A vibrant Mandarin Oriental Café and Deli in Gateway Mall

It was bound to happen. In today’s world where a premium is placed on convenience and ease, it was only a matter of time before respected leaders in the hotel industry established their presence in the malls. Many urban dwellers spend their leisure time there; and thus, it makes perfect sense to open a mall outlet to make it simpler for the public to avail of particular products and services.

The Mandarin Oriental, Manila, that bastion of luxury and gracious service, has jump-started the movement. With the opening of the Mandarin Oriental Café and Deli at the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center, discerning patrons in the area no longer have to drive all the way to Makati to enjoy the Mandarin’s first-rate quality service and cuisine. They can also obtain the hampers of superior cheese, deli meat, bread, and pastries from the convenient new outlet.

The interior of the Mandarin Oriental Café and Deli is described as the "oriental provincial look." Designer Sonia-Santiago Olivares used patterned tiles, stained wooden panels, and grass reed window shades to create an elegant and modern, yet simple and comfortable feel. Wooden fences and planters define the café perimeter, and this is meant to mimic the look of a village garden. Shades of yellows and terracotta fade into beiges, and are highlighted sparingly with black, aubergine, and cobalt. The colors are soothing and will not cause unnecessary distraction from the excellent selections in the menu.

At the recent opening of the café, guests were served a sampling of the breads, cheeses, and pastries, as well as random items from the predominantly Asian a la carte menu. The tikka-marinated chicken sandwich with onion mustard chutney and yogurt-cucumber dip was delicious without being overpowering, while as expected, one couldn’t go wrong with the traditional club sandwich. Whole grain bread layered with chicken breast, glazed ham, fried egg, bacon, lettuce, and tomato is always a hearty and tasty choice.

The sandwiches served at the café make a satisfying snack or meal for shoppers. Smoked salmon and crabmeat with dill sauce; grilled vegetables with feta cheese on rye; grilled ham and cheese; or even a burger on a toasted sesame bun with coleslaw and your choice of cheese, bacon, fried egg, or sautéed mushrooms are welcome alternatives to the usual fast-food choices.

A quick perusal of the menu indicates that the usual favorites are available at the café – Caesar salad traditionally prepared with roasted Cajun chicken breast; Niçoise salad with tuna, quail egg, tomato, and green beans; potato salad with bacon and Cajun fried chicken; and mozzarella and cherry tomato salad with pesto and coleslaw with pineapple tidbits. A farfalle pasta salad with baby shrimp was tempting, too. Of course, a healthy salad of seasonal greens was the healthy option.

Needless to say, I was torn between eating healthy and following my usual inclinations. The temptation turned out to be too overwhelming. I particularly enjoyed the Thai beef salad – tender slivers of lightly grilled beef in a sweet-tangy sauce; while the sausage and cheese salad with cornichons (French for a tiny pickled gherkin cucumber that is a traditional accompaniment to a meat pate) was a close second favorite. To make up for succumbing to the carnivorous choice once again, I made it a point to eat the crisp romaine greens that came with the meat salads.

I was delighted that the Singapore fried noodles were seasoned just the way I like them – with an almost imperceptible hint of chili; while I would recommend a steaming bowl of Vietnamese chicken noodle soup in lemongrass-flavored broth as just the thing to chase the rainy-day blues away.

Being partial to noodle dishes, I resolved to visit the café again to try the fried noodle (char kway teow, bami goreng and fried hokkien mie) and noodle soup dishes (udon noodles with Japanese fish cake; wanton noodle; barbecue duck noodle; and prawn and pork noodle soup with pak choi).

Interestingly, a Filipino merienda (of churros, bibingka, puto bumbong, guinataan halo-halo, and kesong puti on your bread of choice) is an option, too.

Of course, presentation plays an integral part in the dining experience. Expectedly, the Mandarin Oriental Café and Deli does not disappoint, and the aesthetic presentation further enhances the already excellent flavors and aromas of the food.

Besides the 67-seat restaurant, Mandarin Oriental will also operate the adjacent Oasis, Gateway’s famous atrium. The venue can be booked for private functions and is aptly named. Indeed, it is a lush oasis, beautifully landscaped with fishponds and a gushing waterfall, flowering bromeliads, dendrobium, foliage plants, bamboo and fully-grown frangipani trees. Certainly, it is an elegant outdoor setting for the Mandarin Oriental Café and Deli.

"The presence of Mandarin Oriental Café and Deli is another milestone for Gateway Mall. We consider this a timely innovation in dining service to complete the lifestyle needs of our mall patrons," says Araneta Group chairman and CEO Jorge Araneta.

Helmut Gaisberger, Mandarin Oriental, Manila’s general manager responds, "This is the first time that Mandarin Oriental, or any hotel in the country, ventured into operating a restaurant outside of the hotel premises. We take pride and honor in being part of the vibrant Gateway Mall."

For residents of nearby areas who enjoy Mandarin Oriental’s distinctly luxurious service and cuisine, the new café and deli is a happy and welcome development.