A success story of its own: Lolo Dad's Brasserie

MANILA, Philippines -  More often than not, entrepreneurs measure the success of their business through its financial worth. Doubling the worth of a business versus its starting value can make any businessman content. But for Lolo Dad’s Brasserie, more important than financial worth is the customers’ satisfaction. For this business, their steady climb to success is measured by the people who keep on coming back in order to enjoy good food and an even greater dining experience.

For any growing business, expansion is the next logical step — and the Lolo Dad’s Café in Malate did precisely that. Having established a reputation for being one of the most successful and sought — after Cafés, Lolo Dad’s took their business to Makati in the form of a Brasserie.

“Why in Makati? Perhaps the question should be, why not in Makati?” Lolo Dad’s general manager Ding Ayuyao said. “We chose Makati to make the Lolo Dad’s experience more accessible, and 6750 was very attractive to us because it’s the closest place to a mall without being in a mall,” he said. “So when the opportunity came, we grabbed it.” Frequent diners are composed of young professionals and businessmen in suits who come from neighboring offices, couples having a special date, or even a ladies’ book club. The Brasserie was able to entice a diverse group of diners, but the ambition does not end there; the Brasserie is now leaning to tap a fresh and wider market.

Whether it is to celebrate something special or just to have a delectable, quality meal, the Brasserie will always have something to delight the taste buds and the budget. After all, the Brasserie boasts of a wider variety meant to suit even the most discriminating Filipino palate. “At the Brasserie, you can have the trout, the ox tails, the pastas on a daily basis,” Ayuyao explained. “The food here is heartier to eat.”

Contrary to the Lolo Dad’s perception of a lavish and expensive dining experience, the Brasserie’s menu offers great tasting food that range from affordable, to justifiably costly meals. “Very few restaurants offer variety: if it’s Italian, it’s Italian; if it’s Mediterranean, it’s Mediterranean,” Ayuyao said. “So we offer them burgers and pastas that are distinctive of Lolo Dad’s renowned quality.”

Since its opening more than a year ago, the Brasserie is constantly reinventing itself to cater to the demands of its growing clientele. Last month, they already began to offer Bottomless Wine for its patrons. This premium offering will soon be complemented by the new planned look for the Brasserie whereby sofas will adorn its key areas to make the place look and feel more comfortable and homey. To make its food selections more accessible to a wider market, they are also planning to expand their catering service which, in recent months, was only made available within the Makati area.

The Brasserie is continually expanding its services while nurturing its name in both the food and restaurant industries. What started out as a business venture has now become a full-blown commitment for Lolo Dad’s to constantly reinvent itself as it continues to serve only the best-tasting food that satisfies every Filipino.