Recommend a romantic restaurant [Merged]

[purploony]

I've asked some people but they really don't give me straight answers. What's a good dinner date place considering the following:

* Manila or Makati area only (blame my parents)
* budget of the 18-year old male paying (therefore, not so expensive, but since it's a dinner date not mediocre either. Ala Friday's prices?)
* ambiance: young but still cozy, medyo quiet, romantic

Sorry if it's a cheesy question but it's a once-a-month dinner thing and I'm afraid we'll run out of nice places to eat in

Thanks a bunch!

[Swiftsure]

Not that I've been on too many dinner dates, but here goes.

Cibo in Glorietta serves great pasta and sandwiches. (It's located near Rustan's, opposite Cinderella.) Area Cafe serves similar (and similarly good food) too, but I'm not so sure if it's a dinner-date-type place. Italianni's in Greenbelt costs a little bit more, but the food's appreciably better -- especially the pasta. Another plus about eating there's that they serve refillable drinks and the other two places don't.

If you'd like to eat at another Friday's-style restaurant (albeit with carpeting and nicer lighting), go to Bennigan's. The food can be a bit bland though, like TGIF food. Chili's in Greenbelt is somewhat similar (their burgers RULE, though, by the way). I haven't tried Outback yet.

Country Waffles is OK also; contrary to their name, they also serve a lot of regular food (stuff with rice, omelettes, sandwiches) aside from waffles. I was disappointed with Don Henrico's food, especially after all the praises my friends heaped upon that place.

Cafe Breton in Greenbelt serves nice crepes, and not just for dessert -- some of them come with fillings such as tuna and vegetables, for a light snack or dinner.

If you feel like Thai food, try Sukhothai in Glorietta 4 or Flavours and Spices in Greenbelt (just across Cafe Breton).

The restaurants in Greenbelt Mall also deserve a look. I haven't tried eating at any of those within the mall itself, though. Kitchen, a new place which opened just recently and is located near the theaters in Greenbelt, serves some interesting food that's worth a look. Prospero's, and this other place (both beside Kitchen), look pretty interesting too. An old favorite is Via Mare, almost right beside Kitchen.

In retrospect, I'm not so sure you guys'll be able to really make use of this list -- you've probably eaten at most of these places already, and I'm hardly an expert. Oh well. Hope I was still able to help out!

[Ira]

Actually, a Friday's budget pretty much covers a lot of places to go to for a dinner date. You can try Cafe Apassionata in Reposo Street in Makati (it's near Beluga's Bar and Grill). It's a date place--the place is very cosy and quiet, and the food is good. It's not crowded there, either. Their menu is complete, from appetizers all the way down to a lot of coffee stuff and desserts.

You can also try the establishments in Orosa Street in Malate (except Garlic Rose, the food sucks there). There's a new resto beside Batavia (for the life of me I can't remember the name), its front is colored a distinctive yellow. They serve Italian-Spanish food there, and the place is cosy and quiet, too. Try to get a reservation in their 2nd floor veranda---best place to stay in, in my opinion. The food's very good, too, and the price is reasonable. You can transfer to Batavia, which is just next door, for coffee/tea or dessert afterwards--it's a good place to relax and talk.

[mparaz]

Yup! Masarap ang [K]itchen. But the ambience is not really for dating since it's in the Greenbelt Mall open area.

[Swiftsure]

Ira: Thanks for filling in the gaps.. I'm not much of a Malate-goer. Nearly all of the time I'm stuck in Makati. Guess I really should get out more.

[purploony]

Thanks! Hmm... now instead of no idea where to go, I have lots of choices! Aaaack! Decision!!! Anyway I'll probably try the Greenbelt/Quad area first coz I'm going there next week. Thanks folks! I'll tell ya how good (or bad) it goes...

PS Yup I heard Garlic Rose is horrid

PPS The "yellow" place in Malate... is that Luna Cafe? Or was that orange?

[G.ice]

HOY PURPLOONY hanggang sa channel pa ba namang eto susundan mo ako?!?!?!?! mwahahahaha j/k e di doon na lang kayo sa kaibigan magdate ni____. or better yet kung feel mo na u want some ambience then go for trevi!!!! it will even make jimmy happy!!! he he he he... jk. sowee hanggang pasig greenhills lang ako... =P

[purploony]

hay naku g.ice hanggang dito pa ba rin mo kong kukulitin? hehehe. hey this was a serious dilemma kaya! we can only eat at mcdo for so many times y'know...

[Ira]

The establishment beside Batavia is Bravo/Bravo!/Bravo's, I believe. Can't remember which one it is.

[BiMeR10]

In Makati... i suggest Wasabi along Makati ave. near Manila Pen. or Le Souffle in The Fort.
Sa Malate.. Portico.. ganda ambiance doon.

[G.ice]

alam mo purploony malapit lang ang bahay mo!!!!! doon na kayo kumain at nakatipid pa kayo!!! doon na lang kayo magrecreate ng kung anu-anong dinner!!!!

[Ira]

Bimer10: I agree that Wasabi and Le Souffle are good date places--kaso he might have a heart attack when he gets the bill. Friday's prices daw, eh.

[XTCboi]

guys u forgot il ponticello(along valero st.). the place looks great at night.. its empty, kinda dark, quiet, great for a date. the prices arent as expensive naman.. unless u order the grilled stuff that is. or... he can try out casa armas(thres one along jupiter st in makati and another in malate).. the paella's great and its like only 450 per serving.. each serving can stuff three persons i reckon.

[Pa3cK]

i agree wid BiMeR10. those places got good ambiance n the quality of food rocks.

ira: ur definitely right! they are really gona get a heart attack when the bill comes not unless they're use 2 it.

[keiwai]

i agree w/ XTCboi, il ponticello is a good date place. cozy, great food. great desserts 2

[blair mitch]

You might also want to check out the ff. intimate, cozy date places. Great atmosphere, chika prices:
1. Cafe Grassi's Rockwell
2. Salumeria (Legaspi Village, Makati)
3. Con fusion (Salcedo Village, Makati)
Para maiba naman, right?

[Ira]

Aqua in the Enterprise building in Ayala Avenue is also a great place. The food's to die for, and pinag-gastusan talaga ang interiors. However, it's a little too expensive for what purploony is willing to spend.

[XTCboi]

keiwai: the choco cake at il ponticello is really good i hafta admit.. probly the best ive had. hmmm dapat bayaran na tayo ng owner nito ahh lol

[Clefairy]

Ira: You're getting your Malate restos mixed up! If you're referring to that yellow building beside Batavia, the one with pretty lanterns on its trees, that's Luna (Ma. Orosa St.). Bravo/ Bravo's is the one sa may Nakpil cor. Adriatico.

I have to agree with the people who spoke for Il Poticello. Nice place, very few people at night. But it's hard to find if you don't know what building it's in!

Other Malate places to go to:
1)Alda's Pizza Kitchen - This is on Adriatico near the corner of P. Faura, beside 7-11. Medyo malayo sa usual establishments, I know. Dim, cozy, good food (IMO).
2)Cafe Caribana - Located at Nakpil cor. Orosa, it has really nice interiors. Cuisine is Carribean. Careful, though. It sometimes hosts bands or poetry readings. Kung maraming tao, you can hop to...
3)The Golden Triangle (not sure if I got the name right) - also on Orosa, beside Garlic Rose. Serves Thai food at more popular prices than People's Palace (Nakpil, for authentic Thai food daw).
4)Sala, Matina - Along Nakpil. They look cozy from the outside, but I heard the prices are pretty steep.
5)Post 1771/ The Glasshouse/ Portico - Along Adriatico. Same owner so you can order from the different establishments regardless of where you are, so pili ka na lang ng cozy spot.

Malate After Dinners:
1)Batavia - Orosa St. Like Ira mentioned, great for coffee & dessert. Try the Kalamansi tart and the Atis Cheesecake and the Mango Cheesecake. Yummy!
2)Cafe Breton - Orosa st. This was the original store before they branched out to Makati and Alabang.
3)Timbuktu/ Java Hut - Fairly new coffee spots on Nakpil. Timbuktu is on the ground floor. Java Hut, on the 2nd floor, was designed to look like your typical Boracay bar. Love the low tables and pillows on the floor! Ganda pa the C.R.! 4)Alcoholic drinks? Caribana! Tres Amigos (Nakpil, in front of Insomia) has good Zombies!

Hmmm... sige, I'll stop here muna kahit I want to add more places. Happy dating, Purploony!

[Ira]

Thanks for the clarification, Clefairy! I appreciate it. I wasn't really sure what the name was, just that it was a yellow building with a funny-looking lady(?!) selling cigarettes outside its door.