As a food blogger constantly looking for new places to eat in and write about, I rarely go back to restaurants that I've already reviewed. However, there's this one place that I keep coming back to even if there's nothing new to write about it. It's Amor Bakery along the busy street of Espana in Manila, near UST.
I first blogged about this place that was really just a "bakery" when it opened in April 2015. Today, I'm happy to report that it has grown really big, with several branches already! Amor also is now already a full service
restaurant serving hot meals.
The new stores are in SM City Manila, Ongpin St. also in Manila, Tandang Sora in Quezon City, Katipunan also in Quezon City, and SM Center in Sangandaan, Caloocan City. There are also two stores now outside Metro Manila -- at SM Baliwag in Bulacan, and in Cagayan de Oro City. Soon, there will be branches as well
in Pulilan, Bulacan and in Pampanga.
in Pulilan, Bulacan and in Pampanga.
I visit Amor-Espana every now and then, usually on Sundays after going to church. I love whiling away time there, writing my blog. Sometimes, I tag the kids along; one time, a friend, who came all the way from Mindanao, and knew Amor is my favorite spot that really has a soft spot in my heart. Aww..
What do I love about Amor? The beauty of the place itself. If you haven't been to any of its stores, I strongly urge you to go and see for yourself the lovely interior and experience the relaxing ambiance especially at night when the lovely chandeliers are on, casting faint light as well as shadows. The capiz lamps on tables also
set a fine, subdued mood that soothes.
set a fine, subdued mood that soothes.
Now on to the food. It's last August that Amor-Espana started to offer hot meals. Before, I would just have bread and coffee or fruit tea as those were all that's available. Nowadays, I could go to have lunch as there's pasta, rice meals, soup and salad. Sliced cake is also available now, in case I'm in need of dessert. Haha!
These are what I've tried out of the new menu so far:
 |
| Corn-infused Cream of Cauliflower soup, P139. This soup is healthy as well as tasty. I thought having cauliflower, it wouldn't taste as good as say, mushroom soup, but I was wrong. For once, I could have something both healthy and delicious. It's flavorful and creamy, only, too thick. I would have liked it more if it were a little more watery. But the piece of garlic toast was love. It was crunchy! I wished there were two pieces instead of one. |
 |
| Kani Spring Roll Salad, P139. This salad is heavy on the tummy because of the crabmeat and noodle-filled Vietnamese-style spring rolls. The greens are topped with very thin strips of kani or seaweed and everything is drizzled with a sweet peanut sauce. Delicious!  You've gotta give this Asian-style pasta some love because it's really good! It's basically spaghetti noodles with maybe, soy and sesame oil and seeds, with lots of bite-sized chicken, carrots, peanuts and what seemed to me to be either cubed chayote or turnip. Thumbs up to this dish that could give one a filling and satisfying meal. |
 | ||
| Braised pork belly with Buttered Vegetable Spears and Mashed Potato, P145. I loved that there's a lot of veggies here. And the pork is really good! The sauce, with it's glorious red color, is sweetish and delightful.  The only downside to this dish? The pork slices were horribly fatty and there was just so little lean meat for me to eat! Oh, Amor, please choose leaner pork as this one's gonna give me a heart attack! If you do, this Braised pork belly is going to be a perfect dish for lunch or dinner.  This was very new on the menu, offered starting only last Saturday, September 30, the server told me after asking if it was good. For me, this was heavenly although I'm pretty sure not everyone would agree. This cake's level of sweetness is really low, that's why it's the perfect cheat day dessert for diabetics like me. Haha! I love matcha and I shun anything too sweet, so me and this cake are a match made in heaven, methinks! Meanwhile, Amor has made available several new bread varieties that aren't only visually appealing but yummy too! My top faves are the Sausage Danish and Ham BBQ Danish, while the others were my kids' orders which they loved. 
|
Pork Floss Bun, 59.; Ham, corn and egg, P49.
Drink is Chocolate Milk Tea, P95.
As for the drinks, these are what my kids and I love at Amor:
Caramel Macchiato, 500 ml, P170.
Mocha Frapmor, 500 ml, P160.
Lychee Smorthie, P120.
 |
Lychee Fruit Tea, 500 ml, P85.
In and around Amor in Espana, Manila
Upstairs:
|
Downstairs:
Counter
 |
| Yummy-looking all! |
Menu
Amor at the corner of Espana Blvd. and Tolentino St.,
Sampaloc, Manila
Amor Bakery won't be "mi amor" for nothing and you can take my word for it -- you're gonna love it there. Enjoy the food, drinks and the place itself
together with your family and friends.
Happy eating!
together with your family and friends.
Happy eating!
