I admire Great Escape's aplomb. A slightly upscale Italian trattoria and wine place in a…read moreneighborhood food park teeming with broke college kids? That seems like a tall order, but what Great Escape has accomplished so far in Maginhawa StrEAT is admirable. The container van-style Italian restaurant serves such traditional trattoria mainstays as bruschetta, pasta, oven-baked pizzas and antipasti. I think it is a clever idea to introduce the food-park going crowd to more sophisticated dining choices. It's good that it's there as an option. Students can flock to the cheaper and less intimidating alternatives from the other concessionaires in the park, but what Great Escape offers is something that the more mature crowds (who can afford. Ha!) can enjoy. Here, you don't have to worry about plastic forks or sauces dribbling down your front. They have real utensils and wine glasses that you can use if you want to dine in and enjoy a glass of wine. Their sangria is ace - sweet, not too heady and refreshingly fruity. I ordered the aglio e olio pasta, which turned out a bit too salty for my taste. I'd reserve my opinion and write about this place again in the future, since they are stil on soft opening and they are still probably trying to sort some things out with their recipes. What makes this place super unique is the mist-spewing sprinklers that they hooked up to their trellis. It releases a cool mist every now and then to keep their customers cool during the balmy nights, reminding one of dewy vineyards. Raymund, Herbie and co. should be really proud of themselves. They are doing a great job so far.

The servers were great. The wine tasted so woody and oaky that together with the creme' brulee made…read morethat perfect bittersweet taste that I really like. But thank goodness we only ordered a glass each not a whole bottle. The place could've been in a much better location if you ask me. When we were there, there was this tree with its roots hanging from the ceiling. I thought it was cool but weird at the same time. I guess they were going for that cozy Italian cabin feeling that didn't quite work well with the place, because it was originally set up as a loft. The stairs were a little too steep for a wine bar. I give it 3stars because the theme didn't work well with how the place was set up but the wine was great.

Amazing spot, great service, server are nice and food is really good definitely recommending it…read morewith my family and friends

Cool spot to enjoy the sunset with friends and visitors. Easy access from Manila and MOA area.read more

This place offers THE BEST food and wine selection! Nice ambiance, music volume was just right…read moreallowing us to talk with friends we were hanging out with. Service was exceptional!! Parking garage across the place as well as street parking g available.

Another hangout place for wine enthusiasts and foodies. They're above average for food, but why…read morewhine, when you can wine. Smoked Fish Spaghettini (280 PHP) A decent plate of pasta that remained warm enough to enjoy even after 15 minutes of shooting. The overall seasoning is balanced and light in flavour, which fits the perfectly done pasta. Mixed Cold Cuts and Cheese Platter (580 PHP) This is the platter to pair with your wine night with friends. Oddly enough you don't save by getting this platter, individually the cheese (210 PHP) and Meat (380 PHP), but it's a pair to pair with wine. Cheese Pesto Pizza (430 PHP) There are 2 kinds of pizza lovers; the dough don't bother me feels so good or the top heavy toppings fanatic. I'm a dough lover and places that I get dough are Salvatore Cuomo and Motorino Pizzeria - I enjoy the thin and chewy kind that stretches and is lovingly soft. Vitto's pizzas are thin and have that feel good dough I seek, it's decent dough... As for the toppings it fairly average, cheese and pesto with some tomatoes. Crispy Bacon (195 PHP) Deep fired to a crisp and satisfying crunch that's ideal as bar chow (pulutan) Chicken Ragu (250 PHP) Chicken breast fillet stuffed with carrots, cheese, and mornay sauce, breaded, fried, and sliced. Pasta Al Funghi (240 PHP) Creamy good pasta with the right thickness of sauce. I enjoy the even coat and mix.

My grandmother really has a knack for cuisines that aren't too mainstream and she stumbled upon…read moreCalderon in Kapitolyo. She loved it so much that she brought the family there for Sunday bonding. I found the place to be homey and cozy. It looked like a bricked house and once you've settled in a table, you'd feel like you're really in Spain. The music and ambiance really suite the whole theme. And don't get me started with the food! We ordered different things for the family to try and I must say that the food was good! We ordered the Paella Valenciana which is the flavor/variant we all know of. We also ordered the Caldo Gallego which was a hearty soup composed of beef, chicken, beans, vegetables and Spanish chorizo. We had the Salpicao, Croquetas and Bacalao ala Vizcaina (cod in tomato sauce). All of those dishes were really good! To end the meal, we ordered Sangria and partnered it with Bandeja de Jamon, Chorizo Y Quezo which was a platter of cold cuts, hams and cheese. The restaurant definitely captured the taste of Spain. I found it to be a great place to be with a big group or even just a one on one intimate dinner. The vibe for me was great. My overall experience in Calderon was pleasant! I would recommend Spanish cuisine lovers to drop by and try the food!

When I found out that a Spanish restaurant was opening in our neighborhood I was so excited and…read morewithin the first week of opening my family and I headed to Calderon. Honestly though we weren't expecting that much since it was only a neighborhood joint and we suspected would not offer Spanish dishes quite as authentic and fresh as those we've had in more expensive restaurants, but boy were we wrong. Calderon is fantastic. Their flavors was bold and their dishes though made with simple ingredients really pack a punch. The place is cozy and warm, the décor classic and earthy. The food offered is classic Spanish and we ordered salpicao, paella, gambas, and croquettas, all staple Spanish food. I was blown away by how tasty and great everything was. The tapas options are killer. I could honestly go home with a pot filled with their salpicao and just gorge on that and rice for a week. The ultimate test (at least for my mom) was their paella and it did not disappoint it was flavorful, salty, packed with meat and veggies. Calderon is certainly a must-try!

Torch is a restaurant that offers food from various cuisines. They have steaks, burgers, sushi,…read morepizza, even ramen! Aaaaand their food is sooooo good! My favorite, the Salpicao Medallion, is expertly made with meat that is tender and perfectly seasoned. Their Chicken Yakitori is also a wonder. Just imagine grilled chicken wrapped in bacon and served with rice that's just as flavorful as the chicken. I also love their Smoked Salmon Truffle Sushi! The truffle may be a little overpowering in taste but there's still that hint of smoked salmon that immediately makes me grab another piece. For dessert, you can try their Bread Pudding which isn't overly sweet but still delicious. This is definitely one of the places I'd never put to the torch (get it?).

Torch meat is so good!!…read more And pizza. And sushi. And salad. I honestly don't know how to qualify the cuisine of Torch but to be safe, I'd say it's an Americanized everything. Haha. They've got some Japanese, Italian, Filipino/Spanish... But the common denominator is they're all good and rich. The Salpicao Medallion, Spicy Tuna Tartare, Gambas Pizza, Prosciutto Pizza, and Cream Cheese Salmon Roll are just some of my top picks! Everything's seasoned and cooked really well. Expect a really tasty, satisfying meal when you eat here. The place just gets a little stuffy, especially when all the "torched" meat dishes are served on the tables, because the smoke just goes everywhere. They really need to improve on their ventilation, but the fact that people keep eating there regardless should show how decent the place is. Definitely a reliable choice for group dinners, whether with family or friends 'cause there's something for everybody.

This was an overwhelming place of good food! The drinks and desserts were unique…read more CHIRINGUITO,SICILIAN LIMONATA and their Sangria were super good. We had all sorts of tapas and the Paella Negra was a must when you're here. The best part was the open kitchen and stay at the bar!

My relatives took me to have lunch at this place. Their chef…read moreis from Barcelona whom we met after we ate. He serves an authentic gazpacho which I learned how to make in my recent trip to Madrid. It tasted exactly the same. The Wagyu beef is not as tender as I know because I just recently had Wagyu in Japan. The beef here is from Australia which I guessed! I like the ambience, the food and service. A good place to have tapas Spain style.

Good Spanish food, lively, even a bit too noisy atmosphere, attentive and gracious service. I…read morereally like Las Flores. From their croquettes to their churros everything is tasty and well done. I love their mushroom paella and if I ever move on and try their other paellas, I feel certain I would love them too. Their billinis are wonderful cocktails too. Very refreshing and at a buy one get one free deal during lunch, makes it easy to enjoy even more. If you like Spanish food, I think you'll enjoy this for sure. And if you're not familiar with Spanish cuisine, then this is the perfect place to start.

I've visited this location a couple times during my trips to Manila and enjoyed the food here…read more There were lots of seating in and outdoors. A full bar anchored the rear. A large group was also dining at the same time but overall it wasn't too loud. Staff here have been welcoming and attentive. They remembered some of our go to dishes which the family enjoys. Las Flores menu offered lots of options and this time we got the following: Salmon tartare - unique presentation in a fried lumpia wrapper cone. The additional wasabi mayo side let us add as much as we wanted. Angus and foie gras- tender beef and creamy foie gras was decadent Jamon croquettes- crunchy , creamy and a little salty Duck rigatoni- an excellent pasta dish with shredded savory duck Chorizo Frito - sautéed chorizo sausages that tasted even better with the roasted garlic cloves The small plates gave us a good taste since we were not that hungry. Next time we'll try the paella again.

A great neighborhood tapas and wine restaurant - and a lot more…read more The staff here are incredibly friendly and efficient. The food is fantastic. The Pulpo Croquettas and Carrilleras de Wagyu con Setas topped my list of full flavored dishes. I was in a group of 18 people who ordered dozens of menu selections. And there was not a single comment less than compliment. It was a really fun evening. We met for a reunion and the restaurant seated us in a spacious location apart from the main dining area - it felt like a private room. I highly recommend this restaurant when you're in the vicinity.

Two words: Sangria y Paella. Do yourself a favor and order the Paella as soon as you sit down…read more(takes 30min and is legit amazing). While you wait enjoy a pitcher of their homemade Sangria that is bomb and fruit has soaked for 2 days. If you get a little hangry in the meantime there is bread and butter on the table. The Paella is crispy perfection on the bottom with crrreamy and decadent rice, spices and seafood on top. De-lish

not bad. paella negra is okay but it stays in your system for quite some time. how does it…read morecompare to an alba run resto?

One of the newer unlimited grilled or barbecue places in the area, the place is well lit, well…read moreventilated and offers seafood as well (which is quite different from others). Between the 599 and 499 options, the 599 is definitely a better deal. We basically tried all the meats, and would advise that you get the beef platter as it comes with five different flavoured meats. The quality of meat is better than many others (in my opinion). The cheese is sumptuous, but their kimchi isn't great. Overall, I'd recommend the restaurant especially if you've grown tired of all the rest.

From the owner: Our restaurant will give you both Japanese cuisine and Korean Grill satisfaction with a wide…read morevariety of side dishes, appetizers, soups and 22 kinds of meats and seafood.