Giant local retail brand Bench further cements its position in the food industry with the opening of the second branch of its concept restaurant Bench Café.
Established a year ago, Bench Café is a full-fledged restaurant founded through the partnership of FOODEE Global Concepts, one of Manila’s largest multi-brand food groups run by father and son tandem Rikki and Eric Dee, and Suyen Corporation, headed by Ben Chan, Virgilio Lim, and Bryan Lim.
“Bench Café brings traditions from all over the islands to create flavors that are distinctively Filipino, in a style that is uniquely Bench, and that is casual but sophisticated, simple but substantial, local but global—all at good price points,” said FOODEE Global Concepts chief operating officer Eric Dee.
The restaurant first opened at Bonifacio High Street in Taguig.
“We are proud and happy to continue to partner with Suyen Corporation in Bench Café’s expansion and bring its unique flavors to more Filipinos as we open our second restaurant at Greenbelt 3,” added Dee.
Imbibing Bench’s social media hashtag and overall thrust, #LiveLifeWithFlavor, Bench Café celebrates classic Filipino dishes by giving them a global, sophisticated twist. The restaurant’s growing popularity is owed to a unique dining concept that delivers a sensory experience through its well-designed and inviting interiors, and a mouthwatering selection of interesting and satisfying dishes.
On the menu are Filipino favorites with elements of traditional and modern Pinoy cooking, and fusion meals that adopt culinary traditions from different cultures.
Must-tries include Sisig Lettuce Cups with Calamansi Foam, Crispy Lumpia Cones with Tinapa Mousse and Salsa, Tsoknut Ice Cream Sandwich (toasted ensaymada filled with tsoknut ice cream), and Flan B (leche flan with macapuno).
The menu also features Bench/To, which is inspired by bento meals of Japan but reimagined to cater to the Filipino tradition of family dining. Combos include B6 (Dancing Fish, kaldereta, crispy dilis, Bench Salsa, plain rice), B8 (lechon kawali, laing, atsara, Bench Salsa, plain rice), and B12 (pork barbecue, gising-gising, green mango salad, Bench Salsa, plain rice). The café also features other Pinoy dining table staples such as street food, rice, silog, merienda, halo-halo, and kapeng barako.
Bench Café is located on the second floor of Bench flagship store at 9th Ave. cor. Lane O, Bonifacio High Street, BGC, and on the second floor of Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati.“‹
