They say, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.” 

Most believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Rightfully so, a simple but hearty meal can spring up a good start of the day for any one.  Other than being a main source of energy, a well-prepared breakfast in the morning coupled with a mindset without a worry from yesterday can very well set the mood of the day.

Saturday morning, my family and I headed to Sentro at Bonifacio High Street to enjoy a leisure breakfast together.  I counted my sister and Rocky out due to a test supposedly set for that day and invited Madz and Francis to take their place instead.  But I got an SMS from my sister that the professor decided to move it to another day so there I was with 7 people in tow instead of 5.  I didn’t mind at all since I’m in the company of those close to my heart.  And that’s the best way to start as any.

I’ve known Sentro since many years back when I frequented their Greenbelt branch.  I was one of those vocal fanatics of their famed Sinigang na Corned Beef, Rated GG, Roast Chicken and Sentro Garlic Steak.  Unbeknownst to me, Sentro also serves breakfast offerings from as early as 7AM until onset of brunch hour at 1030AM.   

Sentro’s Breakfast Menu is quite extensive giving ample selection to fit the early riser’s taste buds.  It starts off simply with a choice between Modern Filipino or Western menu option.  With our family of 6 plus 2 friends in tow, preferences are bound to be varied but most, being Pinoy, inclined to get a taste of the local breakfast fares.  And it’s just spot on since Modern Filipino cuisine is what Sentro has perfected for so many years, reinventing favorites through new approaches.

Five decided to order from Sentro’s Filipino Breakfast Set Meal, which is served with mini fresh fruit juice of the day, choice of brewed coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate, tomato and onion scrambled egg, and garlic rice (if you’re on the healthy route and want brown rice, just add PHP 30 for garlic brown rice).

On the Table

Pritong Paksiw Bangus Belly PHP 370

The Milkfish Belly was very lightly fried and then poached in vinegar and garlic blend.  The delicate taste of the fish was very light with undertones of acidity and the glassy belly portion practically melts in the mouth making the breakfast dish overall delectable.

Ginisang Tinapa Flakes with Bagoong PHP 350

Smoked fish flaked and sautéed to a golden brown with shrimp paste.  Serving is good for 2-3.

Sentro’s Breakfast Set Meal would normally come with tomato and onion scrambled egg, a Pinoy favorite, but to be sure, the wait staff asks the preference of cooking upon order.  The kitchen can whip up sunny-side up, over easy, scrambled, poached, fried, etc. 

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Of note is the fact that Sentro uses only organic egg and whole wheat bread.

Adobo Flakes PHP 350

A staple dish in a Filipino family table, the usual Adobo (pork/chicken soy-vinegar stew) was deep fried to a crispy perfection and flaked into crunchy bits that echoes strong garlicky flavor.  It’s highly flavored and even the thin garlic peels are hard to resist. 

Baguio Longganisa na Durog PHP 350

Longganisa is Pinoy’s native version of the sausage.  The Baguio Longganisa na Durog served at Sentro is diced up into small pieces which gives a lot of textural experience.  Recognize a speck of tender meat and some fragments of fat that interplays scrumptiously with vibrant peppery spices that the meat was grounded with.

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Dried Beef Sirloin Tapa PHP 350

Tapa or dried beef is what garners my critical eye usually.  Very few achieve to cook it tenderly as it easily dries out leaving the meat awfully tough that requires a lot of chewing.  Sentro’s dried beef sirloin tapa succeeds in keeping the beef’s freshness intact retaining a sketch of its natural juice which makes it exceptionally tender.  Beef is obviously of quality, resonating superbly with the seasoning.  A bite will prove so but it won’t be enough. 

Hole in One PHP 280

French toast with a hole in the middle and a fried egg cooked in it.  Topped with crispy bacon, and served with pork and beans; brewed coffee or hot chocolate.

My sister Joanne deviated a little from what the rest of the table ordered and went Western.  The Hole in One arrived looking so fascinating with an actual sunny side up egg cooked right in the middle of the French toast.  Joanne loved the shade of caramel and creaminess of the batter on the bread.  And it is such sunshine to crack the yolk of the egg and let the bread seeped the yellow-goodness.  The bacon was impeccably cooked, without being overly greasy, that it crackles at the snap of the strip. 

Other Western breakfast treats include:

Fresh Fruit Platter that comprised of different local fruits –which are currently in season.

Bircher Muesli

A high fiber Swiss breakfast made of granola mix, nuts and raisins mixed with yogurt and topped with fresh fruits

Oatmeal with choice of regular or chocolate

3-Egg French Omelette served with pork and beans, buttered toast and ham, with choice of accompaniment: corned beef, shrimp and chicken, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon.

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Melted Kesong Puti on Pandesal and Guava Jelly PHP 200

Served with native chocolate

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For the price, I expected more from the melted kesong puti on pandesal.  I found the bread a bit thick for the amount of kesong puti.  The Guava Jelly was so sticky, it was a bit difficult to spread it on the cheese-topped bread. 

Taste makes up for it since there’s right balance between the daintiness of the local cheese and slight fruity sweetness of the Guava jelly.

Queso De Bola PHP 180

Served with pandesal and native chocolate

Slightly sharp taste of the queso de bola on pandesal and paired with native chocolate.  Nothing exciting but it’s enough as a tummy filler.

Watermelon Shake

The breakfast meals came with fresh fruit juice and it was this smooth watermelon shake that didn’t have any trace of seed particles.  It was a palate cleanser and a good break right before you finish off with coffee, tea or chocolate (unless you start off with those drinks, then washed the meal down cleanly with the watermelon shake).

Next time, I’m eyeing the Kuisinero Fried Rice (PHP 250), which is rice sautéed with tuyo flkaes, lots of garlic, and topped with egg.  Interestingly, Sentro also offers the regular boneless chicken arroz caldo but go for the unusual and take it with brown rice or with oatmeal.      

 Zero in on Joyce’s happy smiling face 😀

The best breakfasts are spent with family or with your loved ones.  If you have a penchant for starting your day right, Sentro is the place to go for warm service and hearty breakfast plates.  Take more than a mouthful with Sentro’s various breakfast options that will surely not disappoint. 

Sentro 1771

Serendra, Bonifacio Global City,

Fort, Taguig City

(632) 856 0581/ (0917) 814 7794

Serves breakfast from 7am-10:30am

Sentro 1771 Album

Many thanks to Ramon Vera of Sentro for the invite!

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