and isn't a great height to eat since you have to scrunch down low. Uncomfortable plastic chairs.

* The staff were friendly but could use a little bit more training. When a customer complained that the risotto was too salty, the waiters didn't offer to do anything. The customer complained to 2 or 3 times before the manager came over and asked if they wanted to have it changed. He shouldn't have asked and just offered to replace it.Also, found it a bit annoying that they tell all walk in customers up to what time a specific table is only available. Which means this is not a good place to have a romantic, lingering dinner.

* The menu doesn't have pictures. Sorry, what can I say? I'm a visual person.

* Price is a bit steep - expect to shell P600-800 per person. But based on the quality and quantity of the food, I say this is very reasonable. I grumbled only once about the price. 

After the bad comes the good

Food was very very good. Nice and flavorful.  Best of all, they served all the dishes very hot (temperature) which I liked. They also served the 2 entrees together which I appreciated. The servings is good for 1-2 person. If you are a group of 3-4, 2 entrees and 1 appetizer is really enough. Although the prices were a bit high, I believe that the quality of the food as well as the quantity makes it worth the price.

The Verdict?

Liked the fact that it's accessible to the public and so quirky that it's inside a gas station. So far, I loved the food that I have tasted. I would definitely go back to try other things on the menu. Based on the sosyal people dining that night with a lot of foreigners mixed in, it looks like they were all really impressed about the food. Even the complaining risotto customer demolished all his pastas.

Although there were lots of minuses (price, parking, space, staff),  the taste and quality of the food gives it a slight edge over the negative. You could easily see the dishes being served in a hotel and getting a bill 2x the amount they were charging.

Good food and worth coming back. 

PS. There is a good lechon stall beside Va Bene which serves Negros Occidental garlic lechon. The skin is thicker than the Cebu lechon but still very crispy. The meat really does have that great garlic flavor. Good vinegar sauce that packs a punch. Worth trying. Too bad we were really full from dinner when we passed by but they graciously offered us a taste. Name of the store is General's Lechon tel 4086850 / 9665099/ 09178532466 www.generals-lechon.com

Va Bene Pasta Deli
Tues- Sundays

Lunch - 11:30am to 2:30pm
Dinner - 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Available for delivery/pick-up

Telephone:
02-5569442 / 6227373
09175503817

Going Bananas over Banapple

Whenever I want good food but don't want to spend too much, I head to Banapple located at Ayala Triangle. This tiny restaurant is always crowded even on a Saturday afternoon but if you're patient enough, you won't regret it.

Saturday afternoon

My favorite is their Creamy Cheesy Penne described perfectly in their menu as a dish of luscious white cheese sauce and meaty tomato sauce with al dente penne pasta and sauteed hungarian sausage served with pesto bread. I assure you that this is not false advertising at all. Even their pandesal is delicious! Although the serving is good for more than one person, I really don't mind going solo on this.

Creamy Cheesy Penne ((P185)

Their Bacon Fried Chicken Steak is a also very good. After eating this one, I don't think you'll go back to eating boring chicken fingers. The chicken fillet is crispy yet tender and the gravy has just the right amount of saltiness. The actual surprise is their rice which I found to be very flavorful. I can't quite put my finger on what they added to make the rice delicious.

Bacon Fried Chicken Steaks with Milk'shroom Gravy P175

Their Hickory Ribs is meaty, very tender, good enough for two and really had this smoky hickory flavor. My only complaint is that they used too much sauce and sometimes the hickory flavor overwhelms the meat. When you order this, try to ask if they can put the sauce on the side. You might be tempted to order another plate of rice.

Hickory Smoked Barbecued Ribs (P185)

The Banapple Beef and Sausage Stew is my least favorite. Although the beef was tender, I was looking for that "hibla" (lack of a better term) effect when you use a fork to cut into it. Their sauce does not taste stew - like and the sausage is not that good.

Banapple Beef and Sausage Stew P195

The Trio of Sausage Fettuccine was a surprise.The menu described this as protein packed pasta with crumbled chorizo, garlic longganisa, and hungarian sausage, tossed in garlic parmesan cheese and a very light cream sauce. First, the sauce was not really that light. In fact, it reminds me of Carbonara. I'm not sure, though, if the different kinds of meat go well together. Saying that, this pasta dish is a good enough dish.

Trio of Sausage Fettucine P180

If you are a fan of cheese (like me), their Lasagna Roll Ups might be what you want. Its lasagna rolled up with herb cream cheese filing topped with their tomato meat sauce and mozarella. This dish is meant to be shared since the serving is more than enough for one person. The filing is not stingy and is, indeed, creamy. My philosophy has always been : cheese makes everything better :D

Lasagna Roll Ups P180 (photo courtesy of www.philippine-travel-guide.com)

Ironically, for a place known for their pies and cheesecakes, I am not that enamored with their desserts. Their signature dessert, Banoffee Pie, has too much whipped cream and not enough filing. Unfortunately, their other desserts were not that memorable either.

Banoffee Pie (P110)

Desserts were not that spectacular but that doesn't prevent us from
trying most of them ;p

My niece with their Hallow Mallow S'mores Pie P110

What I Like About Banapple

Their food is usually very very good. I don't mind ordering the same dishes over and over again since I know I won't be disappointed. Servings is good for 1-2 persons but best of all - the price is really reasonable. Main dish costs cost less than P200, dessert about P110. Tax already included! For a group of 2-3 persons, expect to shell about P200 - P250 each.

What I Hate About Banapple

Their place at Ayala Triangle is sooo tiny. They only have about 8 small tables inside and 6 small tables outside almost spilling out on to the sidewalk. The counter where you place your order doesn't have enough space and customers line up in between tables. There is no separate counter for take outs so while waiting, you just stand in the middle. They don't announce when your food is up so you just watch the servers and ask them occasionally if your order is ready.  Tables are cute but small and uncomfortable. Same with the chairs. Due to the small space, there are a lot of people waiting in line and you cannot reserve a table in advance. Have a big group? Forget about it. The likelihood of 2 or more tables freeing up at the same time is almost nil.

The Verdict?

If you're hungry and want to enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace, forget about it. This place is not for you. But if you want very good yet affordable food and you're willing to be patient, then I highly recommend you try Banapple.

Happy Eating!

Banapple Pies and Cheesecake
Ayala Triangle Gardens
Ayala Avenue, Makati
Tel (02) 7562675