Address: Level 1, Power Plant Mall, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell, Makati City
Opening Hours: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Monday – Thursday), 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Friday), 10:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Saturday), 10:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Sunday)
Telephone Number(s): (+632) 403-3585
Mobile Number(s): (+63) 917-882-7594
E-mail: woodenspoonph@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.woodenspoon.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodenSpoonRestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodenspoonph/
Ask any foodie about the biggest names in Filipino cuisine, and chances are they'll namedrop Nora Daza. A legendary chef, TV host and cookbook author, Daza eventually passed down her legacy to her son Sandy. Being a talented chef in his own right, Sandy is the man behind the subject of today's review, Wooden Spoon.
Even though it opened less than five years ago (in 2012, to be exact), Wooden Spoon already has quite a following. If you pass by the place around lunchtime, you'll be lucky to find even a single unoccupied seat. (At least, that's the case with the Power Plant Mall branch. They have two other branches: one in Kapitolyo, the other in Katipunan.) Clearly, the Daza name continues to attract Filipino palates to this day — but, as we'll see in the review below, that's not the only draw of this establishment.
The Place
Being in a mall surrounded by other restaurants, the branch in Power Plant Mall isn't exactly "spacious." However, it is well-maintained, and the ambience is what you'd expect from a classy Filipino restaurant. You can eat here by yourself, though it's better if you eat with a group for reasons that'll become clear in the next section.
The Food
To start with, we ordered the Wansoy Shrimp Nuggets.
Opening Hours: 11:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Monday – Thursday), 11:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Friday), 10:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. (Saturday), 10:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Sunday)
Telephone Number(s): (+632) 403-3585
Mobile Number(s): (+63) 917-882-7594
E-mail: woodenspoonph@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.woodenspoon.ph
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodenSpoonRestaurant/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodenspoonph/
Ask any foodie about the biggest names in Filipino cuisine, and chances are they'll namedrop Nora Daza. A legendary chef, TV host and cookbook author, Daza eventually passed down her legacy to her son Sandy. Being a talented chef in his own right, Sandy is the man behind the subject of today's review, Wooden Spoon.
Even though it opened less than five years ago (in 2012, to be exact), Wooden Spoon already has quite a following. If you pass by the place around lunchtime, you'll be lucky to find even a single unoccupied seat. (At least, that's the case with the Power Plant Mall branch. They have two other branches: one in Kapitolyo, the other in Katipunan.) Clearly, the Daza name continues to attract Filipino palates to this day — but, as we'll see in the review below, that's not the only draw of this establishment.
The Place
Being in a mall surrounded by other restaurants, the branch in Power Plant Mall isn't exactly "spacious." However, it is well-maintained, and the ambience is what you'd expect from a classy Filipino restaurant. You can eat here by yourself, though it's better if you eat with a group for reasons that'll become clear in the next section.
The Food
To start with, we ordered the Wansoy Shrimp Nuggets.
It's not obvious in the picture, but these nuggets are HUGE (think "palm-sized"). You can't just down these in one gulp; you have to savor every bite for the flavors that dance in your mouth. Top it off with the two sauces provided, and your experience is complete.
Next, we had the Adobo Flakes.
Next, we had the Adobo Flakes.
If we had any expectations about what this dish will be like, they were all blown out the window the moment we saw this. It's a little on the salty side, so you'd want to dip it into the garlic-mayo sauce provided to balance out the flavors. Also, this is an interesting take on the Filipino dish that's probably second only in international fame to the balut.
We also had the Bistek Tagalog.
We also had the Bistek Tagalog.
Traditionally, this dish is made up of beef slices simmered in a mixture of soy sauce, spices and calamansi juice. But Chef Sandy takes it a step further with a topping of mashed potatoes, making it richer and more dynamic than it already is.
To accompany these two dishes, we had the Garlic Rice.
To accompany these two dishes, we had the Garlic Rice.
Unlike the usual garlic rice, this wasn't just "stir-fried rice + garlic." It also has a generous topping of chopped spring onions, eggs and other bits that makes this more like "fried rice" than "garlic rice." There's possibly a little butter involved, as this dish is ridiculously filling.
Of course, no foodie trip would be complete without the obligatory dessert. In keeping with our Filipino theme for the month of June, we had the quintessential halo-halo — or rather, a stripped down version of it.
Of course, no foodie trip would be complete without the obligatory dessert. In keeping with our Filipino theme for the month of June, we had the quintessential halo-halo — or rather, a stripped down version of it.
Instead of a glass made up of 80 percent milk and shaved ice, Wooden Spoon's Tuyong Halo-Halo consists only of the essentials: ube, suman, fresh mangoes, pinipig, strips of macapuno and leche flan made from carabao milk. Obviously, it's a little different from what you're used to, but it's a welcome change. (At least you don't have to feel guilty about letting all that milk and ice to waste!)
Except for the halo-halo, all these dishes are for sharing. You may find the prices steep at first glance, but considering the size of the portions and how heavy they are on the tummy, they're worth every peso.
The Service
The service isn't bad, but it's not outstanding either. You'll go through the usual motions: get ushered into a seat, receive a glass of water, wait for your order and ask for the bill out. It's probably a good idea to specify that the dessert be served after the meal, because the halo-halo was served first! Other than that, the food was served within a reasonable amount of time, the waiters were polite enough, and we didn't experience any lapses in service that could be considered problematic.
The Verdict
Based on our experience, Wooden Spoon mostly lives up to the Daza name. Their dishes don't just twist Filipino recipes to suit a fad; they also make the recipes better than they already are. If you want your family to taste Philippine cuisine at its finest, or to eat in a place where your expectations will be challenged (in a good way), bring them to any branch of Wooden Spoon. You won't regret it!
Except for the halo-halo, all these dishes are for sharing. You may find the prices steep at first glance, but considering the size of the portions and how heavy they are on the tummy, they're worth every peso.
The Service
The service isn't bad, but it's not outstanding either. You'll go through the usual motions: get ushered into a seat, receive a glass of water, wait for your order and ask for the bill out. It's probably a good idea to specify that the dessert be served after the meal, because the halo-halo was served first! Other than that, the food was served within a reasonable amount of time, the waiters were polite enough, and we didn't experience any lapses in service that could be considered problematic.
The Verdict
Based on our experience, Wooden Spoon mostly lives up to the Daza name. Their dishes don't just twist Filipino recipes to suit a fad; they also make the recipes better than they already are. If you want your family to taste Philippine cuisine at its finest, or to eat in a place where your expectations will be challenged (in a good way), bring them to any branch of Wooden Spoon. You won't regret it!
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