Made Nice
ALL ABOUT MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE WITH DISTINCT ASIAN INFLUENCES
All about Mediterranean cuisine with distinct Asian influences
WHEN MADE NICE first opened its doors in Legaspi Village, it was one of those restaurants that one just had to root for. With five friends still in their twenties behind the concept—chefs Jack Flores, wife Gabbi Ramos-Flores, Raulito Fores, Toby Panlilio, and Wren Go—it had the added luster of being a ‘second-generation’ establishment, as two of the individuals had the restaurant business flowing through their veins. Gabbi is the daughter of Neil Ramos of Neil’s Kitchen, while Raulito belongs to the family behind Mamou, C.D.P., and Recovery Food.
Drawing from their collective experiences and travels, Made Nice is all about Mediterranean cuisine with distinct Asian influences. And thanks to Lady Fortune, Made Nice has now found a new home, one that’s more ideally located, with parking no longer a thorny issue. The dining spot can now be found at Joya Rockwell. Also, the food is now more ‘accessible’ from the perspective of sharing portions, and more savvy pricing.
Thanks to a recent trip to Japan, there’s now a Prawn Okonomiyaki starter that has Bonito shavings and a Mayonnaise topping. I absolutely loved the Scallops with Vinaigrette and Pomelo, inspired by something they had tried with Finger Lime; this one had a delicate balance of seafood with citrus. The Foie Gras that’s miso-cured, served on Sourdough, and their Octopus, served with Tonnato, Potatoes & Parsley, are the other starters well-worth trying.
The steady go-to among the Handmade Pasta that Raulito takes care of would be the Bolognese, that’s Tagliatelle with the Meat Sauce, Red Wine, and Parmesan. For the carnivores eating solo, the Wagyu Flank Steak is perfection, it’s served with a slab of Sweet Potato, and a Miso Sauce. And for Seafood, I would highly recommend the Halibut, which comes with Mushroom Dashi, Kamote Tops, and Tutong Rice. Their most Pinoy main course selection would be the 16-hour Pork Belly, served with Eggplant Purée, and once again, Tutong Rice.
With the great start this new Made Nice, in a far more conducive location, had been enjoying, it seems the ‘Nice’ guys (and one girl) will finish first.