Muruve

Tucked at an unnoticeable corner at the back of the Ortigas Home Depot Complex (which is going under a lot of development with cheap eats and specialty shops), and beside Pier One, Muruve's lights are dim yet inviting. Talk about being hidden. The newest wine venue, Muruve offers an alternative to wine lovers who frequent Barcino's nearby.


I really love this place. I saw one of their roadside ads along Julia Vargas, and being a new resto, I was excited to try it out. Turns that that the place was more of a wine hang out. I was able to visit it one night, and after that, I came back the next night and 2 nights after, bringing in different people.


Their food is mostly Spanish and I can commend them for having great dishes at reasonable prices. On my first visit, we sampled the Tapas Platter, which had yummy chorizo bilbao and spanish sardines. In other occasions, I was able to try their Lengua, which was satisfactory like it came out straight from Mom's kitchen. The serving was not that big though. The Goat Kaldereta was a better choice, with the goat meat tender and flavorful as well. The Gambas had nothing special, and I found the shrimp a bit tough (signaling unfreshness). Their Cheese Platter was quite disappointing, and the presentation sloppy. They do have Manchego though, but was always unavailable.


Finally, the wine. I am a sucker at wine, and I have my friend Jason usually pick out the best ones. I have given up mastering wine pairing, and knowing all the different classifications, simply because I want to enjoy drinking instead. So, I can't really give much feedback and details. I just want to mention that their wine is relatively cheap, at P350 to 500 a bottle to get good quality.


Muruve is not perfect, not a culinary haven, but it achieves something that I have trouble finding these days: a good and quiet space. It may not be good for business, but when I go there, they only have two to three tables occupied. Perhaps, this is so because they are still new, and relatively hidden. But this is what makes me keep coming back. It's such a nice hang out, perfect to spend a weekday night cap with friends (which we usually do now).