First Bite: After All

I love knowing every restaurant's back story as it gives it more character and allows me to have a better grasp on what it aims to be. Some started out as passion projects while others wanted to fill the market's unmet needs or wants. One establishment I've recently visited sprung from the idea of the owners wanting a place to hang out and enjoy their favorite dishes. It turns out though that the food they always crave would be a hit with people outside their circle. After all, their favorites are classics.

Hello, After All Bar & Grill. 

This restaurant and bar in SM Jazz opened its doors to the public last month and it has been getting a steady following since then. It isn't surprising as After All offers a wide variety of dishes and drinks. 

I was greeted by dim lights and dark hued furniture when I stepped inside After All. It was still very quiet around 6 pm with only some of the owners at the other side of the restaurant. Diners came in around 7:30 pm and the place became very busy around 8 pm. 

First served on our table was the spiced Romanian Deviled Squid (PHP180). It was a great appetizer as the spicy and tangy taste of the sauce and the delightful texture of squid whet my appetite for more. 

The Bellissimo Buffalo Wings (PHP180) was served after and it wasn't as spicy as I thought. I always have this notion that "buffalo" means hot. But this one had a nice slight barbecue taste to it that I enjoyed. 

I wasn't able to try the lunch special Thai Yellow Chicken Curry (PHP160, comes with soup, rice and iced tea) as there wasn't much for the group. But based on how fast it disappeared, it must be pretty good. The price too is very attractive and perfect for those on a budget.

The Seafood Teppanyaki (PHP390) is probably my favorite among all the dishes served. The slight sweet and salty flavor of the sauce and the freshness of the prawns and squid bits were so addicting that I think I finished half an order.

For those who love to chill with a few bottles of beer, After All serves great Crunchy Pork Sisig (PHP280) and Deep Fried Crispy Pata (PHP700). I indulged with the latter as there wasn't a lot of sisig to go around as well. But I was perfectly fine with that as the crispy pata was awesome! The crackling sound per bite was music to my ears and the succulent meat brought joy to my taste buds.

And to make our After All experience complete, we were treated to some cocktails. I wasn't able to try most but I was content with this sweet glass of Banana Colada (PHP170). 

It was like drinking banana shake as I couldn't really get a taste of the rum. Then again, drinks like this are the ones that could make you black out. 

Service was just a bit slow and the servers were not proactive in filling our glasses with water. There were also mosquitoes in the restaurant and I was bitten twice. 

But overall, it was a nice meal. I also appreciate the live band which made After All a good spot to relax after a long day at work. 

After All Bar & Grill is located at Ground Floor, SM Jazz Mall, Nicanor Garcia corner Jupiter St., Makati City.