While browsing through the
'Nearby Places' tab on Facebook, I came across
UniBearsity Cafe and a handful of geo-tagged photos of the place. In photos, this new cafe looked nice and modern, and the food looked quite appetizing. Yue and I were driven by curiosity (
and the desire to eat something 'non-fast food') so we decided to have lunch here the other day, right after his karate training.
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| Chillin' with the bears at UniBearsity Cafe. |
UniBearsity Cafe characterizes itself as a
'concept hang-out place' which aims to serve its customers not just good food, but also a unique dining experience. Although relatively new
(they opened last January), this place seems to be well-liked by teens and young adults, and I think the cafe's ambiance contributes a lot to its popularity.
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| Bears as big as a 10-year old kid. |
Adorned with teddy bears and throw pillows,
UniBearsity Cafe has a relaxed and homey vibe, with Instagram-worthy aesthetics to boot. This crib-style cafe has lounges sectioned off for each group of customers, where you can sit on the floor, plop on a pillow, and snuggle with teddy bears.
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| The crib on one side of the cafe. |
If dining while sitting on the floor isn't your thing, don't worry. This cafe has regular tables and chairs for customers like me who think it's a hassle to remove your shoes in public and find it uncomfortable to sit with your legs crossed for an extended period of time.
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| Tables and chairs on the other side. |
As for the menu,
UniBearsity Cafe offers pasta, snacks such as nachos, burgers, and fries, and a small selection of desserts. They serve
'silogs aka breakfast meals all-day, and they have a wide variety of beverages to choose from. All items on their menu are affordably-priced, nothing beyond Php 100.
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| UniBearsity Cafe menu. |
I was expecting Yue would want a rice meal since he gets really hungry after karate training, but he chose the
Tuna Pasta instead. I was in the mood for pasta as well, so I ordered the
Chicken Mushroom Pasta for myself. We also got a platter of
Nachos for sharing, a glass of
Classic Lemonade, and a glass of
Cucumber Lemonade.
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| Pasta, nachos, and lemonade. |
Since we were the first customers that day, it didn't take long for our food to be cooked. The
Nachos were served on a chopping board lined with wax paper, topped with a generous amount of ground beef, chopped tomatoes, and gooey, melted cheese. I like that the chips were crispy and the toppings were flavorful, but I would have liked it even more had there been onions and cucumber in the mix.
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| Nachos, Php 90. |
The pastas that we ordered both had white sauce. Yue enjoyed his Tuna Pasta, saying that it tastes like the carbonara that I cook at home. My Chicken and Mushroom Pasta, however, was a bit watery and the sauce just wouldn't adhere well to the noodles. The noodles per se weren't soggy, but the garlic bread on the side was, and I couldn't even eat it because it was 'too wet', lol. I guess the cook didn't drain the noodles properly, leaving some pasta water on the plate.
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| Chicken and Mushroom Pasta, Php 90. |
The drinks were okay, but I can tell from one sip that they're made from fruit juice powder and not from natural fruits. I give props to the presentation, though. They were served in cute, bear-shaped glasses which matched the cafe's theme.
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| Cucumber Lemonade Juice, Php 45. |
Overall, I like the concept of UniBearsity Cafe - budget-friendly food that even college students can afford; a cozy place to hang-out with friends, brainstorm for a project, or have a group study; ambiance and aesthetics that would stand out on an Instagram feed. They need to work on their kitchen techniques and drain their noodles properly, though, because a watery spaghetti can ruin the whole dining experience.
2F New Kalahi Building
T. Azucena Street,
San Pablo City, Laguna
