The Citygolf driving range along Julia Vargas may have been originally built as a place for Ortigas-based golfers to hit some balls in their free time, but the facility has now morphed into an enclave of restaurants and bars. This foodie destination is the home of a newcomer in the scene, Boudica Café Bar. The brainchild of Matthew Hornsby-Bates and Matthew Lim, the new all-day establishment is the evolution of the duo’s culinary concepts.
“We come from the street food concept. That’s how we made our name. We started with CargoFish which served fish and chips and then we expanded into Burnt Bamboo which focused on Filipino street food. However, we felt that maybe there’s room for a café. We started to put together a few ideas which resulted into Boudica,” Hornsby-Bates shared.
The establishment offers CargoFish’s celebrated Fish and Chips as well as Burnt Bamboo’s Pork and Chicken Isaw, but it has expanded its menu further, offering a variety of dishes from different appetizer platters, to starters and salads, hefty mains, and delectable bar chow.
Both Hornsby-Bates and Lim come from a culinary background which is highlighted both by the menu items Boudica offers, as well as the quality of the food that is delivered.
Lim takes pride in Boudica’s Neapolitan pizza, saying that it took them months to perfect their in-house pizza dough. The slow rise and high hydration results in a very open crust replete with leopard spots — a sign of a well-risen and properly fermented dough resulting in a flavorful pizza. Most notable is the classic Margherita which adds a Filipino twist with the use of kesong puti instead of mozzarella.
Another standout in Boudica’s menu is the Crispy Pata. To make it easier for diners to nibble on, the pork leg is quartered and then deep-fried anew just before serving for additional crunch. It is then served alongside a spiced sweet soy dipping sauce.
A bar would not be complete without drinks and here, Boudica delivers in style with a decent selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, from coffee and its variation, to smoothies and milkshakes, to classic cocktails, beers, wines, and spirits.
It also offers its own signature cocktails. Kiss Me sees whisky’s edges rounded out with strawberry and passion fruit to create a complex cocktail. An oak smoke-filled bubble tops the cocktail. The initial contact bursts the bubble, resulting in a flash of smoke that vanishes quickly, with its faint scent on the glass the only hint it was there in the first place. Meanwhile, Hug Me embraces the smoke. Gin, melon liqueur, lavender, lemon and strawberry flavors combine together to stand up to oak’s smoke, resulting in a flavorful drink that is best savored slowly.
Boudica’s latest addition is the roving Gin Cart. Customers can have a tailor-made gin and tonic made for them. Guests can choose from a variety of gins, from classic London Dry style to modern styles and have it paired with their preferred garnish such as herbs, spices, and citrus before being topped up with tonic water.
Boudica might not be easy to spot as it is at the end of the strip of establishments across the driving range, but the managing partners prefer it that way. They envisioned Boudica to be a place where guests can duck in and enjoy some downtime in private. However, this hidden gem might not stay under the radar for too long as it is now building a reputation for its excellent food and impeccable drinks.
