the magnificent view instantly beckons you as you step out of the rooftop elevator and enter scape skydeck, a relatively new restaurant/bar in mactan with a nod towards fine-dining. a high-rise sanctuary shielded from the urban frenzy below.
the entire roof terrace - bedecked with wooden flooring, rattan-style sleeper sofas & chairs - exudes a mellow, relaxing atmosphere. by day, sun-worshippers can soak up the sun here. at night, it's the ideal spot for stargazing and moon swooning, weather permitting.
while the atmosphere is top-notch, the food is actually the real star here. dined here last month one drizzly evening with family & friends. once we settled down to eat, the ambiance quietly took a backseat as the character of the food stood out to gradually reveal its strengths. dish after dish, we soon realized that we were enjoying one of the best-tasting, finely-cooked meals we've had in a while.
a quick glance at what we ordered:
• smoked babybackribs (php 575) - full-flavored, succulent pork ribs with homemade barbecue sauce served with fries.
• pork escalope (php 350) - delightful, thin-sliced fried meat with straw mushroom, marble potato, hungarian sausage, bell pepper & cherry tomato on the side.
• buffalo wild wings (php 385) - savory, golden-glazed, butter-seasoned chicken wings.
• caesar salad (php 375) - an exquisite medley of leafy greens, grilled chicken with mustard miso, baguette wafer, shaved parmesan, bacon strip, poached egg & caesar dressing.
• zingara (php 350) - al dente fettuccine tossed with grilled chicken chunks and bathed in creamy tomato sauce - my fave pasta dish that night!
• truffle carbonara (php 345) - served with crunchy garlic pizza bread, this luscious spaghetti dish brings out the aroma of scented black truffles in harmony with grated cheese & smoked ham bits.
dining here carries quite a hefty price tag, but it's absolutely worth it. plus, the portions are heavy and generous, enough for 2 or 3 people to share. the staff was accommodating, patiently helped us navigate their menu and offered useful tips. they do have an air-conditioned area for those who opt to dine indoors but nothing beats the al fresco dining experience here.
we topped the evening off with shots of jose cuervo tequila and a tall glass of long island iced tea - the latter may appear harmless but this classic cocktail's got 5 different liquors added to the mix, so it's quite strong - totally loved it!
glorious food, stunning views and cozy atmosphere - these were the attributes of scape that left a lasting imprint on us as we boarded the elevator once more on our way down. can't wait to comebackto relive the experience once again.