If you feel like cutting off your ear today, just drop by Van Gogh is Bipolar first

Feeling a little depressed or in need of something new & crazy? Maybe all you need is some mood altering food from Maginhawa Street's Van Gogh is Bipolar. 

But before you do, make sure to remove your shoes and swear that you will never enter the owner's private Asylum, which is also located inside Van Gogh is Bipolar. 

The owner is Creative Director and Travel Photographer, Jetro B. Rafael - a self-confessed bipolar. Given his own mood swings, Jetro decided to control one of the biggest culprits of depression: the food he eats. 


Researching on the neuro-chemical effects of different food, Jetro personally whipped up meals that are targeted to release soothing or happy hormones to battle depression and anxiety. "They serve all-natural and authentic happy hormone producing foods to help stimulate the production of deficient neurotransmitters: dopamine, seratonin and norepinephrine in your brain." (lifted from Van Gogh's menu) 


So with Van Gogh is Bipolar, not only are you eating well, but you are also designing the mood you want. 

Only 10 diners will be accommodated inside Van Gogh is Bipolar since there are only 3 small dining area options: the couple table (for 1-2 diners), the collage room (for 4-6 diners) and the red room (for 2-3 diners). This intimate setting is perfect for the eclectic experience you are bound to have in Van Gogh is Bipolar. So make sure to have a reservation before coming or arrive at exactly 6pm to hopefully snag a seat. 

And oh yeah, don't forget to pass by the blue lighted comfort room with hanging random pictures and posters. I dare you to stay there alone for 10 minutes without freaking out. :P

Self service is the name of the game in Van Gogh is Bipolar. But don't worry, there's a huge blackboard with all of the restaurant instructions to guide its diners. Plus, if you really need something, all you have to do is ring the bell by the kitchen window.

There are 3 dinner sets to choose from: the Picasso's Lover's Feast (details of this meal is printed a laminated paper posted on the wall) & 2 meal sets for the day as written on a smaller blackboard. The Picasso's Lover's Feast costs Php1499 while the daily dinner sets cost Php550 each. 

We ordered 1 each of the meal sets: President Roosevelt's Norwegian Salmon Belly and Ben Stiller's Chicken Legs. Notice that all their meals and dishes are named after bipolar personalities. :) 

To order, all you have to do is write it down a piece of paper provided near the menu table and hand it over to the kitchen. 

You can order individual dishes outside the meal sets since they have a separate menu under the blackboard. However, only those who ordered the meal sets will be allowed to stay inside. If you want to really immerse yourself in this experience, it's best to dine inside. 

Right after ordering, you may choose to make your own tea from a variety of mood altering tea alternatives: Spanish Plum Tea (Extra Upper), Guavamint Tea (Upper), Mangomint Tea (Happy Chill), Bananamint Tea (Light Chill), Avocadomint Tea (Soothing), Guyabanomint Tea (Extra Calming). 

All of which are caffeine-free and served with fresh mint leaves and wild Palawan honey. "They only utilize the most premium tea leaves which are grown from Luna, Quirino, Isabela."

Just pick a tea pot from the nearby table and start mixing away. There are instructions to guide you as well in making your own tea. All other silverware and chinaware you might need are located inside the drawers of the tea table or under the blackboard. 

While waiting, you may choose to wear a silly hat to really get into the mood or even carve out a message on the tea table. Yes, vandalism is encouraged in Van Gogh is Bipolar! Just get the screwdriver from the tea table.

RJ's carving (Top); Smarla's carving (Bottom)

RJ and I went to opposite ends of the table, only to find out that we carved out the same thing. :) Awwwww.

While we were looking at the interior design, our meal arrived one by one. First up was Courtney Love's Potion of the Day, followed shortly by Virginia Woolf's Tear Soup. 

Courtney Love's Potion of the Day is a mix of fresh and organic fruit extracts with real fruit bits and pulp with wild Palawan Honey. It tastes similar to calamansi juice with honey and pomelo bits. I really enjoyed this drink especially since they were so generous with the fruit pulps. 

Virginia Woolf's Tear Soup is a turkey soup with a surprise element - homemade banana chips! This really caught me off guard since I didn't expect to have crunchy banana chips in my soup. The turkey flavor is not too evident but I think I was too distracted by the thrill of finding banana chips in my soup.

Ben Stiller's Chicken Legs (Top); President Roosevelt's Norwegian Salmon Belly (Bottom)

After 10-15 minutes since our soup arrived, Jetro's friend personally served the main dishes on our table: Ben Stiller's Chicken Legs and President Roosevelt's Norwegian Salmon Belly. In terms of plating, our meals looked exactly the same aside from the salmon and the chicken. Both meals were served with Van Gogh Rice, 2 perfectly baked potatoes and 2 dips: bagoong sauce or olive oil/soy sauce based. 

Served in a cave of cabbage leaves, Van Gogh Rice is an organic black mountain eaten with olive oil or bagoong sauce. "It is a 100% complex carbohydrate which contains B1 and B3 and folic acid. It is also a low-glycemic food, meaning it releases glucose into the bloodstream gradually, preventing sugar lows and mood swings. It beats depression as well." It is topped with banana chips and corn kernels. This is definitely not your ordinary organic rice! The interesting texture and the mix of flavors of this rice goes lovely with the watery bagoong sauce. 

The glazed Chicken Legs were sweet brought about by the mango juice and bits slathered on top. The meat inside was very moist and full of flavor. We also liked how moist and salty the Salmon Belly was albeit its small serving. 

By the way, "old water fish such as salmon is also an excellent source of omega-3 oils that help maintain a happy positive state of being."

To end our meal, I opted for the alcoholic dessert, Mel Gibson's Darkest Sin. It is a shot of vodka with melted dark chocolate, dried walnut and almonds with wild honey. This is perfect for people who are experiencing depression since dark chocolate, with its high cacao content, (the bitter, the better) is "excellent for boosting brain function and eliminating depression, while walnut is one of the richest food source to uplift your mood." This dessert is served at a minimum since too much alcohol can be a source of hormonal imbalance. 

It was a little hard to mix the ingredients altogether since the teaspoon wouldn't fit inside the shot glass. However, I'm happy I had this dessert since it definitely had a strong alcohol and dark chocolate kick - perfect for those in need of a quick boost of happy hormones. 

RJ, on the other hand, had their Ludwig van Beethoven's Sweet Opus Surprise-me Dessert. "It is made fresh from the kitchen's ingredients which varies each day, depending on what is fresh in the market. It includes citrus fruits since they are known to relieve anxiety. They are also very rich with vitamin C that can be used as a stress buster by reducing the stress hormone cortisol." It is also served with bananas that are known as the best fruit for broken hearts since "it activates your dopamine and serotonin hormones."

Personally, we didn't enjoy the 2nd dessert since it seemed a little too plain in terms of taste. It was simply a lumpia wrapper topped with carrots, bananas, mangoes and chocolate syrup. Better take the shot instead - plus it's more fun! 

Once you're done with your meals, just ring the bell and place the used dishes near the kitchen window.

Ring the bell and leave your payment on the little red box by the door. Every customer gets a free honey stick! You may also choose to get other candies but make sure to honestly pay for them. No one's watching over this little box, so make sure to only bring along honest friends with you on your visit. :P

Before leaving, make sure to celebrate your life by writing on the Red Curse Healing Wall. Of course, you may opt not to curse if you don't want to. :) Pentel pens are available near the menu blackboard. 

Overall, I recommend Van Gogh is Bipolar for people in need a quick pick-me-upper or those who are looking for a bizarre experience. The food is okay but it's really the mind boggling experience that will keep you coming back to this refuge. 

Thank you Jetro for warmly welcoming us into your abode. I'd also like to thank my friend, Abbey for recommending this place. It was surely one hell of a dining experience! :)

More Info on Van Gogh is Bipolar:

Address: 154 Maginhawa St. Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, Metro Manila

Landmark: To the right of Crave Burger along Maginhawa Street

Map: Click Here

Budget: Php550-700/head

Menu: Click Here

Contact Number: (02) 394-0188, (0929) 163-8592

Operating Hours: Sunday-Saturday except Tuesday, 6pm-12:30 AM

Other Maginhawa Street Restaurants: 

• Maginhawa Street's Delish: Where I Fell In Love with Oysters & Waiters
• Maginhawa Street's Cocina Juan: The Winner Central American Dinner on 10-10-10

~It's the little sweet notes everyday that matter. :)~