People's Palace — Restaurant in Makati

People's Palace in Greenbelt, Makati, is a well-known dining spot that has garnered a reputation for its inviting ambiance and contemporary Thai cuisine. However, based on a recent experience, it seems that the establishment may not always live up to its high standards, particularly when it comes to the quality of its food.

As a seasoned world traveler, I approached People's Palace with high expectations, having heard much about its supposed excellence in delivering authentic Thai flavors. Unfortunately, the reality of my visit was a stark contrast to these expectations.

Upon entering, the restaurant's decor was certainly appealing. The modern, minimalist design coupled with subtle Thai elements created a comfortable and elegant setting. The lighting was warm, and the seating arrangements were well-spaced, offering a sense of privacy even during busy hours. The staff was courteous and efficient, which initially gave hope for a positive dining experience.

However, the true test of any restaurant is its food, and this is where People's Palace fell significantly short. The dishes I ordered were profoundly disappointing. The flavors were bland and lacked the vibrant and aromatic quality that Thai cuisine is celebrated for. The dishes appeared to be prepared without the care and attention to detail that one would expect from a reputed restaurant.

The Pad Thai, a staple of Thai cuisine, was particularly lackluster. It was under-seasoned, and the noodles were overcooked, resulting in a dish that was far from the delightful combination of sweet, sour, and savory flavors it should be. The green curry, another classic, was equally disappointing. The curry lacked the depth of flavor and the richness that is characteristic of a well-made Thai curry. It was watery and insipid, leaving much to be desired.

Even the appetizers failed to impress. The spring rolls were greasy and devoid of any distinct taste, and the satay was dry and tough. It was evident that the ingredients were not fresh, and the overall presentation of the dishes lacked finesse.

The dining experience was further marred by the high prices, which did not match the quality of the food served. For the amount of money spent, I expected a culinary journey that would reflect the essence of Thai cuisine. Instead, it felt like a significant waste of money. The dishes were overpriced, especially considering their lack of flavor and the mediocre quality.

Given the reputation and the premium pricing, the subpar food was a major letdown. It’s clear that People’s Palace needs to reassess its culinary standards and ensure that the food they serve matches the expectations set by their brand and pricing.

In summary, as a world traveler who has experienced a myriad of culinary delights across the globe, my visit to People's Palace in Greenbelt was profoundly disappointing. The food was tasteless, lacked authenticity, and was a significant waste of money. Despite the pleasant ambiance and good service, the primary reason for visiting a restaurant—the food—was a complete letdown. Based on this experience, I would not recommend People’s Palace to anyone seeking a memorable or even satisfying dining experience. It’s a place that promises much but delivers little, and there are certainly better dining options...

I haven't tried too many other Thai places in Manila, perhaps because the food here is quite good. I've dined here on a busy Friday evening and lazy Sunday afternoon and the food was prepared well both times. However, since this is the Philippines, don't expect the dishes (ie curry) to be as spicy as they would be in Thailand. The service is okay here. You may end up waiting a while and it's hard to flag down a waiter when the restaurant is busy, even though it's a small place. I have tried to go some nights and the wait has been too long. They should perhaps try to find a larger facility or open more branches. My issue was more with the service I received yesterday, Sunday Nov. 26 while eating lunch at the bar around 3pm. The boy who was working wasn't especially friendly, but no big deal. I flagged him down and placed an order. The food came out relatively quickly and was tasty. When I was billed, I selected the option of being charged in Philippine Pesos. However, upon looking at the receipt he gave me and the charge to my credit card on my banking account, he charged me the USD amount. Which was $2 more. It's not a lot of money, but if you're going to offer between two currencies when charging someone, charge the currency they've selected. Also, the bill included a service charge. Fine, but be clear what this "service charge" is for. Is it essentially an automatic tip, or something else? The waiter inspected the receipt after I'd signed it, looking down his nose. It seems he expected a tip to be written in. I left a 50PHP cash tip on the bar anyway when leaving. Maybe I double tipped them. I saw the manager talking to staff behind the bar at various points during the meal. Things seemed cool and smooth. He was in control of his staff. But this waiter was a bit snooty. I lived in New York for 7 years and have had my share of snootiness. It's just disappointing to see it in a place like the Philippines, a place where I currently work and live, and whose...

I have always loved the food here, especially the padthai and mango sticky rice. So I was confident to recommend the place for my teams Christmas party as they wanted it held at a restaurant. Sadly my experience here last Friday left me disappointed and embarrassed that I ever recommended this place. I booked a reservation for 25 pax for a Christmas Party. I even told the girl I was making the reservation with that my party will get loud to which she replied that it would be okay given that they had 2 other big groups celebrating their Christmas parties there on the same day (one group of 15 and another 17). However, last Friday the Manager, Emil, and the waiters (per his instruction) kept calling our attention regarding the noise and laughter. I explained that I informed the reservation team regarding the party. To which Emil insisted the following: I did not mention a party - So how would have I known about the other 2 big groups? That if I wanted to hold a party, I should have booked the whole restaurant - Would have been nice to know when I called to book. Emil then mentioned our company name and the name of our sister company. - This is what really shocked me as he was actually mentioning the names to threaten us. When I called him on it he then backed off but wow ... I cannot believe he would actually treat paying customers like they did not belong there. Note, I got a menu of 1,700 per person. This exchange promptly ruined any mood to party. I paid for everything and left. The aggravation was not worth it. This restaurant claims that they are a fine dining restaurant - Never been to a fine dining restaurant that has bad acoustics to begin with, paper napkins, no table cloths, and blasting Abba songs on the speakers. So definitely not holding any occasions here even if I plan on closing the restaurant for a...