WHEN catching up with family and friends, most prefer to go out and dine to reminisce about past experiences and talk about how things are going. Nothing beats heart-to-heart talks paired with delightful meals.

In 2015, The Menu Group opened Sobremesa’s first branch at the Sapphire Block in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The restaurant then served South American cuisine. With the opening of its third branch at the Edsa Shangri-la Plaza, Sobremesa — which means “conversations over meals” in Spanish — rebranded and now offers mainly Spanish and European dishes.

“We used to offer South American dishes. We shifted with a Spanish menu. At the same time, we centered [our concept for] the titos and titas (of the ’90s),” The Menu Group President Harvard Uy de Baron told BusinessWorld prior to the launch on April 24, referring to “uncles” and “aunts” as those born from 1975 to 1990. “These are the people who embraced the ’90s,” he said.

Mr. Uy de Baron added that their team ran a survey targeted at that demographic, asking what dishes they preferred when dining out and catching up with friends. He said that most preferred Spanish dishes.

The team decided to reestablish the restaurant as a place where people can enjoy each other’s company while reminiscing over equally loved dishes and timeless favorites. So the new branch, with its brick walls, hanging yellow lights, and posters of TV shows, boy bands, and old gadgets, exudes a cozy 1990s vibe. It seats 80 customers.

DIG IN
During the press launch, the signature dishes were served — some of which were named after the restaurant’s founders.

We had Sobremesa sangria bread and prosciutto and melon salad to start. It was followed by main courses: the arroz negra (black rice) which had a pinch of pleasant sourness (the downside is that the squid ink stains your teeth black); Tito Harvard’s osso buco, the Sobremesa chicken and steak combo, and Tito Lance’s crusted salmon. For dessert, Tito Augusto’s mango coconut and almond cheesecake and salted caramel and banana cheesecake were served.

To complete the meal, we had a glass of sangria (available in alcoholic and virgin variety). At 5 p.m. onwards daily, the restaurant offers unlimited sangria for free with complimentary homemade bread.

“Here at Sobremesa, we embrace the value of preparing a warm atmosphere that leads you to hang out with ease over classic, heart-warming, and well-cooked Spanish and European dishes,” chef Benjo Tuason was quoted as saying in a press release.

The restaurant also offers a variety of promos. Happy Hour, Every Hour begins daily at 5 p.m. onwards, except on Wednesdays which is Titos and Titas Day, with a 16% discount given to customers who were born between 1975 and 1990. The Shangri-la branch also offers Unlimited Tapas every Saturday for P450.

“Our food is Spanish with Filipino favors. We’re not claiming to be [an] authentic Spanish [restaurant], but it’s aligned to the Filipino palate,” Mr. Uy de Baron said.

Sobremesa is located at Level 4, East Atrium at Edsa Shangri-la Plaza (958-6452, 0917-125-3169) and at the ground floor, Sapphire Bloc, at Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City (534-5821, 0917-624-5470). For more information, visit www.themenugroup.com/sobremesa. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

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