Date # 61: Torch by Peppermill

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  I originally wanted to celebrate my birthday in a steakhouse like Myron’s or Melo’s, but I went against the idea later on because I realized that Torch in Connecticut, San Juan, would be the more interesting choice.

  We celebrated Douglas’ birthday last year in Shang Palace, before I outgrew my Xiao Long Bao obsession and moved on to steaks (and had a buffalo wing obsession in between). 

  Torch by Peppermill is a casual bar/restaurant that serves fusion food. They serve a wide variety of dishes, ranging from fusion sushi rolls to pizzas to scrumptious steaks.

  The Truffle Fries (P234.95) were amazing, for each piece exuded the appetizing earthy fragrance you’d expect from anything tossed in truffle oil. Each piece was soft inside, and maintained nice, crisp edges on the outside. It’s served with the Peppermill signature sauce, which I thought went well with the fries, by giving it a nice, ranch-y taste.

  We both had Bottomless Lemon Iced Teas (P150) since we don’t drink alcohol and the softdrinks weren’t bottomless :))

  The Volcano Roll (P324.95) was basically a Japanese sushi roll filled with tempura, tamago, Japanese cucumbers and topped with US Scallops. It had a sweet-spicy taste that came from its overflowing lava of sauce. I’d say the serving is too big for two people, since each roll is a bit heavy.

  The highlight of our meal was the Steak Fondue (P849). It’s basically composed of tender Meltique-beef cubes, served with five sauces. They also give you a hot pot of oil where you, yourself can cook the cubes of meat on your table.

  The lean parts were as tender as can be, although the fatty bits can be a little tough. It’s tasty without sauce, although it’s still better dipped in either one of the five sauces. The cup of meat is only good enough for one person although the fondue experience is better with friends (especially this one, since you have to wait for the meat to cook in the pot of oil). Most of its appeal really comes from the ability it gives you to interact with your food.

  My favorite sauce was the one in the circular bowl, while Douglas’ favorite was the light brown one on the lower left.

  Generally, I think the price is justified, although of course it’s not gonna give you the full-blown steak experience.

  Our Pumpkin Soup (P149) was awkwardly served last. I think this is the dish we didn’t like overall. The soup had a watery consistency, and Douglas commented that he didn’t like the taste.

Overall Verdict: We think that Torch is great. It’s perfect for barkada hangouts or dates. The food they serve is unique in concept, and great in taste. We think the food is reasonably priced, too. 

Torch by Peppermill

Home Studio Building,

63 Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan

(632) 477 3771/ (632) 502 0000

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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