Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar or OTKB for short is the first free-style Antipasti Bar in Manila created by Executive Chef Rob Pengson and Sous Chef Jonvic Mangibin, in partnership with the Del Monte group. It’s along Bonifacio High Street at the former location of Stock Market restaurant.
But what is a free-style Antipasti Bar? Antipasti is the plural of Antipasto, which is the traditionally first course of an Italian meal. So you can think of it as tapas in Spanish cuisine, or like an appetizer in the Western context.
We tried OTKB during its soft-opening/training phase with our Mercato partners and here’s our experience…
The ambiance is Italian-chic — casual but classy. A bit intimidating but with a homey service.
They specialize in freestyle antipasti and artisan pizzas with creative flavor combinations.
OTKB: Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar Soft Opening Menu:
Antipasti Bar, Soup, Salad, Mains, Pizza, Pasta | Drinks: Refreshments, Hot, Beer, Cocktails, Wine
OTKB promises “amazing cocktails” but this is not one of them. Maybe they would have a better line-up of cocktails and drinks after the grand opening.
✮ FRESH RICOTTA (P170 +10% service charge) with roasted cherry & heirloom tomatoes, oven dried grapes, rough raisin, and pine nut pesto.
Love this fresh, housemade ricotta cheese paired with litte bits of berries and pine nuts for added texture and flavor.
✮ CAULIFLOWER & GORGONZOLA SOUP(P230 +10% service charge) with smoked grapes, prosciutto crudo, and dill crumble
This creamy cauliflower soup is good — smooth and rich with not-your-usual add-ons. Since it’s served in a big soup plate, it cools down easily so best to eat it immediately while it’s hot.
✮ SWEET POTATO & LEEK SOUP (P220 +10% service charge) with compressed strawberries, parmegiano-reggiano bavarois, and truffle oil.
I didn’t know that kamote soup could taste this good with added touches of strawberry, cheese, and truffle flavors.
GOAT’S CHEESE & BEETS (P290 +10% service charge). Roasted pickled beets with balsamic & raspberry dressing, goats cheese mousse, and dill crumble.
This is not your usual salad with the goat’s cheese mousse as the highlight, paired with the surrounding vegetables and sauces.
CAESAR SALAD WITH CHICKEN MILANESE (P290 +10% service charge). Crunchy greens with anchovy flavoured dressing and deep-fried parmigiano-reggiano-crusted chicken.
Just the classic caesar salad with flavorful slices of fried chicken strips on the side.
✮ RICOTTA GNOCCHI (P380 +10% service charge) with butter & cream sauce, sous vide egg, hazelnuts, sage, and prosciutto.
This is sinfully rich! Imagine fresh ricotta cheese with butter and cream sauce mixed with soft boiled eggs. It’s like thick cheese-butter sauce with gnocchi as toppings.
RJ actually loved this. He just removed the prosciutto bits to make it vegetarian-friendly.
✮ SQUID INK PIZZA (P410 +10% service charge) with grilled squid, sea urchin crudo, and black tomato sauce.
Their pizza is fat and fluffy, with just the right amount of crust and chewy insides. I love the unique combination of squid ink and black tomato sauce, although I was looking for a stronger flavor. The pizza is really good while it’s still hot, but too chewy when it cools down.
MARGHERITA PIZZA (P370 +10% service charge). Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil.
Can’t go wrong with simple but flavorful toppings…just the way the Italians like it.
CHAR-GRILLED WAGYU BISTECCA (P1,650 +10% service charge). 300g Wagyu Rump (4-5 Marbling Grade), smoked mashed potatoes, fried mushrooms, and meat demi.
This is a huge slab of meat, cooked medium, with fried mushrooms toppings, on a bed of mashed potatoes.
It was just OK. The insides were a bit dry and a little tough. Better to stick to the Antipasti offerings.
Sending some good luck to Chef Rob Pengson for the successful grand opening of OTKB!
It was a pleasant experience overall. We loved the fresh ricotta cheese, the soups, the ricotta gnocchi, and the artisan pizza. The other antipasti dishes are also quite interesting, we’ll try it for breakfast or merienda one of these days.
On the other hand, I do hope they improve on their drinks and perhaps even add a selection of yummy Italian desserts to their offerings.
Budget is about P800/head. This should be a welcome alternative if you’re craving for a good Italian meal in BGC.
OTKB: Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar
Manila’s first Antipasti Bar. Serving globally inspired antipasti, pastas and artisan pizzas, slow food, small plates & big plates, wine, beer & amazing cocktails.
G/F, B4, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Telephone: +632 823-0366
Facebook: Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar
Related Blog Posts:
- Jin Loves to Eat | OTKB Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar ♥ ♥ ♥
- Hefty Foodie | [OTKB] Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar at Bonifacio High Street
What’s New in BGC Restaurants in 2013?
- VASK: Traditional Basque Cuisine and Modern Gastronomy @VaskManila
- EARLY BIRD Breakfast Club: Start of the All-Day Breakfast Era in Manila?
- IHOP Philippines: Manila Goes Crazy Over IHOP? @IHOP_PH
- GYU-KAKU Philippines: World’s No.1 Yakiniku Japanese BBQ Brand now in Manila 🙂
- MAD FOR GARLIC Philippines: Italian Korean Wine Resto (and Garlic Breath)
- MESCLUN BISTRO by Chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara in Serendra
- SABOTEN Philippines: The Original Tonkatsu Flavor Now in Manila!
- URBN BAR & KITCHEN: The Secret Yummy Food of URBN
- BRASSERIE GIROLLE by Chef Ian Padilla
- K-PUB BBQ: Meat All You Can at K-Pop-Themed Resto 🙂
- MAGOSABURO: Mago Kaiseki & Japanese Wagyu Steak on Lava Stone with Wine Pairings!
- MODERN SICHUAN: A Taste of Sichuan Cuisine and Modern Chinese Food
- HUNGRY HOUND: Duck Fat Fries, Mr. Delicious’ Bacon and First Impressions…
- OTKB: Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar – Manila’s First Antipasti Bar @BoniHighStreet
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
P.S. Please let me know of your recommendations from the Antipasti selections…