1919 Grand Cafe — Restaurant in Manila

Thai salad was okay, had better in Thai restos.. Could improve if there was more vinaigrette drizzled to give it more flavor.

Truffle pasta fragrant and not overly saucy, yet with generous mushrooms. Starts off mild earthy truffle gets stronger with more bites. Good for two. Not a fan of the side bread though.

Vegetable pizza though quite small in size, was a surprise. I thought it was meh and was bound to disappoint, but actually we liked the soft crust and the toppings were plentiful, cheese is gooey. Tastes fresh. I'm just really happy they had a vegetarian variant since I don't eat meat.

Pros Aesthetic aesthetic aesthetic every nook, obviously ancient building just could tell from the stairs, and there were pics and posters to prove it, but renovated to be homey and charming and not like a haunted house.

Spacious.

Crew polite to both those with formal clothing and to rugged wearing folks. Many staff so they are attentive and don't look too haggard lol. Free wifi. Clean and elegant toilet with tissue and soap. I heard some birthday music playing. Water served as soon as we were seated . Nice waiting area.

Cons Food takes long to be served but it was ok as the place was jam-packed with customers. Even though this place is quite dim lighted I immediately recognized a small roach on my salad. Unmistakable insect legs! I didn't make a fuss since this was an old building and quite dark and you know the horrors behind closed doors of every kitchen. But they made amends and replaced the salad.

Servers brisk walking in the second floor felt like they were stomping.

Many customers hence very noisy.

You can see on the menu it's pricey, yes (even has +service charge), but kinda justified.

I believe the Carmen's ice cream and Clyde's cakes are more expensive here than when bought outside since you know, ambiance.

Even though the receptionist said we were next (no other waiting) we waited a very long time and we were told there was an available table upstairs already, just being cleaned, and yet we were seated downstairs, the male server said full house so we insisted that the female gave us one, so then we were eventually placed to upstairs area they had firstly given. Miscommunication on their part.

I have to remark also that unlike other high end restos where the staff near the door thanks the customer leaving, here they just look, and ignore. No greetings.

Santa tell me song was non stop. Don't you have other Christmas songs? Quite annoying.

Super pitiful streetdwellers right when you step outside, I hope they do some charity works for them. Well this is...

Went here without any expectations but was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. We ordered the truffle pasta, seared salmon with wasabi mayo, and crispy pork belly. I thought each dish was executed really well.

The truffle pasta had a good chew to them and lots of mushrooms; sauce was creamy and the truffle flavor wasn’t overpowering.

True to its name, the salmon dish was excellently seared — crusty outside, but moist and tender inside. The wasabi mayo was creamy, tangy, and spicy. The mash highlighted the flavor of the potato with just enough chunkiness for texture.

The crispy pork belly was more like tender lechon deep-fried to crisp up the exterior. You could tell it was slow-cooked from the fall-apart texture, but was a bit lacking in seasoning IMHO. This dish needed the sauce, which was savory with a hint of fruitiness.

For dessert, we had the red velvet cake and the taro cloud roll. Was surprised when they served them in thin slices divided among the three of us. While I appreciate the thoughtfulness, it bordered on presumptuousness and we couldn’t appreciate the serving sizes properly.

Both items weren’t too sweet and I like how I could taste the cocoa in the red velvet. The cloud roll was a light and moist cake wrapped around a taro paste filling. Was expecting more of a mousse-like consistency for the filling in keeping with the name, but I guess it also works as textural counterpoint.

Some minor quibbles: (1) The furnishings were run-down and ill-maintained, especially the seats. While the neoclassical exterior of the building was preserved, the interior is eclectic in terms of style and can be jarringly so. (2) Service could be improved. They don’t accept card payments supposedly because their POS device wasn’t working, but based on the reviews here it seems to be a long-standing issue. Staff were nice but could be a bit more attentive. Also took a long time to serve the pork belly dish. (3) Pricing is definitely expensive. The quality of food partly makes up for it, but given the ungenerous serving sizes I’m not quite convinced about the...

Step Back in Time with a Sumptuous Breakfast at Grand Café 1919

Have you ever dined in a place that made you feel like you’ve traveled back in time? Where every detail—from the architecture to the ambiance—whispers stories of a bygone era? Welcome to Grand Café 1919, where vintage elegance meets hearty Filipino breakfast in the most delightful way.

Set in a beautifully preserved heritage building, Grand Café 1919 is a feast not only for the palate but also for the eyes. The moment you step in, you’re transported to a different era—chic, grand, and timeless.

Their breakfast menu offers a comforting array of Pinoy classics with a twist, and we had the pleasure of trying their Four Cheese Scrambled Eggs with Fried Pork Ribs Adobo Glazed on the side. Let me tell you—it was breakfast heaven.

The scrambled eggs were incredibly fluffy and luxuriously cheesy—oozing with flavor in every bite. We swapped out the usual rice for bread, which turned out to be the perfect choice. Plus, the breakfast comes with unlimited coffee or tea, making it not just delicious but also a great value.

The adobo? Absolutely superb. The pork was fall-apart tender, and the sauce was rich, savory, and just the right amount of salty—perhaps best paired with rice, as tradition would have it.

Service was warm, attentive, and just as refined as the place itself. Do note that food may take up to 20 minutes to be served—but trust me, you won’t mind. Use the time to soak in the ambiance, admire the architecture, and truly enjoy the moment.

Parking is available right outside, though limited—so it’s best to come early.

I can’t wait to return and experience their lunch and dinner offerings. If breakfast was already this impressive, I can only imagine what delights await later in the day.

So come take a journey through time, and treat yourself to a grand start to your day at...