NamNam: Filipino Food, Tapas Style
NamNam is the third dining establishment from The Moment Group, owners of ‘Cue Modern Barbecue and BurgerBar, which both opened last year. Founded by three individuals Jon Syjuco, Eliza Antonino and Abba Napa, each with dynamic backgrounds in retail and F&B, the Moment Group is fast proving its dedication to creating a synergy of food, ambience and service in lifestyle and concept-driven ventures. Its mission, simply put, is to constantly create a good time for everyone, every single time.
Opened on the 18th of January 2013, NamNam is located in Greenbelt 2 at the former Masas, the long-running Filipino restaurant, owned by Moment Group Managing Partner Eliza Antonino. NamNam offers a fresh, delightful take that Manila has never seen before on a Filipino restaurant, that is, the option of three serving sizes – small, medium and large. There’s something for everyone, literally, as everything on the menu is offered in these three sizes. The Small serving is good for one, Medium serving is good for three, and Large serving is good for six.
“The small sizes are really fun and can be enjoyed ‘tapas’ style, ideal for a group that wants to try many different things. Pinoys must have a taste of everything on the table, and by ordering many different small plates you can really enjoy that variety in just the right amounts,” says Jon Syjuco, who heads up Business Development for the group.
One half of the menu features “classics”, those sought-after, hearty Pinoy favorites we crave, and the other half offers “twists”, where the kitchen takes some liberties with the preparation of some of our favorite local classics. The best part is that everything—from the pulutan, to the ensalada and gulays, to sopas, paboritos, sizzling platos and even the kanin—is offered in three sizes.
Different portions to suit every appetite
NamNam pays tribute to the Filipino food that we love but adds a new way of enjoying it that appeals to the diverse preferences of diners today. “We wanted to serve cuisine that never cuts corners and is fun, but stays true to the Pinoy taste sentimentality. The flavors are still the familiar tastes we crave, some feature twists on the classics. But we decided to create different portions and sizes for all the dishes on the menu, to suit every budget, occasion, appetite, and moment,” says Abba Napa, Partner-In-Charge of Creative Development.
They all recommend going for the small sizes if you want something just right for yourself, or if you want to sample many things throughout the night with friends or officemates, “tapas-style” dining. Order a medium if you’re sharing your meal with a friend or two, and go all-out with the large plates for a festive, party-style meal.
Have the house crispy sisig for your choice of one, three or six. Savor a hearty meal with Namnam’s special pancit canton (double noodle offering of canton & sotanghon) in a lunch for your team. Feast on crabs your way (choose from chili ginger, paminta-butter or salted duck egg yolk) in small, medium or large. A visual delight is their binukad na pla pla which comes as one, two or three whole fish dancing on a plate. It’s all about freedom for the comfort food seeker!
Exciting must-tries include the USDA beef belly bulalo, and crispy pata tim, which is an ingenious offspring of two popular dishes – crispy pata & pata tim. Other interesting twists include the pinsec frito with a tomato-aligue dip, sweet bagoong and garlic fried chicken, a sinigang surf and turf (USDA tenderloin and prawns in a tamarind broth), and lamb curry-kare (cashews and lamb invade a classic). “We opted to retain 11 popular favorites from the Masas menu, including the bellylicious, a super crisp and crunchy pork belly house favorite,” says Abba.
All-day dining with merienda and happy hour
For
all-day dining options for meetings or shopping breaks, enjoy the
NamNam halo-halo, the Mais con Hielo with queso ice cream, light
refreshing salads, or even heartier fare like salpicao and Kare-Kare
even if you wish! Filipino cuisine is of course not complete without
dessert. For after-meals the offerings include turon of mango and kesong
puti and a cool concoction of pearls, coffee and vanilla parfait.
NamNam is also paying special attention to its happy hour, which they believe should be the relaxing part of any workday. “We’ve put together a separate menu just for happy hour, featuring a range of beer-friendly pulutan and drinks,” says Abba. Their inspired pulutan menu features deep-fried chorizo and quesong puti lumpias, street balls of squid, fish, crab and lobster, and their caramelized patis wings, fast proving to be a hit. NamNam seeks to upgrade the bustling Makati happy hour with wine, draft beers and cocktails offered until 11pm daily.
Together with the Moment Group’s talented kitchen team, R&D Chef Luis de Terry and Head of the Group’s Kitchen Operations Chef Rhey Huergas, who helms the NamNam kitchen (as well as BurgerBar’s), they have dreamt up an extensive menu with exciting flavors, colors and fun twists.
Seating an intimate 50 indoors and 40 in the al fresco area, NamNam livens up the Greenbelt 2 strip with a place to frequent for the food we love most, savor the company of friends and have a few beers, defining Moment Group’s latest foray in building memorable moments.
NamNam
Ground Floor, Greenbelt 2, Makati City
Landline: (02) 625-0515
Mobile: 0917-5399661
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NamNamPH
Operating Hours: 11AM-11PM
Price Range: P300-500