SOUV! is a progressive Greek concept focusing on spit fired meat by Chef Robby Goco and the hip restaurant cousin of Cyma. The name is short for Souvlaki referring to grilled skewered meats in Greek cuisine.
Chef Robby Goco did it again! He creates winning restaurant concepts like Cyma, Ristras, Charlie’s, Green Pastures and now Souv! for over a decade now in Manila.
We tried all of Chef Robby’s recommendations and here’s what we love in Souv!
SOUV! by Cyma
Net Park, 5th Ave, BGC, Taguig
Facebook: @SOUVbyCyma
Instagram: @souvbycyma
Mobile: +63 949 481-9621
Operating Hours: 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
Related Blog Posts:
• Cyma in Manila!! Opa!! (2006)
• Opa! Cyma in Greenbelt, Makati! (2007)
• Charlie’s by Rob Goco, Hidden behind a Car Wash Station (2009)
• Ristras, Mexican Burrito Heaven (2009)
• GREEN PASTURES by Chef Robby Goco: Farm-to-table, Back-to-Basics, Organic Restaurant @ShangPlaza East Wing (2013)
Souv! is an 80-seater casual restaurant with simple but vibrant colors than Cyma and aims to serve #EverydayGreek food that you’ll go back again and again in BGC.
Check out Souv! by Cyma Menu
There’s a communal table with high chairs for those eating on their own and on the go.
It’s best to reserve during the peak lunch and dinner hours if you are going with a group.
MEZZE
★ Greek Nachos (P525). Layered tzatziki, melitzanosalata, hummus, Greek pico de gallo, Kalamata olives, feta, Greek oregano, pita
A mish mash of all the best dips with different layers of textures and flavors that work. Yum Yum!
Smoked Salmon Bread Salata (P390). Salmon roe, Kalamata Olives, Dill
If you are tired of the usual hummus, check out the Smoked Salmon with salmon roe salata.
Baked Feta (P370). Cherry Tomato confit, onion, bell pepper, evoo, Greek Oregano
A matured version of Cyma’s Saganaki with no more flambé, and no more Opa!
★ Clams & Spinach Fonduta (P530) with grilled bread
My personal favorite: spinach and cheese fondue with halaan soup flavors and Manila clams.
★ Sticky Chicken Wings (P495). Fried chicken wings, honey, oregano, lemon, pickled onions, harissa yogurt.
Wings so sticky that you’ll be tempted to use your hands to lick the honey off it and to dip it in the yogurt spiced with Moroccan chilies.
Grilled Sous Vide Octopus (P295). Ladolemono, smokey paprika, Greek oregano, parsley salad
Octopus tentacles sous-vide for hours with a dash of lemon and salad greens.
★ Strapatsada (P280). Greek scrambled eggs, cherry tomato confit, feta, Greek oregano, grilled bread.
Like shakshuka but not spicy and topped with feta cheese, oregano, and cherry tomato.
SALAD
Salata Kinoa (S-P480, L-P680). Lollo verde, quinoa, arugula, pine nuts, sultanas, shaved kefalotiri, dijon herb dressing, grated walnuts
Quinoa salad made Greek style with big slices of cheese, nuts, and sultanas.
★ Cranberry Grains Salad (S-P490, L-P690). Puy lentils, bulgur, parsley, cilantro, red onion, capers, cranberries, cumin honey yogurt dressing.
This salad made of bulgur, a cracked dried wheat, was surprisingly good like eating a savory vegetarian cereal with honey yogurt dressing.
Vineyard Lemonade (Red or Retsina) (P250) and Santorini Donkey (P240).
Order the lemonade with red or white wine and Moscow mule-like cocktail with Ouzo if you have to drink something refreshing, a bit sweet but would still give you a buzz.
LUNCH
The lunch menu was designed to be fast slow food that you can order quickly but still with good quality meats and side dishes.
You can order you a choice of meat (or no meat), order it in a wrap, salad or bowl form, and preferred signature side dish.
You can customize each meal based on your diet – vegan, paleo, or gluten-free.
Chicken Salad (P530) with Kale and Romaine served with Greek ranch dressing, fennel, orange segments, pickled red onion, sprouts, mizitra
Sides: Juicy Potatoes (P180 if ordered separately)
Order the chicken if you like something fast, good but still relatively cheap.
Pork Bowl (P550) with Quinoa, Brown Rice and Spinach served with minted tzatziki, cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions, pickled cucumber, sprouts, feta.
Sides:★ Clam saffron avgolemono soup (P180 if ordered separately)
The best side dish is the saffron soup mixed with halaan soup with clams and tomato. So good!
★ Lamb Wrap (P565). Harissa yogurt, pickled cucumber, pickled radish, pickled red onion, sprouts, mizitra.
The best meat is the grilled lamb, tender and tasty with a generous serving of meats and vegetables.
Vegetarian Wrap (P420) with whole wheat pita, sweet potato, and squash, yogurt garlic, Kalamata olives, walnuts, pickled red onion, sprouts, mizitra
Sides: Spring Salad (P180 if ordered separately)
For vegetarians and people going on a detox, the vegetarian wrap with salad duo is perfect.
MAINS
★ MEAT PLATTER – Chicken, Pork, Lamb (All 3 – P950). Good for 2 garlic yogurt sauce, pita, juicy potatoes, pickles and Greek coleslaw (Lahanosalata)
All the best spit fired meats cooked in the rotisserie oven in one family platter.
The pork is the best which taste like our Lechon but cooked the Greek way.
Chef Robby Goco only uses SPOOL (Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil, Oregano, and Lemon), the 5 staple ingredients of Greek cooking, to cook the meats.
★ Angus Beef Short Rib (P1,050). Braised and grilled, gremolata
The Angus beef ribs are so tender that you can pull out the bone with your hands easily.
Sprinkle a dash of lemon, slice it with the tendons, and savor every piece of it.
★ Lavraki (Shallow-water Sea Bass – P1,100) served with clams and EVOO lemon sauce.
The sea bass is topped with olive oil emulsified like pilpil sauce but using the belly and not kokotcha (throat) mixed with halaan broth and served with clams.
PASTA
Seafood Yiouvetsi (P850). Squid, shrimp, clams and mussels, orzo, crustacean-saffron broth.
Cooked paella style with seafood broth and saffron but using orzo pasta topped with seafood.
Greek Tuna Roe (Avgotaracho) (Small – P410, Large – P630). Chickpeas, tomato, spaghetti, breadcrumbs
A simple bottarga-inspired pasta but using tuna roe with tomato, greens, and breadcrumbs.
Chef Robby dries and processes their own tuna roe and grate it for the pasta.
Use their magic lime chili salt to enhance the taste of the pasta. Try it!
Congratulations to Chef Robby Goco for another winning concept with Souv!
DESSERTS
Frozen Greek Yogurt (P150). EVOO & Sea Salt, Carrot Orange Jam, Crumbled Baklava & Honey
The simple EVOO & Sea Salt is the best to clean the palate and refresh your appetite.
The cheesecake frozen yogurt or the pistachio rice pudding can satisfy your sweet craving for dessert.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I’m impressed that Chef Robby Goco was able to create concepts for the new generation of diners with a deep understanding of what they look for. I like how he synergizes what he learned from the Cyma and Green Pastures menu.
I would recommend the following:
Mezze: Greek Nachos, Clams & Spinach Fonduta, Sticky Chicken Wings, and Strapatsada.
Salad: Cranberry Grains Salad
Lunch: Lamb with a side of Clam saffron avgolemono soup
Pasta: Greek Tuna Roe and Seafood Yiouvetsi to share.
Mains: Angus Beef Short Rib, Lavraki and Meat Platter to share.
Drinks: Vineyard Lemonade (Red or Retsina) and Santorini Donkey
Dessert: EVOO & Sea Salt and the Pistachio Rice Pudding (off menu item)
Budget about P600/head. The pricing is about the same with Cyma but I like the food better.
Best to go with a group so that you can try a little bit of each. Don’t forget to reserve.
Congratulations to Chef Robby Goco and the Cyma team!
SOUV! by Cyma
Net Park, 5th Ave, BGC, Taguig
Facebook: @SOUVbyCyma
Instagram: @souvbycyma
Mobile: +63 949 481-9621
Operating Hours: 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
Related Blog Posts:
• Cyma in Manila!! Opa!! (2006)
• Opa! Cyma in Greenbelt, Makati! (2007)
• Charlie’s by Rob Goco, Hidden behind a Car Wash Station (2009)
• Ristras, Mexican Burrito Heaven (2009)
• GREEN PASTURES by Chef Robby Goco: Farm-to-table, Back-to-Basics, Organic Restaurant @ShangPlaza East Wing (2013)
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: Our meal was courtesy of Chef Robby Goco. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. Notice how it affected the dining crowd in Hey Handsome beside it.