Is NowNow Overrated?

The short answer is no. NowNow Canteen lives up to the hype it’s getting, and it certainly deserves my praise.

Still, it doesn’t mean that the restaurant is perfect.

Frankly speaking, there are a lot of areas that they have to improve, and there are dishes that need to be enhanced, though in my opinion one particular dish should be stricken from the menu.

What’s the price range of NowNow like?

In terms of casual dining, the price range is mid-tier, and you won’t have to poke a hole in your wallet just to eat here!

Most of their dishes are for sharing, and they range between 350-475. Only the steak costs 3k+, and we’ve yet to try it for ourselves.

If you’re on a date, having a budget of Php. 1,500-2,000 is enough to get you an entree, a dessert, and some drinks.

The Dishes We’ve Tried

Arancini

Score: 4/5

If you like truffles, you’re definitely going to love this dish. NowNow’s Truffle Arancini has all the elements of a mouthwatering dish.

It’s a deep fried, truffle-infused Croquette. It’s crispy on the outside but it melts the moment it hits your tongue.

The serving is just enough for two people, and the taste more than makes up for its price. This is definitely one of the better dishes of the night.

Tortang Talong Okonomiyaki

Score: 4.5/5

I’ve never been a fan of tortang talong (eggplant omelette) as dish, and personally, I don’t eat it. But damn, this was the dish of the night for me.

Combine with the crispy deep fried noodles, the savory taste of eggplant, and the umami of okonomiyaki’s traditional flavors, and you’ve got an almost perfect dish.

This dish was complex in terms of flavor, but simple in terms of its ingredients. If you’re planning to visit NowNow, this dish is a MUST TRY.

The only downside it is that the volume of the dish isn’t as filling as a traditional okonomiyaki.

Fried Barramundi

Score: 1.5/5

A 1.5 out of 5 score is honestly being generous or this dish. The only reason I scored it that high is the presentation and the texture of the fish.

It’s all smoke and mirrors. A white fish like barramundi is already bland in itself, and the fact that it was underseasoned made it a lot worse. Even the pineapple hollandaise just tasted like air to me because even this was underseasoned.

To speak bluntly, they should just remove this from the menu or make major changes to the dish.

Miso Mash

Score: 4.5/5

Have you ever had mashed potatoes that tastes a bit smoky and has all the concentrated flavors of miso? This dish is exactly that!

The mash was so smooth that the moment it lands on your tongue, it just bursts into a symphony of flavors that you’re bound o get addicted to. This dish is definitely a MUST TRY.

Fried Rice

Score: 4/5

Garlic? Check. Salty and Savory? Check! The fried rice was definitely a welcome surprise for the night. Though it’s only good for one, ordering it is not a waste of your hard earned money.

It even has a smoky, crispy element in the form of half-burnt bacon! If you think that doesn’t sound good, you’re definitely going to be proven wrong.

Fishcake (Basque Burnt Cheesecake)

Score: 4/5

Just the texture of this cheesecake would merit it a score of 5/5, and honestly, it definitely has the potential to earn an award.

The burnt part of the cheesecake and its crispy exterior was incredible. However, the “umami” factor of this dish is holding it back.

If they made a normal basque burnt cheesecake, I wouldn’t hesitate to say that this was the best cheesecake I’ve had in my life.

Unfortunately, the slightly fishy taste of this dessert leaves a cloying aftertaste that’s just hard to forego.

Nevertheless, trying it once is surely worth it.

Dayap Lemonade

Score: 2.5/5

Better as a palate cleanser than an actual beverage. It’s not bad, but it’s also nothing to write home about.

Final Verdict:

NowNow Canteen is definitely a rising star in the culinary world of Metro Manila, and it’s a restaurant that’s worth visiting more than once.

Though its ambiance leaves a lot to be desired, and their reception/seating is still quite disorganized, this restaurant has the potential to become one of the best in the city of Mandaluyong.