The refreshing flavor of The Real Thing
At a time when restaurants were opening left and right, diners get over-worked with the prospect of finding the perfect dine-out experience.
Good thing, there are those that still offer a light and refreshing avenue.
And if refreshing is the experience one is looking for, perhaps no other brand can match the image that Coca-Cola has etched in the market.
Banking on this concept, the recently opened The Real Thing Diner carries the same cool and fresh vibe as the brand that inspired it.
Located at the second floor of II Terrazzo along Tomas Morato, the restaurant is nestled in a cozy nook, distant from the busy intersection and traffic. In contrast with the other bars and restaurants that line Tomas Morato Ave., The Real Thing Diner has the retro feel thanks to the red and white motif it adapted from the brand.
Aside from the iconic red and white swooping patterns, the restaurant is studded with Coca-Cola memorabilia, from stuffed polar bears, retro bottle designs, and limited edition soda cans. The trinkets and souvenirs are personal collections acquired by the restaurant’s part owner, KV Golamco throughout his stint for the Coca-Cola Company.
The Coke filled interior is further enhanced by a steady stream of Christmas songs and old Coca-Cola radio and TV advertisements ringing at the background. “We want to transport our diners to the world of Coke when they enter our restaurant, a truly 100% Coca Cola experience,” shares harpist, singer, and songwriter Noelle Cassandra, the diner’s co-owner.
The restaurant’s menu is purely American comfort food with a twist. To make things more interesting, some of the dishes and concoctions served are infused with Coca-Cola products, providing a distinct taste that mirrors the diner’s loyalty to the brand.
For starters, try the Sarsi Wings, a personal take on the classic Buffalo wings liberally splashed and marinated in sarsaparilla.
One of the diner’s best sellers is the Coca-Cola Baby Back Ribs, a dish, as the name suggests, that uses Coke to season the meat. The exceptionally tender ribs are glazed with the signature Coca-Cola barbeque sauce. A mix of the special sauce and herbs creates an interesting flavor that in unraveled in every bite.
The Tru-Orange Pork Chop packs a zest which it draws from the inclusion of the famous orange soda. The dish is caramelized by the sweet sauce that has permeated the meat.
The Sarsi Fish n’ Chips, a dish made of deep fried dory fish served with a choice of potato wedges or criss-cut fries is a hit with seafood lovers. The soft dory is enveloped by a coating of Sarsi batter and comes with a Sarsi Root Beer dip. The Coca-Cola Seafood Jambalaya, a dish infused with the same carbonated drink that gives it a playful mix of sweetness and spiciness, is a must-try.
The Real Thing isn't real without the interesting mix of Coca-Cola drinks. Aggregately called the “Coca-Cola Concoctions,” the non-alcoholic mixes include the Cinnamon Snifter, a mix of Coca-Cola, Sarsi, Cinnamon, and Vanilla Ice Cream; the Coca-Cola Brew made of Coke, Sarsi, and coffee; the Coke Zero Mocha, a drink of blended milk, coffee, chocolate syrup mixed with Coke-Zero; the Coca-Cola Eggnog, a mixture of Coca-Cola, Vanilla Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Eggs and milk; and the heart-pumping Brazilian Chocolate Iced Coffee, a drink made of Coca-Cola, coffee, melted semi-sweet chocolate and whipped cream.
For dessert, Noelle shares a family recipe she learned from her mother Roxanne, the Happily Appley. The confection is an apple pie served a la mode. The contrast between the warm pie and the cold scoop of vanilla ice cream topping is a temperate feel that rightly caps the meal.
The Real Thing Diner doesn’t aspire to be chic nor does it desire to create a posh image. It simply wants to share the fun, the light hearted moments and the refreshing flavor synonymous with the brand that has made soda drinking as natural as breathing. – Article courtesy of Manila Bulletin
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