Foodie Goodie | UniBearsity Cafe.

While browsing through the 'Nearby Places' tab on Facebook, I came across UniBearsity Cafe and a handful of geo-tagged photos of the place. In photos, this new cafe looked nice and modern, and the food looked quite appetizing. Yue and I were driven by curiosity (and the desire to eat something 'non-fast food') so we decided to have lunch here the other day, right after his karate training.

Chillin' with the bears at UniBearsity Cafe.

UniBearsity Cafe characterizes itself as a 'concept hang-out place' which aims to serve its customers not just good food, but also a unique dining experience. Although relatively new (they opened last January), this place seems to be well-liked by teens and young adults, and I think the cafe's ambiance contributes a lot to its popularity.

Bears as big as a 10-year old kid.

Adorned with teddy bears and throw pillows, UniBearsity Cafe has a relaxed and homey vibe, with Instagram-worthy aesthetics to boot. This crib-style cafe has lounges sectioned off for each group of customers, where you can sit on the floor, plop on a pillow, and snuggle with teddy bears.

The crib on one side of the cafe.

If dining while sitting on the floor isn't your thing, don't worry. This cafe has regular tables and chairs for customers like me who think it's a hassle to remove your shoes in public and find it uncomfortable to sit with your legs crossed for an extended period of time.

Tables and chairs on the other side.

As for the menu, UniBearsity Cafe offers pasta, snacks such as nachos, burgers, and fries, and a small selection of desserts. They serve 'silogs aka breakfast meals all-day, and they have a wide variety of beverages to choose from. All items on their menu are affordably-priced, nothing beyond Php 100.

UniBearsity Cafe menu.

I was expecting Yue would want a rice meal since he gets really hungry after karate training, but he chose the Tuna Pasta instead. I was in the mood for pasta as well, so I ordered the Chicken Mushroom Pasta for myself. We also got a platter of Nachos for sharing, a glass of Classic Lemonade, and a glass of Cucumber Lemonade.

Pasta, nachos, and lemonade.

Since we were the first customers that day, it didn't take long for our food to be cooked. The Nachos were served on a chopping board lined with wax paper, topped with a generous amount of ground beef, chopped tomatoes, and gooey, melted cheese. I like that the chips were crispy and the toppings were flavorful, but I would have liked it even more had there been onions and cucumber in the mix.

Nachos, Php 90.

The pastas that we ordered both had white sauce. Yue enjoyed his Tuna Pasta, saying that it tastes like the carbonara that I cook at home. My Chicken and Mushroom Pasta, however, was a bit watery and the sauce just wouldn't adhere well to the noodles. The noodles per se weren't soggy, but the garlic bread on the side was, and I couldn't even eat it because it was 'too wet', lol. I guess the cook didn't drain the noodles properly, leaving some pasta water on the plate. 

Chicken and Mushroom Pasta, Php 90.

The drinks were okay, but I can tell from one sip that they're made from fruit juice powder and not from natural fruits. I give props to the presentation, though. They were served in cute, bear-shaped glasses which matched the cafe's theme.

Cucumber Lemonade Juice, Php 45.

Overall, I like the concept of UniBearsity Cafe - budget-friendly food that even college students can afford; a cozy place to hang-out with friends, brainstorm for a project, or have a group study; ambiance and aesthetics that would stand out on an Instagram feed. They need to work on their kitchen techniques and drain their noodles properly, though, because a watery spaghetti can ruin the whole dining experience.

UniBearsity Cafe

2F New Kalahi Building

T. Azucena Street, 

San Pablo City, Laguna

+63945 210 4338