For their tasting menu, we were treated to a good selection of dishes that perfectly encapsulated the restaurant’s philosophy. First up was the irresistibly crunchy Chicharon del Veedor, with a subtle dusting of flavouring, one bite just wasn’t enough.

¡Oye! prides itself with its modern twist on tapas and their Spanish-style grillery. Advent Manila Group’s CEO, Andrew Masigan, reminded us that much like their XO46 Heritage Bistro they made sure that diners at ¡Oye! were treated to the same calibre of cooking techniques, thus it was very important for them to maintain Spanish expertise when creating their dishes.

With this in mind, they introduced us to the second dish, which was the Huevo Trufado con Patatas y Jamon – a modern twist on the tapas experience, it featured a foamed egg and truffle puree topped with crunchy potato sticks, sprinkled with ham bits.

To follow was the Steak Tartare con Hellado de Mostaza, a treat for the taste buds! With a bed of steak tartare topped with a cold serving of mustard cream, it playfully mixed the delicate meat flavour of the tartare with a cool ice-cream like topper – making it a memorable treat for the palate.

For those craving for skewers, you can look forward to Oye’s Pollo Ma Brasa con Salsa Masada – this comes with multiple servings of perfectly cooked chicken skewers served with fried rice cooked in chicharon oil and topped with a 63-degree egg— talk about sinful!

It’s common knowledge that Filipino diners love their calamares, with that in mind, Oye also serves Callamares Pollenos de Chorizo – stuffed baby squid cooked perfectly. When we thought we couldn’t bear another bite, we were served the delectable Faldo Risotto de Gambas con Albondigas de Pollo and the Solomillo Argentine a la Brosa.

The risotto is reminiscent of our local pansit lug-lug – with seafood and bite-sized albondigas, the dish proved to be filling and flavourful at the same time. To top it all off, we took part in sharing the ample serving of the Solomillo (Argentinian sirloin steak) which had a smooth, almost buttery texture to the bite. Oozing with brawny flavour and delicate aromatic tones, the Solomillo is definitely one for the books. 

For dessert, we were served Leche con Galletas which literally means “milk and biscuits”. For a temporary twist, the dessert features multiple layers of homemade brownies, cream, and classic Marie cookies.

A favourite from Resident Chef Joseba Sola’s childhood, the dessert holds a sentimental meaning for the restaurant and Spanish diners alike. ¡Oye! Tapas Grill & Bar also features a stellar selection of drinks including a killer signature cava that can be paired with your meal.

¡Oye! Tapas Grill & Bar is located at G/F Uptown Mall, BGC. For more information, you can visit their Facebook Page or the Advent Group’s website: adventmanilagroup.com