We often celebrate the first birthday with a simple celebration with the immediate family. This time around, for Raphael, we celebrated his first birthday last 2/10/2010 at Torch. 🙂
Torch is a fusion restaurant by Peppermill Caterers. It feels like a cross between Omakase and Amici in a diner set-up. They get the overflow crowd of Lugang and the late-night dinner crowd because of the bar.
It’s nice finding a place for feel-good food that can be enjoyed with the family.
Related Blog Posts:
OAP | Aidan’s Je Suis Gourmand Birthday Dinner
OAP | Syoti’s (Joshua’s) Birthday
I like Torch’s simple ambiance — non-pretentious and maaliwalas. The common restroom is nice too. But the resto does seem to have this fastfood set-up with cheap tables that move easily when you bump into them.
In old school terms, Torch’s menu is called fusion but these days, it is called an eclectic menu. Eclectic would loosely mean you serve anything that you like without conforming to a specified theme as long as it is good.
All the prices end with .95 cents. (An old pricing trick that we always fall for.)
Menu: Soup, Salad Appetizers | Sandwiches & Burgers | Mains: Pork & Beef | Mains: Chicken & Seafood | Japanese Fusion | Italian Fusion | Desserts
I find the bar a bit tacky. The Torch crew, though, is really nice. 🙂
Shrimp Popcorn (P274.95 +10% service charge). Crispy deep-fried shrimps tossed with a special sauce.
This reminds me of its Chinese version without the vegetables. The sauce is creamy with a bit of spiciness that the boys can tolerate.
Volcano Roll (P324.95 +10% service charge). Freshly baked sushi roll filled with tempura, tamago and Japanese cucumber, and topped with spice baked U.S. scallops.
A bestseller indeed! I like how the overflowing, lava-like cheese engulfs the five sushi rolls.
Peppermill’s Signature Roll (P399.95 +10% service charge). Sushi rolls filled with soft-shelled crab and salmon skin, topped with crab meat and baked with spicy mango sauce.
The sushi rolls are really good but priced on the high side (at P60-P65 per roll).
Philly Cheese Steak (P349.95 +10% service charge). Classic Philly cheese steak sandwich filling on a fresh, oven-baked, thin crust topped with mozzarella and cream cheese.
Overall, the presentation of the food is really good. This pizza was served on a large chopping board. I prefer the five-cheese pizza version, though, but I love the pita-like crust.
Meatball Pasta (P284.95 +10% service charge). Pasta with a rich, meaty sauce topped with a large beefy meatball with melted cheddar cheese on top.
and…
Vongole Pasta (P324.95 +10% service charge). Mildly spiced sauteed baby clams in garlic olive oil.
The pasta dishes are just OK. Both are served in deep, triangular bowls and each one is good for 1 person only.
We just ordered the pasta for the younger set. I prefer the Vongole in tomato sauce, particularly since it’s not that spicy for the kids.
Smoked Jabañero Glazed Salmon (P384.95 +10% service charge). Served with unagi citrus sauce, mango salsa and garlic parsley.
This was my mom’s order, so I wasn’t able to try it.
Torch also has a simple fillet of salmon with cheese and hints of unagi for the healthy eaters.
Smoked Chipotle Tequila Barbecue Beef Ribs (P695.95 +10% service charge). Slowly cooked lamb shank with ala osso bucco sauce, served with garlic mashed potato and their signature Peppermill sauce.
I would return to Torch for the Steaks and Ribs — good sharing portions, well-marinated and tender meats, appetizing presentation, and reasonably priced too.
Desserts (left to right):
Panacotta with Fresh Fruits (P124.95 +10% service charge),
Chocolate Fountain Cake (P124.95 +10% service charge), and
Bread Pudding with Sabayon Sauce (P99.95 +10% service charge).
The desserts are pretty but ordinary. It was perfect, though, that the Chocolate Fountain Cake came with lusis instead of the usual candles. 🙂
The Birthday Boy, Raphael, with brothers Aidan and Joshua, mom Rache, and grandparents — Ama, Angkong, Momsy and Popsy.
Torch is a good place for a family get-together, barkada gimik, or just a place to treat your friends when celebrating milestones. Allot P500/person as your budget.
TORCH
Home Studio Building
63 Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan
(After Lugang Cafe & Angel’s Kitchen if you are going to EDSA)
Telephone: +63 477-3771, 502-0000
Email: torch1208@yahoo.com
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Full Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. We paid for all our meals. I’m NOT related to, connected with, or compensated in any way by the establishment featured in this blog post. I’m NOT connected with, compensated by, or represented by any PR firm. Please email me at anton@diaz.ph if any PR firm is claiming otherwise.
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i just ate there last night..I ordered the glazed salmon,it was yummy!fish was not dry it went well with the salsa!=)
claudie is home? 🙂
btw happy 1st bday to raphael! he’s a cutie baby 🙂
WOW for the Philly Cheesesteak pizza and Happy Birthday to Raphael!
Sae just visited from Singapore hehe for Raphael's birthday.
nakupo ginutom ako! happy birthday to your little one. 🙂
the philly cheesesteak pizza lookg good!
Happy 1st Bday to your son 🙂
Oh yes! I can say this place has feel good food. Try their slow roasted beef or the steak fondue next time. We tried this resto about 2 months ago. The beef cubes of the fondue could have been defrosted a bit more, but the taste is still satisfying. Check it out here 😀
http://www.lynne-enroute.com/2011/01/13/torch-fire-up-your-taste-buds/
Grabe…i would eat everything in there! ohm nom nom!
Beautiful babies 🙂 Happy birthday to Raphael!
hi,anton! 🙂 glad to note that you are visiting my hometown,pampanga. 🙂 if you will be in angeles,i suggest that you visit zulu cafe. 🙂 it’s in diamond subdivision,balibago,angeles city. 🙂 i simply love the simplicity of the food and the geniality of the place. 🙂 plus,allan,the owner,makes sure that his guests are exceptionally taken care of by finding the time to talk to them for suggestions and coomments. 🙂 you may also want to visit ala creme resto 🙂 the owner,ces,is my friend. 🙂 you can check the website which i wrote – http://www.alacreme.com.ph. 🙂 you may want to try ate babe’s de paolo’s restaurant as well. 🙂 it’s near my highschool,holy family academy (st.scholastica’s sister) in cutcut angeles city! 🙂 just sharing! 😉 thank you! 😉
You had me at Shrimp Popcorn. I also want to try that philly cheese steak. Isn’t parking a problem at that area? I’m a little traumatized by the Greenhills area because if that.
the building they are in has its own basement parking so parking shouldn’t be a problem 🙂 truffle fries is the bomb! try the upside down beer cocktail thing too! forgot the name though.. haha
I second on the truffle fries! I’m glad we ordered it as appetizer.
Once I get my hands on some truffle oil, I will put some effort into replicating it here at home 🙂
I recommend Torch’s truffle fries, cowboy rolls, tequila ribs, and my top favorite, LEANING TOWER PIZZA! 🙂
Happy bday to raphael! Hi Anton, if it’s not too much of work.. Is it possible for you to come up with a list of budget-friendly restaurants but decent ambiance? I’ve been checking your blog for over 2 years now, and I noticed that food nowadays are becoming quite expensive.
Hi Meg,
you are actually right. Sige, I'll create that list of budget-friendly restos with nice ambiance.
Anton
sir anton,
happy birthday kay lil’boss raffy!
godbless
Thanks Anton!!! 🙂
Mali po ata yung qoute nyo ng date 2/10/2010, 2011 na 😛 hehehe
We ate there last night, had the olive oil vongole and pizza with ham. Not great. Pizza was sparingly topped with cheese and ham. My friend ordered the ribs, the picture on the menu had french fries, but it arrived with rice. The waiter decided to replace it after we complained, but the fries arrived 20 minutes after.
I find it pricey for the portions, will not go back here again.
Oh my God I love that volcano roll. It looks great and I’m sure it tasted even better. And that cheese steak sandwich is huge and so mouth-watering. And from the dessert section I would love to try the chocolate fountain and the panacotta. Thanks for the article.
I think that volcano roll is something Bubba would love.
Ordered the salmon and the Signature sushi rolls among others.
I would probably be back to try the volcano roll.
Hey Anton,
I love reading your blogs and i always check for new restaurant that opens up, just have a question for you? do you have any idea how much it cost to open a restaurant in manila? also if you have any tips on the best spot on opening it. I currently reside in Los Angeles I am 25 years old and been working in restuarants here for about 4 yrs or so now. I am planning to open a small restaurant in the Philippines hopefully later this year or early next year. I would love to open a Asian Restaurant concept using techniques from Southeast asia and etc etc. Please let me know if you have any idea on how much to open a restaurant or also if you know someone that sells real estate for a future place to open. thank you. please email me if you have details. looking forward to your response
Hi JR,
I don't really have an experience opening up a restaurant 🙁
Anton
hey,
Thanks for the reply, plan is still in the details im still hoping later this year if not for sure next year, you’ll be the 1st person to try it. it will be a fun concept, good food, good vibe. hoping it will happen soon. loved your blogs.
ChefJr
We called to reserve last saturday to have dinner here on sunday… but when we went there they said we couldn’t be accommodated because they have a reservation (party dor 200 pax) and they didnt even inform us… They said they texted us but we didnt receive anything.
OK service but terrible food. Though some dishes can be eaten, its not worth the price you are paying for?! Had the spicy tuna – bad, beef belly – terrible, sukiyaki – glass noodles too tough, burger – totally not worth it for Php 500! Salmon and pizza were ok but not worth it. The place also sucked with the floor so slippery that I wouldnt be surprised if someone slips and sues one of these days. Not again in this restaurant. Went in and there was only 1 other table on a Sunday night. It should have been a sign for us to just leave.
Our awesome planet, how can you even recommend this place?!
Hi Mike,
Yeah unfortunately the food quality deteriorated over time. Sayang 🙁
Anton
We ate at Torch recently, and my wife got the worst-ever MSG-attack. She had palpitations and dizziness for more than a day. I hope people are forewarned of the possible side effects they might suffer from eating there.
Aside from this, service was slow, and the food was certainly disappointing.
Jerry
Very disappointed yun pag kain ko sa torch greenbelt 5… Di ko ma gustohan yun hamonado pizza subrang nipis at walang lasa yun pizza! Tinipid yun pizza. Di nako kakain ulit sa resto niyo