I’ve heard a lot about The Gustavian, especially from foodies who were raving about it when they visited Cebu. They have branches in Banilad, Marina Mall, and Ayala Mall in Cebu. Now, they plan to win over the foodies in Manila by opening a branch in Eastwood Mall and another in the heart of Salcedo Village, Makati (it’s called Brasserie Boheme — I originally thought it was Bohemian Brasserie).
The Gustavian is the restaurant partner of The Picasso, which is the latest Boutique Serviced Residences in Manila. The Picasso is entering the Serviced Apartments category, currently dominated by Ascott (formerly Oakwood) and Fraser Place in Makati. It offers a very interesting artsy concept, plus a gourmet restaurant.
I personally like Brasserie Boheme for its homey but formal ambiance, and gourmet food. It is perfect for business meetings and get-togethers with friends. But for the first month of The Gustavian’s operations in Manila, it got mixed reviews, particularly the Eastwood Mall outlet. (Have you tried this branch? Please leave a comment.)
BRASSERIE BOHEME by The Gustavian
Brasserie Boheme ambiance with the friendly Chef constantly talking to the customers.
“The Gustavian is an old-world European delicatessen shop known for its own recipes dating as far back as 1803. It is the first of its kind to boast of all home-style, freshly made products ranging from artisan country breads, sugar-free jams, fresh cold-cuts, European-style sausages, smoked meats and seafood, dairy products, sauces, various kinds of cheeses, pickles and a wide array of organic food products.”
“It is a gourmet destination for those with delicate taste buds and a keen eye for artistry and craftsmanship. The products of The Gustavian Country European Delicatessen are not only rich, flavourful and delicious, but meticulously handcrafted as well.” (Source: The Gustavian Restaurant)
In both the Makati and Eastwood Mall branches, a deli shop is located beside the main dining restaurant. In Brasserie Boheme, a small bar caters to the in-house guests. The restaurant offers a unique 3-course menu that starts with either soup or salad, followed by the main course, and then finished off with dessert.
MENU DU JOUR PRIX FIXE (P390 + 10% SC)
The menu changes every month. Here is the soft opening menu to give you an idea.
First Course: SOUP OR SALAD
Chef Christmas Salad (Turkey, Roast Beef, Swiss Cheese, Olives, Crepes, Onions, Tomatoes)
House Salad (Ripe Mango/ Mustard Dressing)
The salads were very good — fresh and sweet, complete with a nice presentation (served in a bowl with a plate-like ring). I prefer the salads over the soup because they are very filling. The serving is good for one.
Mushroom Soup (Shiitake, Cream and Wine)
The mushroom soup tasted fresh, which is great since Rache loves a good bowl of mushroom soup to start her meal.
Second Course: MAIN COURSE
Beef Bourguignon (Tender Beef, Braised in Red Wine & Herbs)
This dish, made more popular by the Julie & Julia movie, was executed perfectly with its very soft, tender, and tasty beef. Essentially, it is just beef in red wine sauce but cooked for a long period of time. I also liked the sidings of potato and fresh salad.
Beef Steak Greta Garbo (Mashed Potato, Dijon Mustard, Horse Radish)
The mashed potato was created from scratch and was indeed very yummy. We did not like the beef itself (I’m not sure why). With a name like The Gustavian, one would expect consistent gourmet quality. We tried this when they first opened, so it might merit a second try. I’m sure that the kitchen will be more stable by now.
Amparito Sole & Salmon Roulade (Lemon Butter, Basil, Garlic, Ginger Rice)
The salmon was cooked well — juicy, tasty, and with the right consistency. We also loved the nice blue, beach-themed plate of this dish. 🙂
(Overall, for just about P400 for the 3-course meal, I think it is worth it if these are the main dishes that you get.)
Third Course: DESSERT
The dessert crepes are cooked inside the restaurant, so you get to smell the aroma of butter, sugar and fruit.
Mango Crepe Suzette & Fresh Cream
I don’t think they have a good pastry chef in the kitchen, so just stick to this traditional serving of crepe with mangoes or strawberries.
Forgettable Peanut Butter something dessert
Seafood Puttanesca (P240 + 10% SC). New Zealand Mussels, Shrimps, Flounder, Capers, Tomato
We ordered pasta for the kids. For some reason, they only liked the bread. We ended up finishing the pasta with the fresh seafood.
Chef Mason entertained all the guests. We originally thought that he was a stern-looking chef who didn’t like noisy kids. We were surprised that he was very friendly. In fact, he escorted Aidan around the kitchen.
Aidan is getting interested in becoming a chef. He likes to pretend he is one as he “cooks” for us. One time, he was very hungry and wanted to cook pancakes. He knew all the ingredients (pancake mix, water, and egg — but it was out of stock) and mixed them properly. He even remembered to use the right pancake/toast grill. I was his assistant throughout the process. It’s really cool being able to share that experience with him.
Brasserie Boheme by The Gustavian
Ground Floor
The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences
110 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village,
Telephone: +632 403-4774, 828-1506,
Website: TheGustavian.PH
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P.S. We tried The Gustavian in Eastwood Mall when they opened. We did not like it because the taste was a bit bland and the waiters were clueless. The soup had no taste, the burger was dry, the callos was malansa, and the pasta was overcooked. I’ll just share the pictures below to give you an idea of the food, serving size, and price.
I’m sure they have improved already. (Please share your experience in the comments section.)
THE GUSTAVIAN in Eastwood Mall
The Gustavian Menu: Appetizers, Soups, and Salads | Main Courses, Spanish Meals | Pasta and Sandwiches, Deli Meals | Beverages
The only thing we loved was the buttered french bread with white mustard dip. Sarap!
Wild Mushroom with Pesto Toast (P130 + 10% SC).
Callos (P170 + 10% SC). Tripes/Chorizo, Morsilla, Garbanzos, Tomato
Picollo Scampi (P170 + 10% SC). Mini Shrimps, Butter, Garlic, White Wine, Cream and Basil
G Burger (P240 + 10% SC). 100% Aussie Beef, Smoked Ham, Swiss Cheese, Red Beets Coleslaw, Thick-Cut Fries
The Gustavian Deli Shop @ Eastwood Mall.
The Gustavian
Unit A-120 Ground Level
Eastwood Mall
Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City
Mobile # 0917-9853429
Telephone: +632 470-2971, 470-2984
hi! i’ve tried the gustavian in cebu and i wasn’t impressed either. i had the baked macaroni and cheese with shrimp, if i remember correctly.
400 pesos for a 3 course meal seems pretty cheap 😀 I think I should try it 😀
I wonder if Gustavian going to put another branch in Manila. They have not targeted Alabang and the city of Manila.
I tried the Gustavian at Picasso and the food was great. I had the cob salad, which at first looked like it was a small serving but it was very filling, plus ingredients were really fresh. For the main course I had this dish that was similar to burger steak.. It was good and juicy and the mashed potatoes were really creamy. The dessert was forgettable. I should’ve ordered the crepe instead. I tried this last December so I think they were still on soft opening. The waitresses were a bit annoying, they kept on going to our table asking if we were finished, etc. I mean, it’s nice they’re trying to serve you but not all the time. And looks like they weren’t trained on using the portable stove (where they cooked the crepes on well)… I felt sorry for the waitress who kept on trying to light it up. After 100 years, she was finally able to cook it na. It was sulit, and the house wine was good too (although it was 1 bottle was equivalent to 2 prixe fixe meals).
hi Anton! is the Gustavian in EastWood near Wagyu Stone Grill? Old vine?
Ingrid, it is near Old Vine
I tried The Gustavian at eastwood and the price for the set meal was reasonable at Php390
But the food wasnt that great.
The ceasar salad was ok ( very fresh greens, dressing wasnt that yummy)
The amparito was just ok
The lemon sole with risotto was not ok ( risotto was very very al dente)
The steak was just ok ( not that tender, sauce was uninspired but tasty enough)
The fish and chips was very good
The dessert creme brulee was ok
I tried The Gustavian at eastwood and the price for the set meal was reasonable at Php390
But the food wasnt that great.
The ceasar salad was ok ( very fresh greens, dressing wasnt that yummy)
The amparito was just ok
The lemon sole with risotto was not ok ( risotto was very very al dente)
The steak was just ok ( not that tender, sauce was uninspired but tasty enough)
The fish and chips was very good
The dessert creme brulee was ok
Overall it isnt something i would recommend.
My favorite from the Gustavian resto in Eastwood is “Charlie’s Angels,” which is their take on seafood kinilaw. It’s awesome!
It’s been taken out of the menu, but I’ve been told that one can still order it. 🙂
Had dinner last night at Brasserie Boheme. I had the House Salad and the Amparito Sole too – loved both dishes. But mine looked very different from your picture – mine had more sole but no salmon. We tried their creme brulee – nothing great, Chateau’s or Terry Selection’s version is better. It also had a weird consistency – it was almost like cheesecake!
It does have a comfortable and very chic ambiance, but what I loved the most was their price – very affordable for very good gourmet food.
I visited the restaurant in Salcedo. I had house salad, beef bourguignon, and mango crepe. The food was good and the speed of the service was ok. However, the food attendants were not friendly. The manager did well but the food attendants (or better known as waiter/waitress) did a very poor job because they did not care if i already got an order or not. I just sat there, waiting. Plus, tinatarayan pa ako ng isa. Sad… They should be trained or disciplined because they are destroying the good image of the restaurant.
I visited the restaurant in Salcedo. I had house salad, beef bourguignon, and mango crepe. The food was good and the speed of the service was oked hardy t-shirts
hi Anton…fil here…haven’t tried either though am good friends with both Michele and Charles L…almost had dinner in their Cebu branch…wish i could dine and dine like you but well, will give Gustavian a try…couldn’t make it to the Foodie Festival last night either, bzz and had a pol victory dinner to go to…but am on with your line always so you give my day more choices and decisions…makes for an interesting life…on this awesome planet of ours…best to you and yours…fil
Today’s deal: 50% off delicious food and drinks at the elegant Brasserie Boheme by The Gustavian (Voucher worth ₱2000) Save ₱1000!
http://everythinginbudget.blogspot.com/2010/10/1000-only-for-2000-brasserie-boheme.html
Anyone tried their Sunday brunch buffet?
i had my engagement party here… the piccolo shrimp pasta was amazing