First Bite: Bar Pintxos

I've been curious about Bar Pintxos ever since it opened its first store down south. Frequented by discerning locals, I couldn't help think that this place must be really good. I was thrilled when it opened branches in BGC and Makati as it made it more accessible to me. And after a few failed attempts, I finally got to visit its BGC branch a few weeks ago. 

Hello, Bar Pintxos Tapas Y Mas. 

Specializing in Spanish cuisine, Bar Pintxos serves limited but superb dishes perfect for lunch, dinner and after work drinks. 

Its name pintxos is derived from the Spanish word pinchar which means "to pierce". And if you've noticed, pintxos are small dishes secured in place by sticks or toothpicks. This is what differentiates it from tapas.

We started dinner with a refreshing glass of Crows Gin and Tonic (PHP500). Light and mildly spiked by the first Philippine craft gin, it was a lovely way to start the night.

Or go for a bottle or two of Crows De Puta Madre (PHP350/bottle | PHP375/tap). 

Berenjenas (PHP125) was served as appetizer and it was so addictive! The crispy fried eggplant topped with honey and pimenton is an excellent choice as starter as it teases your senses with its light flavor and crunch. It's also one snack I wouldn't mind stuffing myself with while watching my favorite shows! 

A slightly heavier option would be Chorizo Croquetas (PHP260). Made with bechamel and chorizo bilbao, a plate of this could have light eaters set for the night. However, I didn't like its dough-like layer as I prefer more crunch to this type of dish. I barely had a taste of chorizo too.

If you love chorizo, best to grab Chorizo Frito (PHP250). Juicy and flavorful, this would be great with some cheese or bread.

Another meaty option is Albondigas (PHP260). This small plate of meatballs swimming in carrot and tomato sauce is yet another filling dish to add to one's lunch or dinner spread. I found this dish a bit too heavy to be paired with a lot of pintxos. Perhaps best to limit your carbs if you want to have this.

My absolute favorite that night was Chopito Frito (PHP250). The golden brown deep fried baby squid was nothing short of spectacular. Its light batter gave the snappy seafood an extra crunch making each mouthful delightful. Drizzle it with lemon and dip it in mayo for that wonderful contrast of flavors.

Paella Mixta (PHP350) is a nice option for lunch or dinner. Classic paella cooked with chicken, shrimp and chorizo, it had that rich blend of flavors and textures. It would have been better though if the paella was served on a paella pan. It would have been great as well if there were some soccarat to scrape off.

I was excited to try Bar Pintxos' Salpicao (PHP480) as I love any meat with garlic! However, the one served to us didn't have that strong garlic kick and the meat was not very tender. I'd still give this another try though.

If you cannot decide on what to get for lunch or dinner, this massive Pintxos Platter (PHP650) is a great option. A long plate filled with Jamon Allioli, Gilda, Salmon, Butifarra, Chorizo y Huevos, and Brie Cebolla is perfect for sharing. We had one shared by five and we ended up having some leftovers!

My top picks are Jamon Allioli which is topped with my favorite Jamon Serrano and Salmon served with goat cheese, truffle, honey and caviar. 

Brocheta de Cerdo isn't in the list of pintxos included in the platter but the one served to us had it. And it was really good. Perfectly seasoned with salt and Romescu. 

I finally understand why many drive all the way to Bar Pintxos for lunch, dinner or a few drinks. The food's great and quite bang for the buck too! I had the impression that this place is all about drinks but I could totally picture myself coming here for lunch or dinner. 

I'll be back!

Bar Pintxos Tapas Y Mas is located at Ground Floor, Fairways Towers, 5th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. 

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