Moksha

Can you tell a painter how to paint? Even if we oftentimes do not understand an art work, we can still revel in its beauty whose secrets will forever be kept away from us. This is how Moksha should be understood. Cryptic as its name suggests, it has the feel of a private and exclusive den tucked away in the annals of San Juan, like an obscure wok in a large library.

The chef, who is also a painter, treats each plate like a canvas. Common ingredients will never be looked at in the same way, such as the mountain rice: steaming, fragrant rice made with a ribbon of pandan leaves. The salad, once just an arrangement of greens on the center of a plate, became a moving and living piece of work, arranged is a diagonal, tapering river of assorted colorful vegetables. Fusion as the theme of the restaurant surfaced in the potato fritters with blue cheese dressing: odd at first, but excitingly delicious nevertheless.

By the time the Rosemary and Thyme Beef Skewers arrived, one realizes that they are at the mercy of a masterful, but playful chef. Tinged with a strong Indian accent, but with an Italian aftertaste, and slight traces of downright “Pinoy” character, the beef skewers were a strong testimony to the tasteful fusion of classic east and west in which Moksha prides itself.

Fusion moved to the background when two Indian dishes, Madras Beef and Curried Chicken Fillet surfaced and reflected the rue colors of the restaurant and the chef. To cleanse the palette which has been exposed to a mélange of herbs, spices, and sensations, the lemon grass iced tea or locally known as tanglad provides much needed salvation.

The co-owners are gracious hosts and embody the philosophy of “Moksha”, which happens to mean “salvation through service”.

Branches:

713 J. Abad Santos corner

Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan,

Metro Manila

Tel. No.: 723-8314

Sunday to Thursday: 5pm – 1am

Friday to Saturday: 8pm – 2am

Smoking (9pm onwards)

Specialties: Madras Beef, Curried Chicken Fillet, Rosemary and Thyme Beef Skewers

 Attire: Smart Casual

Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit

Parking: Limited Street Parking

Smoking (9pm onwards)