Naga City - Having lost count of the number of coffee shops in our city, this feature post is one of my personal favorites. Three years ago, I have blogged about this shop's former brand,
The Pro Chef's Office Culinary Essentials. Memorable as it can be, it was April of 2012 in time for NagaCityDeck's 3rd year anniversary when I first visited the place. It was then the first culinary cafe and studio in Naga City and even in the Bicol Region. The coffee shop as a concept was similar like the others but the culinary cafe and studio was special about it. Time passed and perhaps Naga still lacks enough orientation towards the concept of having a culinary cafe (where guests could observe the chef cooking the meals and at the same time learn how to cook them). The kitchen/studio was high-end and beautiful but still it wasn't enough to attract the locals. Having the "culinary" concept makes it look a little bit expensive considering that Naga still has the provincial feels. Last year, was a troubled year for the owners, contemplating if they would close down or sell the business. With enough patience and faith in God, the shop was re-branded as The Coffee Table (TCT), retaining the coffee shop and making the kitchen/studio an extension of the coffee shop suited for meetings and other functions.
Casual industrial type of ambiance. This is how I can describe The Coffee Table. Books to read, high chairs, comfy couch, artistic frames dwelling on admirable coffee quotes and soothing light bulbs that reflect on the clear window panes overlooking a part of Naga's entertainment district, Magsaysay Avenue. I will still stood up to what I said before about the Pro Chef's, that if you want a quiet coffee time whether with friends or alone, this is the place to be.
Crepe capital of Naga. TCT retained many of the dishes from the original menu. Famous for their
pasta and sandwiches, but to top it all, TCT serves
savory and sweet crepes. Crepe is a French cuisine, very thin pancakes made of wheat flour. What's fun about crepes is that it can be served as an appetizer, a main course, a side dish or even a dessert. My personal favorite would be the
Crepedilla from the savory crepes and the
Fruity French for the sweet crepes.
"Procaffeinating". Many can relate to this, it is the tendency to not start anything until you've had a cup of coffee. Find that wall inside the coffee shop for this is one of the most photographed corner of TCT. TCT has a Brew Bar, wherein you can choose the method on how your coffee will be prepared. Ask for Barista Gj and you can even watch him demo it. Chemex, French Press, Pour Over and Siphon are the methods you can choose from plus you can also choose the coffee beans (arabica, benguet blend, doc's blend and tct blend).
- Espresso Bar starts at P45 to P105
- Specials starts at P80 to P135
- Iced Coffee at P90 to P110, Coffee Blends at P120 to P150
- Shakes and other drinks at P45 to P135.
TCT also serves
All Day Breakfast Platters like pancake, french toast and hash brown served with 2 eggs, bacon and sausage for P120 to P150.
Savory Crepes starts at P145 to P175.
Sweet Crepes at P95 to P155.
Sandwiches starts at P55 only to P185.
Pasta starts at P80 to P185. Service size? TCT is one of the coffee shops in Naga with ample serving size. To be honest, everything that I have tasted in TCT is delicious. While the shop may be a "no rice" kind of food place, everything that they are serving complements the coffee they have. Most of the food are good for sharing, but by all means you can also eat them on your own.
The baristas of TCT are as kind and accommodating as the owners. They will make sure you are well attended to and being knowledgeable about the food they are serving is a plus point. Old and new recipes combined with the perfect ambiance, what more can I say? From The Pro Chef's Office to The Coffee Table, I am proud to have witnessed this change. The shop grew for the better along with the dining culture and demands of Naguenos and Bicolanos. More power and God bless The Coffee Table especially to Doc Steve and Ma'am Lei.
