Dining options at Serendra

By Ed Biado

Valentine?s Day is less than two weeks away but knowing how crazy we, Filipinos, can get in patronizing this Hallmark-created holiday, dinner reservations must be made as early as now. To help you make that (love)life-threatening decision of having to choose a restaurant, The Daily 10 is listing some nice places at Serendra for you to check out.

1. Abe ? Colonial Filipino food is what Abe is all about, so expectations are high as we all have our own special recipes passed down from generation to generation. The restaurant has some reasonable dishes but at least one will definitely win you over: the Lechon Cubano.

2. Fez ? Serving Mediterranean cuisine (with a little Moroccan here and there), Fez is great if you?re into ambient dining. With entrees for less than P500, this midscale restaurant has a selection that includes beef medallions, curried steak, skewers and some seafood delights.

3. Cav ? As this is more a wine shop than a restaurant, obviously the drinks are the star. For those who want the ?complete? dining experience, Cav offers food pairings (entr?e and wine). Or you can simply indulge in their daily wine tasting with the use of their Enomatic Wine Dispenser.

4. Portico 1771 ? This restaurant, among other things, boasts a Filipino breakfast menu for champions. Rice-sided dishes such as Baguio Longganisang Durog, Pritong Paksiw Bangus Belly and the weirdly named Macau Chorizo That?s Not From Macau.

5. Kape Isla ? Promoting Philippine coffee, Kape Isla also offers local kakanin to go along with your fresh brew that would only cost less than P100. The menu is noticeably lacking as there aren?t that many choices. However, their bibingka is to die for!

6. Mamou ? Searing one of the best steaks in town, Mamou is a place that many people go to just for the Angus Prime (which costs about P400 per 100 grams). It?s not fine dining, though, as the owner insists that it?s ?a home kitchen.? And aside from the steak, there are few dishes that can actually give you a gastrorgasm.

7. Gaudi ? People who have tried Gaudi can agree that it?s one of the few restaurants in the metro that serves authentic Spanish dishes. The restaurant itself takes pride in their 10 different types of paellas and 30 different types of pintxos. And they swear by the quality and taste of their sangria.

8. Mezzaluna ? The interiors, punctuated by the high ceilings, of this place are enough to set the mood right. So how about the food? It?s good. Nothing bad can be said about their grilled steaks, foie gras and other delicacies. Although a little pricey, the Chilean seabass is a must-try.

9. Tatami ? For those who aren?t exactly Japanese cuisine connoisseurs, the Mixed Sashimi Special and Nigiri Special are highly recommended. Just like other Japanese restaurants, their menu is filled with terms that can take time to understand and memorize. So order with caution!

10. Balducci ? A great Italian selection awaits diners at Balducci. The menu is long, which is almost always a good thing and the prices are not that damaging either. Try their steak sampler (Grigliata di Carni Miste alla Balducci); it?s a mix of grilled meats with sidings that serves two. Their sliced smoked salmon is also good, albeit extremely thin slices.