TOMATITO MANILA: How Sexy is this 80's-inspired Spanish Tapas Bar? (A Review) - Awesome!

Bistronomia Restaurant Series:
• RUMBA // NEW Mediterranean Resto at The Shops at Ayala Triangle (A REVIEW) (2022)
• LAS FLORES Alabang: Best Spanish Restaurant in the South! (2022)
• Las Flores Dining+: Is Intimate Dining the New Normal? (2021)
• Introducing… LAS FLORES Degustacion by Spanish Chef Ignacio Alcala! (2019)
• Rambla Salcedo Makati: Best Tapas Bar in the Salcedo Neighborhood (2019)
• BCN by Rambla: Charcoal-Grill Barcelona-Inspired Restaurant in Makati! (2018)
• TOMATITO MANILA: How Sexy is this 80’s-inspired Spanish Tapas Bar? (A Review) (2016)
• RAMBLA Rockwell: Spanish Mediterranean Cuisine by Chef Pepe Lopez @RamblaPH (2013)
• LAS FLORES: Modern Spanish Resto by (former) Barcino + Andilana (Spain) Group (2012)

TOMATITO MANILA is an 80’s-inspired Spanish Tapas and Paella restaurant by Shanghai-based El Willy Fun F&B Group (by Chef Willy Trullas Moreno) in partnership with the Rambla/Las Flores/La Lola group (by the Barcelona trio of Uri Singla, Dani Aliaga, and Sergi Rostoll).

The name is inspired by Spanish Flamenco guitarist José Fernández Torres, also known as Tomatito. It also means “little tomato“–a fun brand name since it easily rolls off the tongue. The concept is a mix of Spanish popular culture, the 80’s bar, and a seductive red theme.

So is the concept really sexy? We tried Tomatito with our former P&G friends and here’s what we think about it…

TOMATITO Sexy Tapas Bar
G/F BGC Corporate Center, 30th St. cor 11th Ave, BGC, Taguig City
Telephone: +632 805-7840
Mobile: +63 915 588-4803
Instagram: @tomatitomanila
Facebook: @tomatitomanila
Website: http://www.elwillygroup.com/venues/tomatito/

It’s impossible to miss Tomatito, located at the ground floor of the new GC Corporate Center, beside Seda Hotel and opposite One Serendra.

As you enter, you’ll be greeted by the funky design, soothing music, and sexy red theme. You can sit at the bar for an authentic tapas experience.

This is the main dining area for big groups with a backdrop of flamenco outfits and a view of the kitchen.

Gen X-ers will surely recognize most of these 80’s music icons.

The best place to sit is by the comfortable couch tables on the side for added privacy.

TOMATITO MENU: Chef’s Selections, La chacine (Butcher’s Shop), To start | Montaditos, Frituras, Huevos, La sopa, Pescado | Verde (salads), carne, El asador, Arroces | Dulce tentacion (desserts)

The menu is approachable, focusing on tapas, meat plates, and paella.

Salmon TNT (P595). Explosive balik smoked salmon with honey and truffle…BOOM!!!

Most people rave about this, which is best eaten in one bite. The thin crisp pastry explodes with sweet flavors of honey and truffle.

Filete con Airbag (P325). Cheese and tenderloin steak airbaguettes.

The favorite of the night was this kayak-shaped airbaguettes filled with cheese and wrapped with tenderloin steak.

Chipirones a la Andaluza (P275). Fried baby squid with chipotle cream and aioli.

A classic Andalucia fried seafood tapas made from fried baby squid. It’s good dipped in the garlic mayo sauce but also a bit oily

Montaditos de Gambas (P375). Our famous sexy prawn snacks.

A simple prawn cracker topped with prawns, mayo, and garnish.

Pulpo a la Tomatito (P595). Octopus with baby potatoes, smoked paprika, and Iberian ham!

The octopus was a bit tough and needed more massaging. The pulpo at Bar Pintxos is a lot better.

Ceviche de Atun (P395). Citrus marinated tuna ceviche, watermelon, and basil.

A healthy raw tuna serving with watermelon and basil. Make sure to use a spoon and scoop up the sauce when you eat the ceviche.

Atun con Gazpacho y Olivas (P295). Semi-cooked tuna loin with gazpacho and olives.

Something different. It’s like a seared tuna on a bed of cold tomato soup with olives. Fans of gazpacho will probably enjoy this.

Teso La Monja – Romanico (P1,650). Tempranillo. Toro, Spain.

Wine Menu: Wine by the glass | Por Novilladas (Young bulls), De Casta! (With breed!) | De Ovacion y Ole (Ovation and ole!) | Una Oreja (One Ear), Dos Orejas (Two Ears), El Rabo (The tail) | Por la puerta grande! (Through the big door!), Cava and Champagne

They have a wide selection of Spanish contemporary wines. We ended up ordering this Romanico tempranillo because it’s easy to drink and pairs well with the tapas.

Solomillitos al Ajillo (P395). Beef striploin steak with sauteed garlic and potatoes.

Thinly sliced lean meat with garlic flavors–frankly, cheap and unmemorable. Better spend on the other, more premium meat options.

Churrasco de Buey (P925). Slow cooked beef short ribs with truffle mashed potato, potato chips, and demi-glace.

This has all the ingredients to be one of the great dishes at Tomatito, but the meat was tough.

Albondigas (P225). Mama style home made meatballs in natural tomato sauce.

We love the sauce, but it overpowered the quality of the meatballs.

We ordered 3 paellas for the night. Our favorite was the classic Paella Valenciana as recommended by Uri Singla.

Paella Valenciana (P795). Traditional dry paella with chicken, rosemary, and snow beans.

Served with a thin layer of rice like they do in Valencia, with the chicken infused into the paella with seafood stock.

I like how they really cook in a paellera and serve it hot, unlike in other Spanish restos where the paellera is just used as a serving plate.

Paella del Txiringuito (P895). Very special seafood dry paella.

This paella topped with seafood brings back memories of eating paella in Xiringuito Escribà along the beaches of Barcelona.

Squeeze some lemon juice over the paella to bring out the flavors of the seafood and to contrast with saltiness.

The serving can be shared among 5-7 persons. Make sure to get the sweet and crunchy socarrat (tutong) that Filipinos love.

Such a fun kulitan night with the rest of the P&G Thundercats. 🙂

Las Locuras de Carlos (P695). Sexy mixed dessert plate.

There’s so much going on here. I loved the Kit Kat-like Lego chocolate bars.

Bollycao (P230). Nutella chocolate brioche buns.

This was the best and deadliest dessert of the night–you simply can’t resist! It’s a street food snack of brioche bun stuffed with oozing Nutella. So good!

End the meal with this digestive grappa–Orujo de Galicia. It’s available in the original white version and the sweeter yellow version (like a dessert wine).

It was awesome to reminisce our glory days in P&G IT. Salud!

Congrats to Chef Willy and Uri Singla for the successful opening of the Tomatito concept in Manila!

I like TOMATITO‘s overall sexy vibe with funky colors, vintage 80’s design, and contemporary tapas. It’s a good place to meet with friends because the acoustics and the music are nice with a youthful aura.

Order the Salmon TNT, Filete con Airbag, and Montaditos de Gambas signature tapas. The paella is good and just like how they serve it in Spain. Order the Paella Valenciana or the Paella del Txiringuito. Don’t order the Arroz Negro Paella.

The meat dishes we tried were unfortunately hit or miss in terms of the quality of the meat itself. Let me know if you can recommend any other meat dishes from their menu.

Budget about P1,500/head for a full experience, which includes a varied selection of tapas, paella, and a bottle of wine.

Congrats to the Rambla and El Willy group for bringing a fun Spanish concept to BGC!