Bueno Tapas & Wine Restaurant - BGC — Restaurant in Taguig

A colleague recommend we try this restaurant. After reading reviews and receiving a credible recommendation we decided to give it our Friday night out. When we arrived the restaurant was at about 50%. capacity. Thankfully, there was plenty of seats,

Drinks: The blue cocktail that is quite spectacular and pageantry aside, tastes great. The G&T sounded really interesting (on paper) but did not taste very good. I thought it was the bad choice, but after trying another on of the four options, its the drinks. They tasted bad. My first G&T, I thought they used tequila it was pretty tough to enjoy. I'm not the person to send back food and drink, so i powered through it and tried another G&T option, it was also bad. I drink G&T very regularly, these did not have the refreshing tartness, freshness I am accustom to. Its really difficult to even classify these cocktails as Gin&Tonic. I will say this is a wine and tapas place so, maybe I should have gone with a glass of red wine or sangria.

Now to the food. This place is a spanish tapas place. Anyone who has lived in BGC knows that there is a plethora of Spanish Tapas restaurants. This restaurant is in a highly competitive genre. There is a bunch of cured meets and cheeses on the menu. We initially ordered the meat and cheese board (charcuterie) but in very philippines style was unavailable on friday night at 7:30. So we defaulted to Serrano Ham and some manchego cheese. There is no option or pairing of the two but whatever. We ordered the cold cuts ala carte. The cured ham and cheese come out and its is just a pile of sliced ham on a side dish plate. Ten minutes later, the cheese arrives, and it is literally just sliced cheese on a small white side dish plate. I was surprised that we weren't offered bread or breadsticks or something but the food tasted fine. Lets be honest here this required zero effort on the kitchen. I was surprised they didn't bring them out at the same time but, this is something I've gotten used to in the philippines.

Next was the Scallops appetizer. Scallops is one of my favorite foods and it generally serves as a gauge to restaurants quality and the chefs skill. The presentation of the food was interesting. It was dollioped with creams sauce, corn puree, and three or four sea scallops and then sprinkled with edible flowers. The scallops were described as seared but they looked raw, gray even. I thought maybe they baked them. They were overcooked, chewy as gum and tasted like last weeks catch. It was disgusting and I couldn't gut it out and finish. We left the plate unfinished. Our waitstaff didn't even acknowledge that we didn't eat it.

Next we go the steak paella. This was probably the only saving grace for our meal. It was really tasty and the streak was well prepared. I would recommend this to anyone.

Finally, As we finished our meal and waited for what seemed like a long time, we finally caught the attention of one the wait staff to order dessert. I heard the burnt cheesecake was very good. We ordered and, no lie, the order came our 45 minutes later!! I was angry at this point and started to get smug to our wait staff. I sincerely feel bad about that but my dining experience was overall that bad. When we reminded the waitstaff of our order, they quickly went to check on it. It was obvious that it was either forgotten or not ordered in the first place. The waitress came back to me with a lame excuse that the order was still in prepping, This was such an outrageous lack of accountability that I nearly exploded. A minute later, my cheesecake arrived and for all that "prep work", it was a slice of cheesecake on a small white plate. The cheesecake was good but I'm not sure it was as good as suggested.

I was sure to order my bill when dessert arrived since getting a waiters attention seemed challenging and we really did not want to stay at the restaurant any longer.

I paid around 6,000php for the two of us. I'm not sure I will be back to this place unless I get some assurance that the...

**BUENO TAPAS and WINE RESTAURANT: a must- visit Spanish Haven in BGC, Taguig ---searching for a truly authentic taste of Spain in the metro? look no further than Bueno Tapas and Wine Restaurant in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Manila. this is a place where every dish is a love letter to SPANISH cuisine, meticulously crafted with passion and an unwavering commitment to flavor. the atmosphere is cozy yet elegant, making it the perfect backdrop for everything from an intimate date night to a lively get-together with friends.

**Chef Derick's Almazan Thoughtful Gestures ---CHEF DERICK’S — passion for his craft is palpable. He eloquently described the heritage and ingredients behind each dish, transforming our dinner into a guided culinary tour of Spain. his attention to detail and warm accommodation of our group's requests elevated the entire evening, setting a new standard for hospitality.

**Tapas That Transport You to Spain --- the tapas here are not just starters; they are an experience in themselves. the Pulpo Gallego is a masterclass in simplicity and flavor. the octopus is cooked to an unbelievable tenderness, perfectly seasoned with premium smoked paprika and a drizzle of Spanish olive oil. it's a delicate and savory dish that will have you dreaming of the Galician coast. equally impressive are the Croquetas de queso y Pimiento. these delightful bites are impossibly creamy and rich on the inside, with a satisfyingly crispy shell. the combination of savory cheese and the subtle sweetness of pimiento creates a flavor profile that is both comforting and sophisticated.

**The Main Event: Rich, Hearty, and Unforgettable --- the main dishes at Bueno are a feast for the senses. the Estofado de Res is a slow-braised beef stew that redefines comfort food. The beef, cooked for eight hours, is so fork-tender it melts in your mouth, swimming in a deeply flavorful and aromatic sauce that is the definition of savory perfection. This is a dish that truly warms the soul.

for a unique and decadent treat, the Chicharrón is an absolute winner. this is not your typical pork belly; it's a "two-way finished" masterpiece with a crispy, crackling skin and juicy, tender meat, served in a luxurious demi-glace. It's a bold and unforgettable dish that showcases the chef's innovative flair. and finally, the crown jewel: the Paella Mixta. this is what true Spanish paella is all about. a vibrant, communal dish of perfectly cooked bomba rice, rich with saffron, and generously loaded with fresh seafood and tender chicken. the socarrat—the prized, crispy rice at the bottom—is a testament to its authentic preparation. every spoonful is a celebration of flavor and texture. with an expertly curated wine list to complement every dish and an ambiance that makes you feel right at home, Bueno Tapas and Wine is a culinary gem in BGC. It’s a place that honors tradition while delivering a truly modern and memorable...

a. Overpriced, some people go there to chat. I went there to eat and came out not satisfied after spending thousands b. Food - not bad but will not go back the 2nd time - not impressed c, in europe or other restos here, they give you complimentary basket for bread. You need it esp if dishes are saucy. Here you get 3pc on a plate even if you have more than 3 companion. They charge you P50 if you request for more.. its a small amount but bread is also cheap. Do Starbucks charge you for the extra sugar? d. We ordered around 10 dishes and was waiting for the last one. The waiter approached us and told us they lack the ingredient. Being a cook myself, i bet they simply forgot. But on the other hand, we are just glad it got cancelled e. I have eaten a lot of paella so i told my wife it is not a priority to order. I want her to try other dish. But midway our dinner, I got curious cause everyone has one on their table. So I ordered oxtail paella. They did not serve it in a paella tray. I do cook paella and its not paella at all. If no tray, then no socarat. Basically they just whip up something thinking the customer wont know the difference. Or might even cook the rice in a rice cooker and place it on the tray. In our case, they probably ran out of tray. Note i did ask the waitress if that is the oxtail paella and she confirmed f. The waiters are diligent and attentive. The interior is superb. The plating is good. If you are going to rate a restaurant, don’t get fooled with the above. Food should be no 1 priority, it should have quality and quantity. It falls short. Have you ever wondered why hawkers could get Michelin Star? g. There are 2 shifts for dinner. If i am not mistaken, one is 6pm and another is 8:30pm. So much pressure to the chefs if there is a huge order oradditional order. It takes a lot of time to cook meat so it would fall off the bone even when using pressure cooker. Well, a good restaurant could impress people that knows how to cook. They just fall short of...