9 SPOONS - The Bayleaf Intramuros — Restaurant in Manila

This place was GREAT for date ambience. Our meal consisted of the Nachos Skillet, fried calamari, and we had the Raffaele bolognese and the Cajun Shrimp pasta.

Let's start with appetizers. Not too shabby! Nachos were sweet and savory! The fresh tomato sauce gave it a hint of sweetness that blended well with the sweet red onions, as well as the savory-ness of the other ingredients.

Calamari was lightly breaded and not super greasy, so that was great. The dipping sauce however was(or atleast seemed like) just plain mayonnaise. Uhh... Mayo and calamari? Could have been atleast made it an aioli, maybe?

The Pastas: Raffaele Bolognese was superb. Absolute delicious, tender, noodles were al-dente. Fantastic dish.

The Cajun Shrimp pasta was alright. Sauce was creamy, but the overall flavor was lack luster. Tasted more like an alfredo, than a cajun pasta. The shrimps were VERY basic. Just s&p and a smidge of cajun seasoning...and no garlic?!

Over-all, the dishes were alright. All the food stuff could be chaulked up to preferences or more exquisite palates. The real kicker here was the host to the "Sky Lounge". She was very dismissive and told us that they were fully booked at 5:15pm. While this is fine and dandy, there's just more polite ways of saying this. After our meal at 9spoons, we went upstairs for a nightcap glass of wine and we sat ourselves on the couches after seeing that It was still half empty, at 6:40pm. I'm sure they lost some business by turning...

I went there with my parents today for lunch...and to be perfectly honest, it was a let down. My parents frequent the resaurant every year as in the past the dishes and menu was much much better. It started off pleasantly from being greeted with a smile and freely selecting a table with a view. The fried calamari as a starter as well as the marlin as a main were fresh and tasted of the sea. But it all went into a tailspin after that. The chicken and pork adobo was dry and had no sauce at all as it was simply a lazy form of shredded chicken/pork. It had no soya sauce no vinegar no garlic and no BAYLEAF in the Bayleaf hotel. The pork chicheron was on a bed of kinilaw. This is a dish where an intentionally dry crusty piece of pork absorbs a fresh bit of uncooked fish...East is East and West is West and never the twain should meet. Very abysmal and flavourless. Whoever thought of that dish does not know what they are doing and is in the wrong job. The service then disappeared maybe because it was lunch time? Our completed plates melted like our prescence into the background...until the bill came where we were requested to walk across the room like in the 1990's and put our bank account details up at the cash till. I would understand that process if the money processor wasn't a mobile wireless gadget! Step up to the plate Spoons as a lot of money has been invested in you and clients have many other options to spend...

The rooms are really really nice. Fine and top of the line sanitary wares and bed linens. There's a pianist in the lobby every evening who plays beautiful music to complete the ambiance. The Sky Deck is also a winner in terms of view and experience. They have an acoustic band playing in the background while you enjoy the great view of Manila.

Restaurant food and breakfast food was a bit of a let down due to limited offerings and delayed service. I would have rated this 5 stars if the food selection and quality were as good as the rooms.

Worth noting that the staff are very much willing to help you set up a surprise if you are celebrating a special occasion. Thanks and cheers to Francis Serrano, Reservation Supervisor of...