For some "komik" relief

Nestled in a cozy courtyard in the heart of hip and happening Malate is Komiks Boutique Resto. If you’er looking for a calmer punctuation to end a day of exclamation points, this spot is for you.

The small, lounge-like space is peppered with posters, memorabilia, and a mural of our favorite comic book characters of yesteryears. Darna, Tarzan, Dyesebel and Kenkoy (Komiks’s mascot) have all been resurrected from the forgotten past. Marcelo Alonzo, the managing director and the creative mind behind this new hangout: "In the early 1900s, comics were read as a pastime together with light meals. Life them was simple. With the advancement of technology, this reading material started to lose its popularity among the young and the young at heart. Lifestyles started to change."

Komiks, then, is a throwback to our simpler past. It’s reminiscent of an era when kids had the time (and the wider attention span) to read comic books. In this age of hype and hullabaloo, this nostalgia trip gave birth to the notion that we should take our time to enjoy the finer things in life. And one of these things is food. Thus, "slow food" was born.

The idea behind this concept is to slow down, to appreciate our meals and relish in the good company of our friends. Every facet of Komiks works towards this concept. First of all, the atmosphere is conducive to conversation. The space is small, cozy, and (a rarity nowadays) quiet. "We don’t play music too loud. Sometimes…" Marcelo adds with a mischievous grin, "… you can hear what the people at the next table are talking about." The mood of the scene makes Komiks the perfect pace to bring date or a group of friends to chill and shoot the breeze a while.

Since ambience won’t quell your gurgling gastrointestinal groans for grub, Komiks has a menu that would make your taste buds tap dance and tango. For dinner, Alonzo recommends the house specialty, named after our favorite tights-wearing crime fighters. The Dynamic Duo is a potato and Camembert gratin that would leave you saying "Holy spuds and cheese, Batman!" After dinner, say oui to the Chocodelirium, a chocolate cake made from French Valhrona chocolate, swimming in rich caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream and coffee beans. If you came for just a snack with some pals, share the Fondue. And get this, the dishes were masterfully crafted by New York-trained Chef Consultant Jane Paredes. All the ingredients are organically-grown. To top it all off, for such good food, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. But remember, don’t just scarf it all down and boucne out. The idea here is to take your time and enjoy your meal, your surroundings and your friends.