Café Ben-A-Bien, a relatively new player in the field of coffee shops in San Juan City may not yet hit its stride in popularity race, but in terms of quality food and good coffee, it is downright promising. This tiny and independent coffee shop is one of those I would love to see survive amidst the onslaught of popular cafes in the metro.
While the focus on different dishes they serve and the place exude a vibe that Café Ben-A-Bien is more of a restaurant than a legit coffee shop, dare I say that theirs is the best Caramel Macchiato I’ve ever had here in Manila? And although their homemade pasta dishes scream deliciousness right smack in your face, their homemade cakes and pastries beg to be had with its affordable price and unprecedented lusciousness.
Tucked on a busy street of N.Domingo corner D.Santiago Street in San Juan City, Café Ben-A-Bien is one of the places where you can kill time away watching shows on their lcd television or simply browsing through their stack of magazines while enjoying scrumptious dishes. It can also be a good hang out place where you can chat the afternoon away with your friends over a cup of joe and some of their sweet offerings.
I’ve visited the café several times since it opened and I must say that despite the busy street where it is located, there is certain charm about the place that made me want to go back. It can be the proximity of the place to where I reside, and it can simply be the fact that a hot serving of their caramel macchiato never fails to brighten up my day.
For someone who has a sweet tooth and a big coffee drinker, Café Ben-A-Bien’s Caramel Macchiato can be a seriously delightful treat. I love the fact that the thick caramel syrup is very visible at the bottom of the mug where it is served. There’s a right amount of bitterness and sweetness that does not overkill each other. Truth be told, given an option over this caramel macchiato and the one they sell at other popular coffee shops, I will definitely choose Café Ben-A-Bien’s in a heartbeat.
First time I have tried their pasta dishes, it was their Tuna Pasta that knocked me off my feet. The right amount of creaminess and the distinct taste of tuna was a sure win. But after several visits, I discovered that their Baked Macaroni and Lasagna bear the kind of taste that I was led to believe that I could enjoy only at home. Indeed, homemade pasta dishes at Café Ben-A-Bien are something one should not missed.
The Baked Macaroni (Php95) particularly, had me go gaga over it for over a period of time. The combination of al dente pasta and its savory meaty sauce is quite remarkable. Yet, what really makes this dish drool worthy is the thick béchamel sauce and cheese poured on top. These perfect blending of every component produce a beautiful melody of flavor that one couldn’t quite ignore.
Their Lasagna (Php100) on the other note has the same level of creaminess but more robust in terms of meaty flavor. In between layers of pasta tucked a thick meaty sauce that oozes out once a fork dig into it. The serving portion is way impressive as compare to other restaurant serving the same dish.
Café Ben-A-Bien also takes pride with their rice meals. I have tried quite a few and I must say that for a new comer like them, the dishes are really impressive. Their Tanigue Steak (Php165) is their seasonal dish that I am lucky to have tried. Perfectly grilled topped with crunchy fried garlic bits and served with soy sauce, calamansi, and chili on the side. I love how it retains the moisture of the fish despite being grilled; hence, every bite is a promise of flavor.
The Chicken with Teriyaki Sauce (Php125) can be deceiving at first glance. I am not big when it comes to extreme crunchy texture on fried food, and that was my first impression of their chicken. However, I was glad that it was light and juicy, and tender as I hoped it to be. Although it is already good on its own, the teriyaki sauce was a revelation that the chickens as good as that can be taken further a notch higher.
Owing to the fact that Everything at Steak is my benchmark in terms of satisfying affordable T-Bone Steak, I am not really amazed with Café Ben-A-Bien’s T-Bone Pan Grilled Steak (Php165) in terms of serving portion. However, in terms of tenderness and flavor, it does not disappoint.
When it comes to sandwiches, I deem that Café Ben-A-Bien hasn’t fully taken a strong stride yet. There are hits and misses on this league which I sincerely hope could be polished. Take for example their Pesto Cheese Panini with Vegetable Salad (not in photo) which made a remarkable impression with its taste and serving portion. Yet, when I ordered their Farmer’s Ham and Canadian Bacon Sandwich, I was served with literally one piece of wheat bread cut in the middle with a thin slice of ham and bacon and the whole shebangs. With its price of Php115, I do not think that it’s really worth it.
The place is very contemporary in appearance peppered predominantly with orange hue. Wooden table and chairs can be comfortable but there is a long couch serving as a chair on one side for those who would want to stay at the café for hours. An lcd tv and variety of reading materials are also available for the diners’ disposal. Only one table is allocated for the smoker’s area which is quite understandable since the busy street of N.Domingo is not really conducive for leisurely hang out. Food attendants are friendly and very attentive. They offer delivery although for San Juan residents only.
I am the type of person who gets really giddy happy when a new food establishment is in sight especially when it’s near my place. That’s what I felt when I first chanced upon Café Ben-A-Bien with their great tasting coffees, impressive sweets line up, and remarkable dishes. Although there are hits and misses, those things they hit on bulls eye are hands down praise worthy.
Café Ben-A-Bien
No.86 N. Domingo St. cor. D. Santiago St.
San Juan City, Metro Manila
Philippines 1500
contect nos.: 727-5055 / 391-5687
email add.: cbenabien@yahoo.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/cafebenabien
twitter: @cbenabien
While the focus on different dishes they serve and the place exude a vibe that Café Ben-A-Bien is more of a restaurant than a legit coffee shop, dare I say that theirs is the best Caramel Macchiato I’ve ever had here in Manila? And although their homemade pasta dishes scream deliciousness right smack in your face, their homemade cakes and pastries beg to be had with its affordable price and unprecedented lusciousness.
Tucked on a busy street of N.Domingo corner D.Santiago Street in San Juan City, Café Ben-A-Bien is one of the places where you can kill time away watching shows on their lcd television or simply browsing through their stack of magazines while enjoying scrumptious dishes. It can also be a good hang out place where you can chat the afternoon away with your friends over a cup of joe and some of their sweet offerings.
I’ve visited the café several times since it opened and I must say that despite the busy street where it is located, there is certain charm about the place that made me want to go back. It can be the proximity of the place to where I reside, and it can simply be the fact that a hot serving of their caramel macchiato never fails to brighten up my day.
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| Generous thick caramel syrup! |
First time I have tried their pasta dishes, it was their Tuna Pasta that knocked me off my feet. The right amount of creaminess and the distinct taste of tuna was a sure win. But after several visits, I discovered that their Baked Macaroni and Lasagna bear the kind of taste that I was led to believe that I could enjoy only at home. Indeed, homemade pasta dishes at Café Ben-A-Bien are something one should not missed.
Their Lasagna (Php100) on the other note has the same level of creaminess but more robust in terms of meaty flavor. In between layers of pasta tucked a thick meaty sauce that oozes out once a fork dig into it. The serving portion is way impressive as compare to other restaurant serving the same dish.
Café Ben-A-Bien also takes pride with their rice meals. I have tried quite a few and I must say that for a new comer like them, the dishes are really impressive. Their Tanigue Steak (Php165) is their seasonal dish that I am lucky to have tried. Perfectly grilled topped with crunchy fried garlic bits and served with soy sauce, calamansi, and chili on the side. I love how it retains the moisture of the fish despite being grilled; hence, every bite is a promise of flavor.
The Chicken with Teriyaki Sauce (Php125) can be deceiving at first glance. I am not big when it comes to extreme crunchy texture on fried food, and that was my first impression of their chicken. However, I was glad that it was light and juicy, and tender as I hoped it to be. Although it is already good on its own, the teriyaki sauce was a revelation that the chickens as good as that can be taken further a notch higher.
Owing to the fact that Everything at Steak is my benchmark in terms of satisfying affordable T-Bone Steak, I am not really amazed with Café Ben-A-Bien’s T-Bone Pan Grilled Steak (Php165) in terms of serving portion. However, in terms of tenderness and flavor, it does not disappoint.
When it comes to sandwiches, I deem that Café Ben-A-Bien hasn’t fully taken a strong stride yet. There are hits and misses on this league which I sincerely hope could be polished. Take for example their Pesto Cheese Panini with Vegetable Salad (not in photo) which made a remarkable impression with its taste and serving portion. Yet, when I ordered their Farmer’s Ham and Canadian Bacon Sandwich, I was served with literally one piece of wheat bread cut in the middle with a thin slice of ham and bacon and the whole shebangs. With its price of Php115, I do not think that it’s really worth it.
While I deem that their sandwiches are not yet their strong point, their line of pastries and cakes is another story. I have tried variety of cakes in different visits and I deem that it deserve another post in the future along with other coffees which I also tried. For now, let me just say that I think they are exceptional when it comes to hot coffee drinks but I am not really crazy about their cold coffee variants. Their homemade Iced Tea and Italian Sodas are not to be missed though.
The place is very contemporary in appearance peppered predominantly with orange hue. Wooden table and chairs can be comfortable but there is a long couch serving as a chair on one side for those who would want to stay at the café for hours. An lcd tv and variety of reading materials are also available for the diners’ disposal. Only one table is allocated for the smoker’s area which is quite understandable since the busy street of N.Domingo is not really conducive for leisurely hang out. Food attendants are friendly and very attentive. They offer delivery although for San Juan residents only.
I am the type of person who gets really giddy happy when a new food establishment is in sight especially when it’s near my place. That’s what I felt when I first chanced upon Café Ben-A-Bien with their great tasting coffees, impressive sweets line up, and remarkable dishes. Although there are hits and misses, those things they hit on bulls eye are hands down praise worthy.
Café Ben-A-Bien
No.86 N. Domingo St. cor. D. Santiago St.
San Juan City, Metro Manila
Philippines 1500
contect nos.: 727-5055 / 391-5687
email add.: cbenabien@yahoo.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/cafebenabien
twitter: @cbenabien
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