Crystal Room @ The Establishment

Related Post: The Establishment

Update time! There's a new chef in Establishment. Also, the secret French Restaurant, Crystal Room, has been open for quite some time. So this restaurant complex is now composed of the Tulipan - Spanish Tapas Bar, The Hall - new Japanese menu, and The Crystal Room - French Cuisine.  I heard that the twelve-person, private dining Chef's table and the Asian Restaurant on the second floor will open in time for the holiday season. (Please email me if you are privy to the details of the opening date.)

I was pleasantly surprised that the prices in Crystal Room are quite affordable, given the top quality of French food. For P500 - P1,000 per head, you could already enjoy the elegance and quiet escape offered by this secret French restaurant in the Fort. Of course, they earn a lot from the overpriced cocktails and having you hang around in the Hall before and after your Crystal Room dining experience. But still, Crystal Room is the best French deal in town -- with great service from well-trained staff, sosy decor, and French food that even the French would love at an affordable price.

The narrow shape of the restaurant is quite unique in Manila. It is best to reserve one of the six half-moon tables where you have to scoot over to get inside. It is actually cozy and intimate -- people won't notice if you are playing footsie under the table. The extra chair is quite uncomfortable to sit on, though, especially when people pass by behind you. Nevertheless, you can easily while away your time here over great conversation with good friends or your special someone.

Finally, I was able to take a photo of all the menus in The Establishment. I would say that you probably need a budget of about P1,000 per head for dining and drinking (ex. when going on a romantic dinner for two).

The Crystal Room (French Cuisine) Lunch Menu:
Appetizers, Soups, Sandwiches, Salads
Eggs, Pasta, Main Courses
Desserts

Coffee and Tea | Cocktails, Sodas, Juices, Bottled Water, Imported Bottles
Mocktails, Crushed Sodas, Signature Drinks | The Crystal Room Wine List

The Hall (Japanese Cuisine) New Menu:
Appetizers, Salad, The Hall Special Hot Dishes

Tulipan (Spanish Tapas) Menu:
Tapas | Liquors and Spirits

I still don't trust their desserts, and I've never bothered to order. I heard that the Embassy guys will open a dessert-only restaurant/bar where Embassy used to be located.

The meal starts with a warm serving of French bread with a cute butter holder.

Salmon Tartare (P345). Norwegian Salmon, Organic Egg, Chives, Capers, Sour Cream, Lemon Vinaigrette.

I heard a lot of raves about the finely chopped raw salmon served in Crystal Room. It is good and you won't notice that it is raw, particularly once you mix it with the eggs and sour cream. It is served with 7 slices of crusty bread -- you can definitely share this with another person.

Fish and Chips (P325). Fried Cream Dory with Homemade Tartar Sauce and Golden Fries.

This dish is huge, probably good for 2-3 persons. The fries are not that oily and the fish was fried well. I'm not a fish-and-chips expert, but I heard that it's really good compared to its competitors out there.

Pan-Seared U.S. Beef Tenderloin with Lychee Truffle Sauce (P885). Pan-Seared Beef Tenderloin (200grams), with roasted seasonal, mixed vegetables.

If you're in the mood for steak (like I was), you get to have three choices here: 1) have it grilled in Red Wine Pepper sauce; 2) have it with Cafe de Paris (a butter based sauce for steaks/meats. Its butter with herbs etc.. but not runny butter.); and 3) have it pan-seared with Lychee Truffle Sauce. I chose the third option.

The Lychee Truffle Sauce is quite interesting because it gives a sweet finish to every steak bite. I was taking my time, savoring each slice, carefully pairing bits of lychee and roasted vegetables with my steak. Highly Recommended for a different steak experience.

Thanks to Godfrey for dropping by at our table and having a chat with us. I always appreciate it when the Chef personally socializes with guests and ensures that they have a pleasant experience.

The Crystal Room @ The Establishment
Godfrey Laforteza, Executive Chef
Unit A- The Fort Entertainment Complex
26th Street corner 5th Avenue
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City 1634
Mobile: +63 908 880-0068
Telephone: +632 844 4487 / 844-6364
Email: glaforteza@establishment.com.ph
Visit www.establishment.com.ph

Live an Awesome Life,  

 

Anton Diaz
Founder, OurAwesomePlanet.com
Mobile: +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627) 
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Add me in Twitter: antondiaz
Add me in Facebook: antondiaz
Add me in You Tube: antondiaz

Comments

[KUMAGCOW]

I'll surely try the french food but watch out for the cocktails when my brother comes back from Ireland. Hopefully they won't be that booked on holidays =)

[reebsrealworld]

For fish & chips, you might want to try Momo Cafe, Eastwood's version with twister fries (tastes like the ones in Mc Donald's). It's soft and juicy, fried to perfection. The twister fries is a perfect compliment.

[Anton]

Yeah I saw Momo Cafe nga, and I was wondering what's good and what's the story of that restaurant?

[reebsrealworld]

I don't know the history but they belong to Raintree's chain of restaurants (Chelsea and M Cafe).. I'm still partial to their Fish & Chips (hehehe). Skip the Pancake Battered Chicken & Bacon Balls. No good!... Norwegian Salmon was also ok. It comes with risotto. Yummy. Their ribs was so-so. Try their smoothies & frappes, they might taste good coz we had frozen iced tea, which was just interesting but equally sooting. Went there by accident but left a good memory for me because of (again), the fish & chips. It's worth trying. Homey atmosphere. Looking forward to your post on Momo Cafe.

[sinch]

Loved the place and the food.. it gets too dark at dinnertime though

The Establishment review

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=610351496]

Hey Anton, I just had lunch there today with one of our PP. We ordered the Beef Tartare, Mushroom Soup, French Onion Soup, Roasted Herb Chicken, Open Cheese (Prime Rib) Burger and the Pan Seared US-Beef Tenderloin with Lychee Truffle Sauce. Food is heavenly and not over indulgent.

Thanks for the tip Anton! Keep it up.

Kit

[Anton]

Thanks Kit for the feedback! This is one of the places na masarap
maglunch meeting :)

Anton

[carla4teza@gmail.com]

HI Anton!! Did you know that Chef Godfrey Laforteza is my husband? =)

xoxo
Carla Guevara- Laforteza

[Anton]

I did not know... WOW, talaga! Ang swerte mo naman Chef ang hubby mo.
Thanks for letting me know.... galing!

Anton

[carla4teza@gmail.com]

Haha.. no.. He's lucky to have me!! HAhahahahaa joke... By the way... you SHOULD order dessert next time.... The 20 layered pistachio crepe is so light and perfect with coffee... and the chocolate cake with rosemary cream is to die for.

[Jay]

hi po, pano po pumunta sa "the establishment"? ang alam ko lang po kasi sa the fort e yung dating mtv studios kung andun pa yun, years na ko hindi nakapunta sa the fort, thanks or sa serendra po ba yan?

[Anton]

Yes it is near there... It is actually in the corner where the Singaporean resto used to be located...

[jay]

food looks boring and tired

[Tony]

We were there about two weeks ago. The menu has changed. All three rooms (Tulipan, Crystal Room, The Hall) now share just one menu, and most of it is Japanese. Truly disappointed as we were expecting different, as reviewed above. On top of that, the food (including the chef's Omakase offerings) was disappointing. Good thing I wasn't paying.

[JR]

hi anton,

is this located in The Establishment near Encore?
I've been inside that place way back but never saw this restaurant.

Thanks