It's always nice to discover non-commercial establishments run by young entrepreneurs hoping to make it big in the food business. One such establishment in the heart of Pasig is Buffalo Swing. This family-ran hole-in-the-wall resto has been serving excellent buffalo wings and more for more than two years already. Enjoyed mostly by nearby residences like the Riverfront and offices in Ortigas, people who knew about Buffalo Swing may have kept the existence of this wonderful little resto to enjoy it for themselves. But something this good would likely be known in the foodie world eventually. Join happyfoodies with guest foodie Jen as we sample their house specialties.
Ambiance
Ironwulf: Found along the main road at Dr Sixto Antonio Street in Pasig, Buffalo Swing is a small restaurant situated on the ground floor of the owner's house. Don't mistake it for a bakeshop-supply store as Ingrid, the owner, is into baking and also sells pre-mixed baking ingredients and supplies. There are several tables and about 20 people can sit inside. It's a pleasant simple interior with photos of their signature dishes to entice dine-in customers.
Chicken Wings
Jen: The name of the restaurant is derived from this house specialty, so of course it was a given that it definitely merits a good dose of curiosity. Ferdz and I had a go at four of the house flavors. Butter Parmesan easily captured my taste at first bite, and it remained a favorite until, well, the end of the meal. I loved that the play of butter and parmesan cheese added to the flavor and texture, but didn't hide the natural taste of the chicken. I knew it was a chicken dish I was eating – just a very much welcome new version of it.
Oriental Sesame, meanwhile, generously hints of Asian flavor. It was a dish that may fit right in a Chinese fusion menu, and with good reason. Flamin' Lemon married the tang of lemon with just a notch of spice. Not a fan of spicy food, I liked that it was modestly spiced enough that I could eat it reasonably fine.
Now, knowing that the Buffalo Swing (the resto has 3 intensities of spiciness – hot, wild, and blazing) was going to be spicy, I saved it for last. Ferdz, being noticeably more enthusiastic about spicy food than I am, opted for the wild version, which was moderately spicy. Well, at least it was supposed to be moderately spicy. One tentative bite and I was already reaching for my drinks. For someone who likes spicy food, however, I can easily imagine that it would be a good choice. I found it interesting that the spiciness of the buffalo swing owed very little to the sauce, but seemed to have been thoughtfully marinated in the meat itself. The Bleu Cheese dip added a fun flavor to it.
Ironwulf: I tasted the four types of chicken wings in order of flavor strength. The Butter Parmesan has its buttery flavor seeping through the chicken meat all the way to the bones. I love the strong parmesan flavor and the balanced saltiness. The Oriental Wings has a good savory teriyaki flavor and a slight nutty taste from the sesame seeds.
Upping it up the spice level a notch, I tried the Flamin' Lemon which I like due to the herb-filled goodness and moderate heat coming from the spices. Their staple Buffalo Swing have three levels of spiciness from Hot, Wild and Blazing. I went for the middle ground and tried the Wild level and it was indeed spicy. Beads of sweat started forming on my forehead after the first chicken. Their Bleu Cheese dip's creamy flavor compliments the chicken spice.
What I do like about their chicken wings in general is that they are cooked so well, not too crisp or raw maintaining their rich, juicy, and tender flavor. Also, their spiciness doesn't come from a lather of sauce but seeps through the skin to the meat making it all the more flavorful. Priced competitively at: 5pcs - Php 143; 10pcs - Php 273; 20pcs - Php 533; 40pcs - Php 1,043.
Pizza
Jen: Going with the amiable owner's recommendation, we chose to pair up the buffalo wings with pizza. Bacon & Mushroom was both simple and hearty, with the meat honeycured just right and the mushrooms generously tossed in. The toppings didn't overpower but instead complemented each other, which for me made it understatedly classic.
Four Cheese with Garlic, on the other hand, was light and breezy. Combining Mozzarella, Cheddar, Parmesan, and Cream Cheese resulted in a creative kaleidoscope for the taste buds. Garlic gave it a refreshingly zesty kick. I found both pizzas great with buffalo wings, but they're filling enough to stand as a meal in themselves. Oh, and yes, the thin crust definitely made the flavors stand out even better.
Ironwulf: I prefer my pizzas simple and not overly topped with everything you can throw on. Both pizza thin crust were crisp without being overcooked. I especially like the Four Cheese and Garlic Pizza as I enjoyed the variety of cheese and rich tomato sauce layer. There's also the crispy bits of garlic to add another subtle layer of flavor on top.
Coffee and Desserts
Jen: Even though Ferdz and I were both quite full, we looked at the pastries temptingly on display and declared that yes, we would have coffee and dessert to cap off such a delightful afternoon. We shared Brownie ala mode and Oreo Cheesecake. I think what made both items so charming for me was their downright homeyness. There was nothing pretentious about them – you could almost see the plates being carted from someone's kitchen. But the quality didn't compromise in the least. They hit just the right decadence, not too creamy nor saddeningly bland. And then in an endeavor to wrap up everything, I had Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I really liked that the coffee came quite close to what I used to have in Vietnam. It hinted at sweetness courtesy of the condensed milk, but the rich aroma and taste of freshly brewed coffee was also still very evident.
Ironwulf: With Ingrid's fondness of Vietnam, she brought in the goodness of Vietnamese coffee for customers to enjoy. I had the Vietnamese Coffee and like Jen said, it's really close to what I am looking for the type of coffee. It paired well with the two desserts we have. The Brownie ala mode was so memorable because of the soft yet firm browny that was so rich without being too sweet. The Oreo Cheesecake was also good but a bit heavy too that we weren't able to finish it.
Buffalo Swing was a happy find in our neighborhood of Pasig. Despite its location away from the commercial area, it's homey vibe and simply good food are worth visiting for.
Buffalo Swing
#363 Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue
Barangay Caniogan, Pasig City
Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am to 10pm
Sunday 11am to 10pm
Contact: (632) 341-5288, (632) 641-2561
Food Delivery for a minimum of Php 300
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