27/05/2023
Located in the posh enclave of Sta. Ursula, Rafa's Cafè offers a fresh and surprisingly exciting take on the burgeoning coffee shop industry in the district. Opened just a few weeks ago, Rafa's has already captivated a loyal army of followers ranging from HS students looking for a quick escape from their studies to young professionals and even the established ones who are busy with their philanthropic agenda.
Rafa's Cafè is THE place to be in Binangonan's social scene these days.
Why?
First, the food. Everything is personalized and handmade. Their dishes are from heirloom recipes passed on from one generation to the next. Our favorites include their Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Roast Beef, Monte Cristo sandwich and potato chips. The creamy Tuscan chicken consists of perfectly pan-seared chicken bathed in sauce made from (high-end) cream mixed with butter, garlic and cherry tomatoes. The roast beef is so flavorful without the aide of artificial seasoning and it's just so tender. With savory, thick gravy and freshly cubed veggies on the side, it's beef perfection! Let's not forget about the sandwich, me being not a fan of sweets, I had doubts if I would like it but Xander, the all-smile service staff, recommended it so we tried it. And we couldn't agree more. Rafa's Monte Cristo is so delicately prepared, with thin layers of brioche-y sandwich, ham and cheese, it has easily become our favorite. Oh, so why the potato chips? Well, other restos would simply give you Lays or Pringles, but here, it is A MUST that you order it together with your main dish or coffee. Hindi kayo magsisisi! It's so crispy, so thinly sliced and so flavorful without much salt or other artificial flavorings common with other in-house chips. Mind you, ours is exposed to the fan for an hour already and yet, it remained crispy and nakaka adik talaga.
Next, the coffee. They pay particular attention and spare no minute detail to make our coffee experience remarkably good. They only use the finest Arabica beans from Benguet organically and ethically grown by our hardworking farmers from the North. And in Rafa's, you don't simply mix your coffee upon serving, you have to experience the distinct journey of the senses as you sip from one layer to the next. First, you sip the finely brewed coffee, then the essence between the coffee and the cream and then eventually, your chosen flavor at the bottom. You don't need to hurry as the cafè wants you to savor the moment and live in the present. No rush, no stress. Our faves include the fool-proof salted caramel and chocolate caramel latte on ice.
Finally, the pastries. We got the chance to taste their cheesy taisan and ube-cheese taisan. They're fluffy, soft and traditionally-made Filipino loaf cake that go well with any coffee. But my personal favorite is their giant chocolate cookies. Again, I am not into sweets and yet, I had a change of heart when I tasted their's. It was a little crispy outside but soft and chewy inside. It's not too sweet with a slight saltiness only to be eclipsed by the chunky chocolate chips in between. It's just so heavenly!
Ofcourse, I would never forget how courteous and friendly their staff is. They are always attentive to our needs and are always willing to accommodate our requests during our visit.
I also wanted to give a nod on how stylish yet welcoming their place is. It embraces clean lines yet with subtle touch of romance, a contrast between the rigidity and coldness of the solid metal frames and aluminum married with the warmth of wood and pink roses. They call it contemporary industrial, I call it industrial glam.
Overall, the cafè is a narrative of contrasts. It is airy yet warm. It is delicate yet strong. It is both poetry and prose, lovingly shaped by the people who visit it and call it their second home.
⏰ Mon-Fri 3PM to 10PM; Sat-Sun 9AM to 10PM
🚘 Google Maps/Waze: Rafa's Cafe Binangonan
Special thanks to Ms Anne Guallar-Fowler and Tita Heidi Mesa for the kind and generous invites 🤗
