Tíabuela Cocina Española — Restaurant in Makati

Dined here to celebrate my son's birthday, and the experience was wonderful! Denmark, Curt, and the entire staff were incredibly warm and accommodating, making us feel very welcome. Their customer service truly stands out.

The Callos and Pollo al Ajillo were the highlights of our meal – absolutely the best of all the dishes we ordered, and we'll definitely be coming back for them. The Paella Valenciana was on point; the burnt crust added a nice texture while the rice remained moist. The Lengua was tender and had a flavor better than most Spanish restaurants we've tried, though it could still use some refinement. The Pintxos, Croquetas, and Churros were average. The Tartita was too sweet and overly thick and creamy for our taste, lacking the elegance and subtlety of a perfect cheesecake. The layered chocolate cake/mousse was smooth but felt too heavy and lacked the rich chocolatey taste and a play of flavors. On the other hand, the avocado ice cream was delicious on its own and surprisingly paired well with the churros.

The restaurant is clean and well-maintained, with a charming ambiance enhanced by its nostalgic antique and photo collections reminiscent of the Spanish era in the Philippines. The mini Tranvia 'replica' that doubles as a dining area is both impressive and Instagram-worthy! We also appreciated that the pipe-in music was not too loud and featured classic Spanish songs, which added to the authentic Spanish ambiance.

We used Eatigo and got a 30% discount, but even without it, the prices are reasonable and not as expensive as other mall-based Spanish restaurants we've been to. Overall, it was a great experience, and we look forward to coming back for...

Food: great quality, I absolutely loved the taste and looks of everything! Even though there was one mistake with one dish, they immediately corrected it by switching it with a fresh dish and offering a piece of the most delicious chocolate pie for compensation. I think that shows real passion and hospitality. Definitely recommend this place!! (The eggplant salad and chocolate pie were amazing, and the pinchos yummy)

Sadly, I can't give 5 stars though:

I feel the need to just point out one thing, more to the restaurant itself than to other costumers: there was one server, that made me feel very uncomfortable. As in, she wasn't my first server, she just took over from the one that was helping me out, did not seem to mean any of the pleasantries she was saying to me, looked like she was bullying the other waitress with : "I'm taking over, I know better than you" with a big fake smile and hostile kiss. She seemed like the kind of person that smiles and the minute she turns around, she rolls her eyes at her colleagues. Speaking of, I noticed her waving in my direction multiple times where she thought I wasn't looking. When there was a mistake in the bill, I tried to tell her, but she didn't listen to me. She first took 5 minutes to explain me why I was wrong, before actually listening to what I had to say... Turned out, she didn't only not listen to me, but apparently also didn't listen to her colleagues, which is why there was a mistake on the bill in the first place. (She had fined me for the cake that was promised me as compensation for the earlier mistake). In the end she realized her mistake, but it was really a cringeworthy experience for me. All other servers...

Great place! Best part is they have parking!

Interior and exterior- cozy. Classic bar resto but make it Spanish.

Food- really good! We went on a Monday (a week after they opened). They served the food immediately but it was presented well, well-cooked, and really taste great. We had Albondigas (3 pcs meatballs), Nuestros Torreznos (crispy pork belly), and churros. Then we came back on a Friday to get Cordefrito (fried lamb shoulder), Paella negra (squid and squid ink rice), Setas Crujientas (crispy oyster mushroom)and Pepito de Ternera (beef on bun). Everything tasted really good. Serving is generous, we thought it’s good for 1-2 but each dish can serve 3 pax.

Drinks- it’s quite good. Quite pricey but it’s nice to try it. We had Morgenthaler, Blood and sand, aperol spritz, and queen spark swizzle. I like morgenthaler among the 4.

Service- warm welcome and everyone cheerful. They recommend when asked, they suggest when they see the need, they give you time to decide, they accommodate inquiries and requests. Even the guard at parking lot is really nice. Very professional staff.

Parking- it’s FREE if you stay at Tiabuela. But if you go bar hopping, they’ll charge you per hour.

Location- also good. Accessible.

Overall,...