Who would say no to a plate of USDA certified steak done just the way they like\ it? Well, probably a vegetarian - but this place has Portobello Mushroom steaks for them as well, so they can't complain. If you ever get the hankering for your favorite cut of beef, charbroiled to utter perfection, with your choice of toppings, sidings, and sauces - then by Jove, you have got to head on over to Chops Chicago Steakhouse.
The Schmuze Crew was at it again - eating our way to our clients' hearts, this time, it was at Chops! After an excruciatingly long work day, we arrived pretty late, and we were all pretty famished, looking forward to chowing down on Rib Eye steak done just right - exactly the kind of happy gluttony this steaklover's steakhouse specializes in.
I love the very masculine vibe of the place - it is poised to be a gentleman's steakhouse after all. The dark oak, dim lighting, leather furniture and all that whiskey stocked at the bar reminds me of the Godfather, with Marlon Brando in a corner somewhere, smoking a stogie.
Shortly after ordering, our Classic Caesar Salad (P285) arrived at the table - crispy Romaine lettuce topped with bits of bacon, herb croutons, and Parmesan cheese, drizzled with a classic Caesar dressing. As expected, the salad was crisp and fresh, with the bacon, Parmesan, and dressing lending the green leafy veg most of their flavor.
The portions of the food they serve are great for sharing, which also makes this restaurant the perfect date place! Guys, you need to treat your ladies right and order a nice chuck of beef - you know what I mean.
Our orders of USDA Certified 10 oz Angus Beef (P1,550) finally came out after a couple more minutes of waiting. Done medium rare, it was grilled nicely on the outside, with a delightful shade of pink greeting you once you cut into it. These guys really know how to make a great steak!
You can mix and match your steak with all their various kinds of sauces, toppings, and sides at Chops. We were a pretty big group, so we had a lot! My favorite was the Creamed Spinach (P180), everyone else seemed to love the Potato Overload (P180) - we had around three of those, I think - and the Skillet Butter Corn (P180) was a nice addition to dinner.
After we were practically stuffed with dinner, the Empress of Schmuze still had room for a bite (or three) of dessert. Out came the Banana Cream Pie (P195) - a Graham chocolate crust, with toffee and caramel in the middle, topped with shaved bananas, peanut brittle, and a generous helping of whipped cream. It was way too sweet for my taste, pretty good though.
No one could say no to the Golden Rum Cake (P190) - I mean, come on, it was just sitting there - a freshly baked yellow butter cake, citrus glazed syrup and Captain Morgan rum. A small bite went a very long way at this point.
The last dessert to come out was the Crème Brûlée (P210) with cardamom and Bourbon custard cream and a torched citrus caramel on top. Although it was also a bit too sweet for my taste (I'm really more of a chocoholic when it comes to dessert), it was executed perfectly.
The service was fast, the servers were very knowledgeable knew their meat, and knew exactly what to recommend to our rowdy group of eight. When mucking around Makati, this is definitely a place I'd go back to again, and again.
Raymond Magdaluyo and Chef Peter Ayson's new restaurant is a runaway hit with great steak, perfect sidings, and really yummy dessert - you most definitely get your money's worth at this place. And remember, with all that food you'd be stuffing into your gob - it's probably best if it were shared!
Chops Chicago Steakhouse
+63 2 945 8088
4th Level, Greenbelt 5
Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St., Ayala Center,
Makati City
Open Daily: 11am - 11pm
