Not Your Average Brunch
"This is not your typical tita brunch," restaurant consultant Cyrus Cruz tells us as we sit with him at the recently launched flagship store of Brunch Bureau at C. Palanca St., Legazpi Street, Makati City.
Right away, we get what he means just by looking around. The space exudes the ambiance of a cafe—bright and welcoming, perfect for both power meetings and relaxed brunches—yet it also uniquely features a small bar section with wines and cocktails that could be enjoyed any time of the day.
Brunch Bureau's flagship branch at C. Palanca St., Legazpi Village, MakatiÂ
According to Cruz, the owners of Brunch Bureau—couple Dave and Loraine Consunji and their business partners—have made it their mission to serve up dishes interesting and unique, no one would think, 'I could easily make this at home.'"
The welcoming interior of Brunch Bureau
Think Eggs Benedict, but instead of poached eggs, theirs are scrambled, then topped with homemade tocino and placed on a bed of homemade banana bread and creamed spinach.
They have a grilled cheese, served with a special tomato soup, thick and frothy, aptly called tomato cappuccino.
ALSO READ:
Experience the Art of Brunch: SG's Common Man Coffee Roasters Is Now in Manila
Break the Fourth Wall at the Cinema '76 Café With All-Day Breakfast and Dessert
They serve croquettes with a creative twist: instead of the traditional breaded potato balls, they introduce the Spam & Kimchi version, stuffed with bits of Spam and mozarella cheese, and the Ebi Katsu Balls, with minced shrimp and a blend of Asian aromatics.
Spam & Kimchi Croquettes x Bloody Mary 2
Their prawn pasta stands out with an aligue sauce reminiscent of palabok sauce, but with a spicy kick, and made even more interesting by nori rice crisps.
They also went above the beyond the standard silog selections, introducing more international flavors with dishes like Chicken Krapow—Thai-style chicken chunks stir-fried with French beans, Thai basil, and chili; Loco Moco—a juicy beef patty with caramelized onions, hayashi mushroom gravy, sautéed mushrooms, and French beans; and Pork Mojo—herb and citrus-marinated pork, garnished with chimichurri and a seared tomato.
Grilled Cheese & Tomato CappuccinoÂ
"While we serve amazing coffee—we partnered with 7 Seeds from Melbourne—this concept is really more food-centric," says Cruz. "And we knew that it's something that kind of fits with the whole vibe of the neighborhood."
Operating from 7 a.m. to 12 midnight, the restaurant attracts a wide range of customers. "Residents from nearby enjoy breakfast in the morning, office workers arrive for lunch, and a younger crowd gathers at night for drinks," he adds.
Prawn and Aligue Pasta
"Given that brunch is already embedded in the Filipino culture, what we do is create a unique experience around it. The dishes may present a modern twist, yet their flavors remain delightfully familiar. Our aim is to perfectly balance these elements," he says.
Brunch Bureau's first two branches opened in October 2023 at 1 Proscenium Building, Rockwell, Makati, and in December 2023 at Molito Lifestyle Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa.
