These are the best restaurant openings of 2023

Chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar’s much-awaited return to the restaurant scene came when they partnered up with Atty. Nilo Divina to set up shop in their Makati CBD location. Their modern Asian menu allows the duo to traverse the possibilities between their signature Southeast Asian style, delicate Japanese flavours, and East Asian culinary traditions. They also indulged their loyal following with many collaborations in the past year, welcoming guest chefs into their stylish new digs. We can't wait to see what this popular twosome have in store for us this year!

Metro Manila rejoiced when news of chef Antonio “Tony Boy” Escalante’s restaurants opening in strategic areas around the metro was announced. Antonio’s in PGA Cars along EDSA has been giving fans of the brand a taste of their continental classics as well as some branch exclusives. Fans of brunch need only to drive to Robinsons Magnolia where Breakfast at Antonio’s serves up plates of their crowd-pleasing beef tapa, potato rösti, croque madame, and pancakes. 

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This refreshing take on fine dining from chef couple Mikee Lopez and Alex Tan celebrates local crops and produce and ingeniously applies a zero-waste philosophy. Bright flavours are highlighted with sparks of whimsical execution, making their plant-forward (meaning they do serve seafood and meat) menu truly memorable. The food is clever and delicious, and while they are plant-heavy with the ingredients, one does not get the feeling that it's laced with agenda. The goal here simply is to serve good food, and somehow guests leave feeling convinced that this is how we should truly eat. 

Distinctly Catalan and heavily inspired by Catalonia’s surrounding cultures and its geographical location— as well as chef David Amoros’ quietly confident style— the upscale casual establishment delivers a unique Spanish experience in its BGC location. Their dishes rely heavily on their Josper grill where they roast ingredients used for the delicious croquetas and other tapas; it is where their delicate cheesecake emerges as well as the last stop for their bestselling arroz. An advocate of the slow food movement in Barcelona, chef Amoros with his team creates all their dishes from scratch and refuses to succumb to shortcuts.

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This BGC hotspot truly redefines casual Japanese dining with its eclectic bar chow menu, an extensive list of craft sakes, and a youthful vibe that encourages fun (and lots of it!). The food was made to pair well with their lengthy bar list, although also family-friendly and makes total sense for a quick lunch. The spacious dining room makes it an ideal venue for events and celebrations, while its sections and corners also encourage more private get-togethers. 

The founders of Roots draw from their multicultural backgrounds to deliver a culinary experience that is distinct to their collective experience as well as to their adopted tropical home. Chefs Filippo Turrini and Inés Castañeda utilise a wealth of culinary techniques with a focus on local ingredients available to them on the island and its surrounding waters. The menu, as expected, changes every day depending on what is procured by their team. The ceviche and tacos are their popular draw, but creative sparks give birth to dishes like ube gnocchi with borracho cheese.

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This bistro’s vibrant, eye-catching aesthetic seems to signal the resurgence of Salcedo Village’s vibrant comunity as it invites its youthful clientele for dinner and drinks. The borderless cuisine of chefs Anna Bautista and Luis de Terry is the perfect mix of modern and nostalgia to go with the Filipino art deco interpretation of design firm The Collective (who also did the design for the owner’s Poblacion bar, Polilya). With a nod to the quintessential Balthazar in Manhattan, Sampiro exudes that same energetic yet polished vibe the neighbourhood needs.

Japanese food lovers are no strangers to this beloved Japanese restaurant which has now moved from its Salcedo Village office building space to The Shops at Ayala Triangle Garden. The fresh interiors are stunning with intricate woodwork, sensual curves, and beautifully lit corners, but the food remains a big draw here with their meticulously prepared sushi and a comprehensive list of Japanese food classics. 

Inspired by the little Japanese coffee shops serving excellent pour-over brew, this well-known brand’s kissaten in Mitsubishi mall might be on the fancier side but expect the same attention to detail as you would from the more “artisanal” joints. The food, too, has regulars coming in for the all-day breakfast options that pair perfectly with their well-crafted beverages.

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The eclectic menu composed of nostalgic favourites, diner classics, and Filipino-Spanish fare is exactly what this scout area, Quezon City market needs as they keep the Ivy Almario-designed, repurposed property perpetually occupied. Celebrity chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou draws from his deep well of heirloom recipes and food memories that seem to resonate with his regulars who keep coming back for the southern-style fried chicken, ribeye steaks, baby-back ribs, and hearty pasta.

The small Mediterranean restaurant bakes its own flatbread fresh daily which makes it the perfect utensil for scooping up heaps of hummus, baba ganoush, among other delectable dips. Come early as these baked goods quickly run out, and when they do, that is it for the day. La Pita is a welcomed delicious addition to most of the establishments in the trendy area which cater to a younger nightlife-oriented crowd. 

Finally— all of chef Adrian Cuenca’s food can be found under one roof. An eclectic mix of comfort food favourites, the menu easily caters to all your cravings, from day to night. The bright and playful interiors invite food lovers of all ages, which has made this an ideal place for Sunday lunch. To make family celebrations more bearable, it also comes with a well-stocked bar that serves up a pretty good martini. 

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Cousins Miko Calo and RJ Galang joined forces with Toogy and Laveena Clavecilla to bring to life one of Galang’s lifelong dreams— a taco shop. But, this being a Miko Calo concept, their tacos come heavily French, topping buckwheat tortillas with fried oysters and creme fraiche, steak frites with potato hay, and a tostada adorned with a refreshing egg salad and pops of caviar. These, of course, are best paired with drinks, and innovative libations by multi-awarded David Ong truly make the visit worth your while.

While meant to be the more approachable and scale-able rendition of a Wildflour Group pizza, this new concept from founders Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo and chef Margarita Manzke delivers pies with a perfectly crispy thin crust adorned with premium quality toppings. Known for their attention to detail and affinity for farm-sourced ingredients, Pizza Sisters does not stray from the Wildflour model but with the promise of a more laidback vibe.

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Drawing from his childhood food memories, including visits to New York City’s iconic Peter Luger Steak House, owner Amado Forés thoughtfully brings forth a unique steakhouse concept that is a combination of his profound food experiences. The focus remains on the steak and frice— “frice” being a play on fries and rice that they serve here together— which are prepared perfectly according to preferred doneness, with sauces and sides also on point. Straightforward but with its own charming twists, this BGC newcomer definitely has the right interesting quirks to make it stand out from the rest.

Chef Francis Tolentino indulges his creative side with this new BGC concept that offers a tasting menu (8 or 10 courses) highlighting Filipino flavours with a dash of global flair. After proving his mettle with a string of successful bars and cafes, chef Francis gets to demonstrate the full range of his skill and artistry as he launches his freshman menu which includes a Kurobuta pork belly soured with batwan, and an oyster tart adorned with caviar, celeriac, plus shaved white truffle.

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