Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill at Newport World Resorts. JC Cailles Lo

MANILA -- Last August 31, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill opened its doors at Newport World Resorts in Manila with so much anticipation. And who wouldn’t be thrilled by this news? The celebrated chef from the TV show "Hell’s Kitchen"now has a restaurant in Manila!

With now 88 restaurants worldwide and a total of eight Michelin stars combined, Ramsay's achievements are truly impressive. For big foodie fans, it’s worth noting that each of these concepts offers a unique dining experience starting from the menu up to the interiors, making it so tempting to explore them all when one travels abroad.

So what makes Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill special? One standout feature is its exclusivity since there are only three existing branches worldwide. The original location is in Mayfair, London, the second one is in Kuala Lumpur, and Manila is the newest addition. This particular restaurant centers around premium steak options, paired with an innovative and extensive beverage menu, especially cocktails. But, of course, the iconic signature dishes such as the renowned Beef Wellington are made available here too.

Let’s cut to the chase and talk about the signature dishes.

Gordon Ramsay's Signature Beef Wellington. JC Cailles Lo 

Many were taken aback by the sight of a Beef Wellington slice priced at P3,888 plus a 10% service charge. I shared their surprise when I saw it on social media since I haven’t been to any of Ramsay's Bar & Grill concepts. My only prior comparison was a visit to Hell’s Kitchen in Las Vegas, where they serve a much smaller size that’s cut into half.

But when I finally saw the plate right in front of me, I was shocked by the generous portion! Photos simply don't do justice to its size. This dish is made with 230 grams of perfectly pink beef tenderloin approximately two inches thick. And it’s not just any other tenderloin meat but a premium MB7-grade Wagyu fillet, known for its higher marbling that leads to a melt-in-your-mouth experience.

I can't help but wonder about the current prices of tenderloin at popular steakhouses. It's surprising to discover that the Beef Wellington price at Gordon Ramsay is quite comparable to the tenderloin and filet mignon at your favorite premium steak establishments. What makes this Beef Wellington even more remarkable is the labor-intensive process behind it. It has a generous amount of duxelles made of mushrooms and truffles then encased in a perfectly flaky pastry. To this day, I’m still intrigued by the challenge of cooking the pastry to perfection without overcooking the piece of beef inside. Each Wellington order is also served with its jus, creamed potatoes, and vegetable sides.

Author with Executive Chef Loic Brun. JC Cailles Lo

I also got curious about the prices in other Bar & Grill outlets abroad and did a little research. In Kuala Lumpur, a slice of Beef Wellington costs P4,670 plus 6% tax (P4,950 net). In London, the price is P4,528 plus a 15% service charge (P5,207 net), with a minimum order requirement for two people. In comparison, our price of P3,888 plus a 10% service charge (P4,276 net) is the lowest among these three locations. This makes dining here in the Philippines actually a smarter choice.

Fish and Chips. JC Cailles Lo

Another signature dish, the Fish and Chips, surprised me too with its huge size! What made this even more exciting was the choice of fish because they used a pink grouper or lapu-lapu, which is not typically found in this dish. I’m more accustomed to seeing cod or haddock used for fish and chips. Currently priced at P1,999 plus service charge, I observed that they adjusted this pricing because they used to offer this at P2,100 when they just opened. So Is this price a little too much? It’s hard not to compare it to the cost of a large steamed lapu-lapu with soy sauce at a Chinese restaurant, where the price usually depends on the market rate per kilo. I am pretty sure it would likely be in a similar range. It’s also worth noting that the fish they use is chilled, never frozen, with each serving averaging between 220 to 250 grams. It also comes with crushed peas and tartare sauce.

Sticky Toffee Pudding. JC Cailles Lo

Their most famous dessert, Sticky Toffee Pudding, is as English as it can get. Presumed to be popularized by Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel in England, it is made with a moist buttery sponge cake, finely chopped dates, a decadent butterscotch (toffee) sauce, and a scoop of Vanilla ice cream. Priced at P550 plus service charge, I consider this reasonably priced.And I know there’s a slice of cheesecake out there with the same price that a lot of people are raving about. This definitely has the potential to be the next big craze too!

I’ve ordered some more items that in my opinion won’t break the bank. Crispy Crab Cake with Oscietra Caviar at P880, Aged Steak Tartare with Potato Chips at P1,650, Red Pepper Risotto at P850, and Caramelized Apple Tart Tatin at P780.

Crispy Crab Cake with Oscietra Caviar andAged Steak Tartare with Potato Chips. JC Cailles Lo

Red Pepper Risotto and Caramelized Apple Tart Tatin. JC Cailles Lo

A concept that only exists in two other locations aside from Manila, where the sole Philippine branch was found to have the most affordable prices. Huge portion sizes, great quality ingredients, mastery of cooking, with a price point comparable to other premium restaurants’ offerings.Last but not least, a Gordon Ramsay brand with high equity value.

So is it worth visiting and paying to dine here? HELL YES!