[Review] Secrets of the South: Unique Food Finds at Mati's Meat & Bread Alabang

GeekyKitch went on a food crawl to check out the thriving food community down south of Manila.

The 'Secrets of the South' tour started at Mati's Meat and Bread, a Filipino fusion + American restaurant that's been around since late 2014. Even from the outside, one can see its high ceiling space and glass walls that invites natural light in. The industrial finish is mixed with a lot of wood elements and brick pillars, making it warm and homey.

Love the chalkboard wall!

Their kitchen is upstairs :3

Do you know what's better than having access to free WiFi? You can dine with a view of the river park.

The space is meant to accommodate big groups.

Day or night, this is a good spot. Wish we sat here instead.

Now let's talk about five dishes that stood out for me, in order of appearance on our table :p

I like balut and aligue but never have I considered pairing 'em up. At Mati's they offer this as an appetizer - two day old duck eggs cut into half and cooked in salty-savory crab fat sauce with garlic and lemon. This yummy, #putokbatok dish is a must try, whether you're not a fan of balut or a first time eater ;)

Balut Aligue - P195

What came to our table next was a plate of six king-sized and fresh oysters, oozing with cheesy goodness! I'd happily consume more than one but I had to pace myself haha! :p

Oyster Rockefeller - P450

Who would have thought you can serve bone marrow as a pate? Just add in truffle oil and cheese! I swear you won't stop scooping for this creamy spread, served with mini toasted baguettes.

Truffled Bone Marrow - P385

Mati's serves their pizza with a signature thin crust. Eat it immediately to enjoy its crispiness! Sticking with the seafood theme, we ordered one that comes with shrimp, anchovy, mushroom with basil and roasted garlic.

Tali's Gamberetti - P350

If you are a meat and rice person, craving for a Filipino classic rice dish that's sweet and salty, give their Bistek Tagalog a shot. The meat is tender and flavorful.

Steak Tagalog - P425

Mati's also serve salad, tacos, pasta, sandwiches, and steaks. Here are some dishes that we have also tasted:

Salmon Pasta - P290

Shrimp Pasta - P290

Rosemary Chicken - P285

Grilled Norwegian Salmon with lemon butter sauce - P410

I choose the Golden Lime for a refreshing and healthy drink.

Fresh Calamansi juice - P80

GeekyKitch recommends Mati's Meat and Bread for a casual dining experience with family or friends! It is not for the faint at heart (literally) and have limited choices for vegans and vegetarians. Most dishes can be consumed by 1-2 persons, depending on the appetite.

I look forward to try their Australian Ribeye next time and hopefully they will open a branch that will cater to those living in the north / east area.

Have you been to Mati's Meat and Bread before? What's your favorite dish? If not, which dish/es do you want to try? Would love to hear from you at the comments section below!

P.S.: A friendly reminder to please keep your cholesterol levels in check in case you order the Balut Aligue or Truffled Bone Marrow. :)

First stop ? #GeekyKitch #OhOhLeo #Manyamalaren #secretsofthesouth #matismeatandbread #foodcrawlbyK #tarasasouth #southeats

A photo posted by GeekyKitch (@geekykitch) on Jun 16, 2016 at 11:23pm PDT

Mati's Meat and Bread

River Park, Festival Mall, Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Open everyday from 11am to 10pm.

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