RomantiCurious

Sometimes, you need a break from the daily grind – a change of environment and being able to satisfy your cravings with the right people to enjoy the experience with you. We decided to do just that with an extra goal of trying out something new to our palates. A new gastronomic experience is always a welcome respite from our daily routine.

Since we decided to go out after work hours on a Tuesday night and we’re already anticipating the traffic during commute. We decided to meet up at La Trattoria Altrov’e in Makati for an Italian cuisine night. Surprisingly, we got there quite early. Our other companion had parked further and was lost for a bit. Directions got sorted, we browsed the menu, and we finally got to take pictures of our meal items.

First off though, we couldn’t help but appreciate the chill and quirky ambiance. It was formal enough for a fine dining experience but chill enough that you didn’t feel so stiff around the place or the staff. It had a rustic but charming vibe with modern accents that makes for a unique combination. I especially love the purple backlight on the ceiling. The soft background music also added to the nice, relaxing atmosphere.

We wanted a break from the usual but we we’re still craving the familiar so we ordered ourselves a pizza and pasta. We ordered the classic Margherita Pizza and the Gamberi Olio d’Oliva. Everything was rich and delicious!

The Margherita Pizza was hearty and tasty. The simple cheese pizza with olive oil was made healthier as it was cooked in the brick oven. The dough was just right in thickness and texture – not too thin and flaky, not too thick and too chewy. If we didn’t have another dish to savor, I would have wanted to eat more of this.

Next is the Gamberi Olio d’Oliva for a healthier option. We opted for shrimp instead of a meaty pasta because we wanted to veer away from our usual creamy, meaty or tomato-based pasta fare. This one was light but still flavorful so, yes, we finished the whole thing!

Each of the orders are good for 2-3 persons so it was just right for the 3 of us. We couldn’t finish off a few slices of the pizza though so I was happy to take the rest of it home.

La Trattoria Altrov’e is a nice place to spend a nice dinner with family and friends, or even your date. But if you want to enjoy a more upbeat atmosphere, then you should visit them on Wednesday where they have a ballroom night.

After some time to chat after our hearty dinner, we decided to cap of the night with some drinks at our favorite place, Single Origin in their Makati branch.

As usual, my companions ordered from their happy hour drinks menu while I got myself a mocktail. We decided to switch things up and ordered their nachos instead of the fries. In fairness, this was very flavorful and satisfying; so much so that we ordered another serving.

The place was smaller than their Rockwell branch but it was just as cozy and a bit more boisterous. Still, we enjoyed chatting the night away in the middle of sipping our drinks and munching on nachos. We will definitely plan another evening break like this again. Time like this is important not just for our mental health but for our emotional health as well. We were able to do what we wanted to do without anyone judging us or deadlines hounding us – definitely an important point for our self love.