FOOD REVIEW: Beats And Cocktails At Talabar Alabang

One of the local areas in my city of residence, Alabang, the southern part of the Philippines' city capital, is experiencing a massive growth in the food and beverage scene. Almost every quarter, something new is popping up and compelling Southies to experience. One that is worth highlighting is Talabar Kitchen & Café, which opened late last year in the Westgate area.

Originally formed in the northern part of the Manila, Talabar Kitchen & Café is now bringing the fun from their Quezon City branch to Alabang with special music nights, DJ’s, free shots, and a whole lot of singing and dancing. Here’s a quick look at the food, drinks, and fun to be had at Talabar. 

Let’s start with the food. As the name suggests, talaba, oysters, in English, is Talabar's specialty. They get their oysters from Aklan and are cooked in many different ways, be they  fresh, baked, and grilled . They offer the classics, such as Garlic Parmesan, Lemon Butter, and Rockefeller; and fusions like Honey Garlic Parmesan, and my personal favorite, the Chili Garlic oysters. You can purchase them per piece, or served as a platter so you can share, mix flavors and taste a little bit of everything.

They also have other traditional offerings, such as. Pork Sisig, Black Calamari, Fish and Chips, Ultimate Stacked Nachos, just to name a few. If you want something light, you can choose among their list of soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Not-to-be-missed as well are the bestsellers, like Baked Salmon, Talabar Pork Chop, or Talabar Grilled Pork Belly,, and perfect-for-sharing dishes, like the Surf and Turf with ribs, chicken wings, and garlic prawns, Watermelon Beef Sinigang and Crispy Pata Kare Kare. They also serve breakfast and brunch meals. From these options alone, you’ll surely want to return to Talabar just to try something different each time. 

When it comes to drinks, the mocktails were impressive, especially the Dark Knight Soda with butterfly pea and mint, which was very refreshing. For classic cocktails, I suggest you try out their Signature Cocktails. I especially enjoyed the Margaretto, a mix of Disaronno, tequila, lime and agave, served in a salted rim. The flavors felt balanced, and the alcohol wasn’t too overpowering. The Blackberry Crush was also great. It has muddled blackberries with a citrus zing, making it a fruity and vibrant drink. 

Other Signature Cocktails that are worth tasting is the ube-infused Halo-Halo Cocktail, the Irish cream and chocolate concoction in Tiramisu Martini made, and the Popcorn Swirl, which consists of house-made popcorn syrup and Irish whiskey. They’ve also got a few Sangria and Mimosa options that are perfect for special occasions or weekend brunch dates with friends. 

Whatever cocktail you most enjoy, be it with tequila, rum, whiskey, gin, or vodka, they will make it for you. Most of the cocktails fall within the Php300-400 range, which I think is great considering the pleasing presentation and quality. They also offer Wine, Whiskey, Gin, Champagne in bottles or per glass. Whatever you fancy, they’ve got it. 

And if you keep up with their socials, you’ll see that they do themed music nights regularly,, and runs from 9PM til 2AM. They just held their first R&B night, where they had all the classic R&B jams that got everyone onto their feet and vibing. The DJs were great, the crowd was enthusiastic, and the overall atmosphere was inviting and energetic. It was just as good as the food, drinks, and music!

So, if you want a fun night out, I highly suggest you wait for their next themed music night. You can grab dinner or share starters, have a couple of cocktails, and by the time it hits midnight, everyone is in a great mood. It is advisable to contact Talabar through their socials prior to the event in order to secure your spot as tables are limited.

Talabar Kitchen & Café, all around gave me and my friends a wonderful dining and party experience. The staff was very attentive and accommodating. You never had to wait too long to be served even at the height of the festivities. It's places like this that true hospitality is felt and worth spending for.