So a friend wanted to libre another friend, though the emphasis was to find “something good that won’t empty the bank account”. This was how we came across Blake’s Wings & Steaks, which had a pretty-looking branch along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, which, admittedly, was a lure for us.
Blake’s, however, isn’t exactly new. The very first branch opened five years ago in Marikina, and it now has eight branches, some are even in malls. And yeah… it is known for offering more affordable steaks (among its numerous offerings, of course), which makes it an okay option for the budget conscious particularly sa presyong Bagong Pilipinas at the time of Bongbong Marcos.
So how did we find this place?
@outragemag Eyeing an affordable #steakhouse dating venue? We #LGBT checked Blake’s in #QuezonCity ♬ original sound – Outrage Magazine
Una, the place is actually easy to find as it’s basically a stone’s throw away from Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Crame, Eastwood Malls, Araneta, and so on. Yun nga lang, it is best accessed by those with vehicles; or at least by those who can afford to pay Grab or motor taxi.
Ikalawa, the actual place is… pleasant. Mukha siyang non-mall-based Outback resto, Longhorn Steakhouse, American Steakhouse, and so on with a standalone Western-looking building.
Ambiance-wise, maaliwalas siya since high ceilinged ang place, and the tables were arranged in a way that allows customers to move around pa rin… if that’s what they need to do, of course.
Katabi ng steakhouse ang pizza parlor, so they share the parking… and you can order from the pizza parlor’s menu even if you’re eating at the steakhouse.
Ikatlo, keri naman ang personnel. One of the things we noticed was the number of staff; it almost seemed like there were too many of them. But at least they paid attention to the customers’ needs without being intrusive.
Ika-apat, how was the food?
- We started with the Kani Mango Salad (₱395), which – according to the resto’s menu – combines shredded crab sticks and fresh green vegetables with their “own organic sweet balsamic vinegar”. But, TBH, lower your expectations. Not tasting like Japanese kani salad, this one’s quite bland, though at least the veggies were fresh.
- Yep, Blake’s has more expensive steaks – e.g. Angus Ribeye Prime Grade Steak for ₱2,995, or Australian Porterhouse Steak for ₱1,695. But for this visit, we tried their more practical “Winner Steaks It All!” offerings. Particularly, the ₱495 Flat Iron Steak, and the ₱465 Porterhouse Steak.
Notably, both steaks were well-seasoned. But opt for the Flat Iron Steak na lang when you’re here since the slab of meat is heftier, meaning mas may makakain ka at may malalasahan; and it’s better cooked since hindi siya chewy like the Porterhouse Steak. - We ordered two pizzas from Big Mama (the pizza parlor right beside the steakhouse) – i.e. Pesto Garlic Shrimp (₱629) and Hawaiian (₱539). This is supposed to be “New York-style pizza”, although marketing-wise, that claim is always problematic. Which part of New York are they even talking about, considering that different nationalities form different boroughs prepare pizza differently. The pizzas we got may have been typically greasy, but taste-wise… we couldn’t even remember tasting pesto and shrimp, or the pineapple slices. Di naubos.
- Blake’s has its own chili sauce that’s available for sale; grab if you can because this one’s quite good. Tamang anghang that doesn’t take over the taste buds, but adds umami to whatever you’re eating.
Buod: if you’re looking for not-expensive steaks that are actually well-seasoned, include Blake’s in your list of to-check venues. We are certain there are others pa. But at least we know okay food can be had naman pala without overspending.
And so join us as we look for more lafang venues.
Blake’s Wings & Steaks – Katipunan is located at A186 Katipunan Ave., Brgy. Blue Ridge A, Quezon City. They’re open from 10AM–10PM on Monday–Thursday; and from 10AM–11PM on Friday–Sunday. For more information, contact (02) 8635 2097 or (0917) 985 4078.
