The secret to winning big at the foremost resort and casinos of the Entertainment City lies in these restaurants and dishes
By POCH EULALIA
As the dealer waits for your decision, you take a look at the three cards you’ve been dealt with. Each card represents Manila’s finest and hottest destinations for play and relaxation. Playing a card unlocks several dining options to satisfy your cravings.
Italian at Finestra or Asian at Yakumi
The first card is Solaire Resort, a multi-awarded hotel resort that deserves all its appellations. Its crown jewel for one, the Theatre at Solaire, able to seat up to 1,740 people to make any concert held at the venue a night one can never forget. Solaire is widely known for dining experiences that cater to specific cuisines. Care for Italian? Finestra Italian Steakhouse is a paradise for Italian cuisine and premium steaks made to your liking. Have a pasta with a T-bone steak made from fresh USDA Omaha Angus beef.
Asian is, of course, also on the menu. Yakumi’s combines traditional and modern Japanese techniques in cooking to give an exciting and unique taste to its dishes. The teppanyaki, for example, is curated especially by chef Norimasa Kosaka. The line has favorites like the Ebi Teppanyaki (fresh tiger prawns), Hokkaido Hotate Teppanyaki (fresh Hokkaido scallops), and the Ika Teppanyaki (squid).
For authentic Chinese cuisine, Red Lantern has the best of China’s regional specialties. I’m willing to bet your mouth is already watering at the thought of trying some of its Roasted Whole-Suckling Pig, Peking Duck, and a wide array of homemade dim sum to choose from. Finally, Kiwa could scratch the itch for authentic KBBQ experience. Have a go with the Yangneom Galbi (beef short ribs marinated with sweet special soy sauce), Chadolbagi (beef brisket), or the classic Samgyeopsal (pork belly). Its Kimchi Jjigae (kimchi stew) pairs well with the meat of choice, conveying just the right amount of spice to your meal.
For those with a sweet tooth, Patisserie has cakes, pastries, sandwiches, homemade ice cream, and gourmet chocolates. There’s also the special macaroons that come in various colors and flavors, which can be enjoyed either per piece or by a box of six.
After snacking on sweet treats, the best way to end the day is a nightcap at any of Solaire’s bars. The Whisky Bar has many blended malts, single malts, bourbons, and whiskeys. The Baccarat Room and Bar also offers several spirits to relish while playing a round of baccarat. For both these bars, you can even enjoy your drink with a handrolled cigar for that classy 1950s noir vibe.
A whisper hard to forget
Card number two shows Newport World Resorts, whose former name, Resorts World Manila, is a whisper hard to forget. Aside from its world-class casino, Newport World Resorts houses Newport Mall, which has myriad establishments for the whole family to enjoy.
Whether you want to shop ‘til you drop or enjoy a blockbuster hit at the Newport Cinema, there’s certainly something for everyone.
At Newport Mall, the Filipino restaurant Crisostomo makes use of the characters in Dr. Jose Rizal’s iconic novels. Dishes such as Adobo Damaso (chicken and pork adobo), Bistek Pelaez (bistek Tagalog), Isagani (rellenong bangus), and Doña Victorina (sauteed prawns in crab fat sauce) are sure to leave you craving for more.
Craving seafood? The Red Crab Alimango House serves the freshest catch. It is popular for serving the crustacean in various preparations. Start with its crispy crablets with barbecue seasoning and calamansi aioli before diving into the different types of crab dishes suitable for any palate. Szechuan crab, prepared with a special Szechuan sauce, is an excellent mix of sweet and spicy. Another smash hit is the Crab Maritess, crab smothered with garlic and simmered in white wine.
Shrimp lovers can also find themselves enjoying The Shrimp Bucket and Johnny Kahuku, as both restaurants offer large servings of shrimp. The first offers the decapod by the pound with plain salt and pepper seasoning or cooked in Frenchy lemon sauce. Johnny Kahuku focuses on a Hawaiian-style menu, with its name in the Hawaiian language ka huku translating to “the projection.” Its Shrimp Truck meal is good for three people or one if you’re really hungry. The dish consists of six to nine pieces of garlic butter shrimp paired with Hawaiian rice and sides of macaroni salad and poke, which are Hawaiian raw salads of chilled tuna or salmon sashimi and various seafood tossed with seaweed and spices.
Meat lovers are covered as well. The Bulgogi Brothers is a Korean barbecue restaurant that specializes in bulgogi meat dishes. You’re sure to love the Unyang-style bulgogi, which is beef chuck eye with bulgogi sauce served in the shape of a heart. Fancy some Tex-Mex? Fiery Style has juicy burgers, mouthwatering steaks, and terrific tacos fresh off the grill.
Savor the Fiery Fajitas served with sizzling beef, sautéed onions, bell peppers, sour cream, guacamole, Mexican cheese, salsa, and a choice of either corn or flour tortilla to wrap it all up.
There’s also CRU Steakhouse’s superb beef, whether it’s a US Certified Angus Beef Prime Rib Steak or a special Mulwarra Wagyu dish from Australia prepared to your liking from either rare to well-done.
Standing front and center at the first floor, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse delivers steak fit for a king! The steakhouse was founded by Wolfgang Zwiener, who spent decades perfecting his dishes after learning from Peter Luger, owner of the Michelin three-star restaurant Peter Luger Steakhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Greatneck, Long Island. Enjoy the lunch course consisting of an appetizer of choice (tuna tartar, lobster salad, or jumbo shrimp cocktail), a soup or salad, an entree of choice (NY sirloin steak, rib eye steak, lamb chops, grilled salmon, or the petit filet mignon) with whatever side you please, and the dessert of the day.
With the perfect hand, the only question is which restaurant would you try first?
Keep the ramen at Hidemasa a secret
The last card, but definitely not the least, is City of Dreams, whose name alone leaves much to the imagination. Otherwise known as C.O.D., the gaming strip is recognized as a go-to spot for leisure and fun, home to the one and only Dreamplay by Dreamworks as well as several fashion boutiques and restaurants in Manila today.
Eat like your favorite K-Pop idols at J. Park Garden where Korean favorites from samgyupsal to jjampong and tteokbokki are available at a reasonable price. The Modern Table, meanwhile, puts a spotlight on Korean delights with an American twist. The Korean-style fried chicken, fantastic on its own, is made more delectable paired with a slice of pizza and ice-cold beer.
Those looking for other Asian delicacies should try the authentic regional dishes of premium Chinese restaurant Crystal Dragon or Jing Ting’s delightful dumplings best taken with its free house tea. The chicken walnut at the former and the “Genghis Khan” roasted prime beef short ribs from the latter are must-tries.
A hidden gem in the City of Gold is Hidemasa, a multi-disciplinary restaurant by Hide Yamamoto. It has a Yakitori theater kitchen and sushi bar but specializes in regional ramen dishes. The shio ramen, chashu, and ajitsuke tamago topped with chopped leeks and bean sprouts in a bowl of delicate and umami broth is a chef’s kiss!
Other noodle stores include Noodl8 and Red Ginger. Warm up your insides with Noodl8’s five-spice pork roll noodle soup or Red Ginger’s spicy Nyonya Prawn and Chicken Laksa soup.
The Nobu Restaurant and Nobu Lounge also provide innovative, new-style Japanese dining experiences. Be sure to indulge in Nobu Restaurant’s specialty tempura, with a choice between Shojin vegetables or shrimp. If you can’t decide, have a mix of both.
The Nobu Lounge also has a sushi bar, offering plates like the Yellowtail Quinoa Donburi topped with Agave mango dressing, or the Salmon Sashimi New Style, which is salmon seared with sesame and olive oil while topped with ginger and scallion.
Cafe Society serves scrumptious sandwiches, coffee, cakes, and a wide range of gelato. Enjoy the buffet and show kitchen of Hyatt Cafe, with its various American, Japanese, Chinese, and Italian fares prepared right in front of you.
Authentic Filipino food can be found at Apu, from Lamb Kaldereta to Seafood Kare-Kare, Lechon Kawali, and Anak’s Suman de Mango. Haliya, on the other hand, is one of C.O.D’s latest dining concepts that gives a modern twist to traditional Filipino favorites. Among the bestsellers is the Haliya Adobo featuring twice-cooked, fall-off-the-bone tender chicken with grilled pineapple, shallot confit, baby bok choy, marble potatoes, and a rich adobo glaze. The Chichingka, the marriage of bibingka and cheesecake, served over a burner top, is a pretty good holiday treat.
With the perfect hand, the only question is what restaurant would you try first?