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Where to eat when…in Westgate Alabang
With open spaces, pockets of greenery, and fun water fountains for kids to play in, Westgate Center in Filinvest, Alabang sounds about an awesome space for a relaxing lunch or dinner with the family or a dinner out with friends.
It is a 9.2 hectare open-air retail concept that challenges the confines of the mall setting, with a main street ambiance that will have you thinking " a village within a big village."
With innovative dining, retail, and lifestyle concepts in a street-style, neo-cosmopolitan setting, there is a little something for everybody. This is especially true for the diverse food scene.
Brother’s Burger. Let's start off with something familiar. Brother’s Burger introduced artisan burgers to the Philippines when they first opened their doors in 1999. It has become a favorite for those looking for something simple and hearty, and by that, we mean juicy, delicious honest-to goodness burgers made with 100 percent prime choice imported beef and the freshest vegetables.
Although there have been upgrades, the old favorites are still on the menu. Our picks? We can't resist the smoky barbecue flavor of the Ranchero Burger (P235) topped with fried onion strings, and the deliciously funky Blues Brothers Burger (P235) that's oozing with bleu cheese.
Add an order of the crispy Chicken Wings (P195/6 pieces) which come in four flavors: Classic Tangy Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, BBQ Jalapeño, and Soy & Pepper. Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa. 10am-12am. +6327710820.
Butamaru. Translated from Japanese to mean “pork circle,” Butamaru is a specialty ramen shop that brings the flavors of Japan down south.
Chef Jerome Lim trained under Sugimura-san of the Menko Noodle company in Japan, and brings his wealth of experience and subtle but unique flavors to the Alabang establishment.
The restaurant bases its menu on five basic kinds of ramen: shio, shoyu, miso, tantanmen, and curry tantanmen. It uses traditional Kyushu tonkotsu broth that has been left simmering for over 16 hours.
Whet your appetite with an order of Gyoza (P140) or Toriten (P210), tempura-style fried chicken famous in the Oita prefecture with ponzu sauce, before moving onto the main affair: ramen. The simple soy-based Shoyu (P340) is a great gateway, the spicy peanut and sesame Tantanmen (P360) is a delightful choice, and the special dry ramen, Abura Soba (P280), a unique experience. Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa. 11:30am-10pm. +6328874255.
UCC Café Terrace. UCC is one of the most popular coffee chains in the country, and with a store in Westgate, Southerners can easily head to the quiet café for their signature coffees, scrumptious desserts, and Japanese-fusion dishes.
Spicy Puttanesca (P480) isn’t the first thing that comes to mind but you can't go wrong with this dish: house special chili tomato garlic sauce incorporates a taste of the sea with shrimp, cuttlefish, and scallops. While the Sausage and Peppers (P320) is a simple yet filling pasty of sliced frankfurters sautéed with onions and bell peppers, drizzled with tomato salsa atop flaky puff pastry.
Wind down with coffee-based drinks like the simple yet delectable Kori Kohi (P220), iced coffee cubes served with warm milk; their Caramel Espresso (P190), a caramel blended with espresso, milk, and ice cream topped with whipped cream; or Café Affogato (P250) a traditional espresso-based dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with dark chocolate, and topped with sliced almonds – the perfect respite to a hot day. Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Muntinlupa. 7am-12am. +6327711549.
Alba. Since opening in 1952, Alba’s has been synonymous with Spanish cuisine in the Philippines.
Founded by Don Anastatico Alba, the restaurant has become not only a mecca for authentic Spanish dishes, but also a meeting place of Manila's who’s who .
Popular among Alabang's lunch crowd is Alba’s scrumptious Spanish Buffet (P695+/head) where the best of the best are served, including Pollo al Ajillo, Solomio a la Pobre, Lengua a la Sevillana, Pescado en Salsa Verde, Chipirones en Su Tinta, and Paella Valenciana.
A few must-trys on the menu is the refreshing Jamon con Manga y Arugula (P400), as Spanish cured meat is made in-house, wrapped around sweet Philippine mango and arugula; their homemade Spanish sausage called Chorizo Fritos (P350); the life of any Spanish party, Cochinillo Asado (P6,000/12-15 people) or roasted suckling pig, needs to be pre-ordered a day in avdance. Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa. 11am-11pm. +6327712178.
Neil’s Kitchen. One of the hottest dining spots in the south today, Chef Neil Ramos of The Hills at Silang fame takes Filipino classics and gives them a modern twist.
The result are dishes chocfull of Filipino flavor presented in imaginative ways; half the fun is ordering! Some of their bestsellers include the Sinigang Paella with Grilled Pork Belly (P350) with the souring agent in the rice, the Bagoong Paella with Kare-Kare (P395), is another showstopper, and for dessert, the Fried Suman Mangga & Chocnut (P250) beautifully rounds out your meal. Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa. 11am-9pm. +6322469069 ext. 745.
Melo’s. An institution for quality steaks since its establishment in 1987, Melo's is top of mind as far as certified Angus beef and authentic Wagyu beef is concerned. Its famed Steak Cart allows diners to choose the cut and thickness of the meat before being grilled to perfection.
While it is true that Melo’s is all about steak, they also have a range of continental dishes, taking you on a trip to Europe with their Waldorf Salad with Duck Breast (P410) served with their special light, in-house mayonnaise, Truffled Escargot with Wild Mushrooms (P615), perfectly Grilled Lambchops in Cranberry Mint Sauce (P1,950), and their celebratory Lobster Tail Thermidor (P2,100). Westgate Center, Filinvest Corporate City, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa. 11:30am-12:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm. +6327712288. — LA, GMA News
