The local palate has taken to Italian cuisine beyond the usual pasta dishes, and Italian restaurants have become a ubiquitous bunch in Manila. But what sets an Italian restaurant apart from a promising pack? Nescafe Gold Spot awards judge JJ Yulo maintains that a good Italian place should never overcook their pasta. "I also like a balance of earthy, lusty flavors, as well as fresh and bright flavors."
Fellow judge and pastry chef Aileen Anastacio says, "I usually rate a good Italian restaurant by the bread and soup that they make. Pasta would be next on the list: noodles should be al dente and I look out for the quality of the sauce for the pasta.
If osso bucco is on the menu, I usually try to order it. It's a plus if it's served with polenta and if the taste is at par with the osso bucco, then the restaurant stays on my list."
Chef Him Uy de Baron adds that an Italian resto's menu selection is a tell-tale sign. "A good selection that goes beyond carpaccio, bruschetta, cream and pomodoro-based sauces. Authenticity is key as well. A really good Italian restaurant will focus on a specific region in Italy for their cuisine and not just a broad take on all things Italian."
Five restaurants top the list for being Manila's best Italian restaurant:
Balducci Ristorante and Deli in Serendra is the L'Opera Group's newest Italian restaurant. Offering a more casual ambience than their previous Italian restos, Balducci exudes old-world charm with its big glass windows, brick-wall façade and walls washed in warm hues.
Balducci's menu includes antipasti, pasta dishes and specialty pizzas. A small deli can also be found inside the restaurant, with cold cuts, cheeses and a selection of wines, prosecco and grappa.
With high ceilings, glass walls and muted lighting, Cantinetta with its posh Rockwell address is the second branch to open in Manila. With simple and casual yet cozy interiors, the interiors do not distract from Cantinetta's classic, well-loved Italian dishes such as Tartufo, Ravioli, Prosciutto and seafood pasta. Cantinetta's wine recommendations also complement the menu finds, which may be ordered by the glass or by the bottle.
Cantinetta's first branch opened in Pasong Tamo, Makati while the newest branch joins the restaurant fray at the Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City.
Owned by Luciano Nesi and Chef Moreno Mattei, who both hail from the region of Toscana in Italy, L'Opera opened in 1994 in Makati. L'Opera has now moved to the Fort Strip in the bustling area of Bonifacio Global City
With brick walls, mauve and burnt sienna-colored interiors, L'Opera serves authentic Tuscan cuisine. Chef Moreno Mattei, also the executive chef and specializes in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, filled the menu with homemade pasta, duck-filled raviolis, a variety of Italian cheeses and a wine list to complement the dishes.
Paparazzi, Edsa Shangri-la's Italian restaurant, serves a selection of classic Italian fare: antipasti, hot entrees and pasta is freshly-made everyday. Paparazzi's wine list also boasts of having 90 kinds of Italian wine.
A mix of Old and New World European furniture, candle-lit tables and warm lights give Paparazzi a traditional ambience in a hotel setting. It is also available for exclusive functions and may be booked for private functions for up to 120 guests.
Margarita Fores, of Cibo and Cafebola fame, showcases her Italian dishes at Pepato where she takes dining a notch higher by taking Italian flavors and fusing it with local elements. Spaghetti Pepato, Florentina Style Bistecca, and Chilean Sea Bass sit together on the menu with a gelato flavored with local beer Cerveza Negra.
Pepato's interiors are designed by Jorge Yulo, and is dominated by copper and bronze colors, with triangular patterns filling one wall with matching glass chandeliers. A grand spiral staircase leads to the mezzanine floor, usually reserved for private functions.
Which restaurant deserves the Best Italian Restaurant award? Vote now!
Photographs from Dennis Robles (Cantinetta), loperagroup.com (L' Opera and Balducci), Ange (Tartufo from Balducci), shangri-la.com (Paparazzi) and Gaita Fores (Pepato).
