A hidden gem in the heart of Esteban Abada :)
I've been to Esteban Abada many, many times before. It's the street right behind Katipunan Avenue, near Xavierville. It is also where Ninyo Fusion Cuisine (my most memorable date with Tim when we were still dating) is located.
Who would've thought that along that mainly residential area, we would find Tortuga, a Caribbean-inspired restaurant that transports you to the beach once you step inside their glass doors.
You will completely forget where you are - everything about the environment, the ambiance, the music, the food and drinks scream fancy beach resort! And the best part? Nothing is over Php 200.
Crazy, right? I bet they even have better grub than many of the restaurants you can find in Boracay!
They're open from 1:30pm daily, so you can still enjoy the afternoon sun while sipping on your Sneaky Tiki or Cocomo cocktails.
I swear, my friends and I IMMEDIATELY fell in love with the place, and after trying their food, I'm definitely hooked.
College kids nowadays are so lucky; we didn't have places like Tortuga before. I remember it was mostly fast food back then. And if we wanted to watch a movie, we had to take the LRT to Gateway Mall. Now, they have UP Town Center, and many new food concepts in the area plus a more developed Maginhawa Street.
Cocktails (95 each)
Sneaky Tiki (vodka infused earl grey tea, bourbon)
Jungle Juice (dalandan, mango, tequila)
Cocomo (pineapple-coconut rum punch)
Guava Lava (guava, ginger, vodka, ginger ale)
Shrimp Jungle Skewer (P110)
butter garlic shrimp grilled and served in-shell
Pork Jungle Skewer (P110)
bite into lemongrass and pork goodness
Awooga! Tortilla (P110)
a Spanish-style omelette with layers of potato and egg, served with a sweet sauce
Jamba Gambas (P130)
each bite of these beautiful butter garlic shrimp is a ticket to happiness
Jamon Croquetas (P100)
crunchy croquetas that ooze savory cream and ham with each bite
Jungle Pumba (P200)
juicy, grilled, thick-cut pork belly, you'll be dreaming about this for days
Jerk! Chicken (P200)
this quarter chicken is infused with a lively jerk sauce
Tortuga's Kare Kare (P190)
Affordable dishes that doesn't sacrifice quality - this is something you seldom find in a restaurant. Tortuga offers this and more. They have a good sized menu with a variety of dishes, each one special in its own way. Recently, I visited a restaurant that offered tons of dishes but only has three or four main flavors/sauces for all. At Tortuga, they create and explore different textures and flavors in all of their dishes, nothing is the same as the rest. It's the only restaurant I've been to that I want to try every single dish. I swear.
I seriously loved everything!!
The scene at 3pm. The place is packed with drinks all around!
Of course, we couldn't leave without trying dessert!
Deep Fried Ice Cream (P85)
Even the deep fried ice cream has a twist. There's tempura batter with like a crunchy chocolate cereal. I don't even know how to explain it. Just try it! It's definitely worth your 85 bucks!
Basil Ice Cream (P50)
Think pesto ice cream. Interesting, refreshing.
Tortuga is located at 42-A Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
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