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March-April 2003 Issue
In This Issue:
Home
Manila Revisited
Nightlife in the Metro
The Best Deals In Town
Alternative Gimicks
The Filipino Coffee and Co.
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FEATURE STORY
Going With The Flow
By Rachel Quinto
Metamorphosis |
Resto What? |
Local Hollywood |
Latino Fever |
Jamaican Frenzy |
Sporty Gimick |
Posh Concept |
Change as they say is inevitable… It's fascinating that this philosophical
ideal is also applicable to the business side of the world. Many establishments
made it by going with the flow but unfortunately, those who
were not able to meet the demands of this rapidly changing world were
like sinking ships who went down along with the old trend. That is
why one of the new trends of the Pinoy's bustling nightlife is the
RESTO-BAR. A restaurant and a bar rolled up into one.
Metamorphosis
A few years ago, resto-bars are not that common but now, they are
like mushrooms sprouting everywhere. Why this phenomenon?
What is SURVIVAL ? Yep. It's survival of the fittest. Dennis Alfredo,
branch manager of Mystique Grill Bar & Restaurant in Eastwood puts it
this way, "ang restaurant kasi madami nang competition niyan kaya medyo
mahina kaya we have to adapt na din to the environment."
Well, he's absolutely right! There are many kinds of restaurants.
You have Italian, grill, Japanese and the list goes on and on. What
happens then when you can't keep up with competition? You go down.
But resto-bars take on a different attitude, a different way of surviving.
Being a restaurant, they cater usual lunches and dinners to families,
working people, yuppies and basically everybody who eats out.
But resto-bars found a new set of people to cater to… the nightlife
crowd. For one thing, ordinary restos close at around after dinner
time say they close at around 10 in the evening. Well, Pinoy nightlife
starts to get alive at around 10 so ordinary restos wouldn't cater to this crowd.
A resto-bar on the other hand, opens at around noon or some even at early dinner time
and would not close until the wee hours of the morning. So it's as if they hit
two birds in one stone: the ordinary resto eating people and
the nightlife crowd.
Back to Top >>
Resto What?
Aside from their sign that says that they are a resto-bar,
how else could we identify an establishment as a resto-bar?
Well, for one thing, they have a drinks bar and that's exactly why
they're called a resto-bar. They also have a complete menu ranging
from appetizers to main course then to desserts. A resto-bar provides delicious and
complete food to its customers while giving them that bar & disco
like background music through usually live bands or system surround music.
People most especially yuppies and adults patronize resto-bar and it has become a
common meeting place because of the environment it possess. Like a resto, you have your
own cozy place to chit-chat during a late dinner with your companions while enjoying
yourself through its music. It's a place to unwind and relax while eating
sumptuous food or drinking all night long or even dancing & grooving to the music.
But resto-bars don't have a big dance floor instead people dance in front of the stage,
if there's any, or in front of the live band or even at their own seats.
With all these options/choices that it can give, indeed, resto-bars are
THE ultimate place to meet, eat, drink, dance and unwind.
It's everything you want to do, all in one. But since competition is also aggressive, resto-bars must create
a way that will make them unique and thus the existence of diverse resto-bars.
Back to Top >>
Local Hollywood
Hardrock Cafè (Glorietta 3, Makati)
Located at the heart of Makati, Hardrock Cafè is known as THE place
to be when it comes to live performances of known bands and
performers both local and foreign. It's best known for its Hollywood
aura since it is a franchise branch here in the Philippines with branches
known worldwide. When there is no performer or band for the evening,
there is no cover charge and entrance fee but when there is a show,
an entrance fee is charged when you enter at 9 pm onwards since show
starts at around 9:30. At this time, you're there not for the food anymore
but for the performer. Back to Top>>
Latino Fever
Cafè Havana (Greenbelt 3, Makati & Malate Area)
What's eye-catching with this place is the presence of many foreigners
particularly North Americans and Latinos. When asked why they chose
this place to spend the night, an American answered, "well, Cafè Havana is
popular!" Indeed, it is famous among the foreigners perhaps because
of first and foremost, it's name. Havana is a historic place in Cuba which
is of important significance to Americans and Latinos. So with
their name, it can attract foreigners. Also, it has a unique Latino
atmosphere because of the Latin music played by not the usual rhythms
instruments but with Bongos and other distinct musical instruments. Back to Top>>
Jamaican Frenzy
Montego (Eastwood City, Libis)
As it is with Café Havana, Montego is also a unique concept bringing
alive a foreign atmosphere. If Havana is Cuban, Montego is Jamaican.
Locals, Jamaicans and other foreigners go to Montego for a night of
Reggae and of Bob Marley but other types of music can be requested
also. But aside from its different music, mostly yuppies and adults
come there to taste their specialty, spicy Jamaican food. Back to Top>>
Sporty Gimik
Bargo (Eastwwood City, Libis & Nakpil St., Malate)
And yet another unique gimick of a resto-bar, a sports bar.
They offer you another choice of activity, billiards. Teens, yuppies
and adults flock to Bargo for a night of eating, drinking, dancing
and billiards. Their billiard tables are at the 2nd floor while you
can dance the night away at guess where… at the whole 3rd floor.
Talk about maximizing your night. Back to Top>>
Posh Concept
Nappa Bistro & Bar (Eastwood City, Libis)
A bistro-bar is an alteration of the resto-bar. Here, it is a more
formal and elegant setting and ambiance which in turn will make you
spend more. But a bistro provides a soulful evening of relaxation
because of its soothing music in the form of piano accompaniments
and classical music. Adults and yuppies are the ones it caters to. Back to Top>>
Resto-bars may have different styles, themes and approaches for
them to survive but what remains is the concept of a place where
people can come together to dine, drink and unwind, all night long.
Back to Top>>
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Nightlife in the Metro Other Stories:
Dancin' til the Sun Goes Up
All in One Cup
Alternative Nightlife
A Family Affair
Singing the Night Away
Going With the Flow
Definitely Not For Kids
Up Close and Personal with Drinks
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