When Chaplin fully launches soon this April, Century City Mall in Makati will get yet another surge of limelight—as it should. Reflective of upscale Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, this mash-up leads to a celebration of clean, vibrant, wholesome flavors.
Vegetarians, vegans, and the growing health-conscious masses will go weak in the knees for Chaplin’s vividly hued, delicious vegetable-centric dishes, I bet. We came here for lunch yesterday and totally enjoyed the food and also conversations with Chef Myke Del Rosario and F&B Manager, JM. 🙂
Review of Chaplin (Century City Mall, Poblacion, Makati City)
Ambiance: ★★★★★
For a perfect meal with friends and family, a pleasing dining area is obviously where the journey starts. Chaplin is decorated with a style that oozes sophistication and elegance with crisp, well-defined straight lines. The connection between modernity and contemporary almost looked natural and seamless. I can imagine staying here all day just appreciating its cool ambiance. 🙂
Chaplin’s theme combines form with function with comfort in an effortless manner. Quotes posted on the walls evoke some humor which take inspiration from Charlie Chaplin. I love the exquisite chairs with round coffee tables and sofa seats at the sides for a more relaxing vibe. Lights enclosed with a cage hanging from the ceiling also looked quite unique and classy.
Service: ★★★★★
Service was friendly and professional. Staffs were attentive and quick to take requests from customers. They were also accommodating and helpful. I just hope this service level would stay consistent this way in the coming months.
Food: ★★★★★
Chaplin’s owners are from Israel, and this mostly explains why their dishes take inspiration largely from Israel. Bourekas (PhP 240), for instance, are the quick breakfast or brunch of choice in Israel. Also regarded as “Israeli hand pies,” these crispy pockets of dough stuffed with cheese and filled with boiled eggs, tomatoes, and pesto sauce had a good mix of texture. Taste packed a punch for summer and it was awesome, no doubt.
Served in its cast-iron pan, shakshouka (PhP 195) came with one egg perfectly poached in a liquidy sauce of spiced tomatoes, plenty of olives, spices, and feta cheese. It’s paired with ciabatta (house bread) to wipe up all that tasty and glorious shakshouka swamp. Good stuff!
Juicy and smooth all the way through, the Eggplant Melanzane (PhP 265) was a bomb of tomato flavors with a hint of truffle. It got a savory boost and meaty texture from the button mushrooms inside (something unexpected). Made without cheese (dairy food), this vegan dish is good enough that we will happily return. I’m sure my dad will love it.
For our main course, we had the Chicken Steak (PhP 345)—grilled marinated chicken thigh served with side salad. It’s one of those food that you can’t help but love. The skinless and boneless chicken was moist, plump and tender without any greasiness or sogginess. Mashed potatoes on the side had a good dose of salt. Each spoonful was a delight as it’s decadently buttery but not the kind that’s heavy-tasting. Yum!
Chaplin’s Strawberry Fruit Shake (PhP 185) was rich and thick with a prominent strawberry flavor. We liked that it was not too sweet and tasted rather real. Expect nothing of the fruit-flavored powder drink here.
The Chaplin Tea (PhP 160) is another must-try. Made with honey, ginger, cinnamon, orange slice, and mint, this is a calming drink that brings a feeling of contentment. Tip: Use the cinnamon stick not only as the stirrer of the warm beverage but also as the straw and sip directly from it for a more aromatic taste. 😉
The Apple Jimmy (PhP 195) was a refreshingly fruity cocktail. Made with whiskey, the liquor wasn’t too strong and wasn’t too sweet to drink alongside food. Cheers!
Price for Value: ★★★★☆
Food prices at Chaplin, Century City Mall doesn’t hurt the pocket. This place works like a cafe, restaurant, and a bar altogether, or so it seemed, to us. The variety of food offered in its menu looked adventurous enough to be fun but not so adventurous that it’s intimidating. One option is to settle into a table and get familiar with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. Another is to grab seats outside and breathe into the fresh air with cold alcohol drinks on hand. Either way, I hope you’d have a great experience. 🙂
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