One of Manila’s most acclaimed fine dining restaurants, Mario’s has earned an impeccable reputation for great food and professional service. The dining room to the right is bright and intimate with plush banquettes, comfortable chairs, contemporary accents and a touch of class, which is what this place is all about.
Everything is made in-house including the dressing for their Caesar Salad made fresh and tableside. I’ve been visiting Mario’s more frequently lately as I’ve been holding business lunch meetings here every now and then since my office has moved to the ABS-CBN grounds mid this year. Service is always friendly and efficient at Mario’s by their long-standing waitstaff who has been with them for decades.
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Mario’s Celebrates its 40th Year
Classic Twist of Taste at Mario’s
Mario’s offers fine food in comfortable surroundings where I’m sure to have a great meal and always a good time. Last Wednesday night, during the APEC holiday, I visited Mario’s for an agenda outside the usual. From 10th of November until the 4th of December 2015, Michael Velasco’s art will be displayed at the restaurant for their clientele’s appreciation and prospective acquisition.
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Painter, muralist, and portraitist Michael Velasco has long held a strong fascination for the female form. His works – mostly featuring women as embodiments of grace, elegance, and humanity – are improvisations of the Modernist and Classicist idioms. In this series, Michael Velasco further elaborates on his fascination for the female figure finding inspiration in the work of a plethora of past and present masters like Waterhouse, Klimt, Sargeant, Bougereau, Degas, Whistler Stwart, Juan Luna, Jeremy Lipking, Daniel Greene and Scott Burdick.
This collection is distinctly characterized by the use of silver and gold leaf backgrounds, sculptural form and modern geometric patterns of fabric as it relates to the figure. Michael Velasco used the long shadows cast by the late afternoon light naturally to reveal form in an inimitable way.
All art pieces shown are rendered in oil and gold leaf on canvass.
On the Table
Oyster Rockefeller
Baked with spinach and hollandaise sauce
I cannot visit Mario’s and not order their Oyster Rockefeller. Mario’s already perfects this appetizer. Luscious toppings of spinach and hollandaise sauce on top of oysters then baked to perfection, it can get your mouth quivering in joy.
Mario’s Caesar PHP 375
Prepared table side, no other restaurant can replicate how fresh, spritely Mario’s Caesar salad is. It was light and refreshing, with just the right shade of saltiness from the bacon bits and the ideal amount of dressing. Like the Oyster Rockefeller, it’s almost always perfect and no other restaurant can make a salad as delicious as Mario’s Caesar.
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Gambas Al Ajillo with Spanish Chorizo PHP
Sautéed shrimps were plump and juicy with the surprise element of garlicky Spanish Chorizo. It is served with toasts but I get their warm dinner rolls to mop up the oil and garlic off the serving dish.
Appetizer / Bar Chow Platter
Callos
It’s sticky, savory and has all the good things to eat with Mario’s fantastic garlic rice. This is an old and new favorite as I have fallen in love with Mario’s callos all over again.
Corned Beef and Cabbage PHP 385
Mario’s corned beef and cabbage comes with boiled potatoes and carrots
Peppered Beef Php 650
Dessert Selection
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Not only was the evening a celebration of great food, where its consistency, scrumptiousness and familiarity always comfort us, of friendship, where I was able to catch up with the group who I’ve missed for so long, but it was also a fête for workmanship that reveres a woman’s grace, elegance and humanity through art.
Mario’s Restaurant
191 Tomas Morato Ave. Cor. Scout Gandia
Quezon City, Philippines
(632) 372 0360 / (632) 415 3887
Michael Velasco at Mario’s Flickr Set
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