At Nolisoli, we’re avowed brunch people. Some may chalk the brunch phenomenon as a trend, but for many, it’s become a way of life. The morning-to-afternoon meal has won a place in our hearts and stomachs, so we’re always down to try the shiniest new thing on the block.
Brunch Bureau is the latest addition to the seemingly endless brunch places that have popped up in recent days. Taking the place of the Coffee Academics spot in Legazpi Village, the colorful all-day dining concept is making its case as a go-to spot for a hearty meal and some great coffee to boot.
Aside from its Legazpi location, they also have branches in Proscenium and Molito. Proscenium serves as more of a taste of what they offer, being smaller and serving an abbreviated menu. Legazpi branch is different. It offers the full brunch experience with more dishes, as well as the brunch vibe with an outdoor area overlooking Palanca Street. Molito offers the full menu, just like Legazpi.
But the best part is that the restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., so you don’t have to be a morning person to enjoy the most important combination meal of the day.
Brunchy bevs
A relaxed atmosphere is probably the first thing you’ll notice about the restaurant’s flagship store. It sits on a tree-lined street with an outdoor seating area, and utilizes bright, warm colors and warm wood tones in its interior.
If you’re bringing a furry friend for a date, the al fresco seating is pet friendly—which is a big part of brunch. Everyone has a seat at the table. The outdoor seating area also offers the perfect setting for people watching, a staple brunch hobby. You and your furry (or not so furry) companions can watch all the world go by over a meal and enjoy the great outdoors.
For coffee fanatics, the restaurant also serves a kilometric selection of all types of your favorite caffeinated drinks. For espresso, you can choose between Seven Seeds Golden Gate blend, which are beans from a roastery in Australia, or their Brunch bureau house blend which offers a fruity and balanced roast.
Aside from the typical long blacks and lattes, the menu also offers the restaurant’s unique takes on coffee, like their strawberry espresso tonic and the signature Brunch Bureau latte that’s made with a strawberry-sweetened double shot of espresso under a blanket of silky textured milk.
If you’re not much of a coffee person, they also offer non-coffee options like kombucha, hot teas, and of course, cocktails.
You’ll find all your favorite brunch cocktail classics on the menu. Mimosas, sangrias, aperol spritz, and bloody mary’s are all present and accounted for. If you’re looking for something a little different, the restaurant also serves drinks like the yuzu ichigo mimosa, which is an upgraded version of the classic using Japanese flavors.
Another interesting drink on their menu is the Pablo Escobar (yes, that one). It’s a gin-based cocktail made with cucumber syrup, Sprite, and most interestingly, Bolivian coca leaves (yes, those leaves).
Come hungry
Drinks aside, brunch wouldn’t be brunch without the meal that comes with it. With that said, make sure to come hungry. Just like the restaurant’s drink menu, their food menu is as comprehensive as it is unique.
You can find dishes inspired by international cuisine, like their chicken poppers that come in either parmesan togarashi or kaarage-style asian buffalo, as well as some fresh Vietnamese-inspired salad wraps if you want to start your meal with some freshness.
If you’re looking for a fresh take on classic brunch, they also have the Brunch Bureau benedict, which is their version of the traditional eggs benedict. Instead of bacon or ham, they use fried tocino as the protein and a slice of butter toasted banana bread as the base. It’s savory, sweet, and surprisingly very Filipino.
On the heartier side, they also have a breakfast tray—which is the most complete embodiment of the meal. It’s a plate of buttermilk pancakes, sausages, bacon, and pan-roasted mushrooms topped with a sunny side egg and a side of fruits.
If nothing on the menu strikes your fancy, make sure to ask your server for the mystery special. The current special is a plate of steak and rice, which is cooked to a tender medium and served with a side of steak gravy. For less than P800, it’s an easy choice to make for a huge plate you can share with someone.
All about silog
Brunch all over the world looks different, but if there’s a distinctly Filipino brunch item, it would be the silog. Sure, it’s a classic breakfast food, but it also possesses a heft that’s deserving of a brunch-meal title.
The restaurant has five different silogs to choose from: the classic trio (featuring beef tapa, pork tocino, and chorizo in one bowl), a Japanese-inspired flaked salmon melt, chicken krapow, pork mojo made with citrus and herb marinated pork, and the loco moco—a Hawaiian dish of juicy beef patty slathered in gravy.
No matter what you choose, it’ll come with a serving of seasonal diced fruit and garlic fried rice. Each bowl is also customizable, so you can choose your type of egg, drink, and add on some mixed greens or a half serving of their soup of the day.
Of the five silogs, the crowdpleaser is the loco moco. Though the dish is Hawaiian in origin, there’s something nostalgic about it. There’s a delectable juiciness to the patty. It’s thick and perfectly cooked. It also comes with a side of savory roasted mushrooms and french beans for a bit of freshness.
If you’re a person who loves drowning your food in sauce, the loco moco is your dream come true. The restaurant doesn’t skimp out on the gravy—and trust us, it’s some good gravy. It’s creamy, rich, and perfectly complements the burger steak. And it also goes excellently with a sunny side egg’s runny yolk.
From its relaxed atmosphere to its delicious fare, Brunch Bureau is setting a strong example for all-day brunch dining. It’s an easy choice to make if you’re looking for brunch with a twist, and we’re already looking forward to our next visit.
Brunch Bureau is located at 109 Don Carlos Palanca St., Legazpi Village, Makati City. The restaurant is open daily from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.