There used to be a residential stretch in Old Balara, Quezon City, devoid of establishments save a few stores and the odd junk shop. Motorists would speed by at night, not wanting to linger longer than necessary on the dimly lit street. That may soon change with the recent opening of Pat & Pat Restaurant, whose owners hope to make the area a new dining destination.
From its previous location along nearby Capitol Hills Drive, the family-owned restaurant now occupies a much larger space divided into several sections. The main dining area is on the right as one enters but on the left and at the back are smaller rooms that can be reserved for groups who prefer a modicum of privacy. The tiny room at the back has a long table that can accommodate 10, and its own pocket-sized powder room.
Pat & Pat (IG: @patandpatph) is named after businessman, former hotelier, and Philippine Sports Commission chair Patrick Gregorio and his daughter, Patricia, an industrial engineer and the restaurant’s general manager.
When they first opened in December 2022, they built a reputation for their take on “elevated comfort food” that included steaks and pastas, and desserts served à la mode.
Gregorio recalled why they decided to open their restaurant in Quezon City and not in the “obvious” places like Ortigas, Makati or BGC.
“After working in these business districts the entire week, we didn’t want to have to drive all the way there on the weekend. I wanted a restaurant like those found in Makati or BGC but that was more accessible to those who live around the area and was not so strict about dress codes,” he said.
During a recent visit, we sampled a mix of their bestsellers as well as new additions to the menu. The Cajun Wings arrived stacked on a plate with a bleu cheese dip while the Shrimp Tacos were served with a choice of chimichurri aioli and pico de gallo. The latter is a favorite of Gregorio who predicted that Old Balara would be “the new Eastwood” in a few years’ time.
He described their decision to open in QC as “a calculated risk” based on their experience living here.
“I’ve lived here almost my entire life. ‘If you build it, they will come,’” he added, quoting the famous line from the movie, “Field of Dreams.”
The Gregorios’ Freedom Hospitality Group is determined to focus their efforts on their home turf with branches of their coffee shop, What About Coffee (Waco) located several kilometers from one another. The old location of Pat & Pat is being converted into a third Waco while their franchises of JT’s Manukan Grille are also in Quezon City.
For Father’s Day weekend on June 19 to 21, customers at Pat & Pat can order a specially curated set menu featuring signature dishes and premium selections. It opens with a salad made with four kinds of mushrooms over mixed greens followed by a charcuterie board, and then a choice of three pastas: creamy pesto, truffle pasta, and Mom’s lasagna. The latter, made from a recipe perfected by Gregorio’s wife and co-owner Marichele, was satisfyingly cheesy and one worth ordering again.
There are two entrées: ribeye steak with shrimp thermidor, and fried chicken available in spicy or non‑spicy. You can also pick between two paellas — squid ink with scallops, or a grilled‑chicken‑and‑vegetable version. For dessert, let Dad choose from pecan cheesecake, salted caramel banana crunch, or the Dubai cookie skillet.