Mandarin Oriental Cafe

Whenever I am in Cubao area, I always find the opportunity to drop by Mandarin Oriental Cafe inside Gateway Mall. It remains to be my favorite stop for either a simple afternoon cup of coffee or an indulgent dinner. I also can't seem to get enough of the cafes interior - the place looks like a well designed home, combining contemporary design with Oriental pieces. What's more, the cafes provides a great view- whether you're sitting beside the open window overlooking the traffic below or in the enclosed garden extension across the cafe. For a great afternoon treat that's light on the stomach, I am devoted to the Seafood Triple Decker Sandwich served with a salad with balsamic dressing (P365). This is a hearty sandwich packed with a generous filling of grilled prawns and crab meat salad. The black pepper brioche is slightly toasted, contrasting perfectly with the moist filling and chewy seafood morsels. When it comes to a complete dinner, the standard menu has an assortment of gourmet dishes guaranteed to satisfy discerning palates. My recommendation: the Cashew-Crusted Russian Cod filled with Black Olive Gnocchi and Basil Cream (P599). I admire the soft, flaky quality of the fish and how the cashew crust adds a brittle texture, while the basil cream imparts smoothness to the dish. The best thing about it? The gnocchi! This Italian pasta may not appeal to a lot of people but there is such an elegance and refinement to the gnocchi that you'll discover once you have the dish. Another one to try is the Crab Fat Rice with Grilled Prawns (P499). Most version of crab fat rice I've tried come with flavors that are too overwhelming. The cafe managers to keep light yet still flavorful, allowing the flavors of the finely grilled tiger prawns to shine through. Don't miss out on the cafes daily cyclical dish offerings, priced at P699each. On Mondays, they have Pan-fried Halibut with Basil Ricotta Polenta and Sauteed Spinach while on Sundays, they offer Lapu-lapu Fillet with Caper Calamansi Butter. And because hotel buffet set-ups are never without them, the cafe offers a daily carvery where you can sample Honey Glazed Ham in Port Wine Sauce for P999. This way, you can enjoy the best of fine hotel food and service within the relaxing embrace of a cafe. Address : 1/L Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Quezon City Tel - 913-5505 Rating : 3 star