For a quite a while now I have been hearing a lot of good things from food bloggers in Manila about Naci Comfort Food and Dessert Bar especially about the delectable dishes they are serving. So imagine how elated I was when I finally had the time to visit this addition to the restaurants at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City. Naci opened their first branch at Greenhills area and then later on transferred at The Fort.
The name is indeed a dead giveaway as to what kinds of food Naci serves. And while there are a lot of restaurants that serves the same fares, what sets Naci apart is that theirs are rooted and developed by the great late Chef Ed Quimson.
In my book, to say that Naci serves comfort food and desserts would be an understatement. Since after having tasted some of the dishes that they offer, I would have to say that Naci serves well executed and downright delicious comfort food and decadent dessert.
Before I dive in and talked about the food, I must say that one of the many things that endears me to naci is the fact that the interiors which playful colors burst forth as you enter the premises reminds me of my room. It's funny because the colors especially that of the chairs as well as the quirky decors somewhat mirror my little corner in our house. I could only wish that my room is as spacious, but no it's not. Now you have an idea how does my room looks like, so now, onto the food.
I am not exaggerating but Naci's Kani Mango Crunch Salad (Php260) blew my mind away. The greens were shredded making it more convenient to munch on. The crisp wonton wrapper and fried vermicelli played a big role on the play of texture, while the kani, mangoes, carrots, and cucumber contributed to the flavor that suggest innate sweetness interrupted by the punch brought about by the wasabi mayo used as its dressing.
I am partial to anything that has salmon on it and Naci's Smoked Salmon Pizza (Php540) isn't an exception. The combination of the distinct taste of smoked salmon, the innate sweetness of the caramelized onion, plus the sourness of tomato sauce mixed with capers, mozzarella, and dill cream was unprecedented. I have tried number of salmon pizzas before but Naci's rendition is by far the best one I have tried.
The Cuchifrito Rice Bowl (Php280) is a double fried broiled pork belly served on a bed of tinapa rice with tomatoes and salted egg on the side. The pork belly gave a stellar performance in making this dish remarkably satisfying. I was a tad hesitant at first regarding the tinapa rice for the fear that it might overshadow the taste of the pork. Surprisingly, it wasn't the case. Everything blends perfectly well.
Naci's Peruvian Chicken Rice (Php420) reminded me of well loved paella dish only because it was served in a paellera. In terms of taste, this slow cooked baked rice dish held its distinct flavor that screams chicken and capsicums in every spoonful. A squeeze or two of the lemon wedges will add a whole new dimension to the flavor, but even without it, I could stuff myself with this Peruvian chicken and still be a happy camper.
The Braised Beef Osso Bucco (Php520) was also a delight to the palate. It had me at its extremely tender texture, not to mention its savory flavor as well. I have few favorites osso bucco and Naci's own rendition is a welcome addition in my book.
Naci has an impressive list of drinks to boot and the first one I have tried was a citrusy fruit concoction which name escaped my memory. It was a refreshing drink best enjoyed on hot days. Another drink I enjoyed immensely was the Heaven on Earth that boasts of chocolatey goodness incomparable to any other chocolate drinks I have tried. It was rich and downright sinful. And just as I thought that I already lost my affinity for chocolate, Heaven on Earth renewed it.
While I am not really big on cupcakes, unless it has something special to it just like the gluten-free variant I have tried recently, Naci's cupcakes was a different story. I have tried their Black and White Cupcake and fell madly in love with it. The richness of the dark Belgian chocolate ganache that served as its frosting combined with the simplicity, albeit remarkably good vanilla cake was just mind blowing. Truth be told, this cupcake changed my life.
During our visit, we got a chance to try one of the desserts that the owners Nadine and Natasha was still developing at that time. we weren't given the name of the dessert but it was essentially made out of banana and cream cheese wrapped in a sugar and cinnamon laced dough served with vanilla ice cream on the side and drizzled with caramel syrup. It was decadent and extremely good that I am wishing that it's already included on the menu on my next visit.
My brief visit at Naci Comfort Food and Dessert Bar was pleasant enough to steel my resolve for another visit the soonest possible time. Judging by the food I tried, Naci indeed serves great tasting dishes with reasonable price. There are still a lot of items on the menu that I am dead set to try. I hear that their Adobo Cannelonni is one for the book and there still a lot of desserts to try so I cannot wait to revisit.
Naci Comfort Food and Dessert Bar
Unit 3, Two Parkade, 7th Ave.
Bonifacio Global City
Contact No.: (02) 847-6224
Website: www.nacicomfortfood.com/
Facbook Page: www.facebook.com/NaciComfortFood
Twitter: twitter.com/nacicomfortfood
