Delish Eats: Flora Eatery, A Haven for Gin and Tea Lovers

Restaurant background: Good drinks in the north; this is what Charlene Falcis, the founder of Flora Eatery had envisioned when she first started the concept. Made up of three separate brands under the same umbrella, Flora Eatery shares its space with Flora Tea Bar and Bar Flora. Each has its specialty: Asian-fusion Food, Tea, and Drinks, respectively.

After all, as much as we love Poblacion, we have to admit: it’s time for Quezon City to catch up. If you’re from the north, it can be a hassle to have to get to Makati on a busy Friday night. The solution? This one-stop bar and eatery is located at F7 in Scout Rallos. With innovative tea-inspired drinks, mocktails, and food – plus some fun communal events on the side (such as tea tastings with sommeliers), the Flora brand has created a welcoming niche for audiences who visit both day and night.

What’s the vibe and venue like: Very hip. The restaurant itself has a modern, industrial vibe with exposed brick walls contrasted by warm wood accents. The space is purposely left dark to heighten the intimate ambience for guests. One of the most charming areas is the bar, where people are invited to sit and enjoy drinks on a table decorated with beautifully preserved blooms under glass.

It’s a small space, but still roomy enough. Cosy without being tight. We venture to say it’s pretty romantic especially when the lights dim down and all that’s left is the warmth of flickering orange lights.

How much does it cost: Chef Tana Picar and her team are the innovative minds behind Flora Eatery’s menu. Their imaginative take on Asian fusion cuisine starts with appetisers at P250 and above. Mains for solo servings, such as their rice bowls, starts at P450. There are also choices for sharing and desserts. For drinks, mocktails go for P300 and cocktails at P450.

What’s the menu about: Innovative Asian fusion. Plenty of fun imaginative takes on well-loved items that range from India’s beloved pani puri to a “leveled up siomai” known as money bags. There’s also a lot of influence from tea, such as with their Assam tea-braised pork belly and delicious tea cakes dessert.

What did we try:

Jin Xuan-Assam: First up, drinks! We started off the night with a mocktail named Jin Xuan-Assam. Don’t be intimidated by the name, it’s a very enjoyable drink that contains vanilla, apple cider, and cheese foam (yes, as in the one they usually put on milk tea). The apple cider gives the drink a proper kick while the cheese foam adds a touch of saltiness and smoothness to every sip. The secret here is to wait for the cheese foam to melt down a little so that every gulp has a bit of both flavours.

Matcha Popcorn: Because matcha is so heavily infused in desserts, it was a surprise to find out that this bowl of popcorn wasn’t sweet. In fact, this buttered bowl of goodness tasted salty, with a touch of bitterness from the depth of the matcha used. It’s fairly addictive; topped with small nori strips, the Matcha Popcorn is a fantastic appetiser to munch on while waiting for your mains.

Tuna Yuzu Rice Toast: Generous chunks of tuna are sliced and placed atop a small bed of toasted rice. This all blends together with spicy mayo to create a fun sushi-inspired bite.

Money Bags: Shaped to resemble a literal bag, this contained pork and was placed atop a dollop of sweet sauce to add balance to the flavors.

Pomelo Cups: We have to praise this for its innovative take on the pani puri. A deep-fried shell is served with a side of pomelo salad, which you fill for yourself. While the traditional Indian street food is served with potatoes or chickpeas, the Pomelo Cups offer diners a lighter alternative with a spicy salad that’s flavored with a little cilantro.

Tuna Poke: Made with wakame, edamame, and ebiko in an Asian marinade, the main course was both refreshing and light.

Uji Matcha: To wash this all down, we had to try another mocktail. This time, the Uji Matcha. Its main notes are of basil, coconut milk, and lemon; the drink was a tad sweeter than the Jin Xuan Assam but still made for a refreshing palate cleanser. If you’re an adventurous eater or drinking, we highly recommend you try the Jin Jun Mei, a woody mocktail that marries both porcini and honey or the Sencha, which utilizes sweet pickle brine with grapefruit and lemon.

Tea Cakes: We now come to our favourite part of the entire meal: dessert! We were served adorable tea cake bites, all of which incorporated flavours from some of our favourite teas. There’s the Earl Gray chocolate, which was incredibly creamy and had more of a mousse texture. There was also the chamomile and hibiscus blondies and the French lavender cream. Each bite was made of moist, dense cake and was the best way to end the meal.

What We Liked: The Pomelo Cups and the Tea Cakes were the stars of the show for us! We weren’t able to try all the drinks on the menu, but now it’s another reason for us to come back.

Location: Flora Eatery, F7 Rallos 49 Sct. Rallos St, Diliman, Quezon City, 1103 Metro Manila

Contact details: Direct message them at @floraginbar on Instagram

This food review is based on a complimentary media tasting provided by Flora Eatery in exchange for a truthful review and no compensation. The opinions expressed within represent the views of the author.

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