Amare La Cucina — Restaurant in Baguio

Today we paid a visit to the Amare la Cucina restaurant at its new location on Outlook Drive in Baguio.

Conclusion: Getting there was already positive. Sufficient parking spaces at the restaurant with very convenient valet parking.

In the restaurant, even though we didn't have a reservation and arrived there at lunchtime, there was only a short wait to get a table - unfortunately not on the terrace, which has a great view over the valley. The waiting time felt even shorter because there was an ice cream parlor in the waiting area, where you could try one of the deserts on offer in advance - Amare's home-made gelato in numerous tasty variations.

The staff not only seemed attentive, but also well trained. We ordered the soup of the day, a cream of mushrooms that could have used a squeeze of lemon, although that is certainly a very personal preference. In retrospect, I am sure that this wish would have been fulfilled too.

The main course, a pizza margarita for my wife and a pizza prosciutto for me, didn't take long to arrive and looked great. Pizza, baked in the original stone oven with a diameter of 12 inches, left no doubt that you wouldn't leave the restaurant hungry. The notice that the arugula was missing on my pizza prosciutto was immediately reported to the kitchen and the mistake was corrected. My wife's Margarita pizza was not topped with ordinary grated Gouda, as in other restaurants, but, following the original recipe, with mozzarella, tomatoes and fresh basil.

Unpleasant was to notice that a coffee I had ordered was served at the table in a to-go cup. The Afugato that was brought to desert was then served in a porcelain cup again. The glasses for the table water, which was placed on the table free of charge as a bottle for refilling, should also be polished on the next visit before they are placed on the table for the guest.

My wife had the rest of her pizza packed up, which wasn't a problem, while I already knew that unfortunately my stomach wouldn't have room to taste the delicious sounding beef capacio. I'd be happy to do that next time, because there will definitely be a next time. Especially since the price for the whole food experience didn't even break the...

This is a good restaurant by Philippines standards. The problem is that the servers take your orders and they are not aware that what you want is not available. This time I complained and asked to talk to the manager. He/she never came. But all of a sudden what I had ordered became available (the lamb dish). The server didn't know about wines. The difference between a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. And once that hurtle was solved we received about 3 ounces of wine in a glass. I didn't want to create a fuss so I didn't say anything. The coffee is served in a plastic/PAPER cup after the MEAL. I have never experienced anything like that in a decent restaurant. At no time were we asked if we needed anything else. If the meal was good. And this was our third time at Amare. I even wrote and suggested that the servers instead of talking between them and laughing away, they should focus on the customers.

As I mentioned this is a good restaurant by Philippines standards but by adjusting a few things they could become a great restaurant far superior than many which is quite easy to achieve in a country where most restaurants leave a lot to desire. But unfortunately Filipinos don't complain so management take it for granted that everything is fine.

So I suggest that if you eat at Amare or any other good restaurant in the Philippines, and good luck to find them, and you are not satisfied, please let them know politely and maybe, just maybe they will listen and improve their service and from a good restaurant they will upgrade to a very good and why not an EXCELLENT restaurant. Amare has what it takes to get there but someone there must pay attention to server training, let them know at the beginning of their shift what is or is not available on the menu. Or let them know if an item becomes unavailable during the day/evening and then available again for some reason when a customer complains and asked to speak with the manager. And when a customer asks to see the manager, he/she should come to enquire about what the customer requires or...

Amare La Cucina – Not Recommended

We visited Amare La Cucina to celebrate my brother’s birthday upon the recommendation of a friend. While the restaurant appeared clean and orderly upon arrival, parking was quite a challenge. Thankfully, the ever-patient security guard did his best to organize the crowded space.

Inside, the ambiance was somewhat confusing. Jazzy Christmas music played in the background—out of season and a bit odd for June. It may have caught someone’s attention, as the music eventually changed to soft piano instrumentals.

The walls were lined with white plates personally signed by various celebrities, doctors, and politicians. This display raised some eyebrows in our group, prompting my niece to ask if we could sign one as well. The server responded that we could be given a plate if we wanted to. This left us feeling like second-class customers—as if the privilege was reserved only for the famous and affluent. The message felt clear: the place caters to the elite. The pricing alone reinforced that impression.

Now, onto the food. We ordered lasagna, but what arrived looked and tasted more like baked macaroni. (Photo below.) We also ordered the premium Tomahawk steak, priced at ₱8,500, and specifically requested it well-done. What we received was pink and uncooked inside. (Photos attached.) If this is their version of “well-done,” it’s concerning.

The final touch? A chipped white plate handed to us for signing. With a total bill of ₱22,000, could they not provide a proper, undamaged plate? We signed it for fun—but whether it ends up displayed or discarded, the gesture felt tokenistic and disappointing.

Overall, our experience was unsatisfactory. The restaurant appears to value appearances and celebrity over genuine service and customer satisfaction. We expected a special celebration and left feeling overlooked and...