BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
NEGROS Occidental and its capital, Bacolod City, are teeming with restaurants and bars. So my family and I are unable to make up our minds where to eat out sometimes.
Narra Avenue is home to several restaurants serving some of the most delicious and affordable dishes in the city.
However, it seems that most of the restaurants in the area are not given much attention, even by Bacolodnons, making Narra Avenue one of the city’s underrated food streets.
One of these food establishments is the Esquinita Bar and Café owned by John Jay Aguilar, an engineer, and his wife Mary Carmille, a Certified Public Accountant.
Recently, I got rare access to the restaurant, sat down with the owners, and learned more about the uniqueness of the establishment.
According to Mrs. Aguilar, the restaurant was supposed to be more like a bar, pointing out that she and her husband were social drinkers.
“Mahilig gid kami mag-inom, and we frequent the bars man diri sa Bacolod, [and] regulars man kami sa iban [diri] nga bars,” Mrs. Aguilar said.
Indeed, upon entering the establishment, the first thing I noticed was the large array of beverages on display.
Mrs. Aguilar said they opened the establishment in February of 2022 as the pandemic slowed down and the economy in the city started to open up again.
They just happened to pass by the area and noticed that the small lot was being leased.
Mrs. Aguilar said their first concept in founding Esquinita was to “make something new, in somewhere old”, adding they wanted to resurrect Narra Avenue again.
Mrs. Aguilar also said they named the place Esquinita as it is “literally” an eskinita or an alleyway.
Their initial plan was to only introduce “bar chows”, but during their opening week, customers flocked to the establishment for the food. It was a pleasant surprise.
Among Esquinita’s best sellers are the Sizzling Cansi Steak, Pork Alapana, Seafood Marinara, Pizza Esquinita, and a fruit dessert they call “Knickerbocker.”
Mrs. Aguilar said Knickerbocker was a dessert they had while visiting Zamboanga City.
I got a chance to taste their best sellers, and two of the dishes I really recommend are the Sizzling Cansi Steak and the Seafood Marinara.
The Sizzling Cansi Steak consists of a cansi steak or beef shank with bone marrow, along with stir-fried baguio beans and carrots, topped with gravy.
The dish was particularly satisfying to eat after a long day in the office.
The Seafood Marinara, meanwhile, consists of prawns, squid, and mussels cooked in butter with fettuccine noodles, marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, garnished with basil leaves, and two slices of toasted bread with pesto.
The Seafood Marinara is definitely best enjoyed with a glass of wine.
The Esquinita Pizza is also a highly sought-after food item at the restaurant.
Mrs. Aguilar said the pizza dough is always freshly made, and all of their sauces are made in-house.
“May ginabakal man gid kami, pero mostly kami ang gatimpla para unique sya sa Esquinita,” Mrs. Aguilar said.
She further added that they want a personality for their food.
Aside from the uniqueness of the food, the smart layout of the establishment is also not to be missed. Due to its location between two buildings, the restaurant’s temperature is always constant and pleasant even during the hottest of days or during cold rainy conditions.
Customers also have a choice of seating, whether they want to chat with friends while enjoying the food and drinks, or sit in the middle to watch and join in the nightly music bands.
The establishment also has a function room in the back, where you can either enjoy karaoke with friends, or host a private business meeting with clients.
The restaurant has a seating capacity of around 80, although during Friday nights and Saturdays, it is normal for them to seat around 100 to 120 individuals.
During long days at work, when you just want to relax and enjoy a good meal, check out Esquinita Restaurant.
The restaurant is located along Narra Avenue in Bacolod City’s Capitol Shopping Center.
They are open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. with live music from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight./PN
