BEST OF MAKATI: 10 Most Awesome NEW Restaurants in Makati 2014!

We saw a lot of cool new restaurants open in Makati area in 2014. This Christmas Season, if you are still deciding on where to eat, Make it Makati!

Here’s a wrap-up of the 10 Most Awesome NEW Restaurants in Makati City in 2014:

1. BLACKBIRD

BLACKBIRD is the Aviation-themed, Contemporary European and Asian Restaurant of Chef Colin Mackay of Sala and People’s Palace fame. It is located at the Neilson Tower of the old Manila International Airport and is named after the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft. The ambiance is inspired by an Airport Terminal and its Art Deco building in the heart of Makati City.

We tried Blackbird with our partners and we loved it! Check out one of our favorite restaurants of 2014…

BLACKBIRD by Chef Colin Mackay
Nielson Tower, Ayala Triangle, Makati City, across the Peninsula Hotel.
Telephone: +632 828-4888
Operating Hours: Open Daily 11.00am to 12.00mn

2. WILD FLOUR MAKATI

WILD FLOUR MAKATI is the Makati expansion of the popular bakery and cafe by Chef Walter Manzke, located along the Leviste food street in Makati. It’s bigger, with improved interiors, and a better, off-mall Salcedo neighborhood location.

I love how they executed their concept, comfort food line-up, and chill ambiance, which makes it a great place to hang out with your foodie friends. Here’s our Wild Flour Makati experience…

WILD FLOUR BAKERY & CAFE MAKATI
G/F V. Corporate Center 125 L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Telephone: +632 808-7072
Facebook: Wildflour Cafe + Bakery
Twitter: @WildFlourManila

3. HOLE IN THE WALL

HOLE IN THE WALL is a Food-driven concept Food Hall one of the first of its kind located in Century City Mall in Manila. It was conceptualized by Charles Paw together with his chef partners to bring unique “good food gathering” experience in a hipster food hall setting.

Here’s our Foodie Guide on the BEST of Hole in the Wall…

HOLE IN THE WALL
4/F, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue corner Salamanca Street, Makati City
Telephone: +632 887-2089

4. YOUR LOCAL

YOUR LOCAL is a hip neighborhood bistro in Legaspi Village by Chef Denny Antonino and Nicco Santos. They serve their own fun interpretations of Southeast Asian favorites and their own unique take on all-day breakfast. I like the vibe, the well-curated menu, and the secret entrance to the next-door cafe.

Check out Your Local…

YOUR LOCAL
GF Universal LMS Building, 106 Esteban Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Email: hello@yourlocal.ph
Telephone: +632 823-6206
Mobile: +63 917 654 3355
Instagram: @YourLocalPH
Website: http://yourlocal.ph
Facebook: Your Local
Operating Hours:
Monday to Friday: 11.00am – 2.00pm, 6.00pm – 10.00pm
Saturday: Brunch 10.00am – 3.00am, 6.00pm – 10.00pm

5. 12/10

12/10 is a Japanese restaurant by Thea de Rivera and Gab Bustos, also known as The Girl + The Bull. The name of their second restaurant is a tribute to their anniversary date. The restaurant is an izakaya-inspired drinking joint featuring a customize-your-own degustation.

It’s like the younger, hip brother of Mecha Uma–another “graduate” of the BF Aguirre Food Street– offering contemporary Japanese cuisine to a mainstream foodie audience in the metro.

Went on a date with Rache plus the boys at 12/10, and here’s what we think it…

12/10 Izakaya Japanese Restaurant
7635 Guijo St., San Antonio Village, Makati
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday, 5.00pm to 11.00pm
Telephone: +63 915 663 2823
Email: hello@twelveten.ph
Website: http://twelveten.ph/
Facebook: 12/10 Restaurant

6. GINO’S PIZZA

GINO’s BRICK OVEN PIZZA is a Neapolitan-style Pizzeria originally from Katipunan, by passionate Filipino food entreprenuers Jutes & Cello Templo (of Cello’s Donuts fame). The name of the resto is a tribute to their son, Gino.

The Makati branch is the Gino’s 2.0 version. The taste is so authentic, some people think it’s owned by Italians.

We loved their Burratta, homemade pasta, and Neapolitan pizza! Check out Gino’s…

GINO’S BRICK OVEN PIZZA MAKATI
Bautista near corner Tordersillas St., Salcedo Village, Makati City
Email: ginosbrickovenpizza@gmail.com
Facebook: Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza
Mobile: +63 917 964-5339 (for reservations)
Operating Hours: 11.30am to 9.30pm

7. LA CABRERA

LA CABRERA is an Argentinian Steakhouse and the Manila branch of Parrilla La Cabrera by Chef de Cuisine Gaston Riveira. This local iteration is through the efforts of Carlo Lorenzana of Shi Lin fame, and Carlo Lorenzana of Cellar de Boca Argentinian Wine Kitchen in Davao (yes, they have the same name. :D).

Argentinian Steak is considered the best in the world. In La Cabrera Manila, however, they use USDA steak. It still gets good reviews when it’s the Argentinian Chef who prepares the steak.

We tried La Cabrera with our Mercato Centrale partners recently. Here’s our experience…

LA CABRERA Grillado and Bar
Ground Floor, 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati, Philippines
Operating Hours: 11am-3pm/5:30pm-10:30pm
Mobile: +63 905 290-0703
Facebook: La Cabrera Manila
Instagram: @lacabrera_mnl
Website: http://www.parrillalacabrera.com.ar/

8. KITCHEN 1B

KITCHEN 1B is a wholesome and healthy restaurant by Marivic Diaz-Lim of Apartment 1B fame. After surviving breast cancer, she is on a mission to promote a healthier lifestyle for foodies.

We had the opportunity to try Kitchen 1B for both breakfast and lunch. Here’s our experience…

KITCHEN 1B: The Wholesome Alternative
Ground Floor, KL Tower, Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
(Entrance also on Soria Street)
Telephone: +632 403-5405, 843-2392
Mobile: +63 918 897 5877
Email: kitchen_1b@yahoo.com

9. CHEF DU PARTIE

CHEF DU PARTIE (or CDP for short), is a restaurant offering global cuisine by Malou Fores (MMF) of Mamou & Recovery Food fame, Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara (KKA) of Mesclun & Chuck’s Deli, and Kristine del Gallego-Locsin (KGL), formerly of Lu.

They offer dishes inspired by Paris, New York, and Manila. They also specialize in cocktails and have a well-curated wine list by their partners. It’s a great destination for foodie dates or food and wine pairing.

I took my wifey out on a date in CDP for the first time since giving birth to our youngest son, and here’s what we think about it…

Chef Du Partie (CDP) Global Table Restaurant
148B Level R1 Power Plant Mall, Lopez Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City 1200
Telephone: +632 556-4454
Contact Anne Berges +63 917 832-9828, anne@cdpglobaltable.com
Operating Hours:
Sunday to Wednesday: 12.00nn to 3.00pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Thursday to Saturday: 12.00nn to 3.00pm, 6.00pm -2.00am
Notes: Credit Cards Accepted. Reservation is a must.

10. ALLIUM

ALLIUM is the restaurant reincarnation in Makati of our favorite Studio Kitchen in Alabang, by Filipino-American Chef Mark Tan. Its name is inspired by the genus of plants that include onions, garlics, chives, and leeks and responsible for the flavors we enjoy in our food.

We tried the degustation sampler and grilled meat selections prepared by Chef Mark during one of our Mercato partners’ meeting. His specialty is contemporary American cooking using fresh local ingredients and good quality imported meats.

Check out Allium in Makati…

ALLIUM Contemporary Modern American Cuisine
G/F Grand Midori, Bolanos St., Legaspi Village, Makati City
Telephone: +632 519-1088
Mobile: +63 999 694-3068, +63 916 356-3663

Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Disclosure: I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.

P.S. Any recommendation on a restaurant in Makati that opened in 2014 that you think should be included in this list?

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