If fashion has Vogue, architecture has Architect Digest, the F&B (food and beverage) industry also has Tatler Dining. Tatler Dining is a digital platform and magazine that compiles and features the best dining experience all around the world. To be part of the Tatler Dining Guide in the Philippines is a great honor for the F&B industry as it means this establishment offers something unique and provides a great dining experience that continues to redefine the culinary space.
In the Philippines, most of the restaurants featured are in Metro Manila and select cities only but did you know that Davao restaurants are featured in the Tatler Dining Guide? Restaurants in the city that has a Tatler Dining plaque means they were featured in the online magazine or is part of the Tatler Dining book. Tatler Dining specifically Tatler Philippines features the best in the country and is a prestigious title to hold once you get featured.
Among these restaurants, Hey Monday! Deli, a restaurant nestled in Poblacion Market Central, holds this title. They are featured in Tatler Philippines for two years from 2023 and this 2024.
Hey Monday! Deli is a testament to what Davaoenas can do and is an inspiration to women in the culinary industry. Hey Monday! Deli is created by the Davaoena duo – Nikki Del Mundo and Louise Plasencia. They created their menu inspired from dishes found in New York City eateries. The culmination of five years of working in several kitchens and travels in the US help birthed Hey Monday! Deli. On top of that they had the opportunity to work in a Michelin Star restaurant in Brooklyn which specializes on Oaxacan cuisine. Oaxaca is a region in Mexico with dishes that make corn, beans, and chilli peppers as the staple ingredients. Oaxacan cuisine earned UNESCO culinary heritage status in 2010.
Hey Monday! Deli that started out as a humble store only offering delivery service during the pandemic and in-dining experience at their own home in Cabantian, has now grown to a store with a modern and casual aesthetic and continues to elevate the food scene of Davao.
Their dishes are contemporary mix of different cuisines but mostly Western inspired. They offer salads and appetizers, main courses, sandwiches and waffles, wines and alcoholic beverages, coffee and desserts.
Review
I’ve been to Hey Monday! Deli when they started to open their store in Poblacion Market back in 2022. Word of mouth from the online community says they had the best sandwich and their chicken and waffles is to die for. Indeed, it is one of the best chicken and waffles. At the time, they were still perfecting their menu and service. It took me some time to come back again due to busy schedules and one unfortunate dining experience.
When I went back early this 2024, I was amazed that they already held a Tatler Dining plaque and much has changed. It felt much different from the vibe they had two years ago. Service crew are more attentive, dining experience was great, and the menu list changed. The food isn’t too salty as well compared to the last time we went.
We started our meal with their famous “The Salad” which is made of candied beets, mixed greens, apples, cucumber, thinly sliced onions, quinoa, with a tahini dressing. I personally don’t like beets but it is one of the meals I’d gladly eat beets to some extent. It’s such a nice symphony of flavor as its dressing is light and refreshing with some hints of sourness that dances with the sweetness of sliced apples. The earthy tone from the tahini and quinoa also adds some contrast to the flavor making it a delightful starter. I’d rate it an 8.5/10.
For our mains, I ordered my favorite – chicken and waffles requesting for the spicy maple syrup and an order of their chicken wings with a mild spiciness. For the chicken and waffle, one can choose whether the maple syrup is spicy or a regular one. I choose the spicy maple always as it elevates the flavor. For the chicken wings, it is sesame soy chicken wings that you can select the level of spice from regular, mild and spicy. We played it safe and ordered mild.
The chicken and waffles is a heavy meal. Packed with a thick slab of waffle that can be sliced into four pieces, with a dollop of delicious butter, drizzled with spicy maple and topped with two big slices of fried chicken – breast and drumstick. The chicken is flavored from skin to meat. It is fried to a crisp but juicy and moist inside. The sweetness of the maple and the herb spices from the chicken is a symphony of flavor. The heat from the spicy maple is a sensation you’ll highly welcome. A personal 9/10.
The chicken wings are served with a generous amount of rice and perfect balance of greeneries on your plate. With four or five slices of chicken wings, it is enough to satiate one’s hunger. The chicken wings are tossed in sesame soy concoction and drizzled with herb mayo. The mild spice doesn’t burn your tongue but enough to get you hot. The chicken wings are light but savory and the plain rice is a perfect balance. I find it an 8.5/10.
We refreshed our palate with their homemade strawberry lemonade and homemade citrus iced tea which is a delight and refreshing with this summer heat. It hit the right balance of sweetness and zest.
We moved on to their dessert which were their best sellers according to the waiter. We ordered their flourless spiced chocolate cake and lemon tart.
The lemon tart had a simple presentation with a basic whipped cream covering the lemon curds inside. It was one of the most underwhelming food served and would garner a 5/10 only. The consistency of the cream isn’t thick at all, almost like a foam which may what the culinary artist aims for but I personally would have opted for a little thicker cream. The crust was also too stiff and almost cracker like. It felt stale. The lemon curds’ consistency was also too wet for my liking. However, if it weren’t for the consistency and texture it would have garnered a high score as the lemon curds’ flavor is super delicious and refreshing.
However, their flourless spiced chocolate cake was a star and did not disappoint. It had a beautiful and theatrical presentation. Using the meringue as a sturdy flake-like topping over the whipped cream covered chocolate cake, the cake invites you to take a couple of picture before devouring it. It’s one of the cakes I’ve tried that I personally enjoyed. The cake’s texture had the consistency of a fudgy brownie. I love how soft but chunky it is. The berry coulis also bursts its flavor and the granola crunch offers a cinnamon aftertaste that feels like fireworks in your mouth. A star among the food we ordered. It is 9.5/10.
Indeed, Hey Monday! Deli is deserving of a Tatler Dining plaque as their food showcases out of the ordinary dishes and adds a Western touch to the mix in the culinary scene of Davao. On top of that, the restaurant is run by two amazing women who is an inspiration for a lot of young girls who aspire to be chefs and entrepreneurs one day.
- Payment Method: Cash, Credit Card Payment, GCash
- Budget: P1,500 to P2,000 per two pax (already considered – 6% service charge)
- Business Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10:00AM to 9:00PM
- Type: Contemporary Mix, (mostly Western)
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/heymondaydelidvo/
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