CASA Marcos, a household name in Spanish food since the 1950s, has proudly been around for three generations. This humble restaurant was established in the 1940s in the old Dewey Boulevard. Señor Marcos de Guisasola, who, after he became ill some 20 years later, sold the business to Ben del Rosario, his good friend and compadre. The Del Rosario family then continued to operate the restaurant on Roxas Boulevard, and then opened on Gilmore Avenue in Quezon City in the 1980s. Casa Marcos then relocated to Tomas Morato until the year 2000 before it finally closed its doors, seemingly forever.
For one decade from the year 2000 to the year 2010, Casa Marcos remained a memory, ingrained in the lives and memories of many generations of patrons.
In August 2008, the Bread Bag Pandesal Bar was established by Jigger Galvez, Ben del Rosario’s grandson, and his former boss and partner Kevin Khoe. They wanted to build a sandwich bar concept but use the trademark Casa Marcos pan de sal as cornerstone, as well as serve popular Filipino viands such as Adobo Flakes, Corned Beef, Spanish Sardines, etc. These were then served in a 100-gram pan de sal bun (burger size) with prices starting at P88 back then. The pan de sal sandwiches were also served with a dipping sauce on the side as well as a serving of camote chips.
Soon after its opening Jigger and Kevin began introducing some of the old tapas of Casa Marcos, such as Gambas, or Tapang Baboy Damo, or Calamares and Adobong Mushrooms. They would then pair this with the popular pan de sal and Casa Marcos’ homemade Marcos Sauce. When guests found out that it was the same family that was running the place, they began suggesting that the family revive the old Casa Marcos, saying that they missed they favorite dishes like the Almejas, Steak a la Pobre, Prawns Thermidor, and the like. After numerous conversations with Casa Marcos’ old patrons at the Bread Bag Pandesal Bar, it was then that the family truly considered the possibility, and decided to reopen Casa Marcos in Forbeswood Heights, Burgos Circle, Fort Bonifacio in February 2011.
Thermidor
The Bread Bag Pandesal Bar at Ortigas Home Depot was then also converted to Casa Marcos sometime in 2012, but the Bread Bag menu remains available in both branches.
In November last year, the 3rd branch was opened on Tomas Morato, Quezon City, near where it was located then.
The new branch is at the 2nd floor of Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato cor. Sct. Madrinan, Quezon City [374-3178; (0906) 221-3615].
The restaurant has an ongoing P650 promo for any bottle of wine, or Buy one Take one cocktails at P165, or any two local beers (must be same kind) for P120 or P130!