The BEST of Serendra and Bonifacio High Street Food Trip

Mamou’s Dry Aged USDA Prime Grade Bone-in Ribeye Steak

We’ve loved Serendra and Bonifacio High Street ever since they opened 4 years ago. (Yes, it was that long ago already.) We love both places for their unique foodie offerings and relaxing al fresco ambiance.

I’m often asked where is the best place to eat in the area. To answer that, I’d like to share with you our favorite restaurants and the food that we are addicted to (such that we return for it time and time again — which is rare).

Related Serendra & Boni High Street (BHS) Articles:
Piazza Serendra — I Can’t Wait!
Piazza Serendra slowly coming to life…
Bonifacio High Street and Serendra Piazza (a Photo Essay)

THE BREAKFAST SCENE

BEST BREAKFAST MEAL: Sentro’s Tuyo Breakfast Meal (P300 +10%vat )

Sentro is the best place for breakfast in the Serendra area. I always crave for their tuyo breakfast meal with hot chocolate. The tuyo is ready to eat, not too salty, and the serving size is good for two people. The high ceiling and overall ambiance of Sentro makes it ideal for early morning meetings and just for hanging around with free wi-fi.

Aside from Sentro, only Cafe Mary Grace, Arama and Culliere (only on weekends) are open and worth visiting for breakfast.

MERIENDA @ SERENDRA

BEST SNACK: Kamote Chips (P122) with Kefir Dressing @ Arama

These kamote chips are my favorite snack every time we would hang out to blog or meet in Arama. The chips are thin and very crispy. But what makes this special is the kefir sauce used in the salad that goes with it. We like to savor the creamy sauce with every dip, knowing that it is healthy because of its main ingredient, kefir.

Sometimes, when our hunger is still not satisfied by the kamote chips, we would order the Dynamite, which is long green chili with melted cheese inside to go with the kefir sauce. There is free and reliable wi-fi in Arama, so we often hold our professional blogging one-on-ones here.

Related Post: Arama’s Kefir-licious

BEST MERIENDA: Mary Grace’s Cheese Rolls (Toasted – P35/piece +10%vat) with Traditional Tsokolate (P50 +10%vat)

The flagship Mary Grace Cafe in Serendra is no doubt the best cafe in the area. They were able to turn their small retail space into an advantage by making it cozy and homey.

Instead of getting the ensaymada, we like ordering 3 pieces of toasted cheese rolls, which is the perfect serving size to satisfy our craving. We prefer pairing them with the traditional hot chocolate instead of the Mary Grace Hot Chocolate, which is more dense and a bit heavy.

Related Post: Cafe Mary Grace

BEST CUPCAKES: Sonja’s Cupcakes Red Velvet Vixen (P70). Traditional Southern Cake made with Belgian Cocoa and Cream Cheese Icing

Sonja started the cupcake craze in Manila (which is winding down already), and she continues to be the queen of cupcakes, enjoying premium pricing and a home bakery ambiance in the little Serendra neighborhood. We still love it after all these years. 🙂

Related Posts:
Sonja’s Cupcakes— Creating the Cupcake Craze in the Philippines?
Cupcakes+Sonja: Opening Nights

BEST DISHES

BEST FILIPINO DISH: Abe’s Mutton or Lamb Adobo! (P395 +10%vat)

The last great restaurant produced by the LGC Group is Abe in Serendra. There, the food is priced just right. We always order the Mutton or Lamb Adobo, which has the meat soaked in the adobo sauce and with lots of garlic chunks on top. Each meat strand is very tasty; you can’t help but eat this dish with rice. I often recommend Abe to those people looking for a good Filipino restaurant in the area.

Related Post: Abe means good Filipino food!

BEST STEAK IN TOWN: Mamou’s Dry Aged USDA Prime Grade Bone-in Ribeye Steak (P2,800 +10%vat) Single. Approximately 600 grams/ 21 oz

Mamou has been voted as having one of the best steaks in Manila because of its high quality steaks served on a hot plate, sitting in its bed of oil. No need to add any steak sauce — a little bit of rock salt enhances its yumminess. It is served with two sidings; you can choose from: white/ red steak rice, corn pudding, creamed spinach, and baked mashed potatoes.

Related Post: Mamou-miya!

You might also want to consider the following restaurants:
Thai at Silk @ Piazza Serendra
Duo of Serendra: Chef Mao and Larry Cortez
Chelsea, Chelsea by the Market Market!
Balducci Birthday Bash

THE BEST DESSERTS

BEST ICE CREAM DESSERT: The Stock Market’s Belgian Chocolate Champorado (P195 +10%vat). Classic Philippine dessert, risotto-style. Topped with raspberry ice cream.

This is a recent favorite. We discovered it via my online friends who recommended that the best Champorado in town can be found in Max’s restaurant (for breakfast) and in Fruits in Ice Cream in The Stock Market. This dessert has bigger rice grains soaked in rich, dark belgian chocolate, which is then topped with melting raspberry ice cream and a sliced strawberry. The combination is a bit heavy and deadly, but definitely yummy! 🙂

BEST MILKSHAKE IN TOWN: Culliere’s Strawberry Milkshakes (P195 +10%vat)

The best milkshake can be found in a little French bistro called Culliere. The secret is in the blending of 3 scoops of Arce Ice Cream with pure Carabao’s milk. Our favorite flavors are Strawberry, Chocolate and Avocado. The Sugar-Free Cappuccino and Macapuno Arce flavors are only available in Serendra. Yum Yum!

BEST HEALTHY DESSERT: Kefir Ice Cream @ Arama

For health-conscious foodies, nothing beats the Kefir Ice Cream creations of Arama. Milk from the kefir fermentation is used with available fruits and transformed into ice cream. Our favorite flavors are Vanilla, Mango and Chocoberry.

Related Post: Arama’s Kefir-licious

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

First, the bad news. This year, six restaurants closed down in Serendra: Guava, Tea & Therapy, Fu by Hai Shin Lou, Healthy Kitchen, Xocolat and Mag:Net Cafe. Nevertheless, as with all endings, the good news can be found in the beginnings — we can’t wait for the opening of the new restaurants that will replace them.

The culminating phase of Bonifacio High Street, which is double the width of the current BHS, is now being constructed (estimated to be finished by 2011). The new space would have a split-level restaurant and lifestyle retail area, an interactive water plaza in an urban amphitheater, and an anchor boutique department store.

I’m hoping for authentic and unique restaurants to open instead of the usual fast food chains. Any news on restaurants that will open in the last phase of BHS? Let me know!

Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Call or Text Me: +63917 5683-627 (LOVE-OAP)
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Disclosure: Ayala Premier (which includes Nuvali, Bonifacio Global City, and Ayala Makati) is an official advertising partner of Our Awesome Planet. 🙂

P.S. Please vote for your Ayala Malls Top Food Picks until August 15, 2010. Ayala Malls include Glorietta, Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Market! Market!, TriNoma, Bonifacio High Street, Serendra and Marquee Mall. I just voted for my favorites above — Vote now at www.AyalaMalls-Top.com