Never go grocery shopping when hungry—one of the best pieces of advice I still adhere to these days. I often do my grocery shopping really early, so I need food to tide me over until lunchtime, when I finish my shopping. One morning, I found myself checking out food offerings at Zullo Coffee & Loaf.
For someone who enjoys coffee, I know it'll be a good option and a welcome respite from my affinity to food kiosks one would often find right within the premises of grocery stores.
From the color palette of the interior right down to the vibe that the store exudes, everything makes Zullo Coffee & Loaf in Waltermart Antipolo a good enough place to hang out while enjoying a Cup of Joe and then some.
They specializes in loaf cakes, waffles, and of course, the proverbial coffee and the usual cafe drinks. Aside from that, they also offer other pastries, breads, and pasta.
I am trying to keep my sweet intake at bay lately but when at Zullo, you wouldn't want to miss trying out their selections of bread loaf. I gave in, and tried one.
First on the table was Zullo's Pumpkin Cinnamon Moist Loaf with Maple Cream Frosting (Php68). It was indeed moist and there's a hint of the pumpkin spice flavor we all like. But I would have loved it more if it has more punch to it as I found the overall flavor a bit underwhelming. But for its price, it's not too bad.
The Dulce De Leche with Caramel Crunch Cinnamon (Php140) was pure perfection. There's a promise of honeycomb toffee sprinkle on top stated on the menu, but it's absence isn't enough for me not to love this roll. It was soft and perfectly sweet - every bite feels like a comforting warm hug on a cold weather.
From their Quick Meal selections, we tried three of their pasta dishes.
First one was the 3-Cheese Mushroom Linguine Pasta (Php219). It boasts of mozzarella, parmesan, and cream cheese - a trifecta of perfection for those who love cheese such as my self. The sauce was on point, but the pasta is a strand away from being soggy. Nonetheless it's a good option when craving for creamy pasta.
The Mac and Cheese (Php185) was as good as it can get. Nothing extraordinary really, but I am not complaining. It's the usual pasta dish that kids and kids at heart love.
I remember really liking the sauce of the Pomodorro Meatballs Penne Pasta (Php195) but I think it will go well with spaghetti pasta instead of penne for some reason. It leans on the sweet savory side of the spectrum but the meatballs adds the umami flavor not to mention a right texture to the dish. I will order this again next time.
Zullo offers an impressive selection of drinks but since it was my first time, I opted to the most basic, Hot Americano (Php125/medio, Php140/grande). I don't know what kind of beans they used that day but I find the taste excellent. It helped that I was there early which means freshly grind coffee beans.
Another one which I rarely have whenever I am at a cafe is matcha. Zullo's Pure Matcha Frappe (Php165/medio, Php175/di grande) was a good option for those who likes their matcha sweet. I however prefer the kind that gives the earthy with a hint of bitterness that matcha is known for. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy Zullo's version. I love that the whipped cream they use is not overly sweet so it compliments the sweet matcha flavor of the drink.
I am not sure if it is consistent with all of their branches but for this particular one, they have Signature Estates brand for their tea. Since it's one of the tea brand I prefer when having tea in a bag, I enjoyed their Masala Chai Tea (Php95)
Just like other cafes, Zullo Coffee and Loaf also offers their own retail products such as tote bags, flasks, tumbler, mugs, coffee, grinder and press. They also sell coffee beans for when you want to brew some at the comfort of your own home.
Overall, I find Zullo a decent place you can spend your time and money on when you are at the area. The prices are reasonable, service is warm, the drinks selections are good, and the food especially the loaves and other baked goodies are extensive. Will I visit again? For sure.
Zullo Coffee & Loaf has several branches. For more information, you may visit their website at zullocoffeandloaf.com.
Thank you for reading.
