Dining with a stunning view

On a clear day, you can see Manila Bay stretching for miles from the 27th floor of Diamond Hotel’s Restaurant Le Bellevue. If you’re lucky, you can catch the famed sunset by the bay. They even offer sunset cocktails with drinks and canapés. A lot of marriage proposals have happened here, a lot of intimate gatherings and meetings, too. It’s the romance and quietness associated with dining by the bay that keep clients coming back.

Down on the ground floor of the 27-story hotel, the Japanese restaurant Yurakuen offers a different kind of ambience — lush tropical plants and rock gardens surround its glass-enclosed interiors, while cut-glass cherry blossoms provide a touch of Japan inside. With gardens wrapped around the glass walls, you wouldn’t think busy Roxas Boulevard was just right outside.

Le Bellevue and Yurakuen are two of the featured outlets in Diamond Hotel’s tie-up with Citibank for Citibank Gold and Platinum cardholders. Cardholders get a 15 percent discount on food and beverage in these restaurants, plus at Palm Court Café and Bar, Kohikan Cafe, and Sky Lounge Music Bar whenever they use their Citibank Gold MasterCard and Visa, and Visa Platinum.

It had been raining the whole day when we had dinner at Le Bellevue, but what made up for the lack of a clear view of Manila Bay were the bright, colorful lights of Roxas Boulevard down below. And, of course, the excellent food and service of the 54-seat restaurant.

Le Bellevue offers European and continental dishes that range from pan-seared duck liver to pork tenderloin on eggplant veloute, lobster tail, lapu-lapu fillet, US Black Angus sirloin steak and lamb cutlet. You can also catch its ongoing Wagyu festival. The beef from Japan is famed for its tenderness and juiciness, and you will not be disappointed whether you have it as grilled peppered steak or as burger.

If you can’t make up your mind from the selections, go for the set menus. But first, ask for wine recommendations from Le Bellevue manager Oliver or Paul. They gave us an excellent bottle of red wine that went well with both fish and beef.

 We tried the five-course set menu that includes buffalo mozzarella with yellow bell tomatoes and arugula salad. Unlike the mozzarella cheese we are more accustomed to for pizza, the cheese made from buffalo milk is more delicate tasting and practically melts in the mouth. Next came deep-fried squash flowers, zucchini sticks and cauliflower spears with tomato jam and lemon mousseline, followed by saffron-infused cream of scallops. For the main course, the set features pan-fried sole in white wine sauce with grapes and bacon, beetroot pasta and stir-fired vegetables. Its Golden Rocher Crunch is a great meal-ender paired with coffee. 

Beef lovers who can’t decide what to order from appetizer to dessert should simply get the set menu that includes grilled US beef with French duck liver. It starts off with zucchini flowers and mozzarella and scallops wanton, followed by seared duck breast, cauliflower mousseline and for dessert, chocolate gateau and a selection of cheeses.

If you want to start your day with a light and authentic Japanese breakfast, head to Yurakuen restaurant on the ground floor. The first time I had a Japanese breakfast was, well, in Japan. We were staying in a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn) in Kyoto and I opened my bento box and thought, how different their breakfast is from what we’re used to, which is mostly carbs from bread and rice, and protein from bacon. The Japanese breakfast bento box — whether in Kyoto or at Yurakuen — is mostly fish and pickled vegetables with rice or congee. And it makes sense to start the day with a dose of seafood. Breakfast at Yurakuen comes with a bottle of Yakult. Oh, what a blast from everyone’s childhood, when drinking Yakult was part of our morning rituals before going to school.

Then again, if you’re the type to load up for breakfast (or lunch and dinner), Palm Court Café and Bar serves buffet-style meals (and also a la carte selections). For a quick bite and some pastries, Kohikan has the most wonderful ensaymadas that you can pair with a cup of coffee. Sky Lounge Music Bar is the place to unwind after a busy day with live bands and views of the city below.

Dining at Diamond Hotel’s restaurants is truly a rewarding experience.  

* * *

Diamond Hotel and Citibank offer Gold MasterCard and Visa, and Visa Platinum cardholders  a 15 percent discount at Palm Court Café and Bar, Yurakuen, Le Bellevue, Kohikan, and Sky Lounge Music Bar. Exceptions are Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter Sunday,  Father’s Day, Christmas Eve/Day, and New Year’s Eve/Day. Diamond Hotel is located on Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos St. For inquiries, call 528-3000 or log on to www.diamondhotel.com.