Opened just last January 2018 within Arthaland’s Arya Plaza, The Red Piano boasts of two things:

an eclectic lineup of dishes collected from all around the world, 

and live entertainment from a beautiful Chanteuse accompanied by a pianist on a red grand piano.

Before digging in, proprietor and chef, Carlo Llave shared the stories behind The Red Piano’s bestsellers, how they were carefully conceptualized and picked from all his travels from around the world.

Food

♥ San Fran Clam Chowder (550 php)

Spaghetti alle Carbonara with Guanciale (510 php)

Next came the Spaghetti alle Carbonara with Guanciale.  It’s claim to fame is being made the authentic Italian way with pecorino romano and parmagiano Reggiano cheeses— Chef Carlo takes authenticity seriously going so far as to hand-carrying “guanciale” or pig’s cheek from Italy! The flavors of both cheeses and the guanciale were pleasant on the taste buds but a bit too rich for my own personal preference.

Boeuf Bourguignon on Pasta (1,100  Php)

Osso Buco over Risotto (1,500 php)

Both proudly made with prime ingredients: Boeuf Bourguignon with USDA beef, and Osso Bucco with imported veal from New Zealand.

Pork Skin Cracklins' (180 Php)

Now—if something still holds you back from a visit to the The Red Piano, their humble appetizer, Pork Skin Cracklins', might just change your mind. 
To my knowledge, The Red Piano is the only restaurant that serves chicharon cooked for 17 hours, producing something of gargantuan proportions—literally. The giant chunk of pork fat could be the perfect accompaniment of a night of singing. 😉




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There's also lovely melodies being played.  And, we were so fortunate to be seated right next to it.  

Which reminds me... When I was a child, piano was my favorite instrument.  I was never fond of dolls.  All the time, I brought my piano toy with me.  I wonder why I gave up on that interest on playing the piano.  But, I still get goosebumps whenever I hear a beautiful piano melody though.  

Food

Soup

Vegetable Sinigang na Miso (225 php)

The Vegetable Sinigang na Miso wasn't as sour as I hoped.  I wished they had a level option. 
Meat

Kare-Kare ni Juanita (655 php)

The Kare-Kare ni Juanita has a sweet note on top of the usual subtle peanut-butter hinted kare-kare blend.  It reminds me of our local Filipino peanut butters that are sweet.  Yum!!!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cafe Juanita has a timeless enchanting atmosphere unlike any other.  I bet its effect will always be as mesmerising even with multiple visits.  I highly recommend this place.

Lemuria.
For this meal, we were presented with a tantalizing menu of Lemuria classics.
As an appetizer to the entire dining experience, we were given their home-made breads which are freshly prepared in-store using hand-churned butter. Among their selection are French Baguette, Walnut Loaf made with walnut, honey and molasses, and Foccaccia with sundried tomato. These are complimentary and served along any meal purchased :)

Foie Gras Trio (1,150 php)

Braised Lamb & Apricot Galette |(365 php)

Seabass (1,260 php)

Duck Leg Confit w/ Cassoulet  (1,310 php)

Beef Bourguignon (940 php)

Finishing up the main course was a serving of their Beef Bourguignon. As with all flavorful meats, this was braised and marinated for 2-3 days; Lemuria braises theirs in red wine reduction and slow cooks it for a full 8 hours. The effort is very evident with a beef that is absolutely melt in your mouth and flavorful, further complemented by the sweetness that comes with a side of shallots. This was my favorite dish for the evening.

Lemuria Cheesecake (294 php)

A sweet ending to a perfect meal, the meal ended with a dessert bearing the restaurant’s own name, the Lemuria Cheesecake. Arguably very popular, this is not just like any other cheesecake. Lemuria uses a combination of Carabao’s Milk, Goat’s Cheese, and Dulce de Leche to achieve a distinct and original cheesecake flavor that is full, creamy with a harmonious blend of dairy. Topped with their homemade strawberry compote and this dessert was just the perfect way to end the night.



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One of the older establishments in Arya Plaza, but certainly not forgotten, is Fukudaya.  Since its doors opened last August 2016, Fukudaya has continued to delight diners with Modern-Traditional Japanese dishes. Under the helm of Chief Sushi Chef Koji Oki, Fukudaya has built-up a quiet reputation for serving high-quality seafood on this side of BGC.




Modern and Traditional, two distinct words describing two opposite states. How could something be both Modern and Traditional? For this occasion, Chef Oki-san stepped outside the kitchen and shared how his team is able to deliver Fukudaya’s promise of a Modern-Traditional Japanese dining experience. By Traditional, Fukudaya stays true to the taste of well-loved Japanese dishes by using fresh Japanese ingredients such as but not limited to dashi, sake, dried, bonito, shiitake, and salmon. Modernity is expressed by the use of modern precision cooking methods, in particular, sous-vide cooking. This ensures that meats are cooked just right to maintain tenderness previously unachieved by traditional cooking methods.


Keeping true to the tradition of the simplicity of the Japanese, for our visit, Chef Oki-san and his team prepared a humble 3-dish sampler of Fukudaya’s bestsellers. 

Food

Shrimp Tempura Sushi "Ebiten" Roll (480 php)

Australian Wagyu Steak in Garlic Sauce with Assorted Grilled Vegetables (200g) (1,550 php)

Fukudaya also offers special private tasting menus by request and provides catering services for private events.




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Quickly growing to be Manila's premier dining destination is Arthaland’s Arya Plaza.  To experience the great food in this new fantastic dining hotspot, Arya Plaza invited a few media personalities and bloggers to enjoy some of the bestsellers from their carefully curated restaurateurs.  The first restaurant on our itinerary was Savage.


Arya Plaza is described by many, myself included, as Manila’s secret al fresco dining hotspot. The LEED- and BERDE- certified residential complex enjoys an exclusive privilege of having the highest ground elevation in BGC. Residents and guests are assured a constant flow of cool breeze also thanks to the canopy made with ETFE (the same insulation material used in both Singapore’s Clark Quay and Beijing’s Water Cube).



Food

Appetizers
Our meal began with two appetizers, a signature dish from Savage’s menu, the crowd favorite, Devilled eggs, smoked oil, & ash and a new item from the kitchen, Smoked Crab, potato, and flying fish roe.

Devilled Eggs, Smoked Oil & Ash (260 php)

*New on the menu* Smoked Crab, Potato, and Flying Fish Roe

The Smoked Crab, Potato, and Flying Fish Roe had more muted flavors but nonetheless still very delectable as each tender piece of crabmeat was accompanied by a crunch coming from an ingredient which I unfortunately am not able to identify.

Main Course
Following these strong starters were two dishes for the main course, the Barramundi, Arugula, Preserved Lemon & Olive (another crowd favorite) and the new Pork belly, Cola, and Pineapple.

Barramundi, Arugula, Preserved Lemon & Olive (1,200 php)

Both equally delicious; the Barramundi with its tender flesh cooked in light and clean flavors of lemon, arugula, and olive...

Pork Belly, Cola, and Pineapple

and the Pork Belly with its adequately fat and lean meat marinated in the perfect harmony of sweet and sour flavors. With my weakness for complex flavors, my personal favorite between the two is no doubt the Pork Belly.

Kladdkaka (190 php)

Ending our meal was a plate of Kladdkaka, a Swedish chocolate mud cake served with a side of vanilla cream. The cake is made with rich, dark chocolate—a definite treat for any chocolate lover! However, I personally felt that the rich chocolate taste overpowered and subdued any subtle vanilla flavor that the accompanying cream should have provided.

Lemonade (220 php)

Savage
Business Address	The Plaza at Arya Residences, McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Lunch: 11am-3pm Dinner: 6pm-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	800-2,000
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0915) 333-9546

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