Panco Cafe - Podium — Restaurant in Mandaluyong

I recently visited Panco Cafe and had a mixed experience. The food at the cafe was undeniably delicious, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed by the portion sizes. The servings were quite small, which made the overall dining experience feel less satisfying, especially considering the price.

Despite the small portions, I must commend the quality and taste of the food. The flavors were well-balanced, and each dish was prepared with attention to detail. It was evident that the ingredients used were fresh and of good quality. However, the limited quantity left me wanting more and questioning the value for money.

On a positive note, the drinks at Panco Cafe were a standout. They had an interesting and unique selection of beverages that were new and refreshing to my taste buds. The drinks were well-crafted and presented creatively, adding a touch of excitement to the overall dining experience.

The cafe itself had a pleasant atmosphere with a cozy and inviting ambiance. The staff members were friendly and provided good service throughout our visit. The comfortable setting and welcoming environment added to the enjoyment of the meal.

In summary, Panco Cafe offers delicious food with an impressive range of drinks that are sure to please those looking for something new. However, the small portion sizes can be a letdown, particularly considering the price. If you prioritize taste over quantity and are willing to pay a bit more for unique beverages, Panco Cafe can be an enjoyable dining option. However, for those seeking more substantial servings, it may be worth exploring other...

I went here during an off-peak hour on a weekday and was surprised there were quite a few customers (considering it was way up on the 5th floor). The atmosphere is okay, but the layout of the restaurant is a bit weird (longish) to be honest and the (hazy) window at the end doesn't really do any favors, too.

The food was decent and relatively affordable (considering the location). I ordered the fish tartare, a kalma drink (kalamansi and matcha), and the Panco kakanin.

The fish was moist and had a mild flavor, but I thought the batter was too salty. The tartar and chili mayo sauces were unremarkable; I thought the tartar lacked acidity while the chili mayo had a bit of the pungency of chili but no real kick. The saving grace was the side of scrambled eggs, which were perfectly done.

The kalma was a pleasant surprise as I didn't expect matcha and citrus to go so well together. I guess it's a novel spin on regular iced tea (black tea + citrus). Felt like the matcha was a bit watered down, which could be intentional in order to keep it from being too overpowering.

I enjoyed the Panco kakanin, which is kind of like an inutak and creme brulee fusion. The base was sticky rice pudding with ube(?) topped with a torched sugar glaze. Personally though, I think a good inutak would beat this any time. And I thought it was a bit weird to have this served cold as kakanin (rice-based snacks) are typically best...

Really good food with really great service. We celebrated my daughter’s birthday here two weeks ago. Reserved the whole cafe for 3 hrs, and they were accommodating throughout the whole process (from sending the quote, working with us on our requests and orders, etc.) On the day of, they set up the place and food as we requested. We ordered the root crop chips, sisig palabok, breakfast brisket, tamarind fried chicken, and char siu pork, plus ube turon and Panco’s kakanin for dessert, for 40 guests.

Everyone kept saying how good the food was every time a dish came out, and the food was plentiful! People kept saying, “Ang sarap!” Different favorites for different tables, but of all the great dishes, I think the brisket was our fave. And the chips. Many of the kids loved the chicken and the char siu, though! Despite feeding hungry teenagers, we had a lot to bring home afterwards, actually.

Great service, too, bec when the restaurant staff learned my daughter loved a certain K-pop group, they suddenly started playing that group’s songs over the speaker and the kids started dancing. It was awesome.

Many thanks to Ramil, the manager, and his team, for the overall wonderful experience and food that they gave us and the kids...