Pardon My French
110 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City
Contact: 0917-823-0091
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pardonmyfrenchmanila
Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. (Tuesday to Thursday); 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Friday to Saturday); 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Sunday)
(SPOT.ph) Think of French restaurants and what comes to mind? Chances are it’s the stuffy, highfalutin establishments where you’d be expected to know your salad fork from your dinner fork and come in fancy dresses and suits. Different kinds of French restaurants exist, to be clear, but you've gotta admit a lot of establishments—especially here in the Philippines—fall under the said stereotype. And that has its own appeal for sure, but isn’t quite the spot that comes to mind when you’re looking to unwind. Pardon My French, however, is a refreshing alternative: think proper French eats and elegant interiors, in a relaxed atmosphere where you’re more than welcome to dance (heck, jive!) to live performances of retro hits.
Also read: Best of Manila: 50 Great Restaurants of 2021
This French restaurant in Makati brings together great tunes and stellar flavors:
‘70s to ‘80s babies might remember the Jupiter-street icon known as Strumm’s—a go-to for folks looking to chill out to classic pop tunes, from covers of hits by international artists across different genres to original works from local musicians. The said establishment has since closed, but Pardon My French—established where Strumm’s was formerly located—relives the glory days of its predecessor with a regular lineup of live performances selected by music director Mel Villena: Pop Jazz on Tuesdays, Party Retro on Wednesdays, ‘80s Dance on Thursdays, Latin on Fridays, the Artist Series on Saturdays, and Easy Listening on Sundays. They do all of this while shining the spotlight on the food side of the spectrum; after all, PYC Foods Corporation President Jun Sy is a huge believer of great flavors and tunes going hand in hand.
“I always say, it’s food for the body and food for the soul when you have music and good food combined,” Sy shares during the restaurant’s media dinner held on August 15. In a statement, he elaborates: “The idea of Pardon My French as a supper club was born out of my experiences of entertaining at home where I get to share my love for sumptuous food and great live music. We don’t have enough of these kinds of places now and I’m hoping to open more in the near future.”
It’s hard to miss them along Jupiter street—you’ll spot their white facade with dome-shaped doors and windows, on top of which is a glowing blue sign of their moniker and the words slogan “Cuisine, Musique, et Art Eclectique.” Go in and into their main dining area, and you’ll be met with French blue walls—some with foliage patterns that breathe vitality into the space—along with plush velvet-lined seats, tables lined with white tablecloths, and a gold bar area that makes for a snazzy sight. Or as kids these days say: are totally IG-worthy.
Heck, go up the staircase and you’ll find their private rooms—one green, one yellow, one red—along with paintings on some of the walls alluding to the joy of great drinks. Raise your hands, or wine glasses, if you can recognize them.
The menu—curated by Chef Ariel Manuel of Lolo Dad’s fame—is predominantly, well, French, with bistro classics that stay fairly true to tradition with subtle modern touches here and there. The Escargot in Burgundy Butter and Garlic (P600), for one, is a rightfully buttery rendition of the delicacy: think escargot—yup, as in snails, which take on a mussel-esque character when cooked—baked with an herbed butter mixture you’ll want to mop up every last drop of. Consider this the best time to bring out that bottle of white wine or bubbly.
Meanwhile, Pardon My French’s interpretation of a classic Caesar Salad (P460) goes for a crisp-rich-zippy melange of romaine, an anchovy-lemon-parmigiano reggiano dressing, and crisped bacon, along with smoked salmon for a Nordic-leaning smoky note and six-minute boiled egg halves for added richness. On the heftier end is the Chateaubriand (P3,780/good for two), a platter of oven-roasted tenderloin good for sharing—pro tip, your best bet is to request to have it medium-rare to best enjoy the flavor of the Braveheart beef that they employ.
You’ll also be surprised to find Asian flavors and elements in some of the dishes; France had their share of close connections (Read: Colonies) with a number of Asian cultures over the course of history after all. The Shrimp Cocktail in Sweet Chili Sauce (P620) makes for a vibrant starter or accompaniment to any of their signature libations, of which is the 110 Jupiter St. (P480) with gin, lemon, and fermented watermelon juice plus basil and dill for added zest. On the richer end of the spectrum is the Pondicherry Prawn Curry Indienne (P990), which brings Indian flavors to the mix with prawns in an Indian-style curry sauce that’s tamer than other more traditional Indian curries around, but gets added richness from butter, wine, and cream.
Pardon My French delivers sweet endings with help from local purveyor The Tattooed Baker, who whips up plated desserts like the Dark Chocolate Delice (P320)—a bold and bittersweet number brightened with coconut-whipped ganache and kaffir lime—and the zippier, zestier Lemon and Mascarpone Cheesecake (P380). Also from The Tattooed Baker’s lineup are pastries and bakes you can take home—from colorful macarons to savory and sweet profiteroles that are generous on the cream fillings.
Food and music might not seem to have a lot in common, being the domains of different senses. But the two are art forms in their own right that can evoke emotions—and help you relive memories of happier days gone by. Pardon My French does just that twofold, all while being an avenue to form new memories that you’ll be keeping for the years to come.
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