Ilustrado Restaurant — Restaurant in undefined

Its good to be back in Intramuros. So much have change since my last visit. I was able to drop by early here in Intramuros to have a 8 Course degustation lunch in Ilustrado. Thanks EJ B. for extending the invite to us.

So Ilustrado is now celebrating its 29th Anniversary. Wow I always remember this place since I have attended a few wedding reception here. This wedding stick to my mind because of how classy and Filipino the reception is. For this year anniversary they are having 8 course degustation menu for PHP1,250+. This menu that Chef Bernice crafted is her take on a very millennial way of attacking Filipino dishes. I like this idea because when you think of Ilustrado its not the place you would think the Millennial generation to have a meal. First thing that come to your mind when its Ilustrado is your Dad or Mom kind of place. But with this its Ilustrado way of saying to the people we are swak for any generation.

So here are the 8 dish included in the menu: 🔅Kangkong Pesto Brioche served with Boursin Cheese - at 1st look I thought it was malunggay pandesal hehe. But after having one of this brioche I was completely wow with it and can't stop munching more of it. The brioche was perfect rich and I love the pesto flavor of it. The boursin cheese is an added bonus that gave it more flavor.

🔅Kesong Puti Croquttes at Lato (175PHP)- this is one of the dish that look super classy but when you see the ingredient it's very Filipino. Love the kesong puti turned into a croquettes ball goes perfectly with the lato.

🔅Oyster Laing Rockefeller (195PHP)- one of my fave in the menu. Never imagined that my fave bicol laing will go so well with oyster. Its so good. A little squeeze of lemon to make it perfect!

🔅Sayote Egg Drop Soup (125PHP)- look so plain but at the bottom of the soup is the quail egg drop. Your typical creamy sayote soup with the kick of the quail egg.

🔅Burong Mangga Sorbet - this one is the palate cleanser to prepare us for the main dishes. Refreshingly sour. It like having a spoon of green mango shake.

🔅BBQ Pulled Pork Tostadas (215PHP)- this dish felt like influenced by mexican. Fried tortilla topped by BBQ marinade pulled pork with a layer of monggo and topped again with papaya slaw. This is perfectly eaten with a bite of everything at once. Love the crunchy texture with the different contrasting flavor of the ingredient. So simple yet so good!

🔅Sea Bass Sinantol (350PHP)- another bicol dish incorporated in their menu. This time the sinantol. Another fave bicol dish of mine. The sea bass was perfectly cooked and I love that the one served to me was the one with bit of fat. Love it! The sinantol gave it a bit of sour flavor which is again amazingly goes well with the sea bass flavor. Already craving for more of this.

🔅Egg Pie Brulee (175PHP)- never thought of doing that. Giving your classic egg pie a sweet caramelized sugar on top. Great way to end the meal.

**Price indicated are if you order the dish instead of the course meal

Overall for 1250+ this is a great deal. You have a great place, service and awesome gastronomic journey.

Available for the whole...

Established in 1989, it was originally offered as a bed and breakfast place but the Pimentel family decided to focus on starting their own restaurant. Good thing they did because it's been a success for almost three decades. This December they are offering several dishes and desserts perfect for the season.

DIP: My favorite was boursin cheese but the rest are still good and perfect for gift or giveaway. Spicy cheeseball (Php 220, 4oz), Duck & chicken liver pate, Boursin cheese (Php 165, 4oz), Cheese pimiento spread (Php 175, 4oz) & Butter.

MAIN: Paella Ilustrado (Php 1,295) one of the best paellas I've ever tried. It was flavorful and moist that it was just a meal on it's own. Seafood was perfectly cooked and seasoned.

Twice Cooked Angus Beef Shortplate (Php 2,200) my 2nd favorite savory dish. It was flavorsome, juicy and tender. I enjoyed every bite.

Adobong Bagnet with Taba ng Talangka (Php 1,500) you can taste the talangka and the crunchiness of bagnet worked well with each other.

Callos Madrilena (Php 1,380) flavorful dish that reminds me of my grandma’s cooking.

DESSERTS: CHEESECAKE! (Price kindly ask them) Ibang klase cream cheese na cream cheese. They used the best quality ingredients and it's highly recommended. It's the best cheesecake i've tried also.

BROWNIES are for sale box of 15. It was so soft and moist. Just divine. Sarap din! Peanut Butter (Php 145) S'mores Brownies, Salted Caramel Pretzel Brownies or Trio Assorted (Php 125)

COOKIES for 3 oz cookies. It was all good. I could munch on them all day long. But the matcha taste on their Matcha Chocolate chip walnut cookies wasn't noticeable. Banana Walnut Chocolate chip cookies & Chocolate chip Appledoodles (Php 65) Double Chocolate coconut cookies, Matcha Chocolate chip walnut cookies & Red Velvet white chocolate chip crinkles (Php...

Had early dinner with family last weekend, we ordered three tapa meals (I think they were around ₱360/ea) and THEY WERE SO TOUGH. Like seriously, had to spit out MOST of the beef on my plate. I ended up eating two sunny side up eggs and garlic rice for 300 something pesos. 🤣 Raised our concern with the staff and all he did was quietly nod and I think he whispered sorry like “well we can’t do anything about it anymore” wish he told the manager but I guess since they were closing already and we ordered during the last call, they want nothing to do with our problem. Staff were also just standing at the counter on their phones and with their uniforms tucked out/lousy looking like they’re just waiting for us to be over so that they can leave. I understand the hassle of having last minute guests since I used to work for restaurants but I wouldn’t just stand there and make it noticeable how I’m ready to go home instead of wait on customers. Anyway, it was our first time there too. Expected a lot since our brother found the place through social media and I remember seeing reviews from bridal groups before. Actually, before ordering food I saw the order of the table next to us and I should’ve taken that as a sign that their food is not good. The other table ordered angus beef burger I think and I kid you not it looked like Angel’s burger with a different patty. 😭 the sauce looked tacky, I expected a lot since on the menu they were like “cheesy sauce blah blah” but it looked like the sauce from cheap burger trucks, and to think I almost ordered that. 🥲Disappointed and wouldn’t bother going back. I don’t recommend for...