Manila has never been a common location for our food adventures, mostly because of its proximity, but we knew there was so much to discover in this city for foodies and non-foodies alike. And so when we felt the urge to be a little more spontaneous, we knew there couldn’t have been a better option.
ROUND 1: The Introduction
C: I first heard about Casa Roces from an officemate who said that it was quite literally the Roces house, converted into a restaurant which was managed by Cravings. I was sold on the idea that the food was reportedly Roces family recipes that have been passed down over the years. The cool part of it was telling R that I was taking her to Malacanang for dinner!
R: I wasn’t supposed to know where C was going to take me for our Manila food trip, and so you can just imagine my excitement when I saw that we were headed towards the direction of the Malacanang. For a split second I thought we would be dining with the president, and I instantly felt guilty for not being better dressed.
ROUND 2: The Ambiance
C: Casa Roces was just as quirky and homely as I had imagined it to be. I was really pleased with how we were greeted at the entrance – it was as if we had our own servants greeting us at the door. Inside, there was an ante room filled with family heirlooms, pictures of the Roces family, a piano and a sala set. During the time we visited, the ground floor (which was more restaurant-looking) was booked for a family gathering complete with a live jazz band. It sort of reminded me of the party in Meet Joe Black. The second floor looked more like a home with bedrooms here and there, each with a couple of tables inside.
R: Thankfully, Casa Roces did not have a dress code, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if they had one. There was a valet service crew waiting for us at the entrance, ready to take our keys so we wouldn’t have to worry about parking. I loved the restaurant’s simple yet elegant Filipino-inspired interiors, which gave it a slightly formal ambiance.
ROUND 3: The Dishes
- Ilocos Empanada
C: I was surprised by how big this was! The empanada was more like a longganisa turnover than an empanada. The outside was crusty and the inside was a bit dough-y. The longganisa filling was salty and savory as Vigan longganisa typically is. Overall, I really liked this appetizer J
R: I am a huge fan of Ilocos Empanada. My first real encounter with this delicacy was in Vigan and I absolutely loved it. Fortunately, Casa Roces’ Ilocos Empanada did not disappoint. I liked how the crust was a mix of crunchy and soft, and had slightly burned edges. The longganisa filling was generous and went very well with the special vinegar dip.
- Fettuccine with Blue Cheese and Roasted Mushrooms
C: This dish was pretty straightforward. It tasted very fresh, the sauce was well seasoned and you could really smell the bleu cheese. It’s light pasta for a cream-based sauce but personally, I would have preferred it to be a bit thicker.
R: Fettuccine, blue cheese, roasted mushrooms – I mean, who can go wrong with this combination, right? This creamy dish was made tasty by the blue cheese, and the way the mushrooms were cooked really brought out its flavor. I highly recommend this.
- Lengua
C: This was the highlight of my dinner at Casa Roces. To begin with, this was a very generous serving of Lengua (3 large slices). They also served a very simple but tasty sauce which tasted distinctly of green olives. Also, the mashed potatoes were very fine and a bit creamy.
R: Personally, I feel like Lengua tends to taste very similar regardless of where it comes from, but I suppose what sets them apart is how tender the meat is, and slight nuances in the sauce. Casa Roces’ Lengua was cooked very well. The sauce had an extra kick that came from the pieces of olives, which I think worked pretty well
- Lemon Soufflé
C: Being the most expensive dessert on the menu, the soufflé didn’t really suit my taste having a lot of things going for it like nuts, chocolate and ice cream under the lemon soufflé. The overall flavor was too tangy for me. Maybe next time, I’ll try the moist chocolate cake instead!
R: When we asked for the waiter’s recommendation for which dessert to get, he automatically mentioned that the soufflé was their best seller. I thought the concept of the soufflé was quite interesting. It had a distinct citrus taste coming from the lemon rind, and the walnuts gave it more texture. The inside felt and tasted like ice cream and was sweeter than the outside. I’m glad we tried it just to see what it was like; but personally, it’s not something I would order again.
ROUND 4: The Verdict
C: I really enjoyed eating in Casa Roces. They had great service and a pleasant dining atmosphere. There were definitely some great dishes like the Lengua and the empanada. This would be a great place to go to for dates or small get-togethers with friends or family.
R: Besides the romantic feel of this whole dining experience, I think what really made this first Manila food trip more memorable was the fact that each scrumptious bite actually allowed us to partake of bits and pieces of rich Philippine history.