MIRÈIO — Restaurant in Makati

After 14 Years of Loyalty, A Deeply Disappointing Experience

I’ve dined at this restaurant every year for my birthday for the past 14 years. It has always been a place I associated with consistency, great food, and memorable celebrations. Unfortunately, this year’s visit marked a stark and disappointing departure from that tradition — not because of the food, which was still enjoyable (especially their excellent beef tartare), but because of the service, which was shockingly poor from start to finish.

As a new parent, I asked for a high chair for my toddler. What was provided was visibly dirty and stained. More concerning than the condition of the high chair was the staff’s response: rather than addressing the issue or offering to clean it, they simply watched as my wife and I wiped it down ourselves. For a restaurant of this reputation, this kind of disregard for basic hygiene and customer care is deeply disappointing.

The issues didn’t stop there. We requested both still and sparkling water — a basic request that should be simple to fulfill. Instead, only sparkling water was served. While this might seem like a small detail, it reflected a broader lack of attentiveness and professionalism throughout the evening.

What truly left a sour taste, however, was the way a long-standing birthday tradition was handled. In previous years, the restaurant allowed us to bring a favorite cake to share a slice and take a few photos. This year, the manager on duty — let’s refer to her as Sillybeth — informed us that outside cakes were no longer allowed due to policy. While I understand and respect a restaurant’s right to enforce its rules, what was frustrating was the lack of flexibility or any effort to manage the situation with tact or empathy. Rather than offering a solution — such as providing one of the restaurant’s cakes for the occasion or allowing a quick photo moment — the response was a flat refusal, repeated without thoughtfulness or grace.

The experience was so tone-deaf it almost felt surreal. What should have been a joyful, low-key celebration ended with frustration and disappointment. It was disheartening to see how a place we’ve held dear for over a decade could so thoroughly mishandle what should have been a special evening.

Sadly, after 14 years of patronage, I’m left questioning whether we’ll return. Great food can only go so far — it’s the service and the experience that turn a meal into a memory, and this time, they got it...

It was a Monday well spent after having my lunch here. The vibe of the restaurant definitely screams fancy and elegance. This surely lands a spot on my top recommendations for fine dining date nights! We chose to have a set course meal that included a starter, a main course, and a dessert. This is priced at ₱1340, however, you have an option of the main course and dessert or starter for ₱1110. It was a Monday well spent after having my lunch here. The vibe of the restaurant definitely screams fancy and elegance. For starters, I went for the classic beef carpaccio, truffle vinaigrette, arugula, caper berries, shaved aged parmesan. My friend tried the wild mushroom soup, black truffle whipping cream, enoki mushroom, and golden crouton. Both dishes were palatable! The beef Carpaccio had that refreshing salty taste with the added tenderness of the beef and crunchiness of the croutons. The wild mushroom soup was a delight too!

Aside from these two you also have the option of antipasti salad, balsamic dressing marinated goat cheese, walnuts or parmesan sable with lemon mascarpone, Iberico ham and crunchy vegetables. As for the mains, we both tried the Steak French Fries bearnaise. It’s my first time to try this kind of sauce and to be honest I had my doubts at first especially when I had a taste it. It made me think that it doesn’t match, however when I tried it and the steak together, somehow it complemented each other’s flavor. The tangy sweetness of the sauce was perfect for the meaty taste of the steak. This meal was exquisitely paired with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon (Tribu – Mendoza, Argentina). Wine (Red, white, rose) is offered at ₱190 per glass. Sparkling wine, on the other hand, is priced at ₱290 per glass. We ended the meal with a wonderful Tart of the Day and Traditional vanilla chocolate hot sauce profiterole, caramelized almond. The tart of the day was paired with a coffee ice cream. Overall, I find the taste of the said this to be a bit bitter. If you are into dark chocolate, I recommend you opt for this. However, if you are into desserts that aren’t that sweet the second dish is for you. Don’t be fooled with the amount of chocolate sauce in that one because the sweetness is tolerable. You have to take note that the restaurant changes its set course meal every month. This makes me want to come back for more considering the delectable taste...

This is one of my favorite spots in Metro Manila! Having lived in the Philippines for 11 years, I know what I’m talking about. I visited a few months ago for the first time and was mesmerized by the view as I stepped out on the terrace... How had I missed the opening of this place!?? I’ve been here several times since then, sharing memorable moments with meaningful friends. The ambience, the music, the staff and the drinks!! It all adds up! Tonight I needed to catch up on some reading and work so I decided to come here for an inspiring afternoon with a few cocktails, the evening breeze, and to enjoy watching the stars in the sky! It was one of those Makati night when we could see the night sky. It has been a lovely evening. REMARKABLE! I was the first guest to arrive when they opened at 5PM and even though they were just setting up I was greeted with smiles and accommodation! I signed on for the Al Fresco Happy Hour and it didn’t take long before a refreshing Le Potager arrived at my table. Gorgeous! The Peach and Beetroot didn’t disappoint either. Marlea and Von were the first to serve this evening. So attentive and personable at the same time! Von and his colleague Matthew delivers cocktails of high quality and consistency. With a smile. Besides Marlea, Aoe and Carlo checked in with me throughout the evening. Making sure I was OK and if I needed anything else... Thanks to all of them! It was a heavenly experience tonight, just like all the other times I’ve been...