Livestock Restaurant and Bar is this foodie place located at Sgt. Esguerra in Quezon City that specializes in no non-sense pork dishes that any pork-lover could go crazy about. Their best sellers are the Melts-In-Your-Mouth Crispy Pata (tagged as one of the Best Crispy Pata in Manila by some foodies) which has a mid-blowing crisp tenderness it can be cut with a popsicle stick, and the Crackling Pork Belly with succulence that could slap you in the face and get away with it.
The owner of Livestock Restaurant and Bar is a family which other business concerns raising hogs. Hence, venturing into restaurant scene with pork as the specialty is expected. Since they breed their own livestock and even grow some of the herbs and vegetables from their farm, the dishes they offer at Livestock are guaranteed to be fresh and of high quality.
Pork offerings at Livestock can be easily seen as sinful, an indulging treat not for the faint of heart. Yet, these dishes are not something you would have on a daily basis ~ that is if you love your life, otherwise, it's your call. So, occasional visit to Livestock Restaurant and Bar to feast your hearts out is forgivable, encourage even, especially if you are celebrating the bountiful blessings of porcini bliss given to mankind.
The interior of Livestock Restaurant and Bar suggests a space where all kinds of gatherings may transpire. Its two-storey building with mezzanine has a floor area which is big enough to accommodate numbers of group who are ready to be astound with the glorious pork and other dishes that Livestock offers. It also boast of well-stocked bar fit for those who does not just want good food but wide variety of premium alcoholic beverages.
My friend Sheila have been inviting me to visit Livestock and try their offerings for quite a while now but I figured it is best to share the experience with some of my good foodie friends. I have been hearing a lot of raves about their Crispy Pata so, one lunchtime we visit Livestock Restaurant and Bar to check out what was the rave all about.
Our luncheon started with Livestock Caesar Salad (Php230). It is essentially made up of Romaine lettuce tossed in creamy Caesar dressing topped with croutons, shaved cheese, and of course ~ crispy pork belly. The pork belly was a clear indication that we were in for some pork feast.
The salad was a great starter, a reminder of what we were about to indulge in. Yet, before the glorious pork dishes were served to our group, this Mushroom Duxelle Fish Fillet (Php289) hit our table first to remind us that Livestock could also whip up great tasting dishes devoid of pork. Great tasting, indeed it was. The fish fillet which I am guessing was a dory fish fillet was cooked in lemon butter caper sauce and then topped with mushroom duxelle which gave off an earthy flavor to an otherwise bland fish.
We also had Four Egg Spinach (Php230), a Chinese dish that features spinach leaves sauteed in well, as it name suggests, four kinds of eggs. White egg, century egg, salted duck egg, and quail egg cooked sunny side up. I am not a big fan of its texture, but the taste was quite okay for me. Not something I would usually take notice especially when there's crispy pata on the table.
Then came the expected super star of the table, the Melts-In-Your-Mouth Crispy Pata (Php590) easily tagged as the best crispy pata in Manila by some which have tried it. Served on a wooden board with the usual soy-vinegar dipping sauce on the side, this pork knuckle of golden brown hue was a sight to behold.
Livestock boasts of their crispy pata's crispness and tenderness. And I could understand why, after the food attendant crack the skin open using a popsicle stick with the aid of a fork which only used to keep the pork in place while the stick do the works. The crackling sound was a music to my ears, the flavor was a treat to the palate.
If the crispy pata rocked the world of some of my table mates, it was the Livestock Crackling Pork Belly (Php290/300g, Php490/500g, and Php895/1kilo) that made my heart skip a beat, quite literally.
Although the part given to us was a bit fatty, I appreciate the tenderness and the moist that it brought to the dish. The lemongrass played a big role in giving this pork dish a flavor that I love to the core. The skin was crisp, the meat was tender. It was blissful to even think of it. Served with vinegar and liver sauce for dipping, but even without these two, this pork belly is just lovely.
We also had the Lechon Tom Yum (Php310), a hearty Thai soup dish made all the more special with chunks of lechon on it. The spice and the sourness of the soup cut through the fatty flavor of the pork, making it a perfect combination to indulge in with a heaping bowl of steamed rice.
The Rich Man's Pot (Php350) lived up to its name as it features bountiful feast of rice topped with eight treasure ingredients including tender pork ribs and vegetables. This dish can be a meal in itself, especially if you have the strength to say no to crispy pata and pork belly, which I don't.
We also had the Drunken Mussels (Php350) a simple mussels dish which was simmered in beer broth with some herbs and spices. Served with toasted bread on the side which is perfect tool in mopping up the delicious soup.
Livestock indeed take their pork dishes seriously because even their dessert is peppered with pork bits. Case in point, the delicious Bacon Ice Cream Sandwich (Php180). Three pieces of French toast bread topped with vanilla ice cream dotted with bits of bacon, this dessert made me a happy camper with its saory sweet flavor hinting of cinnamon.
In the couple of visits that I had at Livestock, I remember having soda for my choice of beverage, but I guess the next time I visit, I will certainly indulge on other impressive beverages and bar drinks that they offer.
Livestock Restaurant and Bar may be a new player in the field but having tried some of their offerings, especially their crispy pata and pork belly, I must say that they know their game too well. I find the food good and reasonably priced. They had me at their crackling pork belly and the crispy pata in all its tenderness glory was also impressive.
Livestock Restaurant and Bar
34 Jardin De Zanaida Compound,
Sergeant Esguerra Avenue,
South Triangle, Quezon City
Contact No.: (02) 332-0409
Operating Hours: 11am to 2am Daily
Facebook: /LivestockMics
Istagram: @Livestock_PH
