3 Elevated Comfort Food Dining Spots for the Family to Enjoy
When it’s elevated comfort food the family’s looking for, here’s where to go!
Whether it’s to celebrate special occasions or just to have a relaxing meal with the family, the choice of where to dine can sometimes get tricky. Different people have different preferences. The decision on what and where to eat usually lies with the majority—leaving the other members of the party to just go with it. Nobody has to settle though. There are dining places that cater to various tastes and offer multiple cuisines. Parents do not have to settle for kiddie meals and children can have their share of comfort food that satisfies. Dining should be a win-win situation for all.
Here are three dining spots in the metro that impressed us with its ambiance, food selection, pricing, and service. Take a look!
Pool House
Want to avoid crowded places but crave comfort food and a charming ambience? Pool House is a must-visit! Located on the 6th floor of The Grand Hyatt Hotel, this unassuming spot, as you guessed it, sits right next to the hotel pool. Evoking a subtle tropical vibe, the enclosed glass structure offers a unique dining experience that is sure to delight your taste buds. From zesty notes of Korean and Thai cuisine to the comforting heartiness of Western favorites, the menu has something for everybody.
From its Southeast Asian dishes, we like the pad thai (stir-fried noodles, king prawns, shrimp sauce, tahi lime), the galbi gui (grilled tender Korean short ribs served with kimchi and eaten with fresh lettuce), and the Surf n’ Turf platter with 120g each of galbi gui, pork, chicken, tiger prawns, and grilled squid. Pizza lovers will enjoy authentic Italian flavors like Quatro Formaggi (mozzarella, gorgonzola, fontina, parmesan, sliced pears, candied walnuts), and Bolognese pizza (ground beef, pepperoni, bacon, in red tomato sauce).
Another kid-pleaser is the hefty bacon cheeseburger with fries. You must pair your meal with innovative beverages like the refreshing grand passion drink which was served in an Aztec mug and the frozen mango daiquiri (a blend of mango and rum) for a tangy treat. To end the meal, mango sago (literally a heaping bowl of liquid mango and sago concoction served with a slice of ripe mango fruit on the side) and strawberry cheesecake are great choices.
Seating capacity – 138 including grill area, outdoor, and veranda
Average cost per head- P1,200 – P1,500
Location: 6/F 8th Ave. corner 35th St., BGC, Taguig
For reservations: +632 8838 1234
Prologue
A recent addition to the Prologue restaurant portfolio is its newly opened branch in Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons. This fine neighborhood kitchen offers a curated selection of favorites from different cuisines. For starters, diners are served freshly baked artisanal bread (to be dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil). This sets the tone for some delectable appetizers.
We like the arancini (balls of rice croquettes filled with pine nuts, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese which come with a homemade tomato sauce dip) and the gambas (Vannamei shrimp served with heaps of garlic and anchovies). Deep bowls of pumpkin or mushroom soup pair well with the bread and appetizers. For healthy diners, an additional order of farmer’s salad (greens with apple, candied walnuts, sweet corn, boiled egg, drizzled with honey miso) can already be a full and gratifying meal.
For bigger appetites, we recommend the flavorful hayashi ox tail, well-seasoned US Angus Ribeye steak, and umami-loaded Iberico Cabacero steak risotto. Buttermilk fried chicken, pasta (carbonara, potato gnocchi), brick oven pizzas, and desserts (dulce de leche cheesecake, banana caramel choux) are guaranteed to put big smiles on the kids’ faces.
Seating capacity – 100 in the main hall, 16 in VIP1, 12 in VIP2
Cost per head – P600-800
Location – GF South Wing, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons Pasig
For reservations – 0954 3569834
Trattoria e Dolci by Finestra
Loosely translated as a small restaurant that serves local food and sweets, Trattoria e Dolci (TeD) is the newest addition to Solaire Resort North’s roster of dining outlets. It’s best to get a reservation since the place is almost always teeming with customers. There is an open kitchen on the Trattoria side where diners can watch chefs kneading and flipping pizza dough in the air before putting fresh ingredients like flavorful cheeses, various meat slices, and greens before it goes inside traditional brick ovens imported from Naples.
For now, TeD only serves pizzas (pasta dishes will be added soon!) but diners have the option to eat it three ways – in regular flat-faced orbs which may be enjoyed in red or white sauce base, in open pocket form pizze e portafoglio (dough is baked first then folded before ingredient are stuffed), or in closed pocket form calzoni.
Winners in our book are the Rossa pizza (parma ham, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, arugula), the unbelievably delicious Quattro Formaggi (asiago, gorgonzola, mozzarella, parmesan), Del Capo portafoglio (mozzarella, arugula, burrata, pesto) which is sliced in half for easy biting, and Mozza calzoni (oozing with mozzarella, ham, black olives and mushrooms). Not to be missed is the beef carpaccio insalate – the thinly sliced USDA beef tenderloin melts in your mouth. The best part? The prices are affordable and you get to eat in a 5-star hotel!
Afterwards, the family can head on to the gelato bar and choose from 18 flavors of gelato, gelato milkshakes, popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, and cakes. Dessert time gets even better when you put all kinds of toppings and drizzle your gelato with your choice of syrup – for free!
Seating capacity – 90 including the bar and outside seating
Cost per head – P800 -P1000
Location – G/F 1 Solaire Way, Vertis North, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City
For Reservations – +632 8888 8888
Feast Well!
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