Il Fornaio Da Gianni
Landers BGC, The Uptown Palazzo, 9th Avenue corner 36th Street, Taguig City
Contact: 0908-812-8098
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Il-Fornaio-Da-Gianni-103526548989040
Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Sunday)
(SPOT.ph) They say that you should never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry, but then again, not all supermarkets have a restaurant that boasts of a genuine brick oven from Italy. What you would normally find at such shopping spots are just simple fast-food places, so Il Fornaio Da Gianni comes as a pleasant surprise for shoppers in Landers BGC.
Also read: 10 Underrated Pizza Places to Try Right Now
Psst, Landers BGC is home to an unexpected Italian restaurant you need to check out:
If the name seems somewhat familiar, chances are, you’ve come across an establishment called Da Gianni Cucina Italiana in Alabang. It is, in fact, from the same group but the concept is a tad different in nature. Opened just last April, this new dining spot dishes out quick bites of Italian specialties—perfect for shoppers or nearby office workers on the go. The good news is that you don’t even have to be a member of Landers to be able to enjoy its pizza and pasta since everyone is welcome here, and that’s how you’ll feel when you step inside its premises and experience its warm vibe. It’s like an indoor garden café with the patio-inspired seats, patterned floor tiles, brick accents, a vertical garden wall, and splashes of greenery with its potted plants. In the middle of it all is an open kitchen where you can see the brick oven and the kitchen crew in action.
“Il Fornaio means the oven,” shares the restaurant group’s Head Chef Gianluca Guidicelli, who mentions that they got the actual brick oven from a family in Naples who’s been in the business for around 150 years. “We wanted to bring the experience to have a brick oven in Landers.” Compared to the conventional electric oven, the pizza cooked in the firewood has a more superior quality and tastes better, too.
Their menu lists a myriad of specialties, but make sure not to miss their line of pizza. “Our dough, for instance, is [made] only using ingredients from Italy—[including] all our flour—and are [given] at least 24 hours being rested,” revealed the chef who disclosed that the majority of their ingredients come from Italy and other European countries, save for the fresh produce that are locally sourced (some even come directly from farmers). With one bite of their freshly baked pizza, you’ll know that it’s a real special pie with its rustic, chewy consistency.
A classic would be the Margherita (P90/slice, P415/whole) that features the colors of the Italian flag—red for the tomato sauce, white for the mozzarella cheese, and green for the basil leaves. You just can’t go wrong with this timeless combination, and it would complement any other dish since there’s nothing too complex here. Basically, what you see is what you’ll get.
If you prefer a more flavorful variant, there’s the Burrata (P475) that brings together tomato sauce with fresh mozzarella burrata, prosciutto crudo, cherry tomatoes, and basil leaves. Best eaten when hot off the oven so you can spread the fresh cheese all over your slice and get that perfect bite with everything on it. The creamy cheese with the tart tomato, savory deli meat, and fresh herbs, all marry in your mouth for a taste that would make you crave more.
When there’s pizza, there should be pasta. Fast becoming one of its bestsellers is the Truffle Pappardelle (P425) because we Filipinos have learned to love anything truffle. It brings an earthy flavor to the dish, not to mention the fragrant aroma it exudes when it comes to your table. This pasta version features homemade broad noodles with truffle cream sauce and parmigiano shavings and every rich forkful is worth the calorie. Don’t forget to use the slice of garlic bread to wipe off the remaining cream sauce on the plate!
Another popular dish is the Vongole (P399), which is ideal for those who prefer olive oil based pasta. This is cooked with Manila clams, garlic, and cherry tomatoes and is very light on the palate. The garlic here is not that overpowering, as it’s just enough to complement the seafood flavor of the clams, plus the freshness from the tomato and herbs. It will leave you room to try other items on the menu.
Share an order of Mozzarella Sticks (P225) with your companions, which are are really more like mozzarella logs. Each breaded and deep-fried piece is quite hefty and substantial in size. Dunk it in the tomato dip for a contrast in taste—it perfectly complements the stringy cheese. You might even be tempted to add black truffle (additional P20) for a more aromatic bite.
Another appetizer worth sharing is the Fish and Chips (P299), which they serve in the traditional paper cone. Here they use a mix of cod and kisu (Japanese whiting) that’s breaded and deep fried, and served alongside with crunchy potato chips. Dip it in tartar sauce to complete the munching experience.
If you think rice is life, you’ll be happy to know that they have some rice plates here to sate your hunger. A restaurant favorite is the Osso Bucco (P499), with fork-tender braised beef shanks that’s doused in its own meaty gravy and served with rice and vegetables on the side. Talk about a must-try for meat lovers! It’s a complete meal itself and the serving size is quite substantial.
Yet another choice for carnivores is the Slowcooked Shortribs (P495), which they cook low and (as the name implies) slow for eight hours. It has a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs character that might remind you of classic home-cooked fare—the beef ribs are oh-so-succulent and tender. This is also plated with steamed rice and mixed vegetables.
Not looking to unbutton your pants mid-meal? Fret not: there are also lighter food options here, of which their Fish Fillet (P265) sandwich can't be missed. If you think it’s like the kind you’ll get from commercial fast-foods, think again. This one has breaded white fish, coleslaw, onions, horseradish and parsley vinaigrette sandwiched between a grilled sesame-seed bun. The fish is moist inside and crispy outside, and it tastes even better when you squeeze some lemon into it for that added fresh citrus zing. The slaw also enhances the flavor and texture of the sandwich, which would be a hit for seafood fans.
There are also meat sandwich selections like the Pastrami (P375), an Italian sub roll perfect for big appetites. It’s packed with beef pastrami, provolone cheese, red onions, and gorgonzola mayonnaise—and there’s so much stuffing that the bread could hardly keep it all in! Better give your jaw a good stretch before having your first bite. Or just use a knife and fork for a less messy eating experience.
Whichever dish you decide on, you’ll want to wash it down with any of its Frullati (P170) blended fruit beverages. In season as of writing is avocado, which you can opt to add milk (plus P15) to it. This tall glass of fresh fruit shake is actually quite filling and refreshing. Another flavor worth tasting is lychee, if you prefer something that’s subtly sweet and somewhat tart at the same time. They also serve other drinks that include Italian coffee, beer, and wine.
So the next time you go grocery shopping here, make sure to come hungry for quick bites of real-deal Italian fare. And take it from us: pizza is always a good idea.
Photos by Majoy Siason
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