First Bite: Vagabonds

We'd often associate steaks to fancy dinners or special occasions. But the abundance of pocket friendly steak restaurants made succulent meat nights a regular thing. And when with a group of hungry carnivores, it's best to indulge in Vagabonds' One-Kilo Steak.

Hello, Vagabonds.

Vagabonds has been known for its bang for the buck one kilo steak. It recently found a new home in O'Square Greenhills and I was one of the lucky few to be there for its grand opening.

We started off with Quattro Formaggi + Garlic (PHP220) as our starter. You'd instantly get a whiff of the cheeses' aroma as soon as it reaches to your table. I was expecting the dip to be a bit thick (and the fun stretchy kind) but it was rather too fluid. But it sure was packed with flavor. The sharp taste of cheese further enhanced by garlic was pronounced. Generously dipping our bread in the dip might be too overwhelming on your taste buds so don't go crazy with it.

I truly enjoyed Vagabonds' Mac & Cheese (PHP295) which was overloaded with bacon bits! I also liked how cheesy it was yet not cloying at all.

But if you prefer something stronger in terms of flavor, go for Bleu Cheese Mac (PHP295). Cooked with balsamic and honey reduction, each bite had this tangy taste. 

I'm just not sure if this is something kids would love but I'd stick with the basic Mac & Cheese.

Belgian Wanderer (PHP245) is a marriage between wings and chocolate. Cooked with dark chocolate and topped with Spanish Paprika and pimiento aioli dip on the side, this is a blend of sweet and savory flavors. I'm just not a fan of this kind of combination but it was worth trying at least once.

If Kare-Kare is your favorite dish, then you'd like Tagalog's Best (PHP245). This bagoong wings with peanut butter aioli dip is a refreshing take on the Filipino dish. Make sure to eat it with the dip as the wings alone tend to be too salty. It would be best too to have this with rice.

The plate of Ibiza Chicken Chorizo (PHP295) served with pilaff is a nice option for lunch. It's quite hefty and filling for the price. The chicken was tender and flavorful. However, I didn't exactly get a taste of chorizo. Instead, it was more curry-like to me.

Boracay Chori Burger (PHP295) was good too. It was a fancier take on the famous island's burger as it also comes with onion rings and potato chips. 

The patty was juicy and packed with chorizo flavor too unlike the Ibiza Chicken Chorizo.

The star of our lunch, Vagabonds Signature One-Kilo Steak (PHP2650) definitely did not disappoint. Served with chimichurri, soy ginger, barbecue and garlic peppercorn sauces, you get to feast on this massive meat platter with different flavors. 

I prefer mine though with just salt and pepper to put the spotlight on the meat. Chimichurri is also a great choice.

We capped our meal with Scout's Treat S'mores (PHP150) which was amazing! Thick and rich chocolate topped with charred marshmallows... I would definitely go back for more of this beauty!

Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. The food was pretty affordable for the serving size and quality. I just hope that O'Square fix its lift soon as it makes Vagabonds inaccessible to seniors and PWD.

Vagabonds is located at O'Square 1, Ortigas Avenue corner Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan.

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