I thought at first that the restaurant was closed because the sign said so. As the disappointment was sinking in, we learned (fortunately) that someone just forgot to flip the sign. Whew. I would have hated to have travelled all this way to The Fort for nothing. Named after the French port city known for its excellent (and at times, expensive) wines, it is not surprising that Bordeaux Restaurant and Wine Bar offers these alongside an extensive collection of other French wines. Not to mention, a whole menu of French food for those less inclined towards wine.
The restaurant staff greeted us with all the warmth and friendliness they could muster. We gained all their attention. Well, we were the only people in the restaurant at that time (which was just dandy). It was 6 PM, still a little early for the typical dinner. No matter. The service was nevertheless impeccable. The waiters stand at the ready to serve and attend to their patrons’ every need. They entertain requests without neglecting to flash the requisite smile.
A table
The small restaurant has quaint but tasteful interiors inspired by châteaus in the French countryside. Beautifully painted murals adorn walls depicting Chateau Margaux and dancing girls. French wines are put on display for wine connoisseurs to gawk at. If you are a wine aficionado (especially of the French variety), you will certainly find your own little piece of heaven on earth here. The theme creates a homey atmosphere especially when you go up the stairs to the upper level. The modest space enhances its cozy charm. Looking up, you see rows of empty wine bottles decorating the ceiling. A unique but appropriate choice.
Wine bottle ceiling
We chose two main courses off the menu and a glass of refillable Bordeaux iced tea (P85) which was so sweet I could hardly taste the tea anymore. While waiting, lounge music filled up the otherwise awkward silence. It would have been relaxing were it not for the rumbling bass. Though, the rumbling disappeared afterwards when our orders arrived which took about 15 minutes. Maybe it was just more noticeable when we didn’t have food before us. Bordeaux also has Wi-Fi. And it is fast (hihi).
All their dishes were presented wonderfully. I had a Cream Dory stuffed with Bleu Cheese (P450) which was actually two little balls of cream dory and shrimp swathed in creamy goodness and garnished with a few vegetables and some hollandaise sauce just enough for a satisfying meal. The fish fillet was tender and the velvety texture and subtle taste of the stuffing complemented it nicely. Although during the course of eating this dish I would suddenly have a taste of something distinctive I found I did not have a particular liking to, it probably wouldn’t hurt if I ordered this again.
Cream Dory
The Stuffed Chicken Breast with Ham, Bleu Cheese with Aurore and Bleu Cheese Sauce (P385), on the other hand, was not as tender as the cream dory. The stuffing was a burst of strong flavour, overpowering, in fact, that the chicken lost its way to my palate. Or maybe it was because I scooped up more stuffing than chicken. The chicken itself would have been bland but for the spices and stuffing. Then again, maybe that’s French? I am not an expert on French cuisine. I don’t even know if I like the sophisticated French’s idea of food. Regardless, that’s how I found the dish to be.
Stuffed Chicken Breast
For dessert, we had Mango Zabaglione (P200). This warm and cool combination of guilty delights tasted very sweet and reminded me of a molten Sans Rival. It was verging on too sweet, but though I’m not a big fan of the cloyingly sweet type, I still think indulging in this treat was a great way to end the meal.
Mango Zabaglione
It was a lovely experience dining here, if not for the food, for the service and the place. It was raining when we went outside and they asked us if we wanted them to flag down a taxi. I was not in haste to leave the restaurant so we waited for the rain to subside a bit and had the time to look around for a while. Outside, you can enjoy dining al fresco against the elegant Bordeaux façade along a row of restaurants and shops with people strolling and cars whizzing by, not unlike the ambiance of Parisian cafés. It would be a nice place to be at night time.
People dining in adjacent restaurants
As a last pleasant surprise, we were given coupons for free orders of Chorizo in Olive Oil and Garlic and Calamares Frito during our next visit when dining with at least 2 people and Red Wine by the glass when ordering beef or pork dishes. Way to entice the customers to come back. I just might do exactly that.
Bon Appétit!
Bordeaux Bar
Unit F, Bellagio II, Forbes Town Center
Rizal Drive corner Burgos Circle,
Fort Global City, Taguig, Philippines
Phone:
(02) 403-6554
Mobile:
09157431594
09209059329
Call for reservations or e-mail at bordeauxwinebar@gmail.com.
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