Ariel Manuel is back with Bistro Manuel
Metro Manila is a food haven. There are so many good places to eat here now and people are lucky to have a lot of dining options today.
Connoisseurs of fine food back in the day when Manila had not much to offer would remember Lolo Dad’s, the always-full restaurant set in a house in Manila where foodies would always flock to get their fix of amazing food, especially the restaurant’s unforgettable duck confit and foie gras dishes. It closed years ago and patrons certainly missed the fantastic cooking of chef Ariel Manuel.
Well, Chef Ariel is back with a three-concept restaurant in Poblacion, Makati: Bistro Manuel, located on the second floor of the building; FilipinoSpanish tapas bar called Taperia Poblacion, and The Sippery bar for pre- or postdinner drinks, both located on the first floor.
I felt excited and nostalgic when I entered Bistro Manuel as I looked forward to the sumptuous dishes by Chef Ariel and the heavenly desserts by his wife, Mia.
On the menu were Lolo Dad’s oysters, which were a favorite back in the day, so I immediately ordered them. The oysters were baked on angel hair pasta with cheese and topped with foie gras. They were pure heaven.
Another delectable dish was the warm spinach salad with mushrooms. Each bite had the taste of smoked bacon enrobed with a roasted garlic vinaigrette. And of course, the to-die-for foie
gras is a must-try appetizer. Chef Ariel’s duck leg confit was as crispy and flavorful as it was in the past and the US Wagyu chuck was tender and full of flavor. I also liked the seared scallops and scampi with rigatoni pasta stuffed with béchamel.
I was finally able to try the “Only for the Rich” grilled pizza, which I have only heard of in the past. It was called as such because the pizza toppings included lobster, smoked salmon, salami, prosciutto, scallops,
foie gras and buffalo cheese on a truffle tomato spread. The crust was thin and crispy and the flavors went very well together. The pizza comes in six slices, so it is ideal for sharing.
Mia’s mango and mascarpone cheese is the dessert I liked the most. It was my first time to try a mango and mascarpone combination and I actually enjoyed it.
From then till now, European cooking really is Chef Ariel’s forte. I, along with other Lolo Dad’s fans, can now rejoice and savor his delectable food once again! (Bistro Manuel is open for lunch and dinner daily except on Mondays. It is located at Six Axis Center, 4347 Valdez St., Barangay Poblacion, Makati City. For inquiries and reservations, call 871-8566 or 0926-7341067. For more information, visit @bistro_ manuel on Instagram and @ bistromanuelph on Facebook.)