The Black Pig — Restaurant in Muntinlupa

The Black Pig has always been my one of my go-to restaurants in the south. Absolutely lovely experience every time I go there. Delicious food and super kind staff.

Though the hospitality of the staff remains unwavering, the quality of food this time was quite different.

Rack of Lamb I asked for medium rare, and one of the racks were a bit over cooked. However, they still tasted great and my mouth was watering as soon as it was served.

Beetroot Dumpling Since I last tasted this last February, I always looked forward to having a bite of this again. On the day we dined though, we found that the beets used weren’t fresh. Quite a disappointment. At least it looks pretty?

Salmon.. spread… with bread ? (I forgot the name, sorry) Bread was just the perfect amount of firm and soft, but the salmon was served too cold. We had a challenging time scooping it out of the jar because it was hard.

The Black Pig Burger The burger was huge! My partner asked the steak to be medium rare. I cannot attest to this as I did not taste the meat, but he did say he loves it. I did get to eat the fries and onion rings. Needless to say, they are the best fries and onion rings I have eaten at a restaurant. They are sliced thinly so there are no sogginess at all and they are so tasty!

The only red flag was when we realized they never asked for our vaccination cards when we said we wanted to dine in. However, this was not a worry since we were only two groups in the restaurant at the time, and the other group was dining outdoors.

Overall, the stay was still very pleasant. The restaurant was clean, the server was so attentive and accommodated all our needs. Will...

Alright, let me spill the beans about this place I went to with my friend for lunch. First things first, their phone answering skills need a major upgrade. It took me three tries just to get someone to pick up, and when I had to update my reservation because I was running late, it was like talking to a black hole. But hey, I guess we can let that slide because the food they serve is straight-up amazing!

We decided to go all out and ordered their Wagyu steak, a juicy hunk of meat weighing around 500 grams. Let me tell you, it was so tender, I could've cut it with a gentle whisper. The sides that came with it were the perfect dance partners for that steak. And oh boy, don't even get me started on their complimentary bread. It was like a flavor explosion in my mouth, matching perfectly with the spread they served.

But wait, there's more! We also tried their beef lasagna, and damn, it was good. The pasta was cooked to perfection, and it was rolled up with layers of cheesy goodness. Honestly, it's easily one of the best lasagnas I've had in a long time.

Another thing I dig about this place is that it's not crazy crowded like other malls in Alabang. You don't have to pull your hair out searching for parking here. It's a hidden gem in that sense.

So, despite their phone shenanigans, I'd say this place is worth a visit for the mind-blowing food and the stress-free parking situation. Just make sure to bring your patience when it comes to...

The chef(?) tried too hard! The majority of the food was not seasoned well, though presented expertly! The free piece of bread was crusty & tasty! The meagre free fries were cooked well & seasoned better than the rest of the food we ordered, ironically they were free.

The calamansi mojito barely had any mint flavour (even asked for more mint - I wanted to go back there & teach the bartender how to muddle mint & make proper drinks!), and the alcohol was nonexistent. My wife's drink had no alcohol either.

The escargot with bone marrow as good, though not to my wife's taste (she is Filipina). I should have just ordered more of them for my meal! The shrimp tortellini was good, though the surrounding tomato jam was better as the tortellini lacked flavor itself.

I ordered the parrot fish, recommended by the waitress. It was a poor choice. Mostly bland, with poorly paired sauces decorating the plate. The pickled cucumber was the best thing on the plate. The tapas platter was large, though poorly textured & half of the offerings were not palatable. Eg. Duck pate is supposed to have flavor & depth, not just mashed up liver! The tomato jam was good. Overall, the ensemble disappointed & we packed up most of it for the dogs home!

We went to Burger King shortly afterwards, as it disappointed & left a poor taste...