Alchemy Bistro Bar transmutes normal nights into enchanting evenings

While many may question the relationship between alchemy and “real” science—I think I heard the sound of a thousand science purists sticking their noses up in the air just now—the basic meaning of the former is rather easy to understand.

Take away all of the somewhat dodgy stuff about transmuting base metals to gold or silver and creating an Elixir of Life that will let you celebrate your hundredth birthday while looking not a day over 18, and you’ll be left with “a power or process of transforming something common into something special” (thank you, Merriam-Webster). 

 

Based on that definition, Alchemy Bistro Bar in Makati couldn’t have picked a better name.

 

A mystical menu
 

For prospective diners unfamiliar with the place, finding Alchemy may prove to be quite tricky. If you’re coming from Ayala Avenue, the road to gold may throw you off a bit—let’s just say that nobody would really expect Alchemy to be within the vicinity. Just keep going straight until you see the very posh and purple establishment along Durban St. and you’d know that you just hit pay dirt, so to speak.

 

Under the expert guidance of owner and chef Tina Moscardon, Alchemy’s food offerings stand out in taste and overall quality. We started with the Baked Oysters—a delightful melt-in-your-mouth treat enhanced by spinach, hollandaise sauce, and gruyere cheese—and the Chef’s Pate, finely ground meat served with bread.
 

We also sampled three of their sumptuous pizzas: Scandinavian (smoked salmon, horseradish, and capers), Prosciutto Crudo (delicious bacon-like prosciutto atop a bed of yummy mozzarella cheese), and, well, what I would assume to be their flagship pizza variant, Alchemy (combining speck, arugula, scamorza cheese, and balsamic reduction with truffle oil).

 

Alchemy also whips up some really savory pasta dishes, such as their flavorful Gnocchi (with gorgonzola cheese sauce and crispy pancetta) and their Shrimp and Scallop Tagliatelle (with bay shrimps and scallops, zucchini ribbons, pine nuts, and cherry tomatoes smothered in Pernod saffron sauce).

 

For hardcore meat-lovers, one of the standout entrees from Alchemy’s menu is their Roasted Organic Chicken, half of a roast chicken prepared with rosemary and herb garlic butter, served alongside a helping of rice pilaf vegetables, sauteed mushrooms, and their special gravy. 

 

Another delectable main course from the menu is their Slow-Braised Lamb Shank—Mediterranean couscous, sultanas, pine nuts, mint, French Beans, and meat so tender and succulent that it comes off the bone with incredible ease.

 

Captivating cocktails and an alchemical ambiance

 

Their menu isn’t the only thing Alchemy has going for them. They also serve a wide assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with their Test Tube Shooters—perfect for when you want to celebrate with friends or just reward yourself after a long week of work.

 

Additionally, you may choose to dine in the ground floor lounge, a warmly-lit area decorated with gargoyles and an assortment of alchemical curiosities, or climb up to the roof deck, where you can enjoy cocktails while sitting under a cool, soothing low-light setting. 

 

You could also swing by on nights when they have DJs and musicians playing live, special promotions, or other events. They usually announce these on their Facebook page.

 

All things considered, Alchemy Bistro Bar is an enchanting place, perfect for intimate dinners and lively parties alike. For a budget of around P600-P800 per person, you can enjoy an evening courtesy of this gastropub’s alchemical geniuses…and you won’t even have to learn how to turn lead into gold just to do it. — VC, GMA News

 

Alchemy Bistro Bar is located at the corner of Polaris St. and Durban St. in Makati. They are open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Mondays and 12 pm to 2 am from Tuesdays to Sundays. For inquiries and reservations, you may contact them at 500-7398 or 09175555641.