It may have been built before the 1960s but instead of showing signs of old age, the house on the corner of Scout Torillo and Scout Fernandez in Quezon City has never looked younger in years—thanks to the major zhuzhing done by ace interior decorator Ivy Almario. It is also not a house anymore—it’s the new restaurant from Chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou following his well-received BGC tasting menu dining spot Lore. Its name is Azadore.
The multi-level structure is one of those post-war residences characterized by a lot of style and allows in a lot of air and light. But it was no longer in the best condition when it fell in Almario’s hands. Nine months after the refurbishment, the jazzed up interiors have given the place new life. There’s a retro feel yes but one that’s fun, quirky and smart, thanks to the framed vintage-looking graphic prints on the walls, the black and orange palette, and the bold, graphic quality of the restaurant’s name splashed fearlessly on the frosted glass windows. The result is a place with a lot of personality and spirit. The Almarios, after all, are not known to favor the words “modest” and “low key” in their decorating vocabulary.
Azadore, says Chef Tatung, is a collaboration between him and Almario. Their first venture together, the Asian cafe called Pandan, located also in the Scout area, was such a success (they opened just before the pandemic and made ROI during the pandemic), naturally they needed to join forces again and come up with another potential winner. Their “intense”brainstorming sessions lasted til the wee hours, with Chef Tatung thinking up what would be an exciting menu while Almario feverishly sketched her ideas.
Azadore, of course, is a play on the Spanish word for pit, which is asador, or “a type of sharp-pointed metal bar on which meat is roasted.”
According to Chef Tatung, the “s” was turned into a “z” to make it sound more masculine (as in Zorro, we suppose) and an “e” was added in the end to make the number of letters 8, which means better Feng shui. Because of its name, a lot of grilling is expected to take place in the restaurant soon (they’re still on soft opening as we speak), weekend barbecues in old village houses being one of the inspirations behind the restaurant concept. Families who raise their children together and throw pot luck parties was an image that played constantly in Tatung’s mind while developing Azadore.
On our recent visit, we were served a very tender and delicious lengua (Lola Pura’s Lengua Ala Sevillana); a bright and colorful Ceviche Mixto served with taco shells; a darkly coated Salpicao; Croquettes which had cheese, truffle paste, and smoked bacon inside; and the Paella Mixta which had chicken, shrimp, clams and chorizo. Chef Tatung says that in Azadore he wants to serve Spanish dishes the way they’re served in Filipino gatherings, and the way we Filipinos know Spanish dishes to be.
Azadore is located at 111 Scout Fernandez Street, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City. For reservations, call +63 917 101 0070 or 02 8288 1315. Open Monday to Sunday, 10AM to midnight.