Bugsy’s Alabang – Good drinks, good eats

I first happened on Bugsy’s in 2007. As I used to frequent City Golf driving range back in those days, I would often snack at one of the restaurants fronting the range. One day, I arranged a late afternoon meeting at my favorite coffee shop there only to find that it had been taken over by Bugsy’s.

This wasn’t a bad thing. Not in the least.

Not only did Bugsy’s have a more extensive menu than the coffee shop it replaced, the food was far better  and they had a full bar to boot. Instead of coffee, we skipped straight to happy hour instead. That turned a meeting that was supposed to last an hour into an early session of food and drink that broke up just before 10 PM.

Fast forward to today and Bugsy’s has expanded to Makati, Burgos Circle at The Fort in Taguig and just recently to Alabang West Gate. A friend invited me over to the West Gate branch and I quickly agreed. I was curious to see if the good food and cold drinks had carried over to the newest branch in the chain. So often quality suffers as the enterprise expands. This clearly was not the case here.

Bugsy’s started when a group of friends were toying with the idea of putting up their own bar. They had long wanted to put up a place where they could enjoy good quality food, indulge in drinks, and engage in lively conversation with other friends. They envisioned a cozy place with dark wood tables and chairs, roomy and plush couches, and an inviting bar. Taking inspiration from prohibition- era mobster movies in which people would congregate in intimate cocktail bars and lounges, the friends came up with the name “Bugsy’s”, after Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, the infamous underworld figure who was instrumental in the development of the Las Vegas gambling scene. They’ve gone from strength to strength with each branch they’ve opened and the one in Alabang was no exception.

The ambiance of the West Gate branch is cozy. Lighting is dim and relaxing. The fare is American casual dining with a bevy of premium drinks to wash it down. One is tempted to compare the menu with American chains such as TGI Fridays, Chili’s and the like and it would be a fair comparison. The food is finger lickin’d good, from the starters to the priciest entree. The good news is that prices are far more agreeable than any foreign chain you care to mention. What started out as a food tasting quickly turned into a party as friends called, came over and stayed to partake of the great food and cold drink. 

We started with the Buffalo Tenders, chicken fillets of white meat done up in the style of New York’s famed Buffalo wings and followed that up with Onion Rings. The perfect starter. The sweet, sour and spicy flavors prepped the palate for the goodness yet to come. The Onion Rings are something that many restaurants tend to screw up but these were perfectly done. The breading was crisp and perfectly spiced. Bigger groups would be well advised to opt for the Family platter; a combination of Bugsy’s most popular starters.

Next at the table was the Classic American Burger. A 250-gram pure beef patty on a bed of lettuce, tomato and a whole wheat bun with a slab of cheese on top, served with a side of potato wedges. Nothing too fancy here, the fresh ingredients and the perfectly cooked beef patty are the stars.

Conversation flowed freely, well lubricated by Bugsy’s selection of premium imported beer; Stella Artois, Hoegaarten, Becks, Corona are all served here and served cold. There is a full bar with a bevy of premium wines and spirits if that is your preference. Needless to say, we were in a great mood when the entrees arrived.

The Pan Seared Salmon is served with a choice of rice pilaf or carbonara. We opted for the pilaf. The salmon is a fish that is so easy to overcook. When treated this way, it becomes tough and rubbery. Ours was expertly cooked and retained its juicy, slightly flaky texture and was seasoned properly.

The star of the show was unquestionably the Bugsy Siegel. A 400-gram, 1″ thick ribeye steak grilled to our preference (in this case, medium rare). I cannot tell you enough how much I enjoyed this steak. It is my favorite item on the menu, one I intend to enjoy often. I mentioned pricing earlier. I am frankly amazed at how reasonable prices are here. The Bugsy Siegel comes to just PhP 675 – a bargain for a steak of that quality. I do hope they’re making a profit. I’d hate to see a restaurant this good go out of business.

Bugsy’s food may sound like simple fare, but it is the freshness and quality of the ingredients that made everything we ordered so delicious. There is something serendipitous about letting the ingredients shine. That’s what you get at Bugsy’s – great ingredients done perfectly. Nothing too fancy just good eats.