Comfort food. Those decadent, rich, cheesy, fried, and gooey dishes remind us of home, school years, or mom. What really makes a particular dish comforting is that it should not veer far from tradition. This exactly is how Skull and Bones in U.P. Town Center prepares its food and drinks.
Items on the menu are quite hearty, the kind that provides a little warmth. If you’re looking for a place in Diliman, Quezon City to hang out with friends, this is the place to be. Complete with “university club” ambiance, Skull and Bones PH exudes a sense of nostalgia that will bring people back to the days when life was simple.
Review of Skull and Bones PH (U.P. Town Center, Diliman, Quezon City)
Ambiance: ★★★★☆
The modern setup operates cafeteria-style, making meals quick and easy. Skull and Bones PH’s environment is done up with blue and white theme filled all over with rustic-chic decor composed of university memorabilia: framed pictures on the wall, club rules, locker, trophies, sports paraphernalia, posters, and other campus items. There’s also wi-fi available, so if you’re a student on the lookout for a place to finish your homework or study for an upcoming exam, there’s little room for disappointment here.
Service: ★★★★★
Fueled by a high-energy dining scene, staffs were quick and efficient in serving food and handling requests. They’re knowledgeable on the menu and friendly in providing recommendations.
Food: ★★★★☆
Is there a better way to start our comfort food adventure in Skull and Bones than with a big, sticky plate of Curly Cheese Fries (PhP 220)? We think not, especially when these deep-fried fries were covered in melted cheese sauce that’s rich and creamy.
Not a fan of cheese? No problem. Curly Fries (PhP 110) may just rival its “cheesy” version but it’s another comfort food favorite that will have your taste buds screaming for more. It’s plain and simple but very satisfying as a snack. Just don’t mind the calories!
Next, we had the Trailer Park Mac and Cheese (PhP 290) which was warm and bubbly, topped with crispy pieces of biscuits and pasta finished with gooey cheese melting down the sides of the bowl. If you are feeling sick, don’t have an appetite, or just hungry, this bowl can put the pep right back in your step. I thought it’s too salty though so drinking a tall glass of water afterwards is a must.
I was quite surprised to learn that Skull and Bones also offers soothing bowls of ramen apart from the usual American comfort food. One particular variant I liked was the Spicy Beef Dorm Room Ramen (PhP 200). The mami noodles were cooked with a dash of Asian-inspired broth and juicy beef that exceeded my demand for quality. Its spice level is not for the meek! Slurp. 🙂
For an iconic “breakfast food,” a can’t-miss option for vegetarians must be the Popeye Burrito (PhP 330) made with brown rice, black beans, spinach, pico de gallo, sour cream, mozzarella, and Monterrey Jack cheese in a whole wheat tortilla. Wholesome and filling with the proper amount of chewiness, it was the best veggie tortilla I have ever had. Even carnivores would love it.
The Shrimp Pineapple Salsa Burrito (PhP 490), on the other hand, was served as a perfectly-balanced execution of Spanish rice, beans, garlic shrimp, pineapple corn salsa, sour cream, mozzarella, and Monterrey Jack cheese. A gently crisp crust on the surface of the homemade tortilla came out as a fine bonus.
Completely comforting in its own right, the Nachos with Pulled Pork (PhP 380) would be a good option to satisfy your craving for heart-clogging pleasures. 😛 As with other regular nachos, the chips went soggy when left for over 5-10 minutes, but showered with creamy cheese sauce, you won’t mind digging it with your fingers (it was troublesome for me to use the fork). The portion was huge so you’ll do a lot better sharing this with a friend or two.
While there are countless versions of massive burgers and hotdogs around Metro Manila, this joint takes these two prime stars on the menu seriously. Loaded with meaty ingredients, the Pitbull (PhP 300) was made with a beef and pork frankfurter, Swiss cheese, smoked ham, chopped pickles and onions, sliced jalapenos, and garlic lemon aioli. Whoa! The griddle-pressed brioche bun also had a serious snap and looked great with just a streak of mustard.
The Super Mario (PhP 300) was fierce and tasted slightly spicy. Topped with finely chopped fried and breaded homemade chicken sausage, the hotdog was covered with even layers of sauteed peppers and onions, extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of chili flakes, mozzarella, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley to ensure a uniform bite. Nestled on a brioche bun, the Super Mario is way better than anything you may remember from your grade-school cafeteria. It’s freaking tasty!
At this point, my stomach was already full. I thought I could no longer eat more, but the burger specialties have yet to come out. Oh no, haha. After pausing a bit to take pictures, the tasting must go on…
The Blue Palasky Burger (PhP 340) is definitely not for the timid eater. Huge in beefy, get-the-adrenaline-pumping flavor, this burger was generously topped with blue cheese on a brioche bun lined with blue cheese spread. The sweet caramelized onion relish did a good job in balancing out the richness of the meat and blue cheese and releasing enough moisture to de-glaze the browned bits of the beef patty.
The Dirty South (PhP 280) was also quite a stunner. It’s made with fried chicken patty battered in rice krispies, topped with shredded red cabbages that tasted both tart and sweet. Imported honey on the burger stood out as strong and sweet and a wonderful addition forming the honey-glazed chicken taste.
There’s no roadmap on how to eat the Macgruber-ger (PhP 320), but I suppose that anyone who cares about poise like me would use spoon, fork, and maybe a knife. 🙂 Topped with a towering stack of fried noodles, this complex burger was made with Monterrey Jack cheese, sesame sauteed mushrooms, pico de gallo, spring onion, and blue cheese spread. The blend of ingredients had a sparkling effervescence, and each slice was deliciously creamy, because of the different kinds of cheese mixed in.
The Grilled Cheese Burger (PhP 320) looked like a regular sandwich, but it’s anything but regular. Packed with cheese and beefy goodness, this burger/sandwich was grilled with fresh sliced tomatoes, roasted tomato salsa, and pan-seared butter. Majority of the punch took off from the cheese though. There’s something about the gamy richness of grilled cheese that’s impossible to dislike. Hence, armed with a big appetite, even ardent beef burger purists may once in a while take this to consideration.
Skull and Bones serves a long list of beverages ranging from juices and soda to beers and cool alcohol drinks. We tried the Gummi Bear (PhP 160/glass, PhP 640/pitcher) as it looked most appealing with cute Gummi bears hooked on a stick. The alcoholic taste was not “in-your-face” strong but was just refreshing. What overpowered was the sweet taste of Gummi Bears which was a little weird in drink form.
Price for Value: ★★★☆☆
Combining relaxing old-school ambiance and outstanding university comfort food, Skull and Bones is a great restaurant in U.P. Town Center that serves dishes whose portions are good for sharing. Tastes were pretty decent, going well beyond the holy trinity of burgers, burritos, and hotdogs. Prices are not dirt-cheap but reasonable. A visit can be more than just a meal; it’s an experience.
Thanks to Boss Spanky for the invite! 🙂
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