Manila Grill: Why it’s worth every dirham

Filipino restaurant in Dubai serves class without hefty price tag

  When my companion told me we were going to Manila Grill, I was a little hesitant. Names with “grill” on them always remind me of loud and often dingy karaoke bars that serve pulutan, the Filipino term for the side dish that goes along with your drink. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the restaurant on the ground floor of the Asiana hotel in Deira. It was far from what I had pictured in my mind. What a relief. The modern Asian interior design was the first thing that caught my eye and I felt right at home with the ambiance. It was very modern Manila. It was as if I had just strolled into a five-star restaurant with contemporary table settings, nicely designed wood panels and intricate lighting that gave the room an elegant feel. Finally, I found a Filipino restaurant in Dubai that has class. Here was a restaurant where you could enjoy with your family, have fun with friends, or even propose to your loved one. A group of 20-something customers were having an excited chatter about ordering the “boodle fight” menu. At a table behind us sat the Philippine consul general in Dubai enjoying a dinner with a small group that included his wife. The service was amazing, with the smiling waitress asking if we wanted to have some water first before ordering. We each asked for a glass of still water, which was shortly delivered to the table. I started leafing through the menu, where dishes cost an average of Dh35 to Dh55. Not bad. I thought I would be charged more for this ambiance. The kind of dishes they serve here would appeal to Filipino diners from all over the Philippine archipelago as they have a little of every signature dish from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The choices on the menu composed of familiar dishes got my stomach grumbling. We didn’t waste time and started placing our orders. We were told that the wait time was about 15 to 20 minutes. When the food was finally served, the presentation had me absolutely floored. If Filipino food were always served this beautifully then maybe it might finally have a shot at getting the international recognition it deserves. Our starters of kilawin or ceviche, chunks of fresh raw fish marinated in squeezed lime juice mixed with sliced onions, green and red chilis, salt and pepper, came in a beautiful big bowl and was actually more than enough for three people. This one did not have the usual coconut milk, though, but I loved every bite. The rellenong crab (stuffed crab) came beautifully arranged in a rectangular plate and was a delight to eat as it was to see. It was perfectly fried, with the meat slightly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside with all the flavours intact. It reminded me of my mother’s recipe. Too bad there were only three! I would have ordered one more plate, if I didn’t remember that there was still the main course and dessert to come. Not too long later, it was time for our main course: chicken cordon bleu for me and lechon belly for my companion. The chicken cordon bleu was perfect. Seven slices of golden fried goodness topped with melted Swiss cheese. It was, however, knocked off the top spot with the lechon belly. I was looking at my companion enjoying every bite, while I was salivating with envy. Luckily, my companion was in the mood to share, so I quickly dug in. The flavourful meat was extra tender in contrast to the crunchy, roasted skin. I would have to say that by far this was the best lechon belly I have ever tasted in the UAE. Dessert was a lighter treat, with my favourite brazo de Mercedes a delight by the bite. The next time I crave for this, or other Filipino food for that matter, I won’t mind making the drive from Downtown Dubai to Deira. You just can’t put a price tag on authentic.   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