A quiet dinner at Antonio’s (for nine) 21 February 2007

Sea bass and salmon roulade - my main course.
How did they tie my fish up? Is that green onion?

If I’d known it was that nice of a place, I would’ve been dressed to the nines, if but to add some drama to this dramatic meal. I’ve long wanted to indulge in a meal that looked like it came from the tables of the Rubino Brothers - you know, where the food looks like little works of art, and where things taste as good as they look. But places like that are in shortage here, unless of course you happen to chance upon Antonio’s, one of the country’s best kept foodie hideaways.

The road to Antonio’s was dark and winding. We got lost for a bit, and then it seemed like ages before we finally drove up to the gates. I didn’t know what to expect.

Entering the heavy wooden doors, we were greeted with greenery and a soft breeze. Then looking back, we had just stepped out of an all-red-and-gilt waiting room full of photos and ornate art pieces. We were shown to the dining room, which had the semblance of an old, old house with its heavy, antique furniture, lovely chandeliers and smattering of black and white photos and memorabilia. It was three-storey restaurant with lush grounds fit for large family reunions or even a garden wedding. With its understated grandeur though, it truly felt like I had stepped into a family estate.

But strangely and comfortingly enough, it wasn’t at all intimidating. There were couples and small groups enjoying their meals at the tables around a small pond. And everyone was quite dressed down, and obviously quite at home – Tagaytay has that way of putting that spell on you.

We came for dinner. And the food is always the centerpiece of Antonio’s. The lovely surroundings merely heighten the experience of dining here.

Navigating your way around the menu can be daunting (especially if you don’t frequent places where there are more than one pair of spoons and forks!). But it takes a load off you when you learn that they have a set menu of a house salad, a main course (which is the hardest thing to choose - and determines the overall price of your meal), dessert and coffee/tea.

Drinks were bottomless. I had the freshly squeezed dalandan juice, an already full glass was served with a full carafe … all the better to wash down all the goodies that were coming our way. One of my friends had a huge glass pot of herbal tea. Curiosity got the better of us and poking amidst the herbs we discovered tarragon and mint amidst the jumble, apparently freshly picked from the garden!

We started off with the house salad. It reminded me of that great salad we had at Dandelion’s (Winnipeg, Canada), and it had dandelions in it too! Everything had that unmistakeable crunch, evidence of its freshness.

Fresh Salad Greens from Antonio’s Garden, Homemade Herb Cheese, Parmesan Shavings, Glazed Walnuts, julienned Granny Smith Apples and Crostini with Raspberry Vinaigrette

I especially enjoyed our appetizer of freshly baked bread slathered in a tasty black olive spread.

We also decided to have the soup, a tasty yet filling creamed soup. Already after two courses, I was starting to feel sated, but at the same time there was that jittery anticipation of my main course. I really should’ve passed on the soup!

I have always been a sucker for salmon so my main meal was a no-brainer. It was a beautifully presented, looking more like a dessert than a main course. It seemed a pity that my fork broke up the intricately tied up roll of salmon and sea bass, their lovely cream and pink shimmering on that stark white plate. But of course I couldn’t stare at it all night, could I? It was love at first bite – from the creamy tender salmon to the rich heady flavor of truffle oil in the savory mashed potatoes. I never wanted my salmon-sea bass roulade to end (see photo way way at the top).

But alas, it inevitably made way for dessert. The desserts arrived one after the other, to our oohs and ahhs. With so many us having the veritable sweet tooth, we made sure to order different things and tasted around the table.

I knew I’d hit the jackpot when I got my first taste of my mint parfait with chocolate sauce (left photo) – and especially when my friend sitting to my right kept asking for more. Then that single bite of creamy chocolate, juxtaposed with a hard bite of dark chocolate in the Tartufo Nero with Grand Marnier (right photo) also had me rolling my eyes heavenward. The chocolate-orange combination is really to die for. Never mind that it looked like a little snail … !

Prices at Antonio’s are not something scoff at though. A full meal - soup, salad, main course, dessert, coffee/tea - will put you back at least P1,200 – 3,600 (plus tax and service charge). If hubby and I were to thoroughly enjoy ourselves, I would set aside at least P2,000 for each person. Don’t get me wrong though, I consider this a steal, given the excellent quality of the food, the delightful ambiance, and the outstanding service.

That night, suffering pangs of indigestion, I mentally reviewed what I had eaten and what else I needed to eat … and I swore that I would eat at Antonio’s again. Soon.

Postscript with some regret: Sadly, the camera our little group had was one of those fumbly digital ones which react badly to minimal handshake. These photos are among the better ones which best capture the ambiance of Antonio’s.

Antonio’s Restaurant
Brgy. Neogan, Tagaytay
Lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sundays
By reservation only!
For directions and reservations: +63 917899.2866

More articles on Antonio’s:
PhilippineBusiness.com
Anton’s Awesome Planet
Wysgal’s Rants and Raves