Lolo Dad's Goes Asian

 

Finally, Chef Ariel Manuel has opened a new restaurant focused on Asian Cuisine. We love his other restos (Lolo Dad's in Malate and Lolo Dad's Brasserie @ 6750), so we were excited to find out about this latest addition.

They took over Ricco-Renzo Galleries & Cafe, located on the the ground floor of LRI Business Plaza in Makati (near Caffe Caruso). The tentative name of the resto is Asia de Manila (Asian Food Festival) but maybe they should just call it Lolo Dad's Asian Art Cafe. :)

The resto is on soft opening because the place is still undergoing renovation. They also have to finalize the name of the restaurant. It still needs some homey touches here and there, which can be addressed with paintings and other works of art.


The Monday night we were there, it was empty (since they haven't marketed the resto yet) versus a packed Caffe Caruso. It was perfect for us, though, since dining with the 3 boys can get quite chaotic these days.
Check out Lolo Dad's Asian Offerings: Menu | Drinks

 
Shrimp Pomelo Salad (P270 +10% service charge). Shrimps, Pomelo and Young Coconut, Coconut Milk and Lime Dressing.
I initially thought the white shell was a huge dimsum wrapper. It turned out to be young coconut meat. Quite an innovative presentation, don't you agree? :)
We loved the combination of coconut milk (gata) and that little hint of lime in the salad dressing. The pomelo had the right amount of sweetness to go with the otherwise flavorless shrimp. The nuts added texture and flavor, too.

 
Pho Noodle Soup (P260 +10% service charge). Pho with Roast Beef and Condiments.
It did not taste that authentic but we still enjoyed the deep-flavored broth. The good thing is, at this price point, you can order extra servings of soup (which the kids loved). :)

 
Hainanese Chicken (P420 +10% service charge). Hong Kong Chicken poached in Spiced Stock, served with Rice, Soup and Condiments.
Tao Yuan sets the standard for Hainanese Chicken in Manila, and it often uses Hong Kong Chicken. You'll notice the difference because it is a bit fatty under the skin, on the yellowish side, and the chicken meat is flawless.
Overall, we loved Chef Ariel's Hainanese Chicken and the accompanying oily ginger, sweet sauce and chili. The chicken soup stock was equally good and had a balanced taste. The dish can be shared by 2-3 persons.

 
Bistek (US Rib Eye) (P450 +10% service charge). Bistek of US Rib Eye, Calamansi and Soy-Marinated Beef Steak with Sauteed Onions.
The beef was cooked medium-rare and had a generous serving of onions and overflowing soy sauce. It actually felt like we were eating steak -- but Filipino bistek-style. This dish would have been better if they toned down the saltiness. The serving size is also good for 2-3 persons.


Chef Ariel's staff preparing our dessert :)

 
Canonigo (P130 +10% service charge). Baked Meringue on fresh seasonal fruits with Pandan Cream.
This was like a deconstructed brazo de mercedes with fruits and pandan cream. It was really good as it had the right balance of sweetness. We recommend it. :)

 
Halo-Halo Moderno (P170 +10% service charge). Spiced Syrup, Braised Beans, Banana, Jackfruit and Tapioca with leche flan.
This dessert was served with coconut milk-infused ice with kaffir lime scent. It was interestingly different and had lots of beans, banana, jackfruit, leche flan and ube. This is good for one person. A perfect ending to a really good Asian meal!


If you plan to dine here, budget around P600 per head as the food is relatively expensive. Although the ambiance is still a work in progress, we enjoyed our dining experience at Chef Ariel's new resto. Even if it has yet to get a name, it is definitely worthy of being called a Lolo Dad's restaurant. Check it out! :)

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