12/10 Izakaya: Japanese Mastercraft for a Symphony of Taste

Embark on a Gastronomic Journey, Unveiling the Delights of a Gem in Rockwell, Makati

Izakaya: “The Japanese word izakaya (居酒屋) is made up of three kanji with the meaning, in order, “stay-drink-place.” A spot to grab a drink, settle in, and get comfortable.”

As we know them, izakayas are more of a casual setting where we can eat bar chow, grab drinks, and merry the night away with our friends. There are many incredible Japanese restaurants around, but in Rockwell, Makati, you’ll find a bijou restaurant named 12/10 (pronounced twelve-ten). This izakaya is on the finer side but a must-try for its harmonious fusion of tastes and delectable experience.

12/10 can be found inside the building of 8 Rockwell Dr, Makati, Metro Manila. As a Manila northerner, I wasn’t sure where to park. But I do know that the trusty ol’ Powerplant Mall has plenty of space for the cars of visitors, and it’s walkable to where the establishment is. Afterward, head onto the edifice and walk into the deeper side of the tower, where you’ll see 12/10’s logo and its elegant facade. Before you head to the place, though, there are a few steps to note.

First, you must set up a reservation for yourself and your company through their page. It is recommended to book two weeks to a month in advance. Although there is a walk-in alternative, as bar seats are kept open, this is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seeing how booked the place is and how people are clamoring to eat there, a reservation is the way to go. There is a downpayment of PHP 750 per person if you’re going for the Omakase package.

There are a few dining experiences to choose from where you will find the right one for your taste:

• Omakase: As mentioned, there’s this option where you’ll be taken on a wonderful journey of an 11-course tasting menu. No drinks are included in the course, but the reasonable price of PHP 4,200 per person still makes for a hard bargain. You’ll be taken through “a progression of raw to cooked dishes of seafood, meat, and seasonal local produce.”
• Izakaya: The a la carte option which 12/10 proudly presents their produce-driven small plates. One of the restos highlights is its wide-ranging selection of drinks, which includes the fun ones: sake, wine, beer, highballs, cocktails, etc.
• Dinette: For more intimate moments, there’s a space within the establishment that’s a semi-private area. A party of 8 is the maximum and can be enjoyed for the entire evening.
• Daytime Omakase: A limited offering that lasts from time to time. As of publishing date, this is available from Thursdays to Saturdays until the end of July 2023. For dessert connoisseurs, this one’s for you to enjoy a 5-course dessert tasting menu that goes hand-in-hand with their espresso bar.

Now, open the doors to a scrumptious adventure and be greeted by their amiable and helpful staff. One detail I have to applaud for the experience is their customer service. Everyone is very attentive and passionate about making your visit worth. Each story about our food was detailed, and small requests were handled in a friendly manner.

The Menu: A Spectacular Orchestra

For the first swallow, most courses start with a cold dish as an appetizer. As such, to accommodate my allergies to orange crustaceans, they’ve changed my meal a little bit and served a Boracay clam with almond milk. It was cold and fresh as if it’s just been caught, yet smooth with the addition of the almond milk.

They’ve sectioned the course to go into bites initially. The second plate they put on the table was nori chips with avocado and ube. The umami taste of the chips symphonized well with the taste and textures of the jammy (not so sweet, just right) ube and avocado. Next, they’ve given us Uni Toast, wherein the ocean-like taste of uni complements the buttery toast. Then, we’ve got the Chawanmushi. This egg custard added with mushrooms gives the delight of a warm, crunchy, and slightly bitter experience.

For the starters section, about two slices of salmon with juniper cream were presented to us. There was a mashed potato-like impression at first, which transitioned to the delicate fishy taste of the salmon as an aftertaste when the ingredients were blended. Then, we were given a smoky eggplant dish due to its robust sauce and a crunchy pinipig-like encounter when chewing. The aromatic taste accentuates all this. For our 7th dish, we were served an extremely tasty Yakitori, as if umami was put on top of umami and more umami. Think of it as KFC’s Zinger (in a good way).

The climax of the course is the main dishes. To start the excitement, they brought out the Sea Bass Katsu. A katsu sauce, tomato mush, Parmigiano foam, and pickle accompany it. The pickle is a palette cleanser, cool to the mouth. The Parmigiano foam had a limited amount of taste, and among the whole of the plate, my favorite was the tomato. The mush fuses well with the light katsu sauce, adding to the overall with a little sour or rue taste to it.

The following two from the main dish are a Kurobuta bowl with a hearty sour miso soup. The pear and mushrooms complement it. The plate had four soft and delicate pork slices- sweet, fatty, balanced, and lean. Last but not least, the exuberant main course is the Wagyu. This meal was a perfectly cooked Wagyu, excellent in its feel to the mouth. It’s completed by a cauliflower purée and fried leek, which mixes for the tongue to appreciate.

What course would be absolute if there were no desserts? After the hearty food 12/10 has served comes a delectable ice cream with a chocolate coating. It’s dark chocolate enclosing vanilla ice cream with cherry sauce surrounding it. The dessert melts in the mouth with its right degrees of sweetness, making it as if your insides are also melting.

Closing off the course are four different nibbles called the Petit Fours. There is the Nori Goat Cheese with its strong seaweed taste and sweet yogurt-like goat cheese. The Yuzu Madeleine & Rosemary has a light lemon flavor and soft and creamy texture. The Ikura Tamago Tart is a dainty mix of crunchy, sweet, and umami. The Shortbread Bar, also known as Faux Twix, is an elevated version of the candy bar with tempered chocolate, silky caramel, and a buttery shortbread crust.

The Rating

The fun doesn’t end there, as the Izakaya gives updates every month. Expect a little shake-up with their menu for every visit. Keep tabs on their Instagram, and if you plan to experience the Japanese Mastercraft of Symphony and Taste, be welcomed by their warm & friendly staff and exquisite drinks and bar chow.

For an Action Pack rating, the restaurant is truly 12/10.