Kain: Blake’s Wings & Steaks Marikina Review

One evening, we were looking for a place to have dinner when this familiar restaurant popped into my head. With no other options coming to mind, we decided to take the drive here. This is our latest experience with Blake’s. Let’s go!

This isn’t our first time eating here. We’ve tried their branch in Katipunan before as well as had their steaks delivered at home. All these previous experiences were pleasant and we expected the same thing here.

We were surprised to discover that they have transferred to a new building along the same avenue. This new location was more spacious, despite being only one floor. Most noticeable is the additional parking space. This is good because the place is always fully packed.

When we arrived, we were the 6th group on the waiting list. Thankfully, there were lots of seats and people moved quickly. We were seated promptly and our orders taken.

The first to arrive was their pizza, which is from a different brand also housed in the same location. Big Mama’s Pizza is available for pick up in the same building and can be ordered alongside the Blake’s Menu for dine in.

We got their Prosciutto & Arugula pizza. I eat pizza slices crust-first, and I enjoyed this one in particular. It was airy, thin and light. I liked dipping it in their chili oil as well as Blake’s Hot Sauce.

There was roughly one thin slice of prosciutto and one arugula leaf per slice of pizza, but we couldn’t complain because of how flavorful it was. The saltiness of the prosciutto was subtle, and was complemented well by the arugula. I enjoyed biting into the texture of the meat and feeling it tear apart.

The hidden star of this pizza was the base layer made of thick cheese and this was what I enjoyed the most. Every bite was scrumptious.

I could finish this pizza alone if I was given the chance, but I had to leave room for our next dishes.

Our intended appetizer was the heavenly Buttermilk Calamari. I’m a big fan of fried squid rings and I order it most of the time it’s on the menu. Blake’s takes it to the next level by soaking it in buttermilk before breading and frying.

This results into one of the most tender pieces of squid I’ve ever eaten. No kidding, this might be my favorite calamari dish in recent history.

The pieces just kept popping into my mouth. It’s a good thing that the serving size is large enough that we had some left to take out.

To top it off, it’s served with both tartar sauce and tomato salsa. This ensures that you don’t get tired of the flavor throughout the entire meal. This is now something I must order every time I visit.

Another dish we shared was the Truffle Cream Pasta. These penne noodles were served perfectly al dente. I enjoyed eating them piece by piece because chewing them felt good as they oozed their cream in my mouth.

The truffle flavor was present but not overpowering. Mama and Shane actually noticed a stronger garlic flavor from the dish, which I attributed to garlic oil. This is no problem for me, because I love that kind of flavor. It actually reminded me of some ramen broth I’ve tasted that had black garlic oil in it.

While this does not top the list of Truffle Pasta we’ve had, I’m glad it has its own flavor. Lots of Truffle pasta have started to taste the same so I’m happy when there’s something new to my taste buds.

And just like the Calamari, the serving size is generous as we were able to take some home.

Finally, we ordered their Porterhouse Steak. We chose herbed butter to be lathered on top and their original gravy on the side.

The steak was served perfectly medium rare as we requested. It was thin, but wide. We had a bit of a tough time slicing through the tendons in the meat, but the parts not connected to the bone were very tender.

I was actually surprised with how soft the meat was. Chewing it was effortless and it just seemed to melt into flavor in my mouth. I don’t recall Blake’s having this tender of a steak before. Maybe the stars aligned for us to receive the perfect cut of beef, but this was absolutely divine.

We initially ordered this for just one person, but there was enough for the three of us to share. It also came with mashed potato and carrots & corn on the side. These were okay but nothing noteworthy.

This was the only dish we cleaned the plate with, and rightfully so. This is a steak worth remembering. It’s definitely one of the best I’ve had for its price range.

We also got their Homeblend Iced Tea and Hot Chocolate. I liked the flavor of their Iced Tea because it was distinct and not just the usual, sweet, powdered ones. However their, Hot Chocolate was too sweet for my liking. I added some water to the cup and its drinkability was greatly improved.

I wasn’t expecting anything special by eating at Blake’s but they have definitely improved over the years. Even their staff were very hospitable and quickly addressed the customers’ needs. The quality of this brand overall has increased and I can see why they have opened so many branches all over the metro.

We left the restaurant very full and completely satisfied.

The only downside here would be the long wait and the lack of parking, so I advise you to arrive early if you want to eat here. Even their branches in the malls are always packed, so plan accordingly.

Blake’s Wings & Steaks
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10:00AM to 10:00PM Mondays to Thursdays
10:00AM to 11:00PM Fridays to Sundays
Gil Fernando Ave., cor Sta. Ana Ext.,
Midtown Subdivision, Brgy. San Roque,
Marikina City

From an occasional place to eat when there’s no other choice, to being one of my top restaurants to come back to. I need to try their back ribs which I kept seeing on other people’s tables. And their chicken wings. And their burgers. And so much more.

Thanks for reading and happy eating, always!

-jgzn

P.S. Thank you, Shane, for the wonderful photos!