Pau Gutierrez
Manila, Philippines — I’ve always loved Glorietta, and I believe part of this has to do with the fact that our mom always brought my sister and me with her whenever she had a meeting in Makati when we were younger.
Back then, posh boutiques with its sparkly, fancy bags were a far luxury to the eyes of a ten-year-old, and both my sister and I would contend ourselves with the comfort of the musky playgrounds that used to abound inside the mall. After hours of playing, my mom (who would often rush from work appointments to fetch us within the time allowance allowed by the play place) would then take us to the first “food choices” in Glorietta 4 for dinner.
I guess this is why I’ve always remembered the place with fond nostalgia, so it is with a wistfulness that I bid goodbye to it as Ayala Malls unveiled an upgraded look and more than 30 new food options.
The beefed-up menu includes a curated mix of different cuisines–from Filipino, Italian, Vietnamese, American, Japanese, Thai–as well as dessert choices, fruit shakes, milk tea, coffee, and even wine.
According to Ayala Malls, the revamp of the Glorietta Food Choices is just the first phase of an ongoing brand redevelopment to serve its mall-goers better by transforming its spaces into creative urban hubs instead of leaning towards clinical design.
Food Choices, for one, boasts of an exciting dining experience in a cozy setting with warm wood details, chic chairs and tables mixed-and-matched with a range of textures and finishes, all following a subtle monochromatic palette brightened up by neon-lit signages. The versatility of the space invites one to linger longer over a delicious meal, or maybe coffee and dessert. It is the ideal hangout spot that levels up from the usual food court ambiance with quality choices at accessible price points for the Makati foodies.
For those who want a taste of Filipino home cooking, there’s Reyes BBQ for that inihaw and java rice meal fix and Mabini’s Kainan Kapihan is set to serve a revolutionary menu. Mesa Steak Sizzlers is there for hearty, meaty meals.
Those who want to enjoy Asian flavors can take their pick from Kraken Takoyaki, Sushi Nori’s sushi rolls and poke bowls, Maisen’s Katsu sets, Banh Mi Vietnamese sandwiches, Taiwanese-style meals from Mr. Chops, and the sizzling sets from Pepper Lunch Express. El Presidente of Binondo is there to offer familiar Chinese favorites while Thai food from BKK Express, Singaporean-Chinese offerings from Wangfu Express and Kosoo’s Korean specialties will soon add to the Asian mix of food merchants.
Chicken cravings will be sated at Birdhouse, Rotisserie, and World Chicken, and Shawa Wama is set to serve up its popular pita wraps soon. For carbo-loading on great pasta, there’s Farina’s, and for more health-conscious diners, there are good food options from the Farmery’s salads and smoothies, Juicy Fresh Juice Bar, and Peppy Olive’s heart-healthy Mediterranean delights.
A new way to enjoy a caffeine fix is also in the works with choices of cold brew coffee from Nitro 7 Coffee & Tea Bar, while Pure Nectar’s juice cleanse sets are also available for those who want to drink up on healthy stuff. If something stronger is needed, diners can unwind with a glass or two of good vino from Totide Wine Bar in the coming days.
Dessert is always a good idea and Glorietta’s Food Choices has a great array of sweet temptations, ranging from Taho Manila’s take on a street food fave, to Cassalu’s Filipino cheesecakes, Dulcinea’s bestselling churros con chocolate and Lord Stow’s egg tarts.
Those who want to cool off from shopping can head for Jungle Joy’s Banana con Hielo, and Wooyoo Premium Milk Frost’s lineup of Korean bingsu choices. Of course, if you want to bring some sweet stuff home, there’s always Mary Grace and Sans Rival. Mo’s Cookies will soon delight cookie lovers with their mouth-watering treats that are offered in bite-sized (called crumbs!), which is good for sharing, and their palm-sized cookies.
Searching for best hotels and affordable flights? Check out our complete list of affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
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