Teacher Eats: Make Lunch Dates Memorable At Mati’s Meat and Bread

I’m not usually into lunch dates because of some busy errands. So I ended up eating somewhere alone in a typical food place. But this is the time where some of the awesome restaurants shine brighter (not to mention less crowd and brunch meals. Yay!). That’s why last September 8, 2015 (a day before my sister’s birthday), I learn to appreciate lunch dates because of this food meet-up we had at River Park, Filinvest Alabang.

We were invited to a restaurant named “Mati’s Meat and Bread” to witness a gastronomical adventure, not to mention a family gathering that’s worth remembering. Opened in October 2014, the restaurant is named after Mateo, son of the owners Paul and Caron Macasaet. It’s nice to know that this restaurant is a subsidiary of Melo’s Steakhouse who pioneered Certified Angus Beef in the Philippines.

> THE INTERIOR <

The location of the restaurant is easy to find because it is near Festival Supermall and behind the River Park area; makes it accessible for both shoppers and wanderers of the city. The interior of the place is so cozy and warm to stay in with your family and friends. The natural light outside of the restaurant perfectly gives an outdoor approach to everyone. And because of their huge glass window, it’s easier to see the wonder of the serene, lush garden of the river park. You’ll feel like you’re in a garden restaurant.

EXTRA FEATURES

-High Wi-Fi Connection
-They accept walk-ins and reservation especially weekends (depends on Mati’s maxinum availability)
-They accepted parties, celebrations, private meetings, etc. (Maximum for 70+ people)

> THE FOOD <

I used to eat for 20 minutes or less every day. That’s the habit I used to have when eating in fast food restaurants. But I never had a chance to eat for almost 4 HOURS in my entire life. Thanks to the experience that Mati’s gave to us 😀 .

STARTERS

Mati’s “Starter dishes” already caught our attention. We started our meal time with a little appetizer named, Creamy Spinach Dip that cost Php 280 (no photo included). The next dip dish that we tried is this “Bone Marrow Truffle” which calls for a heart attack (#PutokBatok) at first, but taste mouthwatering if complement with a crisp bread dip (Just make sure to eat it while it’s still hot or warm 😉 ). 

Mati’s Papa’s Spicy Crispy Wing is something worth to try with rice on the side. The non-greasy, meat tender and glazed sweet and spicy taste of the wings is so appetizing and easy to chew. And to think that it has a kick of spice that’s right in my mouth, surely even kids with brave taste buds will love this. 

Some of the dishes that makes Mati’s Meat and Bread more unusual than the others is their Balut Aligue and Oyster Rockefeller. Both of the dishes has something new to offer like Balut Aligue with its rich crab fat sauce (Another #PutokBatok Dish folks hehe 😛 ). Oyster Rockefeller, on the other hand, has a distinctive combination of creaminess and saltiness in every bite (in a good way) because of the melted cheese and the fresh sea salt flavor of the oysters. 

PIZZAS

The serving of their pizza is something that all “dabarkads” can enjoy. Their pizza crust may be thin, but the toppings and flavor are big enough to satisfy a Victory Group Team ;).

Start with this cheese flowing, “Bia’s Four Cheese Pizza” which consists of blue, mozzarella, parmesan, and gruyere cheeses. This one is perfect for all the cheese-lovers out there. “Salficao Pizza’s” combination of both savory beef and creamy cheese is something that I really like. “Tali’s Gamberetti” is for unusual pizza trip because of its shrimp, garlic, and anchovy toppings. And lastly, the Jalapeno spice and pesto sauce taste of “Jala Pestroni” is new to Mati’s Pizza Menus.

SALADS

Their salads are freshly prepared and new to our taste buds. These are the salad that is light and fresh to eat with pizzas. Vince’s Chicken & Arugula Salad has smoky chicken barbecue strips and sauce, topped on the salad. While the Camille’s Spinach and Arugula Bean Salad has a sweetness and cheese flavor that’s unusual to a typical salad.

TACOS

PASTA

Pasta dishes are worth buying for here at Mati’s because of its flavor and texture that’s sure won’t leave you feel “umay” at the end. The Seafood Pasta is rich in seafood flavor and it is not oily and “malansa” in my taste buds. The Truffle Pasta is my favorite! The creamy texture of the sauce is not like the typical “Carbonara Pasta” that you can find. And it is so mouthwatering in my mouth, I didn’t feel any “umay” effect at all. 

MAIN COURSE DISHES

For the main event of our food trip experience, we tried their USDA Beef Salpicao with Steak Rice first. The beef is so tender and juicy, I didn’t recognize that it was medium-rare cooked. 

At Mati’s, their steaks are their “masterpiece”, and we are so blessed to tried it straight from the cooking grill. The owner himself cooked the steak for us and teach us some “basic” cooking skills on how to properly cook our steaks. The 300g Certified Angus Ribeye is indeed one of the tastiest and flavourful steak that I ever tasted. With a little seasoning, the steak tastes so tender and mouthwatering even without A1 sauce and gravy. It also complements with mashed potato and vegetables.

SANDWICHES

DESSERTS

In every food gathering, desserts are one of my FAVORITE parts in every meal. And after reaching the main event, we are indulged with Mati’s finest desserts. I personally loved all the desserts that we tasted, but the Chocolate Eclair Cake is the one that captures me more. The balanced flavor of the chocolate and mangoes is really appetizing and sweet. All of their desserts, from the Red Velvet Cake and Choco Fudge, has a right sweetness that’s not overpowering and it all blends well. 

>THE SERVICE<

The staff is very accommodating and skillful in serving us the dishes. They’re knowledgeable about what they’re servings and they make it easy for us to know the details about every dish that we tried. They’re also polite and fast to grant every request with a smile 😀

The way they treat their customers with kindness and professionalism is something that I can commend them. And seeing the manager and the owners treat their employees the same way, that is indeed a good example of a good restaurant management.

>THE PRICE<

The price ranges of their dishes are something a typical girl like me cannot afford. But looking at the size and the servings of their dishes, if you want something fancy and special to treat for your family to enjoy, Mati’s Meat and Bread is the place to be. The quality of their food and service is in a high state that’s make the price range of their dishes completely justified.

THE RESULT (1-10 Teacher Points)

THE INTERIOR-     8.5 TEACHER POINTS

THE FOOD-            9 TEACHER POINTS

THE SERVICE-        8.5 TEACHER POINTS

THE PRICE-            7.5 TEACHER POINTS

TOTAL:   9 TEACHER POINTS!

Overall, Mati’s Meat and Bread Restaurant is not some food place that you can just pass by and tried, but it’s a place that you can build your memories with. A restaurant that you can bring your friends and family with not just for typical celebrations, but for special lunch dates and more. 

Restaurant Information:

Mati’s Meat and Bread
Unit B2, River Park, Festival Supermall,
Filinvest Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel. No: (02) 847-22-73

For more updates, visit their social media sites:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/matismeatandbread
Instagram: www.instagram.com/matismeatandbread (@matismeatandbread)
Official Hashtags: #matisalabang #matismeatandbread

Disclosure: Our meal was courtesy of Paul Macasaet and this blog post was written with no biases and is written based from my own experience and opinions. All photos in this post are all owned by the blogger.© Unauthorized use, copying, editing, reproduction, publication, duplication and distribution of these digital photos and articles, without my explicit permission/approval, is punishable by law.