This is probably one of the very few restaurants that just keeps getting better each time I come…read moreback, even when I though it was impossible for them to outdo themselves yet again.
The ambience is posh and decadent, perfect for a fancy date night, but each time we came with friends, so we can try as many of the delicious dishes as possible. Definitely recommend family style.
The service was impeccable and attentive. I never felt like we needed to flag someone down. They just magically showed up at the perfect time. Someone even brought out a little stool for my purse, which I've never seen outside of the best Michelin starred restaurants.
The drinks were well-balanced and inventive, and perfectly matched the food. Apologies for the poor photos of the dishes - I was tipsy ;)
The menu is mostly Filipino fusion, with some additional Asian fusion (ie Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean). If you expect traditional flavors and textures, you might be disappointed. Come with an open mind and your taste buds will thank you. The finesse and effort was evident in even the most humble sounding dish. The roasted cabbage was the dish that came to mind. It was at once soft in the center and crispy on the edges, with a flavor punch from the brown butter miso. The cucumber appetizer was such a hit, that we ordered it a second time. The kare kare short rib was fall off the bone tender. As far as creativity, I have never heard of tteokbokki with perilla pesto, but it absolutely works. It was probably my favorite dish of the night, even if it didn't quite match the rest of the dishes we ordered.
Some dishes will still hit that nostalgia factor. For me, those dishes were the Wagyu fried rice and the Taiwanese chicken. Were they the best dishes ever? Probably not, but they were tasty and felt like a warm hug. Sometimes cooking with soup is just as important as all the fancy tricks.
This time we did not order any of the mouth-watering steaks, because we wanted to try so many of the dishes on the menu. However, the last time I did have steak, and it was divine. They've done the A5 wagyu justice, and it is well worth the money.
In short, I highly recommend checking out Animae. I know I for sure will be back!
