Could Be My New Favorite Steak Joint in Manila.

This past Monday, the 23rd May 2011, was my sis-in-law, Mich's, *cough*th birthday. She is based in Singapore these days and was just here for less than a week for some business. She wanted steaks and was thinking of going to Mamou, but she'd been there quite often already. Thus, I suggested she try out Gustavus Steak Lounge (Ground Floor, F&M Lopez Building, 109 C. Palanca Street, Legazpi Village; Tel. No. 846-2430) since I enjoyed my dinner there so much after a long ale session with Jimmyton and J-Lab a couple of weeks before. She agreed to my suggestion, so I made arrangements with Gustavus' Managing Partner, my Ateneo high school classmate, Mike Gayoso.

We were 16 in all that night with my in-laws and a few of their cousins. Mike was to be out of town that whole day until late, but left instructions for how our large party was to be accommodated (2 tables for 8 side-by-side), etc. We were very well cared of. Though a party of 16 having multiple courses is normally quite a strain on the waitstaff, there were no problems at all. On the contrary, I thought the service was quick, crisp and precise. Some of the dishes we enjoyed at our (the boys') table were:


Fresh Oysters (file photo)

The kids started off with the above-depicted fresh oysters (I've had these a couple of times before). They are always super fresh and delicious - an absolute must in Gustavus.


Grilled Rib-Eye, one each for my 2 brothers-in-law.


One of them got some Gustavus Steak Rice. The rest of us went for the excellent French Fries and Gnocchi for our starch.


Grilled T-Bone Steak (for me; rare of course). Delicious. I've had it here thrice so far.


Roast Rack of Australian Lamb w/ French Green Lentil & Bacon Cassoulet for my second son. Looked magnificent.


Grilled Tenderloin Steak; a couple of them, one was for my youngest.
You can see from the photo above how well it was cooked and how juicy it was inside.


Mr. D's Ultimate Beef Burger - my eldest went for this.

Desserts were excellent as well:


Choco-Nut Pinoy Buster Parfait. My nephew got this. It looked so good I vowed to have it myself next I was there - a vow I've already made good on. It definitely tastes as sinfully good as it looks.


Strawberry Cheese Cake, I don't recall whose this was though.


Crisp Apple & Mango Filo.


This was my dessert - a scoop each of Dark Chocolate & Mint Chip Ice Cream, which, together, made up a cool bowl of After Eight Dinner Mint of sorts. Loved it. I don't know what else was ordered for dessert as I was so concentrated on my own.

We didn't have any wine that night, but we continued on until late with some beers, cognac and some hilarious stories. Excellent evening. Thanks, Mich! I daresay we'll be back in Gustavus next you're in town!

[Jenise]

God, I'm hungry now (been up for hours, but no breakfast yet). What fabulous meats you get there. Were those all US prime as well? Seems most if not all of what you've shown in photos has been.

I'll have to send my huz a pic of your ice cream dessert. Mint chocolate chip ice cream--a disturbing shade of green ice cream with chocolate flecks--is his favorite ice cream in the world. But it's more a Sunday afternoon on a cone kind of ice cream, and not very elegant. The combination of two separately-flavored scoops is quite a different story.

God, I'm hungry now (been up for hours, but no breakfast yet). What fabulous meats you get there. Were those all US prime as well? Seems most if not all of what you've shown in photos has been.

I'll have to send my huz a pic of your ice cream dessert. Mint chocolate chip ice cream--a disturbing shade of green ice cream with chocolate flecks--is his favorite ice cream in the world. But it's more a Sunday afternoon on a cone kind of ice cream, and not very elegant. The combination of two separately-flavored scoops is quite a different story.

Yes, Jenise, all the steaks were US Prime. The lamb was Australian.

Re: the ice cream combination, I also like having dark chocolate and black cherry together as well.

Best,

N

But it's more a Sunday afternoon on a cone kind of ice cream, and not very elegant.

Is this somehow a derogatory comment about ice cream in cones!

Do you not want good ice cream in cones?

I agree that it may not be as elegant as in a dish with silverware in a nice restaurant. But that's no excuse for inferior ice cream!

This is all particularly exciting as ice cream season has finally arrived here in Ny.

You guys eat very well. Great pictures of the food PORN!
I got hungry looking at the pictures , hope our Copper River salmon this evening come out half as good as your pictured meal.

You guys eat very well. Great pictures of the food PORN!
I got hungry looking at the pictures , hope our Copper River salmon this evening come out half as good as your pictured meal.

Thanks, Lou. The Manila food scene has vastly improved the past 8-10 years. Yes, we can eat well here. I hope your salmon was delicious.

Best,

N

But it's more a Sunday afternoon on a cone kind of ice cream, and not very elegant.

Is this somehow a derogatory comment about ice cream in cones!

Do you not want good ice cream in cones?

I agree that it may not be as elegant as in a dish with silverware in a nice restaurant. But that's no excuse for inferior ice cream!

This is all particularly exciting as ice cream season has finally arrived here in Ny.

In my humble opinion, ALL ice cream should be served in cones, with two scoops and different flavors. The ice cream on the bottom should be pushed down with a spoon so that is goes all the way to the bottom of the cone.
I love any flavor with vanilla bean, or rocky road and black cherry, or mint chocolate chip with chocolate or....oh heck, I love it all. My new favorites right now are some of the limited editions.

In my humble opinion, ALL ice cream should be served in cones, with two scoops and different flavors. The ice cream on the bottom should be pushed down with a spoon so that is goes all the way to the bottom of the cone.
I love any flavor with vanilla bean, or rocky road and black cherry, or mint chocolate chip with chocolate or....oh heck, I love it all. My new favorites right now are some of the limited editions.

You're making me hungry for ice cream. I need to find an excuse soon!