We wanted to try out Astralis by Diamond Hotel ever since it opened to give new life to the Rockwell strip.
Every time we visit, the restaurant is empty with one or two groups eating. We hesitated to try it because we find the ambiance boring, and we expected the food to be hotel prices with + 12% VAT and (We just verified that the menu prices are inclusive of VAT) +10% service charge added to the menu price. I really don’t understand why the prices are higher than the Serendra or Boni High Street restaurants. Despite the fact that it is located in a once-famous gimmick strip of a mall. In the end, we decided to go because we wanted a quiet date in a new restaurant we haven’t tried.
Astralis Main Menu
Appetizers, Cheese & Cold Cuts | Salads, Sandwiches and Tarts, Soups, and Pasta, Risotto and Gnocchi | Seafood, Meat, and Desserts | Drinks and Beverages
Tapas Selection | Red Wines | Sparkling and White Wines | Astralis Flights: Red Wines from 3 Continents | Vignoble des Verdots by David Fourtout and Vin de Pays Wines of France
The meal starts with a choice of bread with butter. The waiter was kind enough to bring us a pesto dip and a balsamic vinegar dip upon request. The sun-dried tomato bread tasted a lot better with the dips. One of the thing I like about Astralis is the attentive and friendly service that you can only find in hotels. After eating the bread, the waiter was kind enough to clean the crumbs off our table.
Baked double-broiled mushroom soup (P220+) with swirl of pesto cream.
The phyllo pastry cover was a nice touch and it added excitement to our mushroom soup. My wife loves mushroom soup and she orders it every time. She thought that it lack an ingredient to really give it the mushroom ommph. For me, it tasted like monggo soup because of its consistency and the flavor.
The restaurant is named after this expensive Astralis Wine. Astralis means stars and stands for high quality product and service.
Can anybody guess how much a bottle of Clarendon Hil 2005 Astralis wine would cost?
Sato-san’s Japanese Mentaiko Spaghetti (P460 +) spicy cod roe, nori on cream sauce
We love the combination of cream sauce with nori (japanese seaweed). We ordered extra servings of nori to truly enjoy this Japanese Spaghetti. It was served on an elongated white dish where two people can eat on both ends.
Chicken stuff with gorgonzola, mozzarella, and stilton (P390+) with mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini
We love the combination of the 3 cheeses highlighted by the strawberry sauce. According to the waiter, this is one of their bestseller together with the Wagyu Steak.
Astralis recently did a blogger’s PR event on their Astralis Wine & Raclette Buffet. Just search on google and you’ll easily find them. I like Noemi’s post educating people about the Raclette.
Astralis Wine & Raclette Buffet
Every Mondays and Thursdays from 5pm onwards
Wine and Raclette – Php 950+
Wine Only – Php 650+
Raclette only – Php 390+
For reservations call Astralis by Diamond Hotel at +632 703-2688
Astralis by Diamond Hotel
Lopez Drive, Power Plant Mall
Along Rockwell Strip, Besides Via Mare
Telephone Number: +632 703-2688
Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
Email: anton@diaz.ph
Blog: www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
OMG I love raclette. I will definitely go back again and treat my husband to raclette. Thanks for the mention!
….it looks ‘executive’so neat so presentable so business like athmosphere but so little menus at hand….my dream family o bachelors restaurant will be executive looking too but on the ROMANTIC side theme coz i am ‘fond’ of fresh mini bouquets of table flowers mini table lamps o mini candles in holders sometimes few mini flowers ‘floating’ lit candles in a transparent crystal bowls at saka lines of medium sizes at isang large na state of the art crystal o deep colored CAPIZ chandeliers half all glass walls half maple o mahogany walls with clean color backgrounds of oil o di kaya set of dozens water color paintings sa wooden wall panellings at on both sides aqua blue state of the art ballooning silk drapes and it is in the middle of a fish & water lillies pond accesses from a mini romantic artistic wooden BRIDGES that has mini focus spotlights at night with some floor opaque square areas to experience the feeling of eating standing on top of water lilies fishes and it is for reservations only coz of the TREE cable car has limited time schedules since it is at least a thousand feet above ‘sea level’….and IT is named called FIRST LOVE RESTAURANT but it is not yet finnish when it does all non violent guests are invited all religions all races all world leaders if they’re around i hope it will be a wow! philippines lol!….
They really have great food at the Diamond. The hotel needs a little sprucing up though… Especially by the poolside. I would invest a little more on the infrastructure of the hotel before branching out but then again, it’s not my hotel.
Is it just me, or did the chicken portion looked tiny?
Hi Anton,
I definitely enjoyed the evening of Raclette and Wine. It was light and relaxing, plus service was really commendable.
http://www.janedchua.com/2008/10/27/wine-and-raclette-buffet-astralis/
Jane
Between Bites
http://www.janedchua.com
I ate there last week with some friends. good food naman. what i liked most is their wine list. pretty good prices compared to other restos. But funny, i do remember the waiter telling me that the prices are VAT inclusive. I just cant find my receipt now.
Mmmmm… Raclette! if you don’t mind the smell, a must have for cheese lovers. remember having this at old swiss inn, glad to know its in rockwell.
The place seems to be a good venue, for corporate events and functions. can you refer me to the contact person of the venue,
http://corel-lifestyle.blogspot.com/2008/10/difference-of-paint-shop-pro-photo-x2.html
http://www.wordtext.com.ph/uploads/wsifiles/Corel_Product_Catalogue_Ebook.pdf
peligroso ka na talaga kasabay kumain,
lalo na itong bago mong candid shots
while eating photography mo. hahahaha!
see ya next week!
may gusto kang pasalubong from pampanga?
a personal favorite is the salmon with crust. i love it! you have to try this. it melts in the mouth.
i also like the japanese spaghetti cod.
prices are a bit on the high side but it’s always good to spoil yourself once in a while