Las Flores Dining+: Is Intimate Dining the New Normal?

Bistronomia Restaurant Series:
• RUMBA // NEW Mediterranean Resto at The Shops at Ayala Triangle (A REVIEW) (2022)
• LAS FLORES Alabang: Best Spanish Restaurant in the South! (2022)
• Las Flores Dining+: Is Intimate Dining the New Normal? (2021)
• Introducing… LAS FLORES Degustacion by Spanish Chef Ignacio Alcala! (2019)
• Rambla Salcedo Makati: Best Tapas Bar in the Salcedo Neighborhood (2019)
• BCN by Rambla: Charcoal-Grill Barcelona-Inspired Restaurant in Makati! (2018)
• TOMATITO MANILA: How Sexy is this 80’s-inspired Spanish Tapas Bar? (A Review) (2016)
• RAMBLA Rockwell: Spanish Mediterranean Cuisine by Chef Pepe Lopez @RamblaPH (2013)
• LAS FLORES: Modern Spanish Resto by (former) Barcino + Andilana (Spain) Group (2012)

Manila’s favorite Las Flores restaurant brand not only survived but thrived in the pandemic with the flagship BGC Branch, the Podium Mall branch, the new Salcedo branch (the former Rambla) and Las Flores Dining+ (the former Test Kitchen original location).

I had an intimate lunch with Rache and friends, and here are some tips…

Safety First

The original Test Kitchen location along Kamagong was rebranded into Las Flores Dining+ to cater to intimate dates and gatherings, especially during these Covid times.

LAS FLORES DINING+
9780 Kamagong Street, San Antonio Village, Makati City.
Instagram: @lasfloresdiningplus
Facebook: Las Flores Dining+
Restaurant hours: 12:00 to 2:00 PM | 5:30 to 7:00 PM | 7:30 to 9:30 PM

Note: Please book 24 hours in advance. A minimum order of P5,000 is required to book a table, and you can choose from full set menus.

The whole restaurant has a capacity of 20 people (and minimum booking for 2 people). You can book the whole restaurant for intimate dining with family and friends.

The open kitchen is the centerpiece where Chef Alfredo’s magic happens.

You can also book the function room equipped with a TV for presentations for your board meetings or private celebrations.

Las Flores Dining+ Experience

PINTXOS

**Tuna Tartar & Avocado Cone**. Tuna tartar & avocado cone, wasabi mayo

Raw tuna with a spice of tuna mayo on a crisp avocado mini cone to start.

**Pork Belly Mini** **Molletes**. *Pork Belly “Mini Molletes”, piquillo peppers & sriracha may*o

Resembles a mini bacon burger with thin slices of pork belly, sriracha mayo, greens and red piquillo on Spanish Mollete bread—just small enough to tease your appetite.

**Morcilla & Foie**. *Morcilla, foie, caramelized onions & pan de sal*

This was the best, with exploding umami flavors from the foie gras balanced out by the blood sausage and the onion’s sweetness and completed by the mini open-faced pandesal. Sarap!

BEVERAGES

**Pepino Basilico**. *Basil, cucumber, fresh lemon juice, lemon-lime soda*
**Very Ginger**. Fresh ginger juice, cinnamon, fresh lemon, soda water

We liked the refreshing drink with basil, cucumber and lemon to refresh the palate before moving on to the starters.

STARTERS

**Mushroom & Iberian Ham Croquetas**. *Mushroom, Iberian ham, truffle mayo*

Pillowy-soft croquetas with a nice crust, bits of mushroom and Iberian ham topped with truffle mayo.

**Gambas & Shiitake al Ajillo**. Sizzling shrimps, shiitake mushrooms in chili garlic oil

Best eaten with a slice of bread soaked in the chili garlic oil and topped with sizzling shrimp and slices of shiitake mushrooms.

**Grilled Octopus**. *Grilled octopus, potato, paprika sauce*

I missed this! Tender grilled octopus tentacle that you slice into chunks and pair with a bit of potato and creamy sauce.

MAINS

Madrid-born Executive **Chef Alfredo Rodriguez**

Chef Alfredo personally prepares your fideua like how it is done in Spain.

**Seafood Fideua**. *Spanish pasta, mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, aioli*

Thin layer of pasta that resembles mini macaroni with good caramelization from the sauce, topped with shrimp, mussels, clams and squid then drizzled with lemon.

**Secreto Iberico**. Iberian pork shoulder, piquillo pepper, chimichurri

We loved how they cooked the Secreto (from the pork shoulder of an Iberian pig)—very tasty, not overcooked, just the right tenderness—and paired it with chimichurri.

I missed eating a Spanish 10-course meal with a glass of Spanish red wine. It had been a while so I finished a whole bottle and was happy tipsy the whole day.

DESSERTS

**Churros** *with chocolate and vanilla ice cream*

Churros Ala Mode—just the kind of dessert we were craving for.

**Lemon Cheesecake** *with whipped cream*

A good tangy lemon cheesecake, not to sweet, and paired with coffee to finish.

Final Thoughts

Congratulations to Chef Alfredo for an awesome 10-course Las Flores menu in a safe and intimate environment at Las Flores Dining+. This entire menu is probably all the things we miss when eating in a Spanish Restaurant that is hard to replicate at home. Perfect for celebrating your milestones.

I enjoyed the Morcilla & Foie, Grilled Octopus and Secreto Iberico paired with a Spanish Red. I missed the drama and progression of a full course menu, especially starting with the pintxos small bites and ending with Spanish dessert. Budget ₱2,500/head.

Make sure to book 24 hours in advance with a minimum order of ₱5,000 to book a table, and choose from their full course menu.

Live an Awesome Life with Christ,

Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikkei Team for the experience. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.

P.S. Order their Gin & Tonic to start or end the meal!

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