Mr. Jones: The Modern Day Diner

   

      Just when you thought that Haute Bistros, Trite Cafes, and Uptight French Restaurants are taking over the dining scene in Manila, you better think again. Right at the heart of the Metro (that's Greenbelt 5) is a 50's inspired American Diner that caters to those who are in search for straightforward, all-day comfort food. Something as hip and whimsical as Mr. Jones, situated in a posh mall like Greenbelt 5, is definitely a breath of fresh air. It's a place where you can genuinely unwind and catch up with old friends. 

   I love Mr. Jones' casual and retro appeal, without necessarily overdoing it. They successfully combine modern with groovy through plush brown-leather walls, vinyl cushioned seats, dangling orange lights, a zebra sofa, and of course, ultimate diner staple... a classic mini-jukebox.

       The MENU (check link for the menu) presents a variety of breakfast fares and big plates that are sure to keep your tummy filled for hours. The detailed description of every dish made choosing more difficult! Almost every thing in print seemed extremely mouth-watering, the mind goes wild. Yet the true test, still lies on the tasting.

The Classic Chocolate Malt (P 175.00)

       This is what a true, classic milkshake should LOOK and TASTE like! Thick and frothy goodness of chocolate malted milkshake blended with ice cream in a tall glass, topped with lush and airy whipped cream, sweet maraschino cherries, and finally dusted with cocoa powder. This, I must say, is the BEST malted milkshake I've  ever sipped so far. It easily brings you back to your childhood days. Definitely one difficult milkshake to beat. You cannot miss this out! 

U.S. Beef Ribcap "Tapa & Garlic Overload" (P 295.00)
Topped with a Heap of Crispy Garlic Chips, Garlic Fried Rice, Our Special Atchara, & 2 Eggs (any style)

          This is certainly not your run-of-the-mill tapa! Mr. Jones upgrades a typical tapa dish by thinly slicing, prime U.S Ribcap meat, heavily exuding sweet and salty flavors from the marinade, then tops it of with lots of toasted garlic chips. Don't be turned off by the thin slices though. I assure you that these are GENEROUS sukiyaki-cut slices. A rib cap is the outer cover of a beef muscle, surrounded by a layer of fat, thus making the beef fatty (like we all want it), tender, and incredibly flavorful. The sweetened, citrus vinegar wonderfully heightens the taste of the meat. I suggest you eat the eggs, tapa, garlic rice, and atchara in one big bite to experience an explosion of comforting flavors. If Sinangag Express is my favorite cheap tapa, I declare Mr. Jones' version my ULTIMATE splurge tapa! Truly CRAVE-WORTHY!

Fish N' Chips (P 350.00)
Old Fashioned Beer Batter served with French Fries, Old Bay Tartar Sauce, Malt Vinegar, & Homemade  Coleslaw 

         The good ol' English favorite, Fish n' Chips. Mr. Jones presents this deep-fried English staple with a siding of coleslaw, ketchup, malt vinegar, and addictive tartar sauce (which I believe should be the third universal dip after ketchup and soy sauce). I haven't mentioned that Mr. Jones is a sister company of the M group of restaurants so you can expect the exact scrumptious and best-selling Fish n Chips from Chelsea (Serendra). The delicate fish is huge and beautifully coated in a light batter. It lays on a bed of crispy potato wedges that's also coated but with a salty, peppery batter. This dish never failed me. If my memory serves my right, I might have ordered this 6 times already (twice in Mr. Jones, 4 times in Chelsea). My ritual would be to squeeze the lemon zest onto the fish to neutralize the slightly oily aftertaste. After, I messily dip the fish and fries in the malt vinegar, then into lots of tartar. A perfect blend of tangy, salty and sweet! It's that yummy I tell you! 

Wicked Truffle Mac n' Cheese (P 375.00)
Baked with 3 types of macaroni, 4 types of cheeses, "Canadian Style" bacon, portabello mushrooms, green peas, and drizzled with truffle oil.  

     Restaurant-made Mac n' Cheese scares me. There's just been too many times that I've been disappointed with their preparation. Some cheat by proclaiming '5-cheese', when all I really taste is cheddar. Most are dried out, while others are just plain yucky. Might as well serve one right out of the box! Mr. Jones'  multi-dimensional Wicked Mac n' Cheese however, is a different story. It's another childhood favorite but made special and more refined by adding meaty portobello mushrooms and drizzling just the right amount of truffle oil. The smell of the truffle instantly enveloped our table. It just confirms that distinctive taste and aroma of truffle can work wonders for the simplest dish. It was divine, gooey, and heavenly! The cheeses were indeed distinguishable. The shaved parmeggiano, peas, and three types of macaroni added a playful touch to the dish. Also, it wasn't as salty as one would expect despite the smoked bacon. Extremely sinnnnfullll!!! The only downside... nakakaumay.

   It's hard not to fall in love with Mr. Jones. From the comfort food (always with a twist) to the playful ambiance, one can't help but feel like a child again. Mr. Jones is something you'd comeback to whatever day of the week, just when you feel like stepping out of life's hustle n' bustle. With this lovely diner , you're surely bound to have your own favorites! I know I have mine! :)

Mr. Jones

Ground Flr. Greenbelt 5

Ayala Center, Makati City

For reservations: 501-3111