In Poblacion, Lampara Neo-Filipino Bistro brings new light to Filipino food

In the newly opened Lampara in Makati's Poblacion, chefs and long-time friends RJ Ramos and Alphonse Sotero share their mutual passion for Filipino cuisine.

“We’re not here to compete with your lola or your mom, we know they make the best [Filipino food]... We’re here because we want to push the envelope further,” Alphonse said.

In 2017, when a foreigner chef came to Manila, Alphonse and RJ asked themselves, “Where can we take him to experience Filipino food?” After sampling the usual Filipino restaurants, they realized there’s still room for another player. 

“Filipino food is booming in other countries, but why is all the hype about Filipino food outside the Philippines?” Alphonse, who used to work at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in the US, wondered. 

In December 2018, — after almost two years, a challenging business pitch, and six partners later — Lampara opened on the second floor of an apartment building, which strangely, does not feel like the case. 

The design team Space Encounters gave the space a "neo-Filipiniana" look, making diners feel like they were in the home of their coolest tito or tita: a sun room, cool furniture, a beautiful — and beautifully stocked — bar, the works.

Add Lampara's fantastic service and guests will quickly feel welcome. “We’re ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen,” Alphonse said, quoting the service mantra of the Ritz. “We want our staff to make a connection with our customers.”

RJ and Alphonse also recognize their own partnership with close friends and family  — Martin Hatol, David Dela Cruz, Prince Tan, and Pierreson Tan — which helps them make Lampara feel more like home for their guests.

But nothing takes the cake quite like the food here. It's nothing like you’ve had before. “[Lampara is about] bringing new light to Filipino food,” RJ shared with GMA News Online. “Filipino cuisine is already really good as it is, but we know it can be better.”

RJ spent his culinary internship in 58 — a restaurant at the Eiffel Tower in Paris — and now puts his French training to good use by fusing his expertise with Filipino flavors, creating dishes that are a mix of familiar and exotic. 

Lampara is unapologetic and refuses to claim that their food is authentic Pinoy cuisine because, what is authentic anyway? With that veil lifted, Lampara deliciously presents  Filipino food on a whole new perspective.

Check out a few of our favorites below:

Lampara, 5883 Enriquez St, Poblacion, Makati City. Mon-Sat 6pm-2am. +63917 1735883  

— LA, GMA News