Hapag — Restaurant in Makati

Beyond underwhelming dining experience.

There are just too many words to describe what a letdown this place was.

I honestly thought that my wife and I were getting pranked during our 13th anniversary dinner at Hapag. It was pretty bad that I almost had an impulse of walking out in the middle of the courses. We both love food AND wine, and were pretty excited to finally try this place.

Right off the bat, there was a feeling of insincerity from the staff. We had to wait a good 10-15 minutes, which isn’t normally a big deal. However, when a restaurant projects itself as a fine dining establishment, 10-15 minutes of waiting when you have a reservation is unacceptable. It was a bad start, to say the least.

We were seated by the window with a great view, which was very much appreciated. However, the warm Filipino hospitality ended there.

I planned on getting at least a couple of wine bottles to pair with the courses. I had an idea of the wine pairing offering (not impressed), so I was set on choosing between 2 white varietals and 2 reds from their wine bottle list. A staff member told me that the sommelier would come by to answer any questions that we may have since one of the whites I had in mind was out of stock. Moments came, and another staff member (not the sommelier) tried to assist us with the wine. I inquired for other recommendations but the response I got was unsatisfactory based on my specific inquiries. My take here is if for whatever reason that the sommelier is unavailable, please be forthcoming to the customer. Do not pretend to know anything if you’re not familiar with the subject. Saying “I do not know and let me ask” is not indicative of idiocy, rather it will portray you as being humble and honest. I immediately lost my excitement and decided to skip wine altogether.

Now, for the courses. Each one felt rushed, with a scripted, close to robotic description of their elements. I respect the thought and effort of putting up with this type of lineup. However, the results fell short. The only notable one was the crab dish with a custard-like texture. The other courses were one-dimensional; lacking in texture and intricate tasting notes.

I am certain that all of staff work hard and mean well. My wife’s cocktail was comped without us asking since the staff probably noticed our dismayed vibe. My wife and I have been to Michelin star restaurants (The French Laundry, Le Cinq, and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon to name a few); with the emergence of Filipino restaurants like Gallery by Chele that offer GREAT tasting menus, it is safe to say that Hapag is still light years away to be even considered a fine dining establishment in the Philippines despite of the accolades. In summary, Hapag is the worst restaurant I have ever been for the price point because of lackluster service and food.

Dined...

It was a Monday so it was “Aya” that we were able to try not Hapag.

What went well:

The reservation had instructions and it was very helpful because the door of Hapag x Aya wasn’t so obvious -but I still got lost lol

The place is not so big but gorgeous for a date night.

3.The food was well thought and beautifully presented; reminds you of your all time favorite Filipino food with a twist. Just artistically curated and delicious in its own way.

The staff were very formal and accommodating. They have the balance of the high end dining feel and being relatable to the guests on the cultural nuances side.

It was worth buying ala carte so we can try more food from the menu

What needs improvement: -The absence of non-chilled wine (although that’s understandable to an extent because of PHL weather)

Observations & reminders:

-There’s an initial reservation fee

-The classiness and aesthetic from the Hapag x Aya door to going upstairs to the actual dining room was memorable.

-We got a one round of shots of their “Shembot” (which is a popular low cost high school cocktail). My friend who was balikavayan was surprised and had so much fun.

-They gave my friend and her family personalized handwritten cards as form of gratitude

-It was a great place to just catch-up and hang out despite the price being a little on the high end. Yet the experience was really special

My personal improvement: -To not get lost again next time hehe.

I do look forward to returning with my family or friends. It’s an intimate space that’s not...

Tried Hapag because it was awarded one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2021 and was also this year’s Tatler Dining 20 Local Champion. Had high expectations but was really disappointed. I don’t know if we were just unlucky with the current menu but it sure feels overpriced (our total bill came out to 6,490PhP 😳) considering what we were served and how they tasted. A lot of the food were either too salty or too sour. Wouldn’t recommend.

You also need to make a 50% non-refundable downpayment to secure your reservation 🤷‍♀️

We went with their weekend Lunch Menu:

HOUSE BREAD & SPREAD (I liked this!) • Pan de kalinga • Gamet pandesal

• Miso brown butter with Davao dark honey • Local mixed herb pesto • Kesong puti mousse • 2-month aged Calumpit longganis

PANIMULA • Octopus warek warek (this was so so) • Pansit 911 (overly salty, the noodles were too firm and dry, and it’s as if it was bathed in dark soy sauce. Not all of the chicharon was crispy, felt old) • Seasonal sorbetes

SALU-SALO • Sugpo sa aligue at kalabasa miso (this was okay) • Bistek shortribs (this was pretty good) • Mushroom sisig silog (the mushroom flavor felt overpowering)

PANAPOS • Halo-halo (most of what’s inside was too sour for my liking — I wish it had other flavors to balance it out)

Oh well, at least it’s another restaurant crossed...