THE restaurant industry is quick to jump on food trends, and customers are even quicker to hop on bandwagons. Thankfully, there are establishments that serve more than just one-hit wonders. One of the newest additions to Villa Aurora’s growing number of holes-in-the-wall is Esquina Pasta Bar by Southern Tropics Food Co.
Southern Tropics is composed of friends Jan Daniel Galang, John Alvin Española, Eduardo Gullas III and Gerald James Abueva, who all share a passion for great food and service and so, decided to dip their toes in this type of business.
Inspired by a carenderia-style eatery in Davao that serves topnotch yet affordably priced pasta dishes, the group turned a three-car garage into a pasta bar-cum-hangout.
Esquina Pasta Bar boasts more than just pasta though. Its Colossal Chicken is an instant hit among diners because apart from its size that’s patterned after Taiwan’s famous Hot Star chicken, Esquina’s version is juicier and more tender.
Try the original and the Korean-glazed chicken which are both good on their own, but it can’t hurt to pair them with one of the homemade dips—gravy, aioli, honey mustard and buffalo.
Other chicken variants are the Country-fried Steak, which is served with rice and topped with gravy; the Chicken Parmigiana and the Chicken Torikatsu. If bread is your choice of carb source, Colossal Chicken can be served in between buns which are also made in-house.
For the ultimate sampler, come in a group and order the Esquina Platter which has one chicken burger, one cheesy bacon hot dog, a mound of loaded fries, one colossal chicken with all four dips and a heaping pile of mojos.
Of course, you can’t come to Esquina without tasting the garlic buttery goodness of its Shrimp Scampi or the comforting spaghetti marinara with meatball. Desserts are also on offer such as chocolate chip cookies, brazo cups and Esquina’s version of the Dream Cake.
As it introduces new dishes each week, you can be the first to find out about its secret menu items by following Esquina Pasta Bar on Facebook and Instagram.
Esquina is at 39C Pres. Laurel St., Villa Aurora, Brgy. Kasambagan, Cebu City. Although it is on foodpanda and GrabFood, it’s best to experience both the food and the place. Drop by any day of the week from 4 p.m. to midnight.