I kept seeing the sign for Botan while walking along Urban Ave, but couldn't see where the entrance was so I ignored it for weeks even if it was just literally across the street. I thought it was located somewhere up in the building.
Then a friend mentioned it to me so I checked it out. So it's actually located at the basement, and there's a flight of stairs leading down to it. When we entered, I was thrilled to see that it was much, much better than what I expected.
It was like a hidden bistro in Makati, the decor was charming yet chic. There's a bookcase with magazines and a wall with romantic decals. The menu even folded like a newspaper.
The extensive menu was a mix of Chinese, Taiwanese, Filipino, Thai and other Asian dishes. Price range is from P150-250 for the main dish. They also have milk teas, etc...
We ordered the Crispy Chicken Chop Rice (P220), the Thai Minced Pork Rice (P220) and the Mushroom Meatball Soup (P100).
The Thai Minced Pork Rice was nice, the Mushroom Meatball Soup was okay. They met expectations, no complaints.
The Crispy Chicken Chop Rice was supposed to be one of their bestsellers. The breading was crispy and flavorful, and the chicken meat was not dry. However, the flavor was all on the breading and I thought that the chicken itself was not seasoned. Also, I had hoped that they would include some kind of sauce like a gravy or a dip. While eating the chicken chop with the rice, I felt that something was missing, and I was looking for a sauce, any sauce. All they had was catsup and soy sauce :(
I would go back again but I would probably order another dish. Price-wise, it is reasonable. The portions are big and they use good quality rice.
I gave it a high score of 4 despite the Chicken Chop Rice because I really like the interior design and the ambience it evokes! read more