Charlie’s Grind and Grill

Posted by Ian Galliguez in Eat and Drink | 7 comments

The best discoveries are the ones you least expect to unearth in the last place on earth you find it on. One such example is Charlie’s Grind and Grill at Barrio Kapitolyo in Pasig City.

It has been rumored that Charlie’s has the best burger and fries. During our guesting at 99.5RT, a caller recommended the place and swore up and down that their potato wedges and/or fries were to die for. We just had to trek on out there to find out if any of the claims are true. It’s a good thing I used to live in the area so we didn’t have any trouble finding the place. You might have some trouble finding it because it’s perfectly wedged at the corner of a car wash on a busy street.

We chatted the head chef up and he recommended the black angus burgerwith their famous fries or chips. He also suggested that we try their Buffalo wings. So, try we did. Another impressive item(s) on the menu are their choices of beer. Most of it’s American but one beer stood out from the rest – hoegaarden. Too bad they didn’t have any in stock or else we would’ve tried it.

These are the times that I’m so glad the rumors/claims are true. The burger, obviously handcrafted and grilled (not fried) was bigger than the bun – which in my opinion, is exactly how a proper burger should be. They’ll also cut your burger up the way you like it. The meat was flavorful and juicy, making me feel like a proper and powerful carnivore. The onions were freshly sliced (not pre-sliced and dried up like in other burger places) and so were the tomatoes. The smell alone made me feel like a Pavlovian dog. The cheese melted from the heat of the grilled patty and was absorbed by the meat, adding to its flavor. If it were possible, I would’ve married that burger.

Now the fries are a whole different story. Their fries are actually cooked in goose fat – not in lard or oil. It’s nice and thick too, made from real potatoes and not those flash frozen ones. It’s nice and crispy on the outside but soft and mushy on the inside. It’s pretty much how they do it in Europe – which leads us to believe that the head chef has traveled the world or is really really educated.

The ambiance is also very nice. It’s laid back feel makes you even more comfortable which makes you enjoy your food more. The wait staff is also very polite and knowledgable about their fare. Basically, it felt like upscale dining without the snottiness.

For the prices they have, it’s all well worth it. it’s actually very inexpensive. For the same price of a Quarter Pounder meal in McDo, you get a black angus burger with goose fat cooked fries. Dude, there’s no contest.

Charlie’s is located at 16 East Capitol Drive, Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig City. Store hours are from 11 AM to 1AM. They don’t deliver so you’d have to call your order in to pick it up.