European dishes does not only sound delicious, they also taste superb! Made with fine ingredients and an eye for details, these gourmet dishes will surely leave us inspired and satisfied. But guess what? You do not have to travel around the world just to have some. You can get the experience by dining in Vanderlust.
Theme and Inspiration
Vanderlust is a high-end restaurant located at The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City. This European-inspired restaurant is shouting sophistication from the interior to the menu, and down to the kitchen. The navy blue painting of the façade and the touch of gold at every corner makes it even royal. Then, the vintage European designs set up the wanderlust ambiance. This idea was from the owners, Mark Anthony Tan and Valerie Tan who wanted to fuse amazing travel and food experience in one.
This restaurant is perfect for any occasion, from romantic dates to family dinners. We ate there with my high school friends for Christmas dinner, and everything from food to location is perfect.
Food
Of course, the highlight of Vanderlust is the food. They offer all sorts of meals from appetizing soups to fulfilling desserts and pastry. The entrée they serve were also classy and delicious especially if paired with wine.
The restaurant has a lot to offer and every meal seems equally compelling. But of course, we have our personal favorites which you ought to try, too. Here are the dishes that stood out before our eyes:
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Cacio E Pepe Mushroom Truffle
Cacio E Pepe is one of the highlights of Vanderlust in their pasta menu. You can choose among these three: Classic, Mushroom Truffle, and Prawns and Lemon. Each dish is made with high quality Italian pasta and cheese. Price per serving starts from P248. Though every variant looks and tastes very satisfying, we unanimously liked the Cacio E Pepe Mushroom Truffle. Not only that it is made with one of the most sought out ingredient (truffle), this pasta dish also has an umami earthy taste to it. It’s like eating at a fancy Italian restaurant, only that you are in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City. The price of this mushroom truffle cacao e pepe is P428. Might be a bit pricey, but you’ll never know its worth if you do not try. It’s also one of the best sellers.
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Espaguetis con Albondigas
Love Italian pasta even more with this gourmet restaurant quality dish. What we personally liked about it is the thrill you get from the flavors. The pasta is originally spicy, but can be requested to prepare depending on your preferences. Even so, we recommend you eat it as is (with spiciness), as taste is tolerable even to persons who are not big with hot and bold flavors. It is topped with Spanish meatballs, and a lovely sauce which can either be olive oil or tomato sauce (again, depending on your likes). It is one of the Chef’s recommended dish, so you can never go wrong with Espaguetis con Albondigas. Price per serving is P348.
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Il Naufrago
Eat chicken but to a whole new level with one of Vanderlust’s main dishes, Il Naufrago. The star of in this meal is the stuffed crusted chicken breast seasoned with love and technique. Sitting in herb pilaf surrounded by marinara sauce, this dish looked like an island amidst a pool of lava. It is garnished with basil essence to wrap up the sophistication. Price per plate is P488.
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Schweinekotelett with Mustard Cream Sauce
This dish is where German and Filipino inspiration meets. One from the list of Chef’s Recommendation, this elevated pork chop meal is made to capture the hearts of meet lovers. The well-seasoned protein rests hot on top of a pureed potato. It is also blanketed with a traditional purple coleslaw which is fermented to enhance taste. It is also garnished with herbs, and touched with a small portion of mustard sauce. And for the best part, a pork skin on the side sits perfectly to complement the dish. This elegant entrée with a Filipino twist can be enjoyed for P498.
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Gianduiotto
Indulge in heavenly chocolate taste with Vanderlust’s Gianduiotto. This best-selling dessert is a chocolate-hazelnut mousse from which ingredients are imported from Piedmont, Italy. Plating is clever and playful. Balance of sweetness and nuttiness are also well thought of. Though a bit small for its price (P185), this dessert is the best on the array of sweets.
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Butcher’s Steak with Blue Cheese
Another delicious main dish is the Butcher’s Steak with Blue Cheese. This good portion of meat is further raised to a world-class flavor through infusing red wine reduction on its cooking. This gives the protein a savory red hue. In addition, the light colors of the blue cheese dressing balanced not only the physical appeal of the entrée, but more importantly the taste. You can enjoy this meal for P658.
Other Things We Love in Vanderlust
Ambiance and food are the main reason why spending every peso in Vanderlust is all worth it. The array of food choices in the menu is plenty which can suit almost all our taste preferences. One thing that we appreciate with this European-inspire restaurant is that you learn while you eat. The menu is full of trivia, and so value on each serving strengthen through that. They also have food advisories to avoid any dietary restrictions or allergies. Staff and other personnel are friendly and approachable. Moreover, the overall experience will fire up your travel and food enthusiasts.
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