La Pícara Manila — Restaurant in Taguig

It has been a while since I have last done a restaurant review and usually don’t write anything negative, but I really can’t just let this very bad experience to pass. May it serve as a warning for others.

Yesterday, my college friends and I had a mini reunion as we have all been working abroad. I suggested that we check out some of the new restaurant at One Bonifacio high street mall and that’s why we ended up at La Picara.

This incident happened on a Sunday afternoon past 5PM-ish. The place was not busy at all, and there were only handful of people in the restaurant. And that’s why we were confident that we can be accommodated despite not having a reservation.

Upon entry, there were no “Hi Sir/Ma’am”, which you would normally hear even at a fast food chains in the metro. I though, perhaps because we didn’t have reservations for that afternoon or what. But it clearly resonated to us that “walk-ins” were not really welcome. Finally, one crew (lady with a short blonde dyed hair) came to meet us. We requested if we can be seated outside. And with a sarcastic tone “Oh that, we can give you that terrace table over there, but we would need it by 7:30PM”

(I have been a long time BGC resident myself and have dined at almost all the restaurants in the area. But I have never been given such a cold unwelcoming treatment ever.)

As my friends and I, were just really excited to catch up since it has been years since we have last dined together. We decided to just ignore these initial “Red Flags” and still decided to give this restaurant a try.

We ordered drinks, tapas and food as we have not had lunch that day. Halfway through our conversations, we noticed that it was getting muggy outside and bugs were showing up outside that we requested if we can get the fans to work. Our server (I think his name was Cedric), said “let me check on that” and then vanished.

As it has started to become too warm for us at the terrace seating and with our server still nowhere to be found, we decided to stand up and asked if we can get seated inside instead.

And guess what, the same unwelcoming crew (yep the blonde lady - I think Beverly was her name) had sarcastically mentioned once again that “Oh we can give you this table over there, but we would need it by 7:30PM” It is as if we were not aware of this fact already.

At this point, we are clearly trying to be very civil and remain calm, despite our frustration and hunger. Remember, we have not been served any food yet. Yes, not even starter breads or crackers to begin with.

45 minutes after we got our drinks. We decided to follow up what our food as we are all getting really hungry. And to our surprise, the other crews started to stare at each other, looking totally clueless of what they were. They have asked us in return, to whom did we place our order to.

And 10 minutes, our brilliant server showed up and did confirm that he has forgotten to enter our order into their system.

Imagine, these same crew, were the ones had given us the strict 7:30PM deadline, smirked at us for wanting to be seated inside even though they didn't make our outside seating comfortable enough. And yet they failed to do their job - TAKE DOWN our order and PREPARE OUR FOOD!!!!

Mind you, this restaurant charges a lot for their FOOD and DRINKS being on the new upscale One Bonifacio High street mall. Yet they failed MISERABLY in providing the Quality and Class of Service for the money they charge.

Out of frustration on such a VERY BAD INEFFICIENT service, we decided to just cancel the orders, paid for our drinks and decided to move to the restaurant on the other end, CHATEAU 1771 (which fortunately turned our “reunion” evening around and gave us an EXCELLENT DINING EXPERIENCE).

I never did get the chance to eat anything from their long menu. But I don’t think I will ever go back to this place. Instead I have shared this horrendous experience to all my friends, BGC neighbor and co-workers visiting BGC in...

La Picara Manila: A Culinary Gem with a Pricey Gleam

Nestled amidst the bustling streets of Manila, La Picara Manila stands as a culinary haven for those seeking a taste of Spanish-inspired cuisine. As a seasoned food critic, I recently ventured into this gastronomic enclave, eager to explore its culinary offerings and assess its overall dining experience.

My gastronomic journey commenced with the Ventresca Escabeche, a tantalizing dish of tuna belly delicately bathed in a tangy escabeche sauce. Each bite was an explosion of flavors, with the rich tuna perfectly complemented by the piquant sauce. The dish was a testament to La Picara's mastery of balancing robust flavors with delicate textures.

Next, I delved into the Beef Cheeks, a hearty and comforting dish that showcased the restaurant's prowess in slow-cooked meats. The beef cheeks were melt-in-your-mouth tender, infused with a rich and savory gravy that tantalized my taste buds. The dish was a symphony of textures and flavors, leaving a lingering warmth on my palate.

While the culinary creations at La Picara Manila were undoubtedly impressive, the prices did make me pause for a moment. The dishes, while undoubtedly crafted with skill and passion, fell on the higher end of the price spectrum. However, the quality of the ingredients and the finesse of the preparation did justify the cost to a certain extent.

Despite the slightly elevated prices, the service at La Picara Manila was impeccable. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the cuisine they were presenting. They guided me through the menu, offering insightful recommendations and ensuring that my dining experience was seamless.

The atmosphere at La Picara Manila was pleasant, albeit not particularly remarkable. The restaurant exuded a casual elegance, with warm lighting and comfortable seating. While the ambiance was not the main attraction, it provided a suitable backdrop for the culinary delights that took center stage.

In conclusion, La Picara Manila offers a delectable culinary experience, albeit at a premium price. The dishes are expertly crafted, showcasing a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. The service is exceptional, with attentive staff who are genuinely passionate about the cuisine. While the atmosphere is not particularly noteworthy, it provides a comfortable setting for savoring the culinary creations.

Overall, I would rate La Picara Manila a solid 4 stars. It is a haven for those seeking a refined Spanish-inspired dining experience, but those on a tighter budget may want to...

La Picara means 'an adventurous or rogue woman' in Spanish, in Filipino it loosely translates as 'bibo' bright and 'masayahin'. In this NEW Modern Spanish restaurant, it surely reflects the sunny, cheerful disposition of its proprietors! From the beautiful, tropical murals down to the fun and fable plates from West Elm. They surely spared no expense in giving it all out by having the design team of Design for Tomorrow make their ideas into tangible reality. With their motto 'A modern taste of Spain kissing Manila' one step into La Picara gave that impression.

With no less than Isabel, one of the hospitality genius behind the brand dining with us, we were given an in-depth insight on how the restaurant came to be. The 'tapas' menu is no less extraordinary from the 'sisig tacos' which had that distinct smoky taste and slightly chewy and crunch all in one go, it served as a spring board to the rest of the goodness we were about to partake. The Kimchi Croquetas was beautifully smooth to the taste, I was looking for that distinct kimchi flavor but it was left wanting. The Pulpo dish, I enjoyed very much. The sous vide octopus was extremely soft, paired with the potato foam and negra crunch. Alternate this with sips of Sangria Picara - their lively take on the Spanish drink was given a twist by replacing citrus fruits with lychee, watermelon and dragonfruit. The Beef Cheek was a revelation! Slow cooked in red wine sauce, this was melt in your mouth soft. No need for a knife to slice. You can barely glide your fork and it will simply come apart. It is so deliciously flavorful from the slow cooking process. The saba skin tasted like eggplant and added a nice crunch to the dish. The Iberico Pork Rib Fideua was toasted with a little moisture left on the middle, mixed well with the dollops of aiole on top. The pork rib was salty good. Fall off the bone quality. I enjoyed the Seafood Paella, it was suppose to be served with soft crab but was not available. It was replaced with battered shrimps and calamares.

They have an ongoing Happy Hour promo, times differ from day of the week. Best to enjoy the afternoon light with your cocktails. Overlooking the Shangri-La Fort Park down below, they offer majestic cityscape views in a tropical escape. Service was friendly, non intrusive but attentive during our visit. A must visit when in One Bonifacio....