Tucked away inside the Wine Depot warehouse and shop in N. Garcia (formerly Reposo) Makati is a quaint and unassuming restaurant foodies all over are talking about: Purple Feet, with Chef Marco Legasto at the helm.

Setting: The place is not very easy to spot because of its lack of signage; that said, the huge Wine Depot sign right outside should be conspicuous. The dining area is right inside the wine shop, donning snug and relaxed interiors that add to its hole-in-the-wall charm. Menu items and ingredients are written on huge chalk boards that serve as dividers between the store and the restaurant.

Here in Purple Feet, you can order any of the listed ingredients and have it cooked your way — somewhat like Dampa sans the marketing. They also have a couple of preset menu items if you want to go the tried and tested route.

Our meal started with the day’s special appetizer — Peking Duck Rolls (P450). The wraps were too thick for me, more like a pita, as opposed to the traditional thin sheets I’m used to. This made it taste like Peking Duck pretending to be a shawarma (not sure if that was the chef’s intent, nonetheless, I wasn’t crazy about it).

Now this is more like it. We all loved the Portabello Mushrooms with Stilton Cheese (P550), served with melba chips — it had an exquisite flavor, combining the strong pungency of the mushrooms with the delicate taste of melted Stilton.

The Mixed Seafood Spaghetti (P400) was another winning concoction — chunks of prawns and scallops on creamy-rich glazed pasta.

The real main event for me was the half order of U.S. Prime Rib Eye (P1800), which easily rivals the best steaks I’ve had even in full-fledged steakhouses. Cooked medium rare as I like it, the beef was very tender and flavorful, bursting with juicy umami goodness in every bite. YUM!!

For desserts, we had the fairly standard Pannacotta (P150)..

..their Bread Pudding (P180), which for me does not hold a candle to that of La Cocina de Tita Moning..

..and the scrumptious Molten Chocolate Cake (P220), which may have converted me into a chocolate fan. It was sweet, thick, and very decadent.

Service was just alright. Being a laid-back place, the servers were easy-going but did not neglect any duties. Price: ~P1200 (inclusive of a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and 2 coffees).

Overall verdict. Purple Feet tries to set itself apart from the other well-known wine shop/cafe-bistro establishment by being stripped down and unpretentious. While it has its flaws on certain dishes we’ve ordered (which comes with no surprise to a semi-order-anything place), it does win big on aspects that matter more. All in all, a great foodie haunt that you should not miss — especially if you’re a steak and wine lover.

Purple Feet
Wine Depot
217 Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air
Makati City, Metro Manila
Tel. #: +63 2 897-3220

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