Encima Roofdeck Restaurant in Poblacion: Satisfy Your Tex-Mex Cravings
Despite its unique location on the top floor, anyone strolling along Poblacion will not miss Encima Roofdeck Restaurant from the murals plastered at the entrance of City Garden Hotel.
VIEW FROM TOP. Encima Roof Deck is on the SP floor of City Gardens Hotel/IMAGE City Garden Hotel
A year ago, it was just a simple restaurant that happened to be on the roof deck of City Gardens Hotel. Now, they elevated themselves into becoming Encima. Their new name, which means above in Spanish, also inspires their Tex-Mex menu and interiors. Embracing the outdoors, they kept the roof deck open to allow diners to both eat and enjoy the Makati skyline at the same time.
CHILI PORK RIBS (Php 565). This dry-rubbed pork rib is served with Chipotle BBQ. It starts with a sweet and sour taste before getting spicier after every bite.
Tex-Mex cuisine is mostly characterized by Mexican staple foods with milder substitutes replacing traditional ingredients. In Encima, not only do they balance the American and the Mexican dishes together but they also listen to their customers and offer a special menu that they spice up every month.
NACHOS SUPREMA (Php 370). Colorful nacho chips loaded with beef, salsa, black olives, cilantro, spring onion, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and cheese sauce. It is surprisingly crunchy yet soft and easy to chew, thanks to the sauce. Once the nacho is a bit soft, you will be able to taste all the interesting flavors of the toppings: sweet, sour, and spicy.
Many also find it enjoyable to admire the cityscape during the afternoon, watch the sunset, or look at Makati’s skyscrapers at night. Other than having blinds and a roof above your head, Encima is very much an open-air restaurant with smoking areas and non-smoking tables. At night, they have beautiful outdoor lights perfect for both a rooftop party or a classic date.
SALMON MEXICANA (Php 540). A piece of charred salmon that retains its freshness and juiciness that’s elevated with a special mix of spices. It’s topped with mango jalapeno salsa to give it a burst of flavor.
Encima also shares the roof deck with the hotel’s swimming pool. Hotel guests can lounge by the poolside and enjoy their dishes with flair. The restaurant also accepts any requests to alter the dishes for allergies as well as tone down or amp up the heat.
They also have the daily happy hour promo from 4 pm to 8 pm where drinks are almost 50% off (shots Php 50, cocktails Php 99, beer bucket for 6 at Php 470)/IMAGE City Garden Hotel
For the roof deck dining you have been looking for, there is only one place to start: Encima located on the top floor of City Garden Hotel, along Durban St. cor. Makati Ave., in Poblacion, Makati City.
This first appeared in Philippine Primer Japanese Magazine’s August 2018 issue.
