ilustrado restaurant

visited march 11, 2020.

ambience

i love the ambience of this restaurant. the wall paintings, the tables and chairs as well as the garden area. lucky to visit on a non crowded day so i got to enjoy the area more.

food

we ordered

bagnet sinigang: i love the sourness of the sinigang. it is so right for me. i just wish there is more soup in the serving.

kare kare: thedishis so so. i have tasted kare kare in other restaus with more wow taste.

ilustrado paella: the serving is big and the taste is good. but there are other paellas with taste as good but cheaper. but this is a heritage restaurant so it’s understandable i think.

tokwat baboy: zomato recommends to try their tolwat baboy. the way the pork and the tofu was cooked is good. for the sauce, i think there’s a lot to improve.

overall judgement

i’ll give this restau a 4 star. attentive staffs, the singing trio is cute lol. the food is good but there’s a lot to improve

what we had:
croquetas de quezo
bagnet kare-kare
kambing kaldereta
bagnet sinigang
chicken curry

what we loved:
oh we walked in and i was impressed with the overall look and setup of the place, although i am a bit torn if i thought the ambience was cozy and romantic and elegant or just a bit dark and gloomy. anyway, what i am sure of is that the service was great. the food is too, starting with the complimentary bread that was really nice, especially the duck liver pate that comes with it. all the dishes we ordered was all very good too. first time i tried a goatdishand i surprisingly liked it. the meat was tender and i liked the flavors of the spices in thedishcoming together. my sisters liked the sinigang and kare-kare, but i wish we had ordered fish for the soup instead. my personal favorite though was the coconut curry chicken with couscous, it was just perfect. must try!

overall, glad i took my sisters for a special dinner here.

to mark its 30th year anniversary, ilustrado restaurant in intramuros, manila is offering an 8-course degustation menu for the whole month of october. the menu is curated by chef de patron bernice pimentel, featuring local ingredients and philippine cuisine on trend. “this years’ theme is from ordinary to extraordinary - ordinary food you would see in a weekly filipino household menu but in haute fashion,” notes chef bernice. “as the famous adage goes … ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.” philippine cuisine has arrived thanks to our multitude of brilliant chefs and champions bringing forward our culinary heritage and roots.” pimentel continues.

the ilustrado anniversary degustation starts with kalabasa pan de sal – pillows of filipino soft roll with shaved squash and served with evoo, balsamic vinegar and a homemade queso de bola dip.

next comes the amuse bouche of longga burger – a boracay staple longganisa patty turned pintxos with kesong puti and tomato jam. the cold starter is ensaladang talong – a mélange of grilled eggplant, onion, tomato, salted quail egg in a spicy pinakurat beurre blanc. the hot starter, lumpiang bangus comes next which is flaked tinapa in a baked shell with a sweet, tangy mango compote. the soup is kinamias which is clear sinigang like vegetarian broth. the first entrée is adobong pusit – grilled baby squid in balsamic adobo sauce followed by the main course bulalo – seared bone marrow and beef risotto with twice-cooked angus beef shortplate and corn salsa sopresa. the sweet ending is a delightful saba con hielo which brings together evaporated milk panna cotta, banana cue slices topped off with chewy bobba pearls. diners have a choice to order the whole 8-course menu or order select dishes, ala carte.

eachdishis priced separately and the whole menu is at php 1,400.00 plus 10 per cent service charge. like and follow their social media pages at facebook /ilustradorestaurant and instagram @ilustradorestaurant as they celebrate thirty years with exciting giveaways, food promotions and discounts year round. the restaurant is located at 744 general luna street, intramuros, manila. call to inquire or reserve at 527-3674, 527-2345, 0939-9206822.

ambience was good! can be for a romantic date. however, they need to improve on their music. they were playing music as if it was a spa. it was a bit gloomy especially it was raining that night.

service was great!

food: (portions are small though!)

first off, their complimentary bread...!!! so very soft and yummy! kinda milky too. they serve it with duck liver pate (so delicious!!!! i ate around 5pcs before our meal) 👍 would definitely go back, even just for their bread 😍

the cheese & meat platter was good, just very very pricey.

1) paella - very flavorful! they also retained the crispiness of the paella (tutong?). my friends finished the whole thing. haha that's how they loved the tutong.

2) lengua - really good. gravy was spot on! 👌

3) kare-kare - really flavorful. you could taste the peanut in the sauce. just need to add their bagoong and it'll be perfect i tell you! veggies and the oxtail was good too!

4) angus beef in adobo sauce - it's a bit salty for me but the mashed potato at the bottom helps. thisdishis really good, especially with the roasted garlic at the side.

5) coconut curry chicken with couscous - really good! first glance of this in the menu, i was already very interested! i'm so impressed with this dish. everything about thisdishis perfect. tender chicken. savoury creamy curry. nutty moist & flavorful couscous. ugh. must go back for this!

6) mushroom risotto - on point! it might be a little salty for others but for me, it was so good! you know it was cooked slowly with the broth by its flavor and soft texture 😍

7) callos - not much of a fan of callos but my bff is and she really liked this dish!

8) (forgot the name of the dish) goat in tomato sauce - it was flavorful :)

9) blueberry cheesecake - super duper light!

10) frozen brazo - it was so big. this is good for 3-4 people hahaha! it was lemony. it was topped with powdered milk, which we were not a fan of. not the best frozen brazo cake we ever tried but it's definitely above average.

11) sampaguita ice cream - this one is nice. you'll really taste the sampaguita. the waiter told us that they had to boil the sampaguita and get its juice to mix with the ice cream. pretty well done.

12) leche flan - it was a good leche flan! very creamy and a bit dense. it was topped with some nuts - a play of texture? idk.

we had a family dinner here, the place was quite nice in the photos but i guess it was the function hall. the dining area was a good ambience overall however i was not that impressed with the interiors. i know it the theme of the restaurant is supposed to be like the spanish era of some sorts but it was too outdated for me. if you want someone to serenade you they also have a band.

now let's talk about the food.
they will give you bread, butter and liver spread before serving you dinner so you won't get hungry.

i liked the soup of the day which was patola and potato chowder. however the other appetizers and maindishwas just so-so for me.

adobong bagnet was nothing special, kare-kare is okay.
i liked the tokwa't baboy because it had the spiciness that i liked from the jalapeno. and their specialty which was the paella illustrado was okay, it had tomato sauce and i'm not sure if it was supposed to be that way but it didn't taste like a paella to me.

this restaurant is on the pricey side so i would expect food to be that good but i guess it wasn't for me.

disappointment and the lackluster of filipino cuisine is embodied in this . the angus beef twiced cook did not leave up to the expectation. the additiln pesto and sauce did not go together. it totally masked the flavor of the beef. the morcon plaridel was nothin special, you would find the lack of harmony with the food. i say this restaurant is a failure in bringing out the best dishes in the philippines. in the end this overhyped restaurant failed to bring out what filipinodishand thus making it stick in culinary limbo. the spanish cuisine of the restaurant is a direct insult to the spaniards that perfected their techniques over the years. in the end the spanish food ended more of a filipino food rather than the rustic spanish cuisine. i highly do not recommend this place.

transport yourself back in time in the historic walled city of intramuros and treat yourself to a degustation of flavors in ilustrado. they have a specially curated 8-course anniversary degustation menu by chef de patron bernice pimentel for the whole month of october to celebrate their 29th year.
everything we had was delicious. the courses are mostly big one-bite portions, except for the main course. tasting local ingredients being placed front and center was indeed a delight. diners have a choice to order the whole 8-course menu or choose only select dishes. eachdishis priced separately should you want just parts of it, but the whole menu at p1,250 was truly worth it.

8-course anniversary degustation menu

1250.00 + 10% sc

kangkong pesto brioche served with boursin cheese.

ensaymada with a twist, not too sweet, green with kangkong.

kesong puti croquettes at lato

deep fried breaded goats cheese with sea greapes with baby mesclun, salsa verde aioli

oyster laing rockefeller

aklan oyster with chili, coconut milk, & dried taro, topped with parmigiano reggiano and drizzled with lemon

sayote egg drop soup with quail eggs and crostini

burong mangga sorbet

very sour sorbet to cleanse the palate.

bbq pulled pork tostadas

slow-cooked pork, filipino-style bbq marinade, re-fried munggo, and papaya slaw on a fried tortilla.

sea bass sinantol

chilean seabass fillet with arugula, on top of sinantol rice.

egg pie brûlée

egg tart with rose crème chantilly, strawberry, green grapes, mango and edible flowers.

my favorite would have to be the oyster laing and the sea bass sinantol. maaaan, what a gastronomic combination. the taste was definitely modern filipino. you won't look at oysters, laing, and sinantol the same way.

there are things that never gets old. for ilustrado, it’s the reputation for serving succulent spanish-filipino cuisine in a genuine fashion that’ll make you reminisce of the early decades.

founded by rose and boni pimentel in 1989, ilustrado is a charm tucked away from the pillar walls of intramuros - which has been one of manila’s historical landmarks. the restaurant has witnessed history, and made history! but what truly remains for ilustrado is to offer world-class dishes that would represent manila and its rich culture.

to coincide with the restaraunt’s 29th anniversary, ilustrado introduced an 8-course degustation menu that’ll only be available for the whole month of october. it is created by chef de patron bernice pimentel, one of the owners and daughters of the founders, in which they’d showcase local cuisine and incorporating more local ingredients to bring forth their culinary heritage to the present in everydishthey serve.

the 8-course degustation menu includes an impressive selection of dishes that everyone will surely love.

kangkong pesto brioche with boursin cheese is a light and perfect starter! i like how they incorporated the kangkong pesto in the bun resulting to a soft brioche bun, and perfectly gets along well with the boursin cheese.

kesong puti croquettes at lato (php 175) is their own version of the famous croquettes and it’s really flavorful! i also find it unique to have lato on the side as well as a serving of baby mesclun, and salsa verde aioli.

oyster laing rockefeller (php 195) is a heart-poundingdishthat reminds me how much i love laing not just as a rice topping. it has an aklan oyster topped with a serving of delicious laing, chili, coconut milk, reggiano, and drizzled with lemon juice. i would suggest squeezing the lemon a lot more and a few pinches of salt for the perfect experience!

next is the sayote egg drop soup (php 125) which is light but also creamy. it has a quail egg in it and it’s served with crostini.

you might be wondering if it’s already time for dessert if they serve you the burong mangga sorbet. i actually had some mixed feelings when they said it’s burong mangga. i, myself, isn’t a fan of that as i always find “buro” smells disgusting. but i was surprised that i kinda like it. it’s sour and sharp to the palate as they dubbed it as a “palate cleanser” - which is intended to somehow neutralize your tastebuds from the overwhelming savory taste of the starters.

the bbq pulled pork tostadas (php 215) is a slow-cooked pork drenched in filpino-style bbq sauce, mixed with mung bean, and papaya slaw on top of a fried tortilla. this one’s just perfect and the pulled pork has that sweet flavor into it!

sea bass sinantol (php 350) is definitely the highlight for everyone! it’s a chilean sea bass fish that’s served with arugula on top of sinantol fried rice. the fish tastes meaty and hearty - with a little skin layer that’s crispy and fatty. it is low in calories, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and is a good source of protein. the sinantol fried rice sure is a treat for many - rarely we use santol for rice, but it is surprisingly good! sure we have bagoong fried rice and tinapa rice, but santol fried rice is the game-changer, my friends!

lastly, the egg pie brûlée (php 175) isn’t just a sweet treat for your tastebuds but also for the eyes! a medley of colours accompanied the creamy egg tart which consists edible flowers alongside with strawberry, green grapes, mango, and rose crème chantily. it’s a picture-perfect dessert and almost too cute to eat!

diners can avail the whole 8-course menu priced at php1,250 plus a 10% of service charge. but if you wish to just sample a few of the dishes, you can do so by ordering it separately!

so on your next visit to intramuros, be sure to check ilustrado to complete your quest to the decades-old manila.

if you wish to know more of their offerings, you may check their website: www.ilustradorestaurant.com.ph, or send them an email at catering@ilustradorestaurant.com.ph.

right at the heart of the cobbled streets, flickering lamps and the adobe fortified corners of the walled castle city that is intramuros, is a culinary gem that has been producing intricately crafted and inventive gustatory creations for 29 years now. illustrado, is like a mirage of gastronomic desire that appears and disappears much like the sea tide (they are just open during lunch and dinner windows), opening window glints of opportunity to the ever avid and observant diner.

this year as they celebrate their 29th anniversary they are doing the 3rd iteration of their 8 – course gustation menu (available thiswhich celebrates culinary heritage while incorporating folk flavor through the inspiration of the popular folk song “bahay kubo”.

the 8 course de-gustation menu is an extravaganza of local produce inspired by the folk song bahay kubo, with the featured vegetables in the song creatively finding its way in the 8 dishes featured in the menu which are namely:

1.) kang kong pesto brioche served with boursin cheese – brioche baked with kang kong pesto served with their very own boursin cheese

2.) kesong puti croquettes at lato – kesong puti croquette’s topped with lato or sea grapes

3.) oyster laing rockefeller – aklan oysters topped with the classic bicolano staple laing

4.) sayote egg drop soup - sayote soup with a quail egg drop and crostini

5.) burong mangga sorbet – sorbet made from pickled mangoes

6.) bbq pulled pork tostadas – slow cooked pork in filipino style bbq marinade mixed with refried monggo beans and papaya slaw laid on top fried tortilla

7.) seabass sinantol – seared chilean sea bass paired with sinantol fried rice and arugula

8.) egg pie brulee – bruleed egg tart with rose crème chantily sided with strawberry, green grapes, mango and edible flowers

despite the whole set being superbly executed, there are certainly some dishes that stood out more than the others. for me the ones that made a pretty memorable impression would be:

oyster laing rockefeller – if by any twisted chance john d rockefeller’s anti-trust case ended with him getting the chair, this is perhaps one of the last meals he would consider ordering. it combines the light, salty metallic texture and flavor of the oyster topped with the rich creamy and unapologetic indulgence of laing. it is a combination i am surprised we just thought about now.

bbq pulled pork tostadas – the shredded pork is a flavorful and delightful play on the classic mexicandishwhich was given a dash of local ingenuity with the use of pinoy bbq marinade and the substitution of fried mongo in place of kidney beans. the use of the mungo beans worked surprisingly well retaining the grainy and rich flavour of the legume.

seabass sinantol – fresh chilean seabass is hard to come by in manila, the places where you can source this produce is few to none hence getting perfectly seared seabass, tender, moist and flaky without the fishy after taste is among the many other things we should thankful that were alive for. the skin is just but a blanket of rich, indulgent yet harmless fat that is best enjoyed and complimented with the soursweet sinantol rice.

the experience will never be complete though if not enjoyed within the confines of 19th century time capsule of the ilustrado restaurant. the ambiance and the cuisine truly exemplifies the bridging of culinary epochs.

when viisiting the walled city of intramuros, the feelings of nostalgia comes alive and i remember as a kid loitering around manila high school where my mom teaches biology class and oh, it was such a long long time ago since my last visit after i started working professionally. nostalgia rose to ecstatic when we came back a week ago to try one of the famous restaurants in manila, ilustrado. it was established 3 decades ago, well 29 years to be exact and their hispanic inspired space consists of spanish courtyard, a casual cafe decked with art and art posters and a neo-classic main dining room that has several international heads of state. who would have known a precious gem is located within this historical place?

to mark its 29th year anniversary, ilustrado restaurant in intramuros, manila is offering an 8-course degustation menu for the whole month of october and it was created by chef de patron bernice pimentel. the degustation menu utilizes local cuisine and ingredients in an up-to-date fashion. as per chef bernice, “this year, 2019 marks the third year that we have been doing an anniversary degustation and this year, i am not only bringing forth our culinary heritage to the present but also incorporating much more local ingredients."

the food tasting starts with kangkong pesto brioche served with boursin cheese. surprisingly, i have never thought kangkong can be infused in making a brioche but i also thought if they can make a bread out of malunggay, why not? the texture of the boursin cheese is soft and creamy and when you spread it to the freshly made brioche is delightful.

kesong puti croquettes at lato (with baby mesclun and salsa verde aioli) was the second dish. i love the small crunch and creamy texture when you bite the croquette then mix it with the salad on salsa verde, the entiredishis refreshing.

next is a uniquedishof oyster laing rockefeller with aklan oysters, chili and coconut milk, topped with parmigiano reggiano and drizzled with lemon juice. it is like laing in a whole new level. i enjoyed this gorgeousdishso much even though i am not a fan of oysters but i don't know, i am a fan of coconut based dishes.

to warm the stomach is sayote egg drop soup with quail eggs and crostini. i am pretty sure i'd be making thisdishfor myself coz my mom always tells me how rich and healthy veggie this is. a nice hearty soup made of sayote is the bomb!

before going to the mains, we tried burong mangga sorbet to cleanse the palate. there is this kilig factor after scooping in that sorbet. they made it cold and sour so a bit numbness to balance to tangy taste.

for our mains, we had the bbq pulled pork tostadas that gives a hearty bite with slow-cooked pork, filipino-style bbq marinade, re-fried munggo (mung bean) and papaya slaw piled high on fried tortilla. oh man this is good. soft and flavorful meat and the papaya slaw on top gave a nice balance. though i was thinking of bread, the tortilla is perfectly fine and it added crunch overall.

another main, and now with rice, the seabass sinantol. it is a chilean seabass fillet and arugula on top of sinantol rice, a unique twist that imparts a ‘santol’ flavor to the grains. the subtle taste and crisp layer of the seabass is a great complement for the sinantol rice. to be honest, this is the star of the course for me. i could actually eat the sinantol rice alone because it is already flavorful on its own nevertheless, the whole plate is one delectable dish.

last but definitely not the least, the sweet ending. it is a beautifully plated egg pie brûlée with rose crème chantily, strawberry, green grapes, mango and edible flowers. it was colorful and refreshing.

so there you go! overall, the entire course was amazing and how chef bernice uniquely created these dishes were top notch. i would definitely recommend this especially if you are looking for unique and modernized filipino cuisine. the place is romantic and couples should visit as well. kudos to a superb dining experience.

diners have a choice to order the whole 8-course menu or choose only select dishes. eachdishis priced separately and the whole menu is at p1,250 plus 10 per cent service charge.

intramuros holds a special place in my heart as it kind of represents my love for history, rizal, and also my 4 years in up manila. it has been a staple tambayan for when i meet with my cousins or high school friends. now, i relish every visit because it not only brings back memories of old college years but also because i can say a lot has changed. before i use to just visit the mcdonalds right by muralla, or the streetfood stands near mapua and lyceum. now, on adult foodie mode, i am treated to more sophisticated restaurants inside the walled city.

one of these places is the ilustrado restaurant & cafe along general luna road. you are welcomed by its old-world charm, like you have been transported to a not so distant era of our heroes and ancestors. the term "ilustrado" itself means "enlightened or learned", and most commonly refers to the middle class who were educated and exposed under spanish tutelage.
the restaurant looks like an old heritage house, fashioned into a restaurant, cafe and events place for a more modern use. very classy, elegant but has that welcoming comforting feel to it.

to mark its 29th year anniversary, ilustrado restaurant in intramuros, manila is offering an 8-course degustation menu for the whole month of october.

created by chef de patron bernice pimentel, the degustation menu utilizes local cuisine abd ingredients in an up-to-date fashion. this year, 2019, marks the 3rd year that they have been doing an anniversary degustation. this year, chef bernice not only brings forth the filipino culinary heritage to the present but also incorporates much more local ingredients.

her focus on local ingredients such as locally produced vegetables, and the use of microgreens, stem from the age old bahay kubo we often teach kids to sing. she mentions that her nephew's bahay kubo rendition kind of follow her everywhere, thus the vegetables making their way into the degustation menu.

the degustation menu consists of 4 appetizers, a palate cleanser, 2 mains and a lovely desert ensemble.

appetizers:
kangkong pesto brioche served with boursin cheese

at first glance, it looks like regular bread laced with malunggay. however, it was a surprise to be kangkong pesto. the brioche bread looks rich due to the generous amounts of butter used, and when you spread the crumbly soft boursin cheese, you are in cheese heaven! the boursin cheese gave a slight salty kick to the rich brioche buns.

kesong puti croquettes at lato (p175+)
- kesong puti croquettes, lato or sea grapes, baby mesclun, salsa verde aioli

this kesong puti croquettes came in a pretty plate strewn with sea grapes, baby mesclun, and dressed in salsa verde aioli. the lato burst with freshness as you bite into it which works wonders with the salsa verde aoili and the crispy texture of the golden croquettes.

oyster laing rockefeller (p195+)
- aklan oyster, chili, coconut, dried taro, reggiano, panko, lemon

anotherdishthat's too pretty to eat. a lone aklan oyster sits with a dollop of laing on top, with sprinkles of reggiano and panko. the lemon not only acts as garnish but provides a bright flavor to the oyster. it is not spicy, so i really appreciated chef bernice's take on her laing.

sayote egg drop soup (p125+)
- sayote or chayote, quail egg, crostini

made more special with the addition of the quail egg, not in the usual harboiled form, but in the utmost raw form. they say the best way to consume the quail egg is raw. this egg drop soups lets you swirl the egg in the hot sayote soup, and you watch it make small wispy beaten threads, making this soup richer and creamier.

burong mangga sorbet

for the palate cleanser, we were served a bright-tasting scoop of burong mangga sorbet with a sprig of red amaranth. the tart mangoes really does provide a refreshing afterfeel, making you ready for the mains.

mains
bbq pulled pork tostadas (p215+)
- slow-cooked pork, filipino-style bbq marinade, refried monggo or mung beans, papaya slaw, fried tortilla

i recently enjoy eating tacos because i love the different textures i get in one slow hearty bite. this gives you a mexican feel, with the fried tortillla and the pulled pork, making use of filipino-style bbq marinade, of course. the papaya gives a refreshing kick, while the refried monggo gives added heft, and a nod to local cuisine. who knew monggo can be elevated to taco status?

sea bass sinantol (p350+)
- chilean sea bass fillet, sinantol rice, arugula

the highlight of my lunch time was when i sank my teeth into the chilean sea bass fillet's crispy skin laced with just the right amount of fat. it felt sinful but decadent all at the same time. the sinantol rice is a great foil to the rich sea bass.

dessert
egg pie brulee (p175+)
- bruleed egg tart, rose creme chantilly, strawberry, green grapes, mango, edible flowers

to finish off the meal is a garden of a plate. a fruit-laden cacophony of flavors that acconpany the delectable egg pie brulee. the crust was the right texture and the pie custard was just the right bite. a slight torch to give the sugar a melted lovely sheen. not too sweet, but very rich!

diners have a choice to order the whole 8-course menu or choose only select dishes. eachdishis priced separately and the whole menu is at p1250 (plus the usual 10% service charge).

chef bernice herself kind of is an ilustrado, what with her passion to seek a sort of reform to the somewhat mundane dishes she often sees in her travels. she wants todays generation to have a unique filipino culinary experience, in a style that's close to the millennial way of living, with food that utilizes local homegrown ingredients, age-old recipes made better with modern food styling, tastes, and textures. you'll soon realize, that after this degustation, as you exit ilustrado's main tunnel, you come out enlightened and awakened to a new plethora of flavor combinations that chef bernice pimentel has introduced.

the place is spacious. the second floor can become a venue for special events like wedding, indoor ballroom, debut meetings, etc. they also offer packages for wedding ceremonies, baptismal reception, socials, corporate events, etc. the place looked very traditional but it was elegant and classy. it maintained a cozy and romantic ambiance.

service is excellent. the servers were easy to get the attention. they always fill our glasses with drinks. the servers are well-dressed and they treat you like a vip.

ilustrado restaurant offers an 8-course degustation menu for this month of october to celebrate their 29th year anniversary. it was created by chef de patron bernice pimentel. she explained that she's not only bringing forth our culinary heritage to the present but also incorporating much local ingredients.

we were served the following dishes from the ilustrado anniversary degustation menu this october (in order):

kangkong pesto brioche served with boursin cheese - the brioche was so soft, it literally melts in your mouth. the pesto gave it a nice flavor. the boursin cheese was a perfect complement for the brioche. it was creamy similar to cream cheese with a little garlicky taste. it was a good starter!

kesong puti croquettes at lato (p175.00+) - it was very light. the greens were fresh and crispy.

oyster laing rockfeller (p195.00+) - the taste of laing is dominant to the oyster. the oyster was big. feel free to squeeze the lemon to add more flavor (but even without the lemon, it's still good!).

sayote egg drop soup (p125.00+) - good to warm your stomach. the taste is mild.

burong mangga sorbet - the palate cleanser. it was smooth and the taste is sour.

bbq pulled pork tostadas (215.00+) - i thought it's just a quick bite i was overwhelmed to see that it was filled with huge serving of slow-cooked pork with the filipino- style bbq marinade. the tortilla was crispy as expected. feel free to use your bare hands as you eat it.

sea bass sinantol (p350.00+) - the sinantol rice has a unique twist , giving a santol taste to the grains. the sea bass is tasty. i don't usually eat fish but this one is different!

egg pie brulee (p175.00+) - our dessert. it's a sweet egg tart with a roasted whip cream giving a distinct taste served with fresh strawberries, green grapes, mango, edible flowers.

this set menu is priced p1,250.00 + service charge but diners have the option to select and order the dishes they only want (will be priced separately).

i'll also add. ilustrado restaurant is one of the participating restaurants in the restaurants against hunger campaign by action against hunger.

from october 1 to december 1, participating restaurants offer dishes from their menu which are tagged as 'dishes that feed more'. every time a customer orders the chosen soliditary dishes, a portion is donated to the restaurants against hunger campaign. the chosendishfor ilustrado restaurant is paella ilustrado.

overall experience is excellent and it is highly recommended to dine here. thank you.

its good to be back in intramuros. so much have change since my last visit. i was able to drop by early here in intramuros to have a 8 course degustation lunch in ilustrado. thanks ej b. for extending the invite to us.

so ilustrado is now celebrating its 29th anniversary. wow i always remember this place since i have attended a few wedding reception here. this wedding stick to my mind because of how classy and filipino the reception is. for this year anniversary they are having 8 course degustation menu for php1,250+. this menu that chef bernice crafted is her take on a very millennial way of attacking filipino dishes. i like this idea because when you think of ilustrado its not the place you would think the millennial generation to have a meal. first thing that come to your mind when its ilustrado is your dad or mom kind of place. but with this its ilustrado way of saying to the people we are swak for any generation.

so here are the 8dishincluded in the menu:
🔅kangkong pesto brioche served with boursin cheese - at 1st look i thought it was malunggay pandesal hehe. but after having one of this brioche i was completely wow with it and can't stop munching more of it. the brioche was perfect rich and i love the pesto flavor of it. the boursin cheese is an added bonus that gave it more flavor.

🔅kesong puti croquttes at lato (175php)- this is one of thedishthat look super classy but when you see the ingredient it's very filipino. love the kesong puti turned into a croquettes ball goes perfectly with the lato.

🔅oyster laing rockefeller (195php)- one of my fave in the menu. never imagined that my fave bicol laing will go so well with oyster. its so good. a little squeeze of lemon to make it perfect!

🔅sayote egg drop soup (125php)- look so plain but at the bottom of the soup is the quail egg drop. your typical creamy sayote soup with the kick of the quail egg.

🔅burong mangga sorbet - this one is the palate cleanser to prepare us for the main dishes. refreshingly sour. it like having a spoon of green mango shake.

🔅bbq pulled pork tostadas (215php)- thisdishfelt like influenced by mexican. fried tortilla topped by bbq marinade pulled pork with a layer of monggo and topped again with papaya slaw. this is perfectly eaten with a bite of everything at once. love the crunchy texture with the different contrasting flavor of the ingredient. so simple yet so good!

🔅sea bass sinantol (350php)- another bicoldishincorporated in their menu. this time the sinantol. another fave bicoldishof mine. the sea bass was perfectly cooked and i love that the one served to me was the one with bit of fat. love it! the sinantol gave it a bit of sour flavor which is again amazingly goes well with the sea bass flavor. already craving for more of this.

🔅egg pie brulee (175php)- never thought of doing that. giving your classic egg pie a sweet caramelized sugar on top. great way to end the meal.

**price indicated are if you order thedishinstead of the course meal

overall for 1250+ this is a great deal. you have a great place, service and awesome gastronomic journey.

available for the whole month of october.

this is not my first time to try ilustrado restaurant located at intramuros, manila. i’ve been to ilustrado when we had a business lunch with my colleagues way back 6 months ago. i was fascinated with the beautiful set-up of the place it really jives with intramuros. it has 3 division. they have a casual dining when you want to dine alone. at the other side, it’s a fine dining, that really looks romantic, good for dating. and the last part, the garden and 2nd level of the restaurant where you can celebrate your special occasions and events.

we were seated at the fine dining part of ilustrado restaurant, as the management launched christmas tienda 2017 and let us try the following amazing dishes:

appetizer
🎄bread basket with ilustrado dips - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄baked eggplant with filo pastry - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

“both appetizers were really good the bread basket blends well with the cheese pimiento, liver pate and cream cheese dip of ilustrado. the eggplant was so lite and flavorful, it’s a good start.”

main entree
🎄paella ilustrado - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄stuffed chicken relleno - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄callos madrilena - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄twice cooked angus beef shortplate - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄pasta espanyola - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

“all the mains were really flavorful and tasty. my favorites were adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka pairing with plain rice enhances the flavor of thedishand paella ilustrado, what can i say? everythings on it - seafood, chicken, vegetables and rice. yum!”😋

desserts
🎄matcha chocolate chip cookies - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
🎄banana walnut chocolate chip cookies - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🎄double chocolate chip coconut cookies - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄baked cheesecake - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
🎄chocolate fudge cake - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

“i really love the baked cheesecake, the best cheesecake so far...

if there’s something to improve, maybe they could add more matcha flavor in their matcha chocolate chip cookies.”

overall, our lunch was filled with fun and generosity. the staff provided excellent service too. good job! definitely, i will be back again.

thank you ilustrado for having us.

#ilovetoeatph 😃❤️

too lazy or no time to prepare for christmas eve dinner? time to go to ilustrado restaurant and have a look at their christmas tienda!

this event was sponsored by ilustrado restaurant. this christmas season, they are offering their christmas tienda, a roster of food items that’s apt for the season. available for dine, this can also be for order, just simply fill out the order form (available at all their branches)— try my recommendations, actually, there was not a dulldishilustrado has offered us that day.

ilustrado house specialty (good for 8)
📌 adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka @1500php
bagnet in talangka sauce? really sinful. super savory you will have to have more rice!

📌 callos madrilena @1380php
super thick sauce. since i have started eating callos (thanks to cafe enye), i think this one is more tastier, but dont get me wrong, i still like ce’s.

📌😍 twice cooked angus beef shortplate @2220php
yummy. this can be enjoyed with or without rice. since it’s twice cooked, it’s super tender as well.

📌😍 paella ilustrado @1295php
the best paella that i have tasted by far! you can really taste the shrimp in the paella, this is a complete meal already. i love how the rice is not so mushy.

📌pasta espanyola @1210php
spicy sardines with pesto and tomato. it was okay i think.

📌😍 chicken relleno ala ilustrado @1650php
also, one of my top three! this boneless chicken is stuff with savory relleno that also goes well with the savory gravy! there’s also bananas to go with it.

cakes
📌😍 baked cheesecake @1250php
best baked cheesecake! i cant believe it was even baked because it was super moist! it looks plain but wait till you try it.

📌 chocolate fudge cake @1250php
this one looks really good. it’s super moist as well, i just think it’s too plain. i suggest thay add some dark chocolate something.

brownies (box of 15)
📌😍 peanut butter brownies @145php
📌 smores brownies @145php
📌 salted caramel pretzel brownies @145php

chocolate chip cookies
📌😍 banana walnut @65php
📌 double chocolate coconut @80php
📌 matcha walnut @80php
📌😍 red velvet white chocolate crinkles @80php

homemade dips
📌😍 boursin cheese 4oz @165php
this is your cream cheese with some garlic or chive taste.
📌 cheese pimiento spread 4oz @175php
📌 spicy cheeseball 4oz @220php
📌😍 chimichurri 8oz @190php
good for plain pork and chicken dishes! it gives thedishsome sour kick.

there will be three (3) days lead time for all tienda orders. a minimum of 5000php per day per destination is required plus a 50% deposit based on total price. ilustrado accepts credit card transactions except in the atc branch.