Living in BGC for almost 3 years before pandemic has allowed me to visit every interesting dining spots here. Serendra, Market Market, Forbestown, SM Aura and High Street. I thought I can proudly claim I have been to all but not actually. There's one called High Street South that is slowly gaining attention with its promising cafes and sports retail shops. That is why when an opportunity to dine in BGC's newly-opened brunch spot called Good Neighbor, I said yes in an instant.
Getting to know BGC's newest brunch spot
Perfect location for those who want to dine away from the usual flow of foot traffic in BGC
Situated in High Street South, Good Neighbor is a newly-opened cafe that serves Western and Pinoy nutritious brunch food. I feel I need to emphasize healthy brunch food because not all dining spots in BGC serve food this way.
First impression
Good Neighbor exudes a vibe that is homey and unassuming. Also, I have been to some cafes that have bizzare decorations and for some reasons my gut feeling doesn't want me to enter. Good Neighbor is not at all! It even has outdoor seats and tables. Since becoming a furmom, I always prefer eating in the outdoor of the restaurant because of my dog so this is really huge plus points to me when choosing for a place to eat out.
The brunch menu
First served to us were Salmon Tartine which is smoked salmon, dill cream cheese, pickled cucumber on sourdough; Avocado & Prosciutto Toast with cherry tomatoes on sourdough; Mushroom Toast and Bacon Jam Toast. These bite-sized toasts are light in the stomach but the flavors and taste are enough to get anyone perked up. Though I have to admit the more I bite it, the more I want to ask for more!"
The next one served to us is Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. I am a fan of hummus. I tell you. I have been to a lot of restaurants that serve hummus in Manila. From the most affordable to the most extravagant. However, this version of Good Neighbor got me so surprised to see a plate of hummus, pita bread with lots of fresh greens. For someone like me who is slowly starting my journey to healthy eating, I am so happy to see these greens right in front of my eyes.
Chicken Mushroom Pie came in still warm when I touched it. I like that it is crunchy when I bite it and I can taste the real chicken meat inside as well that became extra delicious because of the mushroom added to it and some spices.
Breakfast Longganisa, Beef Tapa and Kimchi Fried Rice with Beef Bulgogi all came at the same time. My stomach is quite full already but I made sure to taste each of these even just a little. The longganisa and tapa are not too sweet, not too garlicky, not too salty nor too hard to chew. I so love how Good Neighbor makes a version of these for the health conscious! I also like the fact that the egg and fried rice are not too oily. The last one I made sure to eat more because of the beef bulgogi. It is not every day I get to eat this and for someone like me who need more protein for my weight gain journey, this is it for me. Like the other two, I love how this dish is seasoned enough keeping in mind health-conscious diners like me. The beef bulgogi is the beef bulgogi I always wanted to eat: thinly sliced, a bit juicy and really tasty.
As they say, they save the best for last. Salmon Miso Glaze with Umami Rice caught everyone's attention! In fact, while I type these I still smell the salmon served from this restaurant. If only I can describe it in words, I will. I can eat a couple of this in one seating actually as a die-hard fan of salmon. My personal gym coach actually recommend salmon as very nutritious seafood I should eat. My dog even loves it too.
For the drinks, I chose hot cup of Spanish latte. For me, brunch is complete without a kick of caffeine! However, you are very welcome to have a boozy brunch. Good Neighbor BGC offers some cocktails that you can pair with your brunch.
For desserts, I had French Toast with Berries and Jam then Basque Burnt Cheesecake. So, so good to have a dessert after a meal! We finished at 2 pm but I was still full at night that I skipped dinner.
Every Friday to Sunday until September 1st for Php 550, you may choose 1 food + 1 drink of your choice. If you feel like splurging on a boozy brunch, just add Php 200 to choose 1 cocktail drink from their menu.
Good Neighbor address: Ground Floor of Verve Tower 1, BGC
Good Neighbor Instagram: goodneighborph
Good Neighbor Facebook page: Good Neighbor PH
Good Neighbor hours of operation: Sundays to Thursdays 7am - 10pm. Fridays and Saturdays 7 am - 11 pm.
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