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REVISITED: Nikko's Baking Studio in Urdaneta, Makati
I've always assumed you could just walk into Nikko's Baking Studio, so it was a very pleasant surprise when a colleague corrected me. Back then she told me, it's not a restaurant. It's a baking school.
But people kept trying to order the food that Chef Nikko Buendia would prepare for the students, so they've decided to make it into a full-service restaurant.
It was a couple of years ago when I first tried it. At the time, you wouldn't find too many people dining there. There were only a few seats, and apart from the busy lunch crowd, it was a nice quiet place. It still is – although the space has grown much larger, with a whole new area at the back.
It's the sort of place that's full of pleasant surprises – small things and little touches that tell you: this is a special place. First, the patio. A row of plants very effectively keeps the city out, and if not for the heat and the occasional honk from the busy street, it's easy to forget that you're still in the city and not some countryside hideaway.
The pretty space is filled with mismatched chairs and repurposed tables. A wooden wall is decorated with hanging plants and flower paintings by the owner's mother. You haven’t even gone inside, and it already feels like home.
Inside are a few tables, set with plain sheets of paper place mats. Here and there, a glass of bougainvillea blossoms. Sunlight pours in a wide glass window. Service is quick, but should you have to wait, the tree outside provides a relaxing view. The small area is cozy enough, but should you need more space, there is the second pleasant surprise beyond the counter.
A narrow hallway leads to the new dining area, which was recently opened. The bakery/school/cafe has gained a reputation as a co-working spot, because of the pleasant ambiance, free WiFi, and the abundance of available sockets.
They now offer a co-working rate: P100 per hour with coffee or tea. If you need more caffeine, P150 per hour comes with refillable coffee or tea.
Worth noting is the toilet. It's pretty, but more importantly, it's spotless. You can tell that every little detail was carefully thought of, from the faucet to the floor.
But the most important part is of course, the food. The menu is a list of comfort food: soup, salad, appetizers, sandwiches, pasta, and rice meals, too. It's the sort of food that isn't amazing – or at least, you don't think it is – until you realize you've developed a craving.
Take for instance the ATM (P220). It’s anchovies, tomatoes, and mozzarella on warm focaccia bread. It sounds too simple, but whenever I eat it, I feel like Anton Ego eating ratatouille.
Another deceptively simple dish is the pesto pasta (P240). It comes with bacon, but they're happy to oblige if all you want is the green stuff. The serving is large enough to share, but you won't want to.
Along with the expansion, they also offer some new family specials such as NBS Chicken Inasal (P280), Marlon's Salpicao (P360), Mom's Kare-Kare (P380), and Mom's Lengua (P360).
For the not-too-hungry, they've added Corn Puppies (P160) and Chicharon Bulaklak (P320) to the appetizers. For an afternoon snack, the pan de sal with kesong puti (P180) hits the spot.
Since it is a baking studio, trying the dessert is a must. In fact, some people go straight for the dessert counter. They have baklava, cookies, pie, and the newest addition – light, fluffy, Japanese cheesecake.
Chef Nikko is almost always there, and she makes sure to check on her customers. The last pleasant surprise is that you'll discover you feel more like a home guest than a customer, and this, along with all the other pleasant surprises, is what keeps people coming back to this central business district hideaway. — LA, GMA News
Nikko's Baking Studio 59-A Paseo de Roxas, Urdaneta, Makati. 9am-9pm. Closed on Sundays. +632 8871711.
