FAVORITE RESTAURANTS
El Cirkulo
Milkyway
bldg, 900 Arnaiz ave (Pasay rd), Makati, tel 810-8735, 810-2763
Nouveau Spanish. Excellent desserts. Consistent.
Most dishes tried have been delicious. For tapas: gambas al ajillo, baked oysters, hojaldre
(spinach and blue cheese in a phylo triangle) and tortilla are favorites. Other best sellers are
chorizo frito, salpicao, sisig (sisig lovers swear by it). Paellas are a
must, vegetarians and meat-eaters will both enjoy the montana (portobello
mushrooms, garlic, truffle oil, and asparagus). The seabass is popular and the bistecca (Australian Angus Ribeye) is succulent,
the pasta is ok, just not as wonderful as
their other dishes. DON’T skip desserts! They have the best chocolate
dessert in Manila–warm dark chocolate truffle cake. Also divine
are the white chocolate bread pudding, the bolsillo de platano (phyllo
pastry purse filled with warm banana compote), and their more recently added
must try--the orange icecream "drumstick" (the name
doesn't do it justice--home-made orange ice cream, Callebaut liquid chocolate
crunch, orange butter sauce). Coffee is good too.
People's Palace, Greenbelt 3, Makati tel 729-2888. Great Thai food and good service. Vegetarian menu available. Furniture and decor are contemporary, background music is relaxing, and the lighting is perfect for the modern-laid back atmosphere. So far we have enjoyed everything we have ordered. For drinks try the refreshing mango-passion fruit shake or the pandan juice. Reservations recommended.
Sala, 610 J Nakpil, Malate, tel 524-6770. Excellent and creative fusion fare. The menu is limited but changes often. Good value lunch menu. Tops in the appetizers section are the spinach and goat cheese ravioli (you can order it as a main, just tell the waiter so the portion is larger), the cannelloni, and the prawn and dill soufflé. Highly recommended mains are the seabass and the lamb. This is also "the other favorite dessert place" must tries are the divine lavender icecream and the melt-in-your-mouth panacotta (raspberry version the best), the mango passion pavlova is also recommended.
Other Favorites by Cuisine Type
| Chinese | Summer Palace 2nd Floor, EDSA Shangri-La, 633-8888. Although its sister restaurant, Shang Palace, at the Shangri-La Makati has had a recent and wonderful make-over, many people find the food here better. Summer is known for its Cantonese, dimsum, and vegetarian dishes. |
| Gourmet Sandwiches | Segundo Piso @ Terry
Selection.
Karrivin Plaza,
2316 Pasong Tamo ext, tel 729-7906 to 07 8441816.
Terry Selection @ the Podium lower ground, the Podium, 8 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong, tel 638-5725-26. Aside from excellent sandwiches, Terry's has a selection of Spanish tapas and paellas. My favorites here for sandwiches are the vegetarian (choice from 4 different cheeses, with Terry's sauce, lettuce and tomato, and I always choose French baguette for my bread), and the Mess (pepper salami, smoked ham, tomme de savoie, tomato, lettuce, dressing). The gazpacho is good, and the tortilla with blue cheese is very good and very heavy...For dessert they have one of the best flans in Manila--the Flan de Abuela, and chocolate lovers will enjoy the chocolate valor marquise--very rich, very chocolaty, very heavy. |
| Indian | Kashmir 816 Pasay rd, Makati, tel 844-4927. Branch: Merchant Center Bldg, P Faura corner Adriatico st, Ermita, tel 524-6851, 523-1521. Owners are Indians from Malaysia who are Filipinos. Food is consistent here. Favorites are the palak paneer (creamy spinach with homemade cottage cheese), dahl chana (lentil curry), and the okra. For meat dishes chicken Korma (Malaysian chicken curry) and sheek kabab (finely minced lamb blended with herbs and spices) are highly recommended. I have never been disappointed. Lassis are delicious too, salty or sweet--rose or mango are my favorites, you can order them with less sugar. Do note that if you do not like your curry spicy then say very mild or not spicy at all. We usually order medium, which is quite spicy, and ordered very spicy ONCE, that was even too hot for friends (South Asian and South East Asian) who are accustomed to spicy food. Service is always friendly and efficient, the staff know the dishes well. |
| Italian |
Caffe Caruso 210 Nicanor
Garcia St, Bel-Air, Makati, tel 895-2451. Pizza is very good—the
Quattro formaggi, definitely for cheese lovers—is excellent. The delectably
rich spaghetti alla carbonara is possibly the best in Manila. Also
recommended and very tasty are the spinach and cheese ravioli, and the
lasagna al forno--it has a good balance of meatiness, cheese, and sauce. For
soup, the minestrone (P180) is fresh and flavorful. Stick to the pizza and
pasta, there was nothing memorable about the other mains or the dessert. Cantineta Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Pasong Tamo ext., Makati, tel 892-9873. Good pizza, excellent thin crust, soft in the center yet crispy on the outsides. The ravioli has been inconsistent--when it is good, it is REALLY good, however 3 times I had it the pasta had too much flour, even uncooked chunks of flour were stuck too the pasta...and that really spoiled it for me. Soups and salads are also good. For dessert order the panacotta (...if you can't get out to Sala [see above] or Bellini's [theirs really melts as soon as it is in your mouth! It is located in Cubao at the Marikina Shoe Expo]). Pagliacci 5th Floor, The Podium, 18 ADB ave, Mandaluyong, tel 687-1514, telefax 687-0981. Best gelati in Manila, hard to pick a favorite flavor--the stracciatella, chocolate mousse (it's better than the chocolate), coconut, avocado, and wild cherry are my picks! Good salads, piadinas (sandwiches), and ravioli. Mauricio, the owner is very friendly, ask him for his suggestions. |
comments are welcome, email: brier@info.com.ph
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