Beautiful Spanish art tiles, paelleras on the stone walls, flamenco, and classical music greeted us as we entered the newly opened Alba Restaurant in Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons, Pasig City.
Alba Restaurante Español has been in the business for over 65 years. It’s one of the favorite Spanish restaurants in Manila amongst Filipino families, as well as foreign guests.
The Castillan buffet table offering the best tapas, paellas, lengua, callos and much more, is also set. The heritage wall cradles a rich history of Spanish cuisine in Manila is decked.
After 4 years, Alba Restaurante Español opened its fifth branch at Estancia Mall to please the palates of lovers of traditional Spanish food. And so the Alba legacy continues.
“Reunirse”
Did you know that this branch of Alba can accommodate up to 170 pax? It’s a perfect venue for intimate but even bigger gatherings!
On the wall is written: Reunirse, from the Spanish rood word “reunir”. It means to meet, assemble and get together, explained Chef Miguel de Alba, President of Alba International Incorporated and General Manager of the establishment.
Moreover, a deli bar, also by entrance, is for those who want to bring home Alba’s delicious chorizo, other Spanish cold cuts, and the newly-introduced chorizo burger patties and frozen, ready-to-heat dishes.
Beside it is a dessert bar/coffee corner where mall goers can have a cup of coffee with Alba’s famous postres like Canonigo and Tarta de Santa Teresa.
At Segovia, Alba’s main dining room that can accommodate up to 50 guests, one cannot miss the larger-than-life sepia photograph of Don Alba, serving his friends and guests in one of his restaurants.
Painted on the wall is a Spanish quote by Don Alba “Todo lo que yo deseo desde el momento que llegan que le sirvan con esmero,” that means “All that I desire from the moment you arrive is to serve you with care” which is the heart of the restaurant’s philosophy.
The ambiance of the restaurant showcases Spanish influences with modern accents for a more contemporary yet cozy feel. Side by side with charming Spanish chandeliers are modern drop lights that lend a more modish, upbeat vibe.
Painted paelleras (depicting a matador, a classic winery and a Flamenco dancer) provide a colorful facet to stone walls. These paelleras were painted by Maya, daughter of Chef Miguel and wife Cachelle.
A mural of the castle of Segovia, a neighboring city of Avila, the hometown of Don Alba, serves as a backdrop of the kitchen-island-type buffet table, just above the postres, as if drawing guests into the sweet heart of Spain right here in Manila.
Home of traditional Spanish cooking
The mere mention of Alba Restaurant conjures up images of Spanish chorizos and cured meats, its Carnes: the stewed ox tongue, Lengua Sevillana; stewed ox tripe, Callos a la Madrilena; beef stew, Caldereta de Vaca and its centerpiece Cochinillo Asado, oven-roasted suckling pig.
Alba is also famous for its authentic Paellas such as the house specialty, Paella Valenciana that has everything on it…. chicken, pork, chorizo, seafood, and vegetables.
Other popular choices are Paella Negra (with squid ink and shrimps), Paella Marinara (seafood), Paella de Bacalao (dried salted cod fish and potatoes) and Paella de Verduras for those who prefer vegetables.
A visit to the restaurant also means partaking of Tapas Calientes and Tapas Frias, bite-sized appetizers that are big on flavor.
There are about 55 choices of tapas such as chorizos, jamon, gambas, champignon, Pamplona, mortadela, salchichon, mahi-mahi, and Pa amb tomaquet, among others.
One cannot truly say they relished a savory meal without having one of Alba’s decadent desserts such as delectably fluffy meringue cake, Canonigo and another bestseller, Tarta de Santa Teresa, a cream-filled sponge cake with almonds and yema balls.
And if you can’t decide what to order, Alba offers lunch daily at all its branches. Dinner buffet is available daily for Morato, Prism and Estancia branches.
To know more Alba, check out its website at alba.com.ph. You can find Alba on Instagram at albarestaurante_ph and on Facebook at alba.restaurante.espanol.
For inquiries, here’s a list of the branches and contact info below.
Main Office:
38 Polaris St. Bel-Air, Makati City,
+63 2 896 6950 or 51
Branches:
- Tomas Morato cor. Scout Lozano, Quezon City
+632 925 1912, +632 928 7129, +632 901 3431 - Westgate Center, Filinvest, Muntilupa City / +632 771 2178 or 79
- 4th Level, Prism Plaza, TwoEcom Center Building, Bayshore Avenue cor Harbor Drive
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City / +632 808 2326, +632 808 8210 - Level 2, Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City / +632 2534953, +632 2538272
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