For Chef Vicky Rose Pacheco, owner of Sentro 1771, food goes far beyond preparation, cooking, and serving—it’s a journey woven with stories.
Each dish on her menu tells its own tale.
Take her famed Corned Beef Sinigang, for instance.
It came to life by accident when Chef Vicky was preparing an Irish dish, St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and carrots.
While tasting the broth, she noticed it was “maalat siya,” so she quickly added tamarind to balance it with “maasim.”
The result was a surprising twist on sinigang, creating a dish now as iconic as the 26-year-old restaurant.
“Every Filipino home has its version of popular dishes. Why will they come to Sentro if the food will taste exactly the same sa bahay nila, di ba?” Chef Vicky says.
She emphasizes that dining at Sentro is about more than ambiance or presentation—it’s about taste.
“And it should not just be masarap. It should be different from what they eat at home.”
One of the restaurant's signature dishes, Rated GG, was inspired by a conversation with her sister about pritong galunggong.
Her challenge was, “How can I serve a dish na may tinik, may ulo, who’s gonna eat that?”
Chef Vicky wanted to give diners something beyond the usual “fried and crispy GG” they could make at home.
After seeing grilled sardines in olive oil in a gourmet magazine, she thought, "Paano ko kaya gagawing Pinoy?"
She infused olive oil with garlic, filleted the galunggong to remove the fins, tinik, and ulo, seasoned it with salt and pepper, then fried it in garlic olive oil and topped it with brown garlic.
The dish quickly became a hit.
When PEP.ph Executive Editor Karen Caliwara asked about expanding the business, such as offering Rated GG in a bottle, Chef Vicky hesitates. “Puwedeng mag-preorder…para fresh.
"Kasi pag bottle iyan, magkakaroon ng expiration date. And scary kasi you don’t know how long it will last on the shelf,” she explains, prioritizing freshness and quality.
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SENTRO 1771 MENU
Sentro 1771’s menu evolves every two years. Does customer feedback influence her choices?
“If I follow all the comments, I realized every Filipino has their own experience of Filipino food. So yun ang benchmark nila,” she reflects.
“So sa isip ko, basta masarap sa akin, paninindigan ko. Sa awa ng Diyos, nasarapan din sila.”
She explains that, while advice and feedback are valuable, ultimately, she makes decisions that align with her brand and vision.
That said, Chef Vicky does occasionally yield to customer preference. “Ako, I love ampalaya. But when merong ampalaya sa menu, not everyone like it.."
Her goal with every dish is to create lasting memories:
“It’s the place where you experience good serving. Ang goal ko…mas maganda kung yung food ay masarap na hahanapin mo siya, even after years.”
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THE SENTRO 1771 DINERS
Chef Vicky’s dedication has built a loyal customer base, with diners even coming straight from the airport.
“Na-miss nila yung pagkain. Or na-try nila, tumatak sa kanila at naalala nila,” she says.
Besides balikbayans, her patrons often range in age from their 40s to 60s, appreciating the restaurant’s classic ambiance.
For private gatherings, Sentro 1771’s function rooms offer an intimate setting. The Capital Commons branch can host 12 to 24 people, Greenbelt 5 up to 20, and One Bonifacio Place 10 to 20.
Click this to make a reservation.
Since the pandemic, she’s noticed a shift in diners' habits.
“Bawat dish, pini-picture-an,” she notes with a smile.
The abundance of food photos online has even led her to wonder, “Masarap kaya sila? Kasi ang gagandang tingnan.”
GROUP ORDERS AND PRE-ORDERING OPTIONS
The restaurant also accommodates group orders.
“We have meal boxes for executives and board meetings and bento boxes for quick meetings or corporate gatherings.”
Just send a message to 09178660449.
For the authentic experience, diners are encouraged to head to any Sentro 1771 branch.
- G/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City
- Meralco Ave., cor. Shaw Blvd., Kapitolyo, Pasig City
- 2F, 5th Ave., corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Pre-ordering is also available, ensuring the food is ready upon arrival.
- Capitol Commons: Contact Numbers- 0917-854-4540 / 7-900-9089; Email- sentro1771.commons@gmail.com
- One Bonifacio High Street Mall, BGC: Contact Numbers- 0917-814-7794 / 7-946-2859; Email- sentro1771.onebonifacio@gmail.com
- Greenbelt 5: Contact Numbers- 0917-853-7460 / 7-757-3941; Email- sentro1771.greenbelkt@gmail.com