Varra Resto Bar: A Minimalist Hidden Gem in San Juan

A resto bar who’s barely a month old might not be the place you’d want to hangout in, because you’re not sure if the food and drinks would suit your taste well. However, there’s a new resto bar in San Juan that is worth the visit, despite it being a new kid on the block. Varra Resto Bar has a lot to bring to the table, showcasing their sumptuous yet affordable comfort food, colorful and delicious cocktails, and a cozy ambiance in the early evening, which eventually becomes party-ready once the clock strikes 10pm.

Currently, Varra Resto Bar is still on soft opening, but we were able to get a sneak peek at what they have to offer. Their bestsellers are definitely worthy of their title! Here are my top picks from Varra. The ❤️ sign marks my favorites during our visit:

APPETIZERS

✅ VARRA’S NACHOS OVERLOAD (Php 350)
What’s better than nachos and dip? An overloaded plate of nachos for sharing, that’s what! Crispy nacho chips, lots of ground beef, cheese and garlic sauces, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and bell peppers — there’s really nothing else you can ask for! The various textures and flavors surely did tickle our tastebuds.

❤️ CRISPY SHROOMS (Php 130)
I can’t believe fried mushrooms taste this good! This one is definitely one of the dishes I’d come back for, and eat all day long. Perfectly crisp oyster and enoki mushrooms, served with a slightly spiced vinegar that’s perfect as an appetizer or bar chow. If you’re coming in in groups, make sure to get more than one order so there’s enough to go around for everybody!

✅ MESSY FRIES (Php 230)
It’s messy, but yummy! Varra’s messy fries is loaded with flavorful ground beef, savory cheese sauce, and tangy garlic aioli. Perfect for kids and adults alike, this is one delicious starter that everyone will surely enjoy.

❤️ VARRA’S STEAK SALPICAO (Php 380)
Wow. This is definitely the best salpicao I’ve had in my whole life — well-deserving of having the restaurant name attached to its dish name! The tenderloin steak was sliced to the right thickness, and since it is served in a sizzling plate, you may adjust the doneness, too. To make it even better, it was showered with A LOT of garlic, which brings out the best of flavors with the juicy meat. I’m never eating cubed salpicao again!

✅ SIZZLING SISIG WITH EGG (Php 270)
Everyone’s favorite Filipino bar chow has got to be the sisig, and Varra’s rendition of this dish is awesome. It has pork innards and parts of the pig’s face, so there is a lot of texture in it, making it great as an appetizer / viand to be paired with plain rice. Yum!

PASTA / RICE

✅ CLASSIC CARBONARA (Php 290)
I’m not a big fan of cream-based pastas, but I like this one, mainly because there isn’t too much cream. The dish relies more on the poached egg to make the dish creamy, and I appreciated that they have put in a lot of bacon toppings in it.

✅ CHICKEN PESTO MARINARA (Php 380)
This tomato-based pasta is topped with grilled juicy chicken fillet strips, and is super kid-friendly! Also, the flavor of the sauce can be enhanced further, since it somewhat gets absorbed in the spaghetti noodle. Make sure to eat this while hot!

❤️ BEEF TAPA (Php 240)
Breakfast for dinner? Yes please! Breakfast food is definitely something you can eat at any time of the day, and while Varra’s hours are from night until the wee hours of the morning, you can be assured that whenever you crave for your fave silog meal, they have it! Their beef tapa is tender and flavorful, and I love that it is on the garlicky side. The egg was perfect, too! Truly a breakfast meal that’s filling and yummy.

WINGS

We also got to try two of their six wings flavors, which Varra takes pride in because of the big serving sizes and affordable price at only Php 230 per 6-piece basket:

✅ SOY GARLIC WINGS
I was able to evidently taste the soy flavor, but I’m glad it didn’t make the wings too salty. I wish the garlic taste was more evident, but at least, we can be assured that this flavor is kid-friendly. The chicken were fried to a perfect and crisp golden brown yumminess, and they’re really juicy on the inside, too!

✅ HONEY SRIRACHA WINGS
This flavor intrigued me! The wings were equally crisp like the other flavor, but this one is more on the spicy side. If you’re familiar with the spicy honey of a certain brick oven pizza chain, you’d definitely taste that here! The sweetness of the honey complements the spiciness really well, though I wish the distinct kick of sriracha sauce is more evident.

Their wings are also available in Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, Hickory BBQ, and Chili Cheese. They’re also offering unlimited wings for only Php 359, and you’d get to enjoy this with unlimited rice as well. Add another Php 40 and you would be able to enjoy these with rice and fries already. Talk about great value for money! The only catch to avail this promo is that your companions need to avail it too, so make sure you bring along people who are willing to splurge with you.

SIGNATURE COCKTAILS

✅ BASIL SLUSH (Php 200)
Basil Slush is one of their bestsellers, with white gin as its base. It is really refreshing because of the basil, and is definitely something you can pair their flavorful dishes with.

✅ CHOCQUILA (Php 200)
I expected a sweet concoction similar to other choco drinks, since this is comprised of choco syrup and tequila. However, I was a bit surprised with the overwhelming taste of the tequila, masking the chocolate flavor already. For tequila lovers, this would definitely be a top-of-mind choice!

❤️ VARRA SOUR (Php 200)
Among the drinks we’ve had today, this was definitely my favorite. I love how the almond syrup makes this cocktail taste like a Chinese dessert. The sweet and sour notes matches well with the almond flavor and light cherry taste. Perfect for a chill night out.

✅ HOEGAARDEN COCKTAIL
Varra Resto Bar was also able to partner with Hoegaarden to come up with an exclusive cocktail (It doesn’t have a name yet, though! Any suggestions?), with their Rosée beer as the main ingredient. The cocktail is on the sweet side, with a rich fruity taste.

Apart from the good food and drinks, Varra Resto Bar can definitely be a destination for your events and parties, as they have a Lounge area and a VIP room which they can rent out for a certain amount. Don’t worry, as the payment will be fully consumable, so you can eat and drink to your heart’s content! This Christmas season, you may opt to try them out for your get together with friends and family. Get in touch with them here for more information.

On the other hand, if you’re just having an intimate get together with friends and family, you may be seated at their main dining area, which boasts of minimalist interiors designed by one of the owners, Ms. Lovely. The al fresco area is also available for the customers to sit at.

Overall, I really enjoyed the food and drinks served to us. Although it might be a bit hard to locate this place if you’re not familiar with the area, once you get to try it, you’d surely want to come back again and again because of the quality of dishes they serve here. In conclusion, this is definitely a place I’d recommend!

Varra Resto Bar is located at 3rd Floor, 333 P. Guevarra St, San Juan, Metro Manila. They served the dishes during a bloggers’ event, and all reviews reflected are honest feedback from Eat Drink Splurge.

To know more about Varra Resto Bar and their food offerings, click on the link below to read what other foodies have to say: