7 Restaurants Serving Tasting Menus For Your Next Special Date Night

Got a special date coming up? That's the best excuse to treat yourself (and maybe someone special) to a tasting menu. Tasting menus are not just a way to have an array of delectable small bites; a great menu will also take you on a journey, each course coming together to tell a story. It’s not just a way to get your fill of great food, but also an art form in itself.

You've most likely heard of the greatest hits when it comes to fine-dining restaurants offering tasting menus in Metro Manila like Toyo, Metiz, and Gallery by Chele—and we say, if you haven't visited them to give those a try! But if you're ready for relatively newer stuff, here's a list of tasting menus around the Metro you have to try.

Location: G/F First Midland Building, 109 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City

Hálong may be relatively new to the dining scene, but it's already among a lot of people's must-try tasting menus for good reason. Chef Cara Davis spent seven years in Mexico, even opening her own restaurant there, and Hálong reflects this experience, with a menu that combines bold Mexican and Asian flavors. Their eight-course tasting menu ((P4,500/pax) is jam-packed with the punchy flavors both Mexican and Asian cuisines are known for with dishes like the Tofu Sisig with habanero and mandarin sriracha and Cold Sesame noodles with Sichuan peppercorn and Chili Guajillo. 

Location: 339 E. Dela Paz, Marikina City

You may think of Marikina City as quieter than its more bustling NCR siblings, but seasoned foodies know that this city is home to lots of great eats—and you can add Leo Sea House to that list. Just like their name suggests, Leo Sea House is all about showcasing locally sourced fresh seafood in an ever-changing tasting menu. In their previous tasting menu, Rural Nostalgia, Capiz-born Chef Francis Lacson played with dishes from his birthplace like the Goto, made here with Capiz Cagaycay clams and mussels instead of the usual beef or the Scallop Siomai with Capiz scallops and tenga ng daga, served with toyomansi and cheese pimiento on the side.

Leo Sea House just launched their new tasting menu, intriguingly called Buon Appetito, and according to their Instagram, this menu will be "a bold journey to celebrate Italian classics with the best bounties of Panay Island." The best part? At P2,500 (exclusive of 10% service charge) for an eight-course menu, this is one of the more affordable tasting menus around.

Location: G/F 8 Rockwell, Lopez Drive, Rockwell, Makati City

They may have moved to a new location, but 12/10 has kept their loyal following and attracted new fans, too, thanks to their menu of excellently executed izakaya classics with a twist. Their 11-course tasting menu ((P5,900/pax) is one perfect bite after another: from fresh Hamachi and Lobster to hefty Okan Gyukatsu and Duck. We recommend getting sake for the full izakaya experience. Plus, this cozy spot's broody atmosphere is the perfect vibe for a hush-hush date.

Location: The Maridien Tower 2, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City

At Taupe, Chef Francis Tolentino (also of Almacen and Unit 27) combines Filipino produce with his global culinary experience, and he goes creatively wild in his thematic tasting menus, which come in 8-course (P7,000/head) or 10-course (P8,500/head). His current one is called Elements, and, as its name suggests, plays with (cue Avatar: The Last Airbender opening sequence) water, earth, fire, and air. This means gems like Amuse Bouche, a crisp sweet-potato tart with a guyabano espuma  that has an almost gentle smokiness to it or the Wet-Aged Hamachi, paired with refreshing longan, calamansi snow, and avocado puree. Taupe's interiors are also a feast for the eyes with an elegant, minimal aesthetic so be sure to dress your best for all the pics you'll surely be taking.

Location: 3/F The Shops at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City

Chef Josh Boutwood may have a full and varied roster of restaurants, but we think he's at his top creative form at Helm. The tasting menu (starts at P5,800/head) here is ever-evolving, changing every four months, and is not bound by any cuisine so come with zero expectations—except for a good meal and a good time. One of Helm's most talked-about tasting menus, and personally one of the most unique ones we've seen in the Metro, is their latest one inspired by the Harry Potter series.

Whether you're a Potterhead or just someone who appreciates unique flavors and presentation, you're sure to enjoy this menu. Some of the standouts are an all-black dish of savory squid porridge with a "cape" that's a nod to Professor Snape, and a roasted quail dish glazed with shoyu koji and topped with an airy hibiscus foam that's a homage to Order of the Phoenix. This intimate 24-seater restaurant features an open kitchen where you can watch Chef Josh and team in their element—it's a full sensory feast.

Location: The Alley at Karrivin, Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City

You can consider Inato as Toyo's sibling of sorts: they are, after all, in the same hip location that is The Alley at Karrivin. But Inato carves out its own space, with charms that are distinctly its own. Inato takes its name from the Binisaya word "ato ni" or "our way," and Chef Jepe Cruz does pave his own path with Filipino dishes that reflect his more-than-a-decade culinary experience and travels both here and abroad, while still taking root in beloved heirloom recipes.

Their Bahala Na Menu (starts at P4,000/head) is an exciting adventure—this set menu with four courses is ever-changing, with Chef Jepe taking inspiration from seasonal ingredients to create elevated yet homey Filipino dishes. One dish you might get is their take on the burger steak—with the comfort provided by your fave fast-food version but also fancier thanks to Iberico pork and a creamy pata sauce. Take note: The Bahala Na Menu is only available on their first dinner seating at 6 p.m.

Location: G/F Greenbelt Hamilton, 151 Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City

Chefs Mikee Lopez and Alex Tan are, well, the tandem behind Tandem, one of Makati's newer fine dining restaurants. At Tandem, both chefs love to play around with local ingredients to create uber-curated tasting menus that weave a story.

For August, their current tasting menu is simply called Rice (P5,600/person), and features the Filipino staple in different forms—like Steeped, a yaki onigiri using rice that’s been steeped in genmai dashi or Fried, a sambal fried rice with a confit egg yolk and hanger steak. Not only is every dish sure to be tasty, but figuring out how rice has been used in every dish gives our brain much-needed action. Take note that Tandem only serves their tasting menu for the first three weeks of the month, while the last week of the month is reserved for their equally excellent ala-carte menu, so plan your reservations accordingly!