Nestled along the borderlands of Mandaluyong, Tipsy Beans Coffee Shop serves a menu of comforting and familiar fare: coffee and liquor. The concept is creative just like that of Da.U.De. Tea Lounge (where tea is infused in drinks and food). In sheer comparison, Tipsy Beans uses whiskey and white wine to bring out flavors in some of its dishes. Are you ready for a “redefined coffee experience“? Read on for a thirst-quenching review of Tipsy Beans! š
Tipsy Beans Coffee Shop started its course of business in June 2013. While fairly new, it has been attracting many customers which are mostly from Califonia Garden Square, the residences and commercial offices in the vicinity. Last Saturday, G and my sister tagged along with me over lunchĀ for another foodie adventure. Tipsy or sober: Which side are you on?
Review of Tipsy Beans Coffee Shop (Highway Hills, Mandaluyong)
Ambiance: Ā ā ā ā ā ā
A cozy dining room easily reflected by the transparent glass walls greets customers on their way in. Not long after you sit down to a quick meal at Tipsy Beans Coffee Shop, the venue sends out a message. Don’t get me wrong; no words are spoken, but the overall interior theme says a lot.
Each wall is designed with different accents, contributing to a cohesive attractive whole. Quotes about coffee, signages, life lessons, lovers’ keys, freedom board and dangling Instapics make up for the playful and casual vibe of the place.
Instead of candles, vase or flowers as the table’s centerpiece, Tipsy Beans decided to have these two bottles of liquor on top of coffee powder to kick off the meal’s presentation. To me, it’s the coffee shop’s way of saying, “Hey, you came for the coffee and booze in one sip, right?” Might as well start to feel and get at it.
Service:Ā ā
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Tipsy Beans Coffee Shop has only a handful of employees, but few does not meanĀ inefficient. Service was fast and staffs were eloquent and friendly. They are the smiling kind but not the overly peppy which is annoying.Ā There’s a ratherĀ warm vibe on the attitude.Ā It also didn’t take long before I met the owners,Ā and they made us feel so comfortable with personal service that you don’t get at many coffee houses these days.Ā Yes,Ā we feltĀ at “home” right there.
Food:Ā ā ā ā ā ā
The menu is basically divided into “Sober” and “Tipsy” food and drinks categories. You will find several unexpected dishes such as the Drunken Hungarian Sausage (PHp 128), Gin Margherita Penne (PHp 128) and Beer Buttered Fish Fillet (PHp 80). There are also classy ones such as Good Ol’ Chicken Pesto Sandwich (Php 95) and Creamy Carbonara (PHp 118), which likewise are posted as their suggested viands.
With all interesting names on the menu, choosing was hard. We ultimately asked for house recommendations and gravitated first toward theĀ Cheese Steak Bomb (PHp 95). The name promises a bomb of cheese steak, and I expected it to be so. The portion did not turn out to be substantial, and it didn’t seem like “the bomb.” Despite that, I thought the sandwich tasted nice.Ā Potato chips on the side somewhat single-handedly transported this dish to a happy place.
Next, we had theĀ Spicy Tuna Pesto (PHp 128)Ā which was spiked with pesto herbs, tuna and crushed nuts. The spice did not sing the high notes I had hoped for. The pesto flavor dominated and registered loud and clear. Accompanied with garlic bread, this depth of this pastaĀ dish took a turn for the better. The strands of pasta have been handled with care; they were not too starchy but dense and quite toothsome.Ā Each forkful, with a few spins, gathered a winning bite.
Have you ever tried putting sisig as bread pan’s filling? TheseĀ Delectable Sisig Triangles (PHp 75)Ā were pleasingly subtle, allowing the real taste of sisig take center stage. I think it’s anĀ exceedingly comforting merienda to have, especially if you’re fond of Filipino food. The crusty bread sopped up the taste just fine as well.
Tipsy Bean’s Bacon Milkshake (PHp 95) is a stunner that may just be alwaysĀ worth your perusal. Imagine bacon and milk mixed together – so unique. You get to taste a smoky flavor of real bacon bits in a milkshake! According to the owner, the bacon bits are pan-fried on their stone-coated frying pan fresh before adding to the milkshake. How cool is that? š
We resorted to choosing two coffee-based drinks. One is the sober variant:Ā Oreo Frappuccino (PHp 95). The topping of frappe loses its lusciousness after awhile, as the whipped cream tends to melt down to the table (a bit messy). For that reason, you want to drink it fast. On the other hand, you can still savor the flavor. File this dilemma under “Good Problems to Have.” This drink is beautifully composed withĀ a mini Oreo on top, and the rest of the drink has both coffee and chocolate flavors in tango.
For the tipsy variant, we chose Irish Cream on Coffee Rocks (PHp 80). It tasted most like Bailey’s Irish Coffee, but this alcoholic concoction was made with whisky. I assure you,Ā this stuff is inherently delightful; it can please everyone. If you have a sweet tooth, waiting for the coffee rocks to be merged with the smooth cream flavorĀ would be a good idea as sweetness becomes more intense.Ā How the mixture of dairy and alcohol happen to be silky remains a puzzle to me.
When I think of the ultimate sensuous desserts, cupcakes just about tops my list. As a great meal-ender, we had theĀ Maltesers Chocolate CupcakeĀ (PHp 55).Ā Rich and supple, this Maltese chocolate-laden cupcake envelops the mouth in a way similar to a rich chocolate cake. Note: This is not available on the menu as a regular item, and the cupcake flavors are limited each day in the coffee shop.
Price for Value: ā
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Tipsy Beans has good ambiance, great service and food and drinks that are matched with affordable prices. To top it all off, they offer free wi-fi which is always a bonus for those of us who work on the Internet. So what more could I ask for? The only con is that I don’t live very close, but I’m willing to go out of my way sometimes to get their delicious coffee. š Try it and you’ll love it.
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