Despite being a mere five-minute walk from the City Hall MRT station, stepping into Chijmes always feels like walking into a little wine and dine oasis from the bustling city. Today, we headed for some American cuisine at Bobby’s in Chijmes.
Started in 1995 as Bobby Rubino’s, this restaurant has undergone a major revamp to become Bobby’s Taproom, Grill + Ribs. We entered into its contemporary and appealing décor—it was clear that the owners had given great attention to detail, judging from fixtures such as the custom oryx-horn chandelier. The overall ambience was inviting and perfect for chilling out.
We started our meal with the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, which was a well-seasoned delight for the taste buds. Crunchy and fresh, the romaine leaves were amply coated with the creamy yet light dressing. There was a very generous portion of tender chicken, which was perfectly grilled. It made up for the rather average mushroom soup.
For my mains, I ordered the Prime Rib Steak, reasonably priced despite the huge portion. I loved how buttery and terrifically tender it was. It came with two substantial side dishes—mashed potatoes and salad—which complemented the steak very well. The mashed potatoes were beautifully done, creamy and smooth while the salad was a classy leaf salad in perfect accompaniment to the steak.
The meat on the Signature Baby Back Pork Ribs was so well-cooked, to the point that it fell off the bones. Tender and beautifully marinated, it was coated with a superb glaze, which made it a pleasure for the palate. Although the meat was thick, it was also supremely soft and easy to consume. In addition, it came with a huge serving of coleslaw and fries, which all added up to a most pleasurable eating experience.
On a cool night, you can choose to sit al fresco for a view of the Chijmes fountain and hall. Seating capacity goes up to at least 80 pax for the al fresco area, 120 indoors and another 50 at the bar. Take note though, as this is one of the few smoking bars in Chijmes, so be sure to request for a table in the non-smoking section if you are sensitive to smoke.
This branch of Bobby’s at Chijmes has a few advantages over its sister bistro at Cuppage—in terms of ambience and a more varied menu.
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Bobby’s@Chijmes
30 Victoria Street, #B1-03 CHIJMES
Fountain Court, Tel: 6337-5477
Bobby’s@Cuppage
25-27 Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace, Tel: 6734-3323
