Tus’ Clay Pots and Skillets in Westgate Center, Alabang celebrated its first anniversary last March 8, 2015. TUS’ Restaurant may look like just another modern European restaurant in the city, but wait until you step inside and you’ll be in for a treat! Owned by Maricar Sason and Chef Krsna Algenio (photo below), TUS (Spanish for “yours”) serves food in cazuela (Spanish clay cookware) and ceramic skillets. Considering the variety of interesting dishes they offer, this downright charming space can easily be your next favorite breakfast, lunch, and dinner haven.
Review of Tus’ Clay Pots and Skillets (Westgate Center, Alabang)
Ambiance: ★★★★★
“Cozy yet cosmopolitan” sums up the two-story TUS’ Restaurant as a perfect spot for romantic dates or even a reunion meal with your family on a weekend. Hardwood floors and good lighting lend an international feel, while wooden accents on furniture and decors show character and elegance that make you feel at home. I also love its Euro-hip ambiance filled with lots of quirky displays on the shelves and walls that make the place look even more unique and picture-friendly for the camera.
Service: ★★★★★
As one would expect of a restaurant at this level, service was pleasant and remarkable. Above all, the servers here were responsive and eager to provide what the customers needed.
Food: ★★★★★
Appetizers
If you don’t like green food, do yourself a favor and break out of that shell even for a sec. 😛 Tus’ Spinach Dip (PhP 220) is a must-try! Paired beautifully with bread, it appealed as hot and gooey and all that great stuff. Like a crowd-pleasing French take on the all-American spinach and artichoke dip, the Spinach Dip was made with tons of seasoned spinach blended with cream and topped with mozzarella cheese.
We also had the Jalapeno Croquettes (PhP 150) that were filled with mashed potatoes and jalapenos. These were insanely addictive and the accompanying cheddar cheese sauce rocked the taste just right. You may think of these croquettes as a carbohydrates-laden snack or a hearty helping packed with comfort.
Mains
Moving on to our mains, we were wowed by the size of the BLT Calzone (PhP 460). It appeared too big to be all eaten at once! With great fillings and solid texture, TUS’ folded pizza was a simple and straightforward rendition executed very well. It was stuffed with BLT (bacon, lettuce, tomatoes), mozzarella cheese and served with aioli sauce—just what you think of when you imagine a great Italian calzone.
Next, we were served with three kinds of pot pies cooked upside down on a clay pot with a variety of ingredients, mozzarella cheese, and homemade dough. The Chicken Ranch (PhP 270) was made with pan-seared chicken tossed in alfredo sauce topped with homemade ranch dressing. Its filling, complete with cubes of chicken, was flavorful.
Topped with homemade sausage pizza with basil and marinara sauce, the House Sausage (PhP 390) was spot on. There’s a hint of a dash of spices in the sausage that made its flavor pop. The crust was also crisp and not too soggy and not too burnt.
For vegetarians, the Margherita (PhP 390) must be a hit. Baked with marinara sauce drizzled with olive oil, this pot pie was a delight in our palate, stopping just shy of filling our appetite. Toppings included freshly sliced tomatoes, fresh basil, and sea salt.
If you’ve been looking for a credible burrito, I can safely say that you’ll find one at Tus’ Clay Pots and Skillets. Its Wet Beef Burrito (PhP 390) is highly recommended. Basically, it’s burrito rice and beef wrapped in a tortilla, lathered with tomato sauce, covered with mozzarella cheese and salsa, topped with sour cream and jalapenos. All ingredients were put together like a match made in heaven. Mmmmmm!
Now, we’re down to the steaks. Tus’ Skillet Steaks are quality rib-eye steaks cooked according to the customer’s done-ness and served with the choice of side: fries, smashed potatoes with gravy, butter, sauteed corn, or rice. You can’t go wrong with any of the following: Herbed Butter Steak (PhP 620) topped with a mix of fresh herbs and butter, Cheese and Onions Steak (PhP 660), and Spicy Lemon Pesto (PhP 660). Combining ultra glorious fifth taste, these cuts of meat were so rich, buttery, tender, and beefy that you really can’t resist to get a big hunk of the steak yourself. Savor, and not gorge. 
Desserts
Warm and chewy, the Half Baked Cookie (PhP 180) was gooey and creamy. I appreciated that it wasn’t too sweet but just sweet enough. The flavor boasted nice notes of chocolate (kinda like Milo in powder form). Eating the half baked cookie with ice cream was extremely satisfying. There’s no wonder that it got lots of compliments from our table.
Tus’ Tiramisu (PhP 220) was moist and decadent, with the familiar taste of coffee-and-cream. If you’re not concerned to welcome summer with a dent on your diet, all you have to do is dig in and devour.
Drinks
Finally, for our drink, we shared a pitcher of Pineapple Float (PhP 445). What seemed to be an innocent pineapple juice was anything but. It’s pineapple juice with scoops of vanilla ice cream! Ahh… it’s so good. There’s not much more that needs to be said.
To view more items on TUS Restaurant’s menu, click here.
Price for Value: ★★★★☆
Tabs are quite on the expensive end, but payoffs include a marvelous team of staff, high quality food, and the privilege to dine in with style. Tus’ Clay Pots and Skillets’ location may be pretty out of way for some (1-2 hours drive from Manila in my case), but this gem in Alabang is worth the trip for superior variants of modern European fare and an overall relaxing meal. It’s a good idea to book ahead or make a reservation in advance. Enjoy! 🙂
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Operating hours:
Mon-Thu 8:00AM-2:00PM, 5:00PM-9:30PM
Fri 8:00AM-2:00PM, 5:00PM-10:00PM
Sat-Sun 8:00AM-10:00PM
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