My quest to find more local coffee shops has led me to another gem. This time, it’s even closer to home. It’s just a quick, 5-minute bike ride away. Let’s take a look at this cozy, must-try place inside Calumpang, Marikina.
The place is managed by one of my friends from the trail-running community. Although we weren’t very close, we did see each other during the events during the good old days. So when he posted on Facebook that they were opening a coffee shop, it immediately caught my attention. And when I found out that it was near me, I was even more intrigued.
I set a date to visit and after a quick walk, I was in the area. The place is easy to spot and is nested right in the heart of a residential area in Calumpang. It’s a perfect location to set up shop because it’s very accessible and the roads are seldom busy. This is definitely one reason why Grill N Brew is doing so well.
The place can hold around 10-15 customers right now but when I talked to my friend, he said that they are planning to add more seats when it’s safer. They have a lot more plans for the place so that’s something I’m looking forward to experiencing.
Browsing their menu, I was happy to see a big offering of drinks and food. The prices were also varied, from a cup of coffee for less then P40, to special drinks up to a couple of hundred pesos. That’s definitely a good way to attract all kinds of customers.
At first, I didn’t know what to order. Since I wanted to try as much of the menu as possible, I ordered the special pizza, a Hungarian sausage sandwich, and a BLT sandwich. For the drinks I had an iced caramel macchiato and a hot peppermint mocha.
The place is self-service, so you tell them your order, pay for it, and then wait for your name to be called to get your meal. So I found a good spot at the back of the place and waited for a bit.
My order started getting ready one by one. At this point, I’ll talk about each dish as they got served.
Up first was the Hungarian sausage sandwich. The sausage itself was legit. It’s those thick ones you can get from posh groceries and it’s definitely heavy on the stomach. It’s served on a regular hotdog bun with cucumber and lettuce, then topped with mustard and ketchup.
Every bite is a mouthful and as a fan of sausages, I enjoyed this one. This will most likely be my go-to meal just because of how filling it is.
Up next is the BLT sandwich. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato plus some other extra ingredients inside a toasted bun. The owner says that they source their bread from nearby Marikina suppliers so every order is also helping the local economy. I liked the flavor of the bacon but this order is more of a snack than a meal for me. Not that I’m complaining because in terms of taste, it does its job to be delicious.
The main event of the meal was the Special Pizza. It’s got some veggies, ham, and lots of cheese on top. I was quite surprised to see pizza on the menu of a coffee shop, but I won’t say no to this one. The crust was thin and just right. For the price, it’s worth every bite. I loved how cheesy and flavorful it was. Even the edges were something I enjoyed eating. This is definitely a must-order if you want to a full stomach for your visit.
And as a welcome to my first visit, the owner was kind enough to treat me to a serving of Fries on the house. And it’s a good thing, too, because otherwise I would have missed out on one of the best entries on the menu!
I don’t know how they did it, but these fries are so crispy, crunchy, and so good to eat. Needless to say, it’s the first order that got emptied when we started eating. These fries are magic and I recommend ordering these every time you visit, no matter what. Yum!
But enough about the food. Grill N Brew is a coffee shop. So let’s see how their drinks fare.
I’m happy to report that their drinks are just as good as their food. The Iced Caramel Macchiato is just the right mix of sweetness and coffee. I had to stop myself from downing the entire cup in one swig. As for the Peppermint Mocha, I liked how the mint isn’t too overpowering. It’s Mocha coffee but with that minty aftertaste. It’s all blended well so that every sip ends in a refreshing minty feel.
I liked everything I ordered so Grill N Brew definitely has something special working for them. This is definitely a place I’d recommend for anyone craving for some good and budget-friendly food near the Calumpang area. I’d dare say that it’s even worth the travel if you’re from somewhere else. 😉
Because I didn’t get to order the Burger during my first visit, I decided to go back and order one for take out. So on the soonest available day, I bought one and opened it immediately when I got home. It’s a good size and the patty definitely has the grilled flavor on it. It’s something you can eat without feeling greasy afterwards. It’s simply a good burger to have for a meal or a snack.
The Brew N Grill experience was definitely a good one. Aside from the fact that it’s owned by a friend, it also serves great food and coffee. I’ll definitely be going back again and again. I’ve been there three times as of this writing and they’re still adding more stuff on their menu so there’s always a reason to go back.
Thank you, boss Jay, for accommodating us! More power to your team and I can’t wait to see (and taste) what else you have in store.
Grill N Brew
[ facebook | instagram ]
Open Daily until 10:30pm
94 JM Basa St. Calumpang, Marikina
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you there!
-jgzn
Jai Online 