Restaurant Review: Dulcinea Restaurant (Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila)

 

Dulcinea Glorietta

After over nine months of being cooped up at home due to the COVID 19 pandemic, I felt brave enough (but still cautiously) to try dining out again and Jandy and I chose to return to a family favorite – Dulcinea Restaurant, one of the oldest Spanish restaurants in the country.  

Since 1963, this classic, real old school Spanish café/bakery/restaurant has been serving Spanish cuisine adapted to Filipino taste and style. 

The Dulcinea story actually started in 1961 when Señor Santos Ruano, with his knowledge, wits and his grandparents’ recipes, decided to leave his grandparent’s pasteleria in Spain to travel to the Philippines.  

Upon arrival, he opened up Dulcinea Pasteleria y Salon de Te, his own humble little pasteleria along Mabini Street in Ermita.

 

Ruano introduced various Spanish dishes and sugary treats including the classic churros con chocolate, a traditional Spanish dessert that I now enjoyed. What began as a little pasteleria has now become one of the enduring names in Manila cuisine.  

In 2008, the family-owned F&C (Florete and Caporence) Group of Companies (the same group behind Mang Inasal, Sbarro and Bucca di Beppo) acquired the Dulcinea brand, retaining its wide variety of Spanish dishes that made it so popular.  The company now runs 8 Dulcinea branches.

Today, Dulcinea still continues to uphold the tradition of serving delicious food and sweet pastries set by its founder.  

Their two branches (Glorietta and Greenbelt) within Ayala Center feature a homey blue and white atmosphere, with an adequate and clean space filled with simple but beautiful traditional Spanish decors. Their setting was comfortable, with good service and a nice environment for a delicious meal.

My favorite dish is the Arroz ala Cubana, a breakfast staple consisting of ground beef, onions, garlic, potatoes, and carrots, served with fried eggs, rice and fried saging na saba (Php285). 

Dulcinea Greenbelt

Chorizo con Arroz is another favorite breakfast staple that is basically slices of Spanish chorizo on top of sautéed rice with onions (Php240). Both came with free coffee.

The succulent Tuhod y Batoc, another favorite of mine, is a stew of tender and succulent beef knee and shoulder with potatoes, mushrooms and peppers (Php 540).   

Equally a favorite is the Fabada Asturiana, a hearty combination of stewed white beans and pork with Spanish chorizo and morcilla (Php 415). 

My son Jandy’s favorite main dish was the tender and flavorful Salpicao which was tastiest tenderloin cubes sautéed in a thick marinade of garlic, olive oil and spices, topped with chili, and served with buttered potatoes and garlic rice (Php435).

 

For my wife Grace and daughter Cheska, it was the Gambas al Ajillo, shrimp sauteed in a medley of garlic and olive oil and chili (Php325).  All of us enjoyed the Paella Marinera, saffron-infused rice topped with a variety of fresh seafood (Php695).

The Churros con chocolate we usually had for dessert consisted of 4 big, super crispy slices served with ultra thick, dark and strong hot Spanish chocolate (Php145).  

Another Dulcinea bestseller is the Lengua Estofado, very tender ox tongue simmered in a blend of spices, sliced and generously topped with homemade gravy and mushrooms (Php465). For its rice meals, Dulcinea has been using more of the premium Jasmine rice than regular rice. 

Some Dulcinea Restaurants have equipment needed for in-store baking of fresh batches of pastries so diners get them fresh all the time.  

Their sweets and pastries should be specially mentioned as they serve a huge number of cakes, leche flan, helado petissi and dessert sampler (combination of 3 desserts) every day. 

Now almost six decades old, Dulcinea still remains an intrinsic part of the lives of many Manila residents and three generations of Filipinos have walked through Dulcinea’s doors and enjoyed its delicious Spanish comfort food and pastries, a tradition continued from parent to child, from family to family.  Here is a sampling of their menu: 

Arroz con Chorizo (Php240)

All Day Breakfast (served with coffee)

• Bacon and Eggs (Php295)
• Spanish Sausage & Eggs (Php285)
• Chicken Pork Adobo (Php285)
• Corned Beef (Php285)
• Boneless Bangus a la Pobre (Php295)
• Beef Tapa (Php285)
• Ham and Chinese Omelet (Php285)
• Spanish Sardines (Php285)
• Tortilla Riojana (a hearty combination of Spanish sausage, potatoes, red and green bell peppers, Php399)
• Longanisa (Php290)
• Galantina (Php290)
• Tortilla Espanola (a traditional tortilla dish made with potatoes and onions, Php265) 

Arroz ala Cubana (Php285)

Tapas (Appetizer)

• Baked Mussels (buttered mussels topped with garlic and cheese, Php310)
• Chorizo Bilbao (homemade Spanish sausage in authentic spices, Php265)
• Baby Squid Calamari (buttered baby squid cooked in special spices, Php325)
• Camaron (buttered baby squid coated in special spices, Php335) 

Sopas (Soup)

• Soup of the Day (kindly ask our waiter for the soup of the day,Php120)
• Crema de Ajo (roasted garlic, pureed and tapped with roasted garlic bits, Php155)
• Crema de Calabaza (fresh creamy pumpkin soup, Php160)
• Sopa de Mariscos (classic seafood soup tapped with crumbled hard-boiled egg, Php195)

Ensalada (Salad)

• Garden Salad (mixed fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, shredded carrots, topped with olives and eggs, Php335, with a choice of Thousand Island or Vinaigrette Dressing)
• Mango Shrimp Salad (a tango of shrimp on romaine and iceberg lettuce in citrus dressing topped with bacon bits and homemade croutons, Php380)
• Caesar Salad (fresh romaine lettuce tossed in traditional Caesar dressing topped with bacon bits and homemade croutons, Php320) 

Paellas (good for 2-3 people)

• Paella Valenciana (saffron-infused rice cooked with chicken, pork, and seafood, Php695)
• Paella Negra (saffron-infused rice, cooked with squid in squid ink, Php695)
• Paella de Verduras (saffron-infused rice, cooked with vegetables, Php670) 

Beef Salpicao (Php435)

Especialidad de Casa (House Specialties)

• Braised Duck Leg Seville Style (duck leg quarter fried and braised in olive and orange sauce, served with mashed potato, Php575)
• Pato con Salsa de Caparas (pan-seared duck breast topped with caper sauce, simmered for hours, and served with roasted carrots and fragrant saffron rice, Php510)
• Andalucian Porkchops (a 400-gram pork chop covered in Moorish spice rub, pan-seared and served with white bean stew, roasted carrots and asparagus, Php495)
• Crackling Pork Belly (crackling pork belly roasted until tender and served on a bed of roasted garlic sauce, with rice on the side, Php475)
• Tenderloin Steak (pan-seared tenderloin topped with an olive-red wine sauce and served with roasted carrots and white bean stew, Php595)
• Gypsy Steak (a beautiful cut of pork, roasted with fragrant spices and seasoned with herbed butter, Php425) 

Pescados (Seafoods)

• Salmon al Ajillo (pan-seared salmon topped with garlic-and-chili oil, served with roasted artichokes and mashed potato, Php645)
• Zarzuela de Mariscos (a medley of fresh seafood simmered in our delicious homemade tomato sauce and served with rice, Php450)
• Lapu-Lapu con Crema de Ajo (pan-fried lapu-lapu fillet, topped with garlic cream sauce and served with roasted garlic and mashed potato on the side, Php420)
• Pescado con Zarza Verde (cooked in a traditional sauce made with fresh parsley infused with garlic and olive oil and served with rice, Php465) 

Pollos (Chicken)

• Pollo ala King (Dulcinea’s version of classic chicken cooked in a traditional cream sauce and topped in puff pastry, Php310)
• Chicken in Almond Saffron Sauce (pan-roasted chicken breast on a bed of almond saffron sauce, topped with slivered almonds, served with sautéed asparagus and rice, Php405)
• Pollo ala Pobre (pan-seared chicken fillet marinated in special soy sauce and served with buttered vegetables and rice, Php415)
• Pollo Rollo (a deep-fried roulade of chicken, stuffed with sausage, cheese, and ham and served with buttered vegetables and mashed potatoes, Php440) 

Potajes (Stew)

• Oxtail Casserole (slow cooked oxtail flavored with special sauces and spices, Php 540)
• Callos ala Madrillena (a traditional stew of tender ox tripe simmered for hours, Php 495) 

Compartir (For Sharing, good for 2-3 people)

• Salmon al Ajillo (Php1,130)
• Beef Salpicao (Php785)
• Roast Pork Loin (Php595)
• Pork Belly (Php860)
• Pollo al Pobre (Php595)
• Lengua Estofado (Php805) 

Pastas

• Pasta Sardines (pasta cooked with Spanish sardines and peppers,  Php 280)
• Pasta Paella (pasta topped with a combination of fresh seafood and cooked in a special tomato sauce, Php 675)
• Pasta Putanesca (pasta made with a mix of anchovy, capers, chili and garlic, Php 300)
• Pesto (a traditional sauce made from basil, nuts, garlic cheese and olive oil, Php 294)
• Shrimp Pasta (pasta topped with shrimp, mushrooms and red and green bell peppers sauteed in olive oil and spices, Php 325)
• Pasta Y Chorizo (Pasta sauteed in garlic, chorizo and spices topped with pimiento,
  Php 280)
• Bolognese (pure beef in tomato sauce cooked in herbs and spices, Php 289)
• Baked spaghetti (formerly known as their espagueti a lasagna, it is spaghetti tossed in their signature lasagna sauce, topped with bechamel and then baked to perfection, Php 289)
• Carbonara (bacon in a creamy white sauce,  Php289)
• Creamy Salmon Pasta (diced salmon in our homemade creamy white sauce, Php310)
• Pasta Marinara (pasta topped with a combination of fresh seafood and cooked in our special tomato sauce, Php357)
• Baked Macaroni (all meat with herbs and spices topped with bechamel sauce and baked to perfection, Php289) 

Churros con Chocolate (Php145)

Churros (served with chocolate for dipping)

• Churros con chocolate junior (Php 125)

Sandwiches (all served with a side of French fries)

• Tuna Mayo Sandwich (shredded tuna flakes mixed in mayo seasoned with spices, Php215)
• Cheeseburger (flavorful beef patty served in a handmade bun, Php215)
• Chicken Mayo Sandwich (chicken strips mixed in mayo seasoned with spices, Php215)
• Dulcinea Clubhouse (the king of sandwiches, it consists of bacon, lettuce, ham, cheese, tomatoes, pickles, and egg, Php265)
• Angus Beef Sandwich (pan-seared strips of Angus beef with special dressing, Php230) 

Angus Beef Sandwich (Php230)

Dessert

• Cake of the Day (Php184)
• Blueberry Cheesecake (Php225)
• Brazo de Mercedez (slice: Php140)
• Mango Crepe (Php230)

Pastries

Pastries

• Sans Rival (whole: Php650, slice: Php95)
• Cream Puffs (choice of Classic Cream Puff, Pistachio Cream Puff, Chocolate Cream Puff and Cream Puff de Leche, Php50/pc.)
• Napoleones (Php60/pc.)
• Madrileno (Php55/pc.)
• Silvanas (Php65/pc.)
• Tiras Mangga (Php95/pc.)
• Moritos (Php45/pc.)
• Negritos (Php55/pc.)
• Leche Flan (Php58/pc.)
• Borrachos (Php55/pc.)
• Éclair (Php55/pc.)
• Macapuno Pastry (Php55/pc.)
• Frenchipan (Php55/pc.)
• Egg Tart (Php42/pc.) 

Cream Puff (Php50/pc.)

Hot Beverages

• Espresso (Php125)
• Double Espresso (Php160)
• Cafe Bonbon (Php150)
• Cafe Latte (Php150)
• Sancho's Chocolate (Php150)
• Coffee (choice of Hot, Php125; Iced, Php129)
• Cappuccino (choice of Hot, Php150; Iced, Php165)
• Hot Tea (Php105) 

Cold Beverages

• Mango Shake (Php175)
• Green Mango Shake (Php175)
• Cucumber Shake (Php175)
• Fresh Mango Juice (Php175)
• Fresh Pineapple Juice (Php175)
• Fresh Calamansi Juice (Php125)
• Soft drinks in Can (Php105)
• Tropical Fruit Shake (Glass, Php175; Pitcher, 295)
• Orange Juice (Glass: Php195)
• Iced Tea (Glass: Php105)
• Carafe (Php210)
• Bottomless (Php145)
• House Wine (Glass, Php275)
• Pale Pilsen (Php120/can)
• San Miguel Light (Php120/can)

Dulcinea also offers appetizing Paella Set Meal (good for 4 persons) where your authentic and savory Spanish Paella is paired with another fine fare and complemented with delicious soup.

• Set A: Fish Fillet with tartar sauce, 4 s of Soup of the Day, and 4 glasses of iced tea for P999 instead of P2155
• Set B: Pollo Rollo, 4 s of Soup of the Day, and 4 glasses of iced tea for P1099 instead of P2245

Dulcinea Greenbelt: Level 1, Greenbelt 5, Paseo De Roxas cor. Legazpi St., Makati City 1223, Metro Manila.  Tel: (02) 8817- 7074. E-mail: dulcinea_desde1963@hotmail.com.

Dulcinea Glorietta: 2/L, Glorietta 4, Ayala Ave. cor. Pasay Rd., Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila.  Tel: (02) 8752 -7110.