La Mija Spanish Italian Restaurant and Cafe Review
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I’m a non-smoker, an occasional drinker, and your boring party buddy. Yes, a pretty lame life. However, I always allow myself to enjoy the fruits of my labor, which also include experiencing a fancy restaurant. The saying goes… a little luxury in life won’t hurt you.
I’ve been to different restaurants trying out new dishes I missed during the pandemic. Many of them are amazing, but none entered my food and restaurant review section. Shame! That’s just pure laziness and it’s not a part of me. So here I am: having my very first restaurant review in months.
First up, La Mija Spanish Italian Restaurant and Cafe
True to its name, the La Mija Spanish Italian Restaurant and Cafe flaunts a fusion of Italian and Spanish cuisine. However, it is also adjusted with twisted Pinoy foods. I can say, the Spanish department was not hard to identify since Pinoy cuisine is heavily influenced by the Spaniards.
The restaurant is located in the heart of Regalado Avenue, just a few steps from FEU Hospital and a jeepney ride from the buzzy Commonwealth Avenue. The adjective “attractive”, I can say, is an understatement. In fact, the facade is so beautiful, I almost hesitated many times to enter. The moment I saw it, I knew I need to break the bank.
La Mija, a vibrant place
Upon entering, one of the crew opened the door, greeted me, and handed me the menu. Yes, the door was locked. The menu was gigantic for a tiny place, which led me to a question — can they manage that huge list?
The menu was worn out. They only updated that list by writing manually while some pages were already water-damaged. With all due sincerity, a restaurant that charges such prices should at least give a clean and good-looking menu because re-printing them won’t cost too much. For me, regularly updating the menu is a sign that a certain establishment is serious about providing the best dining experience.
The place, on the other hand, is the total opposite of the menu. Though it’s small, it’s pleasing and will give you that cool and calm vibe. Empty wine bottles are stored near the ceiling blocking some of the lights that gave this wonderful dim appeal. A cork holder is situated like a photo album, giving hints that people love to order wines from the menu.
The owners are obviously The Beatles fans because several musical records are also boasted. I also love The Beatles because my name was taken from one of the members.
The chairs and tables look like those from diners in 80s movies. They were cushioned and far enough from each other allowing privacy among diners.
The Foods
I started writing for this review about weeks ago, but I realized that I should require at least three dishes before publishing. So, I went back to the place to observe and try more foods on the menu.
Paella Marinara
I’m a huge fan of paella, so it’s the first thing I checked. It was surprising that despite its popularity, La Mija only offers three variations. For me, the best choice in the paella section is the Paella Marinara. It is Spanish rice cooked with chicken and fresh seafood topped with slices of hard-boiled egg.
Read: Tuyo Spaghetti Recipe
Served in an awesome casserole along with a slice of lemon, the Paella Marinara is a total hit. The rice was cooked to perfection while the chicken and seafood flavors mixed harmoniously and created this wonderful party in my mouth. The dash of lemon added this awesome kick that kept me digging into my plate. I was never a fan of the burnt part of any paella, though.
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Baby Back Ribs
I always have had this love-and-hate relationship with restaurant baby back ribs. For me, they are all-or-nothing dishes. They can either make or break your dining experience.
I’m so happy I decided to order La Mija’s Baby Back Ribs because they certainly met my dream ribs. The meat is super tender to the point that it falls off the bones. The so-called “signature sauce,” on the other hand, is not too sweet and just enough to add a certain flavor without masking the beefy taste. On the side are slices of baked potatoes, which are tasty as well. I love that the skin is still intact.
Though it’s pricey, allow me to say that La Mija’s Baby Back Ribs are worth it.
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Seafood Marinara Pasta
To be honest, browsing through the pasta section is not fun at all. Why? Because there’s no spaghetti and it’s like, what? An Italian restaurant that doesn’t serve spaghetti?
An Italian restaurant experience can never be called a true experience if you didn’t try a pasta dish. So, I ordered the seafood marinara pasta, which is a fettuccine flavored with tomato sauce and seafood. It is topped with powdered parmesan cheese and garlic bread on the side.
The seafood marinara pasta is also good. I love the tangy flavor brought by the fresh tomatoes while the seafood, though a little overcooked, added a more delightful experience. The garlic bread is amazing and still hot when served. The powdered parmesan cheese is just ok.
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The Two-Way Pizza
There are lots of pizzas on the menu, but to be honest, they are expensive. The good thing is that there’s an offer called “the two-way pizza” that will allow you to taste two variants in one. The price will base on what is the more expensive.
I ordered the Funghi Salsiccia E Cipolla, which is a combination of mozzarella, Italian sausage, mushroom, and red onion. Along with it is the Capricciosa, which combines mozzarella, Italian salami, olives, mushroom, and onion.
The pizza is quite a good deal because it is served right from the over while the ingredients are obviously fresh. I also love it a little bland, which gave me the opportunity to adjust the salt based on my preference. However, the crust is too thin to the point it’s already crunchy.
I only consumed two slices and asked if they can pack them for take-out. I was surprised that they just stuffed the precious pizza in aluminum foil even overlapping them. It’s just clumsy and careless, stating the fact that pizzas can make you full easily and most of the time, taken out. It would be perfectly fine for me to pay extra for a box so I can take home my pizza properly.
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Panna Cotta Caramello
Of course, I need to try La Mija desserts. Unfortunately, on two occasions (I visited thrice), the only available is the Panna Cotta Caramello, which, according to the menu is made from Italian cream and served with drizzles of caramel.
The panna cotta is amazing — it was creamy and not too sweet. The texture also adds an amazing experience because it melts in your mouth. The caramel also brings this kick, though I’m pretty much okay with the panna cotta itself.
One thing I notice is that when served, the dessert missed out on some of its parts, which triggered my OCD. Though I didn’t return it because the server might be charged for it, I think customers deserve better. I think the one who prepared it rushed in removing it from the mold. Dipping the mold in hot water for a few minutes would slide the panna cotta smoothly. Or maybe, stop using that mold.
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Strawberry Cheese Cake (Unpictured)
I ordered this during my first visit but I was not able to take picture of it because they gave me the option to just serve it after I finish the main course. I agreed. However, the heavy rain is about to start so I just asked them to pack for me to enjoy it when I’m about to go back home.
The cheesecake is ok, it’s tangy and fresh. The best this is that it’s not that sweet. The sugar didn’t overpower the flavor of the cream cheese, which is good for me. The thing is it’s gelatinous, which I’m not a fan of.
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Diner’s Commentaries
I’m just a little uncomfortable with the loud joking inside the kitchen and it happened to me twice. On two occasions, I went there with the doors locked, which may give the impression that the store is not open.
I also suggest that since La Mija offers a little higher prices, how about some complimentary food like bread or iced tea? I’m not a freeloader but if there’s free food, I used to forget about the price and I’m always encouraged to go back to the place.
Overall, it’s a great experience
La Mija is a place to unwind and enjoy a delicious meal. Though the prices are a little higher, it’s not a problem for me because the foods are amazing. Hey, I work hard for my money and I think it’s quite ok to spend it on food. The crews are awesome as well. One server answered my question satisfactorily, making me assume that they are well-trained.
Do I recommend La Mija, of course!
How about you, guys? Have you ever experienced dining in La Mija? Please let me know your thoughts. Just in case you haven’t, you can visit them along Regalado Avenue. You can also check La Mija Facebook Page for updates and promotions.
