Spices — Restaurant in Makati

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Spices, a restaurant within The Rialto Manila hotel. The restaurant's atmosphere was elegant and inviting, with a hint of Asian flair. The restaurant serves dishes from all over Asia, making it an excellent choice for those looking to try something new.

I ordered the Char Kway Teow and the Asam Goreng for lunch. The Char Kway Teow was a delectable concoction of fried flat rice and egg noodles topped with shrimp, mussels, and bean sprouts. Because the ingredients were fresh and well-seasoned, this dish stood out among the others I've tried. The Asam Goreng was a meal of beef short ribs with a sour tamarind sauce. The beef was tender and juicy, and the sauce had the perfect balance of sour and sweet. Both dishes were visually appealing and tasted just as good.

Spices provided excellent service. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive, ensuring that we were at ease and pleased with our dining experience. The restaurant also served a variety of beverages, including teas, juices, and alcoholic beverages. Although the prices were a little high for the quality of food and service we received.

To summarize, Spices is an excellent choice for a delicious meal with friends and family. The restaurant's elegant atmosphere, delicious food, and excellent service set it apart from the competition in the area. Spices is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a memorable...

Was here as a treat (advanced birthday) with friends while visiting Manila. They love this place.

There was a remarkable drop in the overall quality of experience.

The roasts were under seasoned and cold. Sauces didn’t make a difference.

“Lechon de Cebu” didn’t taste anything like the ones I had in Cebu, with barely any herbs and spices to season it.

The short rib caldereta was too tough.

Fattoush Salad was a joke. I am based in the Middle East, where fattoush is a staple side dish. It’s all about the crispy toasted flat bread, the parsley and the bulgur with a lemon and pomegranate dressing. None of those were present in the dish.

The Japanese section was at least decent.

Desserts? The ice cream were promising but melted and turned to goo pretty quickly. Cassava Cake was dry and gritty which made me think it was undercooked. Everything else had the run of the mill, factory made hotel dessert.

Service was spotty. We were told many times that the buffet will promptly start at 12pm but around 11:50am I already saw some customers grab food. No one attended to our table and we often resorted to handing our used plates to the staff at the service counter many times just to give them a hint. They didn’t get the message.

For the rate they charge, it’s a crime for them to even lag at the service or have multiple below par dishes. Even my friends who are loyal fans of this restaurant said...

I was genuinely disappointed with my recent dining experience at Spices, especially given its location inside the Peninsula hotel.

I have been there over the years- and it used to be a place of high standard, both food and staff. I was shocked at my recent experience.

Almost PHP15000 for two- yet the service was slow and inattentive—staff rarely checked on tables, left dirty plates sitting for ages, and it was difficult to get their attention. For a restaurant of this calibre, that’s simply unacceptable.

The food itself was average at best. Certainly not worth the extortionate prices, and far from the quality I remember from past visits. What used to feel like a premium dining experience now feels lacklustre and uninspired.

The chop suey was no better than Chow King. The tempeh at least was to standard. The appetisers were average at best.

One of their only two champagnes on their menu hadn’t even been chilled (we had to go without or wait).

To make matters worse, I had brought a business colleague along, and I felt embarrassed that this was the impression they received.

Overall, Spices fell well short of expectations this time around. With the Peninsula name behind it, I expected far more in terms of both service and food quality.

Unfortunately, I won’t be recommending it again anytime soon- and after years of visiting it is likely I will never return. ...