Love and the smell of sumptuous steaks and salmon and red wine are wafting in the air in the southern part of Metro Manila. The pandemic may have reshaped the way Valentine’s Day will be celebrated this year, but these favorite dining destinations are opening their doors to let love and lovers in.
Mall of Asia
Pasay’s largest mall houses an array of restaurants couples can choose from depending on the ambiance and food they want to enjoy.
Highlands Steakhouse on the second floor of Entertainment Mall serves the bestsellers also offered at its Tagaytay branch, including US-certified Angus steak, carefully aged for 28 days, T-bone steak, and ribeye.
Steaks in various cuts, crispy grilled salmon steak, and other juicy delights abound Meat Plus Café at the North Wing ground floor. Also on the same floor is favorite barkada hangout TGI Friday’s which offers hearty meals like the Pacific Grilled Pork Chop, Signature Baby Back Ribs, and Six-spice Chicken.
Another place for meat-loving lovers is Tajimaya at the North Wing of Entertainment Mall. The restaurant is known for its grill-it-yourself yakiniku and Wagyu beef served in a number of ways. If your date prefers local fare over international, Chikaan Sa Cebu serves home-cooked dishes from different provinces in Cebu, such as its bestselling pochero and baked scallops.
S Maison
Premier seaside mall S Maison, also in Pasay, has a veranda where diners can enjoy their meals overlooking Manila Bay.
On the second level of the mall, Hukad: Golden Cowrie serves lechon belly roasted to perfection, baked scallops, and pinakbet; Lola Café offers mouthwatering Auro Tsokolate cake; while casual ramen restaurant Uma Uma serves delicious noodles with aromatic tonkotsu stock.
Sheraton Manila
Couples can take a journey before dinner under the stars in one of Sheraton’s bubble pods (Vubble) or by the Vega pool. The night starts with a welcome drink and canapé, complete with romantic lights and visuals in the ballroom. Diners will then be escorted outside into their pod or onto their poolside table to enjoy a special menu and a performance by the Manila Philharmonic Trio.
Dinner by pool includes chef’s salad; seafood fumet soup with crab cake; US beef tenderloin with truffle potato puree, burnt onion, mousseline sauce, and mixed berry dome inclusive of arrival beverages; Valdivieso sparkling wine; and coffee and tea for P2,850++ per guest.
Vubble Pod’s menu, on the other hand, starts with marinated salmon with lemon caviar, followed by chef’s salad, seafood fumet soup with crab cake, pulled Spanish pork ravioli with mushroom ragout, US beef tenderloin, one glass of Duval Leroy champagne, and coffee and tea for P7,000++ per guest. After dinner drinks and desserts await in the ballroom.
The Valentine Journey package is available on Feb. 12-14. Seating time on Feb 12-13 is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., while available schedule on Feb. 14 is from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Call (02) 7902-1800 to reserve a table.
S Kitchen and Oori also have special offers to celebrate Valentine’s Day for two or with family and friends. Sheraton, a Department of Tourism-authorized hotel accepting leisure accommodations, offers a staycation package on Feb. 12-14 at P5,780 nett. Meanwhile, those who prefer to stay in may order a Valentine’s Hamper (price starts at P2,400 nett), dinner-to-go (three-course meal with a bottle of sparkling wine for P5,500 nett), or cake (P1,500 nett).
SM by the Bay
Another place with good food and a scenic view of Manila Bay, it houses The Roadhouse Manila Bay, a rock and roll and bike bar and restaurant known for Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Bruce Springsteen-signed guitars hanging on its walls, and biker burgers and nachos. Gen Korean serves 100 percent premium meats, seafood, and K-pop vibe.
City of Dreams Manila
The integrated resort and casino in Parañaque highlights the thoughtfully prepared menu in its signature restaurants and staycation packages in its hotels.
Nobu Manila offers a five-course Omakase which diners can enjoy al fresco in floating water cabanas surrounded by a lush garden. The 10,000-peso for two set menu comes with a complimentary glass of champagne and consists of Nobu canapé selection, a trio of Nobu sushi cups, sea bass tempura with inaniwa noodles and uni corn sauce, sous vide Australian tenderloin with truffle butter crust and balsamic reduction, and strawberry yogurt jello.
Red Ginger serves charcoal-grilled Iberico Pork Belly with Seven Spices for the whole month of February. Café Society has a variety of cakes, cupcakes, and other sweet confections for sale until Valentine’s Day.
Overnight stay rates for Metro Manila and Calabarzon residents start at P16,400 nett (weekday) and P17,900 nett (weekend) for Nuwa; P9,400 nett and P10,900 nett for Nobu Hotel, and P6,300++ and P7,300++ for Hyatt Regency Manila. Call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com for inquiries and reservations.
Casa Buenas
Executive Chef Godfrey Laforteza is leading Resorts World Manila’s culinary team as they prepare a special dinner available on Feb. 13-14 at Casa Buenas.
La Serenata’s six-course menu starts with hors d’oeuvre of Foie Gras Toast and sourdough bread with Casa Buenas butter, followed by Citrus Cured Salmon and Octopus Kilawin appetizer. The bold flavor of the soup course’s Sopa de Ajo is complemented by the tenderness of Caviar and Beef Wellington. The meal ends with Sweet Garden for dessert and a box of elegant confectionery. The meal is paired with free flowing wine from a house selection of reds.
Rates start at P8,000. A limited La Serenata dinner package for two at P7,099 is available at RWM Exclusives (rwmexclusives.com). Call (02) 7908-8988 or 0917-878-8321 to book a table.
