la cabrera

went here to celebrate the bf's birthday with his fam and we had a great time. i don't usually eat steak but after trying la cabrera's, i'm a changed woman. their steak came with unlimited sides - all you can eat! his brother ordered for us: provoleta, linguine in tomato-basil & olive oil, and rib-eye steak, i think. of course, the highlight was the free lollies!! also, la cabrera is part of zomato's epic dining curations by visa so extra props for the diacount!

our experience at la cabrera was just full of surprises. it was by accident amidst the pouring rain that we stumbled into the artfully decorated restaurant. this place is elaborately and lovingly detailed, with it's decor simultaneously quirky and elegant. the menu prices were a little daunting at first, i'll admit, but the dishes were worth it. the poached egg salad cost us around 550 but it was easily shared between me and my 3 other companions. the rigatoni was around 340 and it was also good for sharing. we also ordered the argentinian prime steak (i cannot recall which one we ordered, but it cost more than 1000). the steak was cooked to our preference, seasoned well and served wonderfully. our kind waiter and waitress surprised us with an excessive array of side dishes that just kept on coming. i'd wager there were around 15 side dishes (they were all yummy). it was overwhelming, exciting and duly surprising. our salad and pasta tasted great as well. both were seasoned and prepared well. for dessert we ordered an argentinian dish that was a mix of meringue, pastry and dulce de leche. needless to say it was very good and very unique.
in conclusion, la cabrera was quite the experience and i definitely recommend that people check it out. thanks for the great experience.

the world would be a better place if argentina corned beef tasted this good.

for the steak, there is ojo de bife (prime rib eye), asado del centro (prime short ribs), and bife de chorizo (prime striploin). each provides enough for 2-3 people, and arrives on tables with a charred exterior. now going back to their steak, we got to try chorizo de bife and with the smokiness lending itself well to the juicyness and fat running throughout the cut. the meat was also grilled well and absolutely delicious.

and just for everyone to know, their side dishes are not poor. they have two available types which makes it grear: cold sidedishes and hot sidedishes.

better check it out before complaining that it is cold. you might ordered something that is part of the cold dish and expecting that it will be served as hot. pay attention to your server as they normally explain whatever they serve.

hello again peeps, we dined in la cabrera finally and as to my expectations the food and service was very good! my favorite is the empanada!!:-) the intetiors reminds me of a restaurant in new york! good job and congratulations i will definitely go back..

sangria and steak with an overwhelming selection of side dishes which you can have as many servings of as you please. steaks are seasoned just right and cooked perfectly, they also have a few european beers on the list.
i highly suggest this place for the amazing food, great bar list, and good service. i actually think it's fancy dining with a laidback feel.

my dinner stay here was pleasant, and the steaks and side dishes that come along are to die for. but word of caution, it is not the kind of restaurant you'd dine at regularly for the price is hefty. come here if you're at a celebratory mood. you won't regret what they have to offer here.

la cabrera is an argentinian steakhouse and the manila branch of parrilla la cabrera by chef de cuisine gaston riveira. this local iteration is through the efforts of carlo lorenzana of shi lin fame, and carlo lorenzana of cellar de boca argentinian wine kitchen in davao (yes, they have the same name. :d).

argentinian steak is considered the best in the world. in la cabrera manila, however, they use usda steak. it still gets good reviews when it's the argentinian chef who prepares the steak.

we tried la cabrera with our mercato centrale partners recently. here's our experience...

la cabrera is located in the former location of lolo dad's brasserie, in the opposite corner of 6750, where the first starbucks in manila is located near shangri-la makati (this location is notorious for its bad feng shui).

you'll love the old, rustic steakhouse ambiance, with large glass windows to bring in the good chi.

there's also an elevated dining section at the back if you want a more private area, and if you want to see how your steak is cooked in their custom-made grill.

they only serve steaks and different kinds of meat. there's no fish or vegetarian option, aside from the side dishes and salads.

the complimentary bread was just ok. best to save your appetite for the different cold and hot side dishes.

jamon crudo con parmesano, albahaca, tomates secos y rucula (p950 +10% service charge). parma ham with shaved parmesan cheese, basil, sundried tomatoes, and arugula.

the serving sizes are good to share. this salad comes with generous portions of parma ham.

chorizo criollo (p780 +10% service charge). creole-spiced lean pork sausage.

the sausage was a bit tough and i couldn't really taste the flavors in this dish. you can skip this.

provoleta (p890 +10% service charge). provolone cheese grilled to a crisp outside and gooey inside (for four). 
this is the best appetizer! grilled, chewy cheese paired with bread and some salsa. recommended!

an argentinian meal isn't complete without a glass of malbec.

lagarde malbec 2012 (p1,900/bottle +10% service charge).

order a bottle, which pairs nicely with and cuts through the flavor of the steak.

an array of eat-all-you-can cold side dishes that puts the banchan served in any korean restaurant to shame is served.

my favorites are the shiitake mushroom with balsamic or chimichurri, the cherry tomatoes with alfalfa sprouts, and the tomato & green olive puree.

also try the sundried tomato with capers and the black olive puree.

bire de chorizo 500g (p1,880 +10% service charge). usda prime striploin steak. 
the striploin steak is juicy and tender with a yummy grilled flavor (no other seasoning needed). good value for your money :)

you have to insist on cooking it medium to get the best tenderness and flavor. you can return it if it's overcooked which happens when the argentinian chef is not in the restaurant.

the hot sides dishes are served with the steak. i love the humita, which is a puree of corn with pimiento and cheese. they serve honey mustard on the side, too. :)

a second set of hot side dishes is served, which include apple sauce, caramelized garlic, squash with raisin, and bbq corn. the caramelized garlic is the best! :)

asado del centro 500g (p1,580 +10% service charge). usda prime short ribs.

the prime short rib was disappointing--they served it well-done--and even when they replaced it, it was still very chewy and tough.

panqueque de dulce de leche (p200 +10% service charge). 
this dessert was awesome! it has a sansrival-like texture, with sweet condensed milk, and topped with meringue.

highly recommended for ending your meal on a sweet, delicious note. :)

one more thing....you get to take home a chupa chups lollipop. :)

check out the testimonial from pnoy with the yellow ribbon. :)

it's great to eat here because la cabrera attracts the beautiful crowd of manila. :)

i recommend the la cabrera experience if you know what to order. the must-tries are the provoleta, the bife de chorizo striploin steak, and the panqueque de dulce de leche.

i love the rustic ambiance and the unlimited serving of cold and hot side dishes. remember to insist on a medium-cooked steak and to order a glass of malbec to complete your argentinian steak experience.

budget about p2,000/head for a complete 3-course meal with wine.

the only downside of this place is if the argentinian chef is not around, you often get inconsistent flavors and mixed feedback.

congrats to the two carlo lorenzanas for a winning argentinian steakhouse concept! :)

let me know what your take on la cabrera is and your other recommendations in the comments section.

for starters, the provoleta was mouthwatering although it cools fast and you'll have to request to have it reheated. the bife chorizo was delicious, if you're a steak lover this will definitely be your best bet. love their sides, you can choose from an array, hot or cold and they're unlimited.

moab decided to go all out. for starters, the chorizo is damn good. their 500gm steaks are good for two. the sides are a must try. overall, a winner.

everything at this resto, owned by argentinian chef gaston riveira, was perfecto - ambience, service, food (from complimentary bread & spreads to free lollipops in a wooden rack). their grilled provolone cheese and argentine dulce de leche were both ethereal! will definitely try their bife de chorizo (comes w/ several hot & cold side dishes, unlimited refill) and panqueque next visit!

good value. steaks come with unlimited sides to choose from. the sides were either sweet or tart, caught a bit off guard but overall an experience steak eaters should try.

exceptional food at good value! la cabrera delivers mean provoleta and ojo de bife. place is great for large groups and gatherings ???????????? review is now up!