The Restaurants That Stood Out This 2019, According to Angelo Comsti
Angelo Comsti is a man with many pursuits. He walked away from a potential future in advertising to follow a more delicious path as a chef, studying in Le Cordon Bleu Australia, and opening his own restaurant. He became a food editor, a culinary consultant, an inadvertent food ambassador of Filipino cuisine. In 2018, he spearheaded the first ever (and now annual) Asian Culinary Exchange, a two-day congress where chefs and restaurauteurs from all over the world descend to Manila. He has authored five cookbooks, his last one Also Filipino being an anthroculinary tome of 75 recipes celebrating the diversity of Filipino cuisine.
Currently, the chef and prolific eater is one of the most respected people in the industry. And he sat down with Esquire to reveal his top restaurants for 2019.
1| Metronome
Not many French restaurants in Manila are able to do what Metronome does, which is serve modern French food that is consistently good, refined yet relatable and worth going back to.
Grand Midori, Bolanos Street, Legazpi Village, Makati
2| Hapag
Hapag is Quezon City's hidden treasure and the food is both inspired and inspiring. The three chefs have done a great job in presenting a leveled-up version of Filipino cuisine without being superficial and trying too hard.
201 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City
3| a mano
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"I’m a purist when it comes to my food. I prefer my cheeseburgers plain sans onion rings and bacon; my steak just salt, void of flavored butters and sauces. A mano does the same when it comes to Italian food. Many of its dishes stay true to tradition and use quality ingredients from italy. No cream in carbonara—exactly the way I like it."
G/F Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati
4| Made Nice
It's easy to get lost in the crowded options in Rockwell but when Made Nice released a more familiar repertoire that's better than their commercial counterparts, it broke free from being under-the-radar and rose to the top of the list.
Joya Lofts & Towers, Amorsolo Drive, Rockwell Drive, Makati
5| Test Kitchen
Two reasons: one, this new Test Kitchen is more accessible and has more parking spaces. two, the dishes remain to be balanced in flavor and texture and equally good as before. If not, better.
One Rockwell East Tower, Rockwell Drive, Makati
6| Linamnam
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There's so much promise behind this humble private dining place because the 21-year old chef behind it is doing everything right, from working closely with farmers and market vendors to exposing guests to unfamiliar local ingredients and reimagining Pinoy cuisine with his unique and playful palate.
0917-573-0246
7| Elephant Grounds
"Elephant Grounds is the only place right now where I can enjoy the food of Nicco Santos. What's even better is that I can have it morning, noon, and night."
One Bonifacio High Street Mall, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
8| Samyan
It's hard to make simple food taste good but Samyan does it with hardly any effort it seems. They don't even need to bank on the fact that a Michelin-starred chef is behind the brand. Its Thai street food is just plain delicious and that's more than enough for it to be noticed and credited.
The Grid, Power Plant Mall, Makati
9| Beso Beso
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From Poblacion, Beso Beso moved to a more nondescript location along Pasong Tamo Extension, just behind a dialysis center. Like the restaurant's design, the food is picture-perfect. But don't let that stop you from smashing the delicate elements of every dish. It's integral to get every bit of that thought-out dish to truly understand the balance in every bite.
2F Autometics Center, 2257 Don Chino Roces Ave Extension, Makati
