Rabbit Room in Makati: Your Rabbit Hole for Italian & Filipino Dishes from Luzon to Mindanao
Makati City is a bustling hub of culture and flavors from different parts of the world. But what if we tell you that there’s more to Makati’s dining landscape than meets the eye?
Take a plunge into the “rabbit hole” of Makati’s vibrant dining scene, where Rabbit Room invites you to explore a wonderland filled with Filipino flavors, Italian dishes, and a distinctive twist featuring rabbit as their main ingredient!
IMAGE from Rabbit Room’s Facebook page
Rabbit Room, tucked away in the charming and peaceful San Antonio Village, stands as a hole-in-the-wall restaurant where you can find Chefs John Ty and Raphael Cristobal work their magic in creating culinary masterpieces that capture the essence of both Italian and Filipino cuisines.
IMAGE from Rabbit Room’s Facebook page
Unlike most restaurants in the Metro, Rabbit Room explores the Filipino cuisine that traverses the entire archipelago from Luzon to Mindanao. Dishes like the Pendatun Chicken with Adlai Fry give a nod to the Mindanao dish, Piyanggang, cooked in coconut milk, turmeric, coconut ash, and lemon grass.
Pendatun Chicken with Adlai Fry (Php 350) / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
Their Talong Kulawo, a vegetarian dish made of roasted eggplant and burnt coconut cream, is also something you would not usually find in restaurants in Makati, making Rabbit Room a go-to for many who are craving for something deliciously Filipino. Partner this dish with rice for a more filling treat!
Talong Kulawo (Php 250) / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
For the Italian side of their menu, Rabbit Room also uses Filipino ingredients to recreate Italian classics like carbonara. At Rabbit Room, they use etag or smoked pork, famous in the Cordillera, to add a richer flavor to your all-time favorite Italian pasta dish!
Etag Carbonara (Php 380) / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
The adventure does not stop there as Rabbit Room introduces the unexpected star of the show: rabbit! But it is not exactly the kind you see often with its fluffy ears and tail. Rabbit Room uses hare, a mammal that resembles rabbits but usually bigger and often used for cooking.
Their menu boasts audacious rabbit delights such as Rabbit Ragout with Brioche Rolls made of rabbit loin and braised in their in-house Passato. According to Chef Raphael, this appetizer is recommended for those who are curious to try rabbit for the first time.
Rabbit Ragout with Brioche Rolls (Php 310) / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
Now, for the entrée, you may try their Rabbit Adobo, complemented by their in-house mashed potatoes for that perfect pairing of succulent rabbit and velvety goodness.
Rabbit Adobo (Php 370) / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
From time to time, Rabbit Room also adds various dishes to their Filipino menu such as Kilawin which resembles ceviche, featuring tanigue or Spanish mackerel. Another must-try is their Binaki or the sweet corn “tamales” of Bukidnon.
Kilawin na Tanigue and Binaki / IMAGE from Rabbit Room’s Facebook page
The enchanting ambiance of Rabbit Room extends as the restaurant lets you have a front-row seat to the Chef’s Table, featuring a 7-course meal for 6 guests (Php 3,500/guest). A cozy bar also awaits, offering cocktails that evoke nostalgia and pay homage to Filipino elements with the bitter allure of ampalaya and the sweet reminiscence of White Rabbit candy!
White Rabbit Cocktail / IMAGE from Rabbit Room’s Facebook page
With its fusion of culinary innovation, cozy ambiance, and dedication to surprising palates, Rabbit Room is indeed a hidden gem in the heart of Makati, where every visit promises an unforgettable journey through the diverse and delightful realms of Italian and Filipino flavors.
