MANILA -- Celebrity chef Tatung Sarthou has opened a new Filipino restaurant named Takaw at the Theatre Mall in Greenhills.

“It’s an everyday go-to restaurant that’s affordable, but not dumbed down. The dishes are generally very familiar. Simple lang ang twists, walang acrobatics,” Sarthou explained about his concept for Takaw.

Takaw, which had its officially opening last Wednesday, dubs itself as a Filipino eatery serving Pinoy favorites. With dishes sporting tongue-in cheek names that capture the typical Filipino humor -- for example, the bulalo here is called Bulalove Me Like You Do -- the restaurant doesn’t take itself too seriously.

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The ambiance and the service are fast and casual, while food portions are for one or two persons, although some dishes like the Pata Don’t Preach (crispy pata) should be enough for a group of four.

There’s something for everyone here. The cuisine is wholeheartedly Filipino, serving favorites from around the country, while giving us glimpses of Sarthou’s old restaurants with dishes like the I Love You, Pangga (chicken pianggang) and the Tocinong Sosy ‘No? (tocino ribs).

While the tweaks, as Sarthou said, are minimal, a bite of his dishes like the laing proves that the chef hasn’t lost his touch in serving full-flavored dishes.

Here’s what we had during our visit:

1. Fresh na Fresh, Bes!

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

Lumpiang sariwa with the works, except the peanut sauce is milk-based instead of soy-sauce based. As per Sarthou, this is Cebu-style fresh lumpia.

2. Pata Don’t Preach

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

Marinated and stuffed with garlic and leeks, this crispy pata had gelatinous bits and meats meeting crispy skin and crispy garlic, with a hint of heat in the end—reminding one of the flavors of Cebu spicy lechon.

3. Escabetcha By Golly Wow

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

We don’t see escabeche in most Filipino restaurants these days, but this sweet and sour dish was a staple in my house growing up. Relive nostalgic home cooking in Takaw’s version with crispy fried tilapia.

4. I Caught You Laing

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

One of the best laings available in Manila—rich, oily and delicious. Eat with multiple cups of rice.

5. I Love You, Pangga

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

One of Sarthou’s signature dishes, this Chicken Pianggang delivers in taste, serving up a chicken leg smothered with blackened coconut sauce.

6. Hipon Na, Utak Talangka Pa

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

This dish and the ribs are perhaps two of the most creative main dishes in the menu, as Sarthou takes shrimp and sautés them with pig’s brain and crab fat, and serves these on a sizzling plate, creating an undeniably luscious dish that’s just begging for a cup of rice.

7. It’s Raining (su) Man

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

If you’ve ever wondered what suman mixed with halo-halo will taste like, this dessert is your answer. Sweet and hearty.

8. Turones de Laguna

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

The dessert section is where Sarthou gets creative, and with much success, especially if you taste this dish. Take the filling of a buko pie (custard + buko), put them inside a lumpia wrapper, and fry! You end up with a crispy parcel that you dip into latik dip -- it’s a delicious Filipino dessert fiesta!

9. Takaw Ice Cream

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

Takaw's housemade ice cream should be one of the dessert draws with unique Filipino flavors like Kamote Q, Chocnut, and Queso De Bola -- that tasted as advertised, creamy and not too sweet.

10. Cas-save the Best for Last

Photo by Jeeves de Veyra

One of Sarthou’s old restaurants had a cassava bibingka to die for, and in Takaw, he serves a similar version that's a bit more compact, still cooked in banana leaf, and served with a corn custard sauce, evoking maja blanca.

Meanwhile, Sarthou had just launched his latest book, "Dishkarte sa Kusina," which will have a book signing event at the Manila International Book Fair on Friday, September 14, at the NBS booth in the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.