Cover Raw seafood, a spread of fresh oysters from The Pearl Room (Photo: Instagram / @thepearlroomph)
Raw seafood, a spread of fresh oysters from The Pearl Room (Photo: Instagram / @thepearlroomph)
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Formerly known as The Orient Pearl, the elegant seafood and cocktail bar at The Verve Residences is the neighbourhood's go-to for fresh oysters, craft cocktails and more
It pays to explore some of the quieter new developments in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), where many delicious discoveries await. Tucked away at the courtyard of The Verve Residences is The Pearl Room, a jewel of a restaurant that is becoming well-known for its exceptional seafood choices and dangerously drinkable cocktails.
The dining room shimmers with black tile and gold, with warm lighting adding drama to what is already a multi-sensory experience. It creates an atmosphere reminiscent of a pearl’s iridescent glow as it captures the shards of sunlight from the ocean’s depths, providing diners with a luxurious yet comfortable shell away from their harsh realities. Near the open kitchen, a striking fish lantern installation pays homage to the sea’s bounty.
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As the name implies, seafood here is king, and the fresh oysters flown in from Aklan reign supreme. The cold seafood bar is encased in glass, displaying the deliveries of the day, which are always stored in the prescribed temperature. The Pearl Room’s oysters only come from a reliable source, and they are always tracking which batch or plot of oysters is being served. Still, the owners and their kitchen team advise their diners to always eat their oysters on a full stomach and after having a cooked meal to avoid any potential queasiness that can come from eating seafood.
Above The Pearl Room’s range of seafood includes baked oysters (Photo: Instagram / @thepearlroomph)
The Pearl Room’s range of seafood includes baked oysters (Photo: Instagram / @thepearlroomph)
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If oysters are not your thing, there are many other specialities from the kitchen that are sure to delight. For starters, the tuna carpaccio in yuzu-ponzu is a favourite— paper-thin tuna over a potato hay crisp served on top of salad greens, flavoured with the Japanese-inspired dressing. With beers after a harrowing day at the office, their fish and chips with sambal tartare is a perfect match, the fried potatoes shaped mindfully into hollow cups for easier scooping.
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Another one of the sea’s delicious bounties is crab, and the crab claw tempura at The Pearl Room is a glorious treat for those who wish to indulge. But, be grateful, too, for the person who suggested, “you know what this seafood restaurant needs? Crispy pork knuckles.” Perhaps they have unlocked the technique to prepare it exceedingly well, and it would be a disservice to not include it in the menu. Crispy skin, tender meat, and gelatinous tendon dipped in their aromatic soy and vinegar sauce, it is an explosion of flavours and textures not to be missed. The oxtail, too, is another meaty option— braised long and slow in spicy tomato sauce until extra tender, the peppers and olives give it an interesting Spanish twist that is both sexy and familiar.
Above Succulent seafood, prawns drenched in a rich sauce from The Pearl Room (Photo: Instagram / @thepearlroomph)
Succulent seafood, prawns drenched in a rich sauce from The Pearl Room (Photo: Instagram / @thepearlroomph)
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Blink and you might miss the small bar tucked behind the entrance where The Pearl Room’s talented mixologists have their own little nook to craft their tasty libations. The classics are definitive musts, such as a dusky tequila sunrise or a glacial vodka martini. But, do give their signatures a try, especially the tequila-based barking pink chihuahua that is fruity, refreshing, and intoxicating in all the right ways. Thirsty puppies are more than welcome here where they can have a sip from the faucet conveniently placed by the front door. In fact, they can join their humans for a meal here and pick from their own menu of dog-friendly dishes.
The modern elegance of their dining room paired with a focused, well-executed menu has made this not only a neighbourhood staple, but also worth the drive. Whether it is a leisurely lunch with friends; a quiet afternoon drink; or a dinner celebration with loved ones— The Pearl Room is ready to enter the conversation. It is surely a welcome addition to a vibrant culinary landscape that may be spoiled for choice but is definitely aching for originality and warmth.
The interiors of seafood restaurant The Pearl Room (Photo: Jaclyn Koppe)
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Jaclyn Clemente Koppe is a food and lifestyle writer, as well as a consultant to some of the country’s beloved food and beverage brands. Her passion for food and drink is only surpassed by her devotion to her family, most especially to her soulmate, Pepa the poodle.
