While I’m happy as a clam with my current work-from-home setup, there are days when I do miss my work buddies. These are the peeps that I can relax with, as well as exchange jokes and all the hot gossip with.
During pre-pandemic times, we would venture out of our office during our lunch break to check out the nearby dining spots. Due to the fun we have while checking out new restaurants and amusing ourselves during our breaks from the daily grind, these lunchtime food adventures came to be dubbed as our #HappyLunch times.
Well, COVID-19 came and some of us transitioned to other companies or decided to take a break from the rat race, so some of us were only able to get together at Sundays Cafe & Restaurant in Marikina at the tail-end of last year.
Imagine my delight when I received a message to join another get-together with the gang at the same restaurant, this time on a Monday night!
So off I went to hang out with my pals (a bigger group this time) and return to the cozy neighborhood cafe in Marikina.
There was a marked difference between this outing and my last visit, which took place on a Sunday morning at the time when quarantine restrictions were just beginning to loosen. During my dinner date with my friends, Sundays Marikina was lit with a warm light which also seem to illuminate the surrounding area. Also, it seemed like the restaurant had a sizeable Monday dinner crowd which gave the place a busy and lively feel.
In between back-and-forth banters and gossip exchanges, my friends and I discovered new menu items to enjoy at Sundays:
Pizza Margherita (Php330). Always a safe bet, this hand-tossed pizza made with marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and basil appeals to everyone in the group.
Salted Fish Fried Rice (Php195). A novel take on the sinangag given additional saltiness and umami with the addition of tuyo flakes.
Sundays Crispy Sisig (Php260). A favorite appetizer that also doubles as an entree consisting of crispy pork cheeks sauteed in house-made sisig sauce and topped with crispy onions and chilis.
Crispy Spicy Squid (Php260). Lightly battered pieces of squid served with chili sauce. (TBH, I prefer pairing this with the tangy ranch dressing).
Buffalo Wings (Php285). Crispy fried chicken wings coated in spicy and tangy buffalo sauce.
Salted Egg Wings (Php315). Crispy fried chicken wings coated in a rich salted egg sauce.
Crispy Kare Kare (Php405). An indulgent viand which combines crispy liempo with house-made special kare-kare sauce and veggies.
Sans Rival (Php145). A classic Pinoy dessert made with layers of nutty meringue, French buttercream and chopped cashews.
Mango Creme Brulee (Php145). A fruity take on the creme brulee, thanks to bottom layers of chiffon and mango cream covered by custard and topped with torched sugar.
While regular #HappyLunch adventures with my friends may not be feasible right now, I’m glad we were able to carve out time to do two of the things we enjoy doing together: eating delicious food and spilling the proverbial tea!
Sundays Cafe and Restaurant is located at J.P. Rizal corner V. Gomez Street, Barangay San Roque, Marikina City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 10pm, Fridays from 8am to 11pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 7am to 11pm. For reservations, call +63 917 1572634.
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Jellybeans in the City 