MANILA-- Move over, Poblacion. If the folks behind Kite Kebab Bar have their way, Palanan is going to be the next hip and happening place in Makati.

“Palanan holds a dear place in my heart. I practically grew up here knowing the streets of Dian and Cuenca. I’ve seen how it has evolved into something you have to keep an eye on. For me, this is the last frontier of Makati,” declared Kite owner Kian Kazemi.

Kite was one of the first restaurants to open in Poblacion before it became the hip place for dining and partying.

Its new branch is right beside the head office from where the Kazemis run their various business interests. The space used to be a garage and then became a branch of Persia Grill.

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This version of Kite has subtle differences from its Poblacion and Salcedo Village siblings. Since it is located in a residential area, somehow, the branch encourages guests to come in, eat a quick meal, have a drink, and chill out.

Besides the usual bottles of beer, Kite has an assortment of drinks available at the bar. The sangria is sweet and fruity, while the blue lemonade is Kite’s recommended drink for non-alchoholics.

Peering into the restaurant from the outside, it looks a bit intimidating as it retains the chic colorful personality Kite is known for. An urban garden is a feature of the façade. Kazemi said that he’ll be adding this to all future Kite branches as his small contribution to cleaning up the carbon dioxide of surrounding traffic.

The Palanan branch also has lunch specials priced in the P100 to P150 range. During lunchtime, these come with rice and a glass of blue lemonade. Later in the day, these are served at the same price as bar chow without rice and the drink. The lunch specials also cater to those who may want something familiar like adobo sa gata and tofu sisig.

Kite has always been known for its Persian/Mediterranean food. Kazemi recommends the mezze sampler for first timers that’s made up of pita, hummus, baba ganoush, samosa, falafel, and tzatziki.

For vegetarians, Kite makes a filling Falafel Salad with grapes, olives, tomatoes, lettuce and a light dressing.

This branch carries over the wagyu beef cubes from the other branches, along with some new offerings like the Mediterranean Chicken.

Kite Palanan also has a function room for private meetings and functions, and offers special off-the-menu items like its Chicken Kabsa for hosted events.

Kazemi has plans to fly his Kite to even loftier places

The original branch at Ebro Street in Poblacion is now closed but will be moving to a location on Durban St. beside Lobo, its sister restaurants. Kazemi is calling this Kite 2.0 as this will have a more multi-functional space. Besides having a balcony with an urban garden, Kazemi plans to have a dance hall at the ground floor at night. The balcony will be available for private events and parties.

For Kazemi and his Kites, the sky is the limit.

The Palanan branch of Kite Kebab Bar is located at 4262 Emilia Street and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.