On the SaturdayΒ before Christmas, Louie and I planned to celebrate the holiday and have a quiet dinner in a restaurant in Tomas Morato. The Frazzled Cook was our top choice, however for some reason, Waze wasn’t able to guide us to the right direction and we could not find the place after driving up and down the street past the address where it should have been. We ended up in Buenisimo by Cafe Ysabel, a nonetheless fine choice where food is just what we’re in the mood for.
Buenisimo by Cafe Ysabel has been awarded as one of the Philippine Tatlerβs 2009 Best Restaurants on its 6th month in operations. That says a lot about the quality of itsΒ food. “Buenisimo” is a Spanish word which means very good or someone exceptionally beautiful.
TheΒ restaurant is owned and run by Chef Gino and Giannina Gonzales, son and daughter of celebrity chef Gene Gonzales of Cafe Ysabel. The menu at Buenisimo is a collaboration of Cafe Ysabelβs favorites, traditional fare that theirΒ family used to have on Sundays and new experimental dishes with unique taste concepts and pairings.Β I personally have met Chef Gino in a Yummy Magazine eventΒ held in Enderun, BGC and I know he makes really delicious and crave-worthy food, so it was interesting to actuallyΒ sample dishes in one of his restaurants. π
Review of Buenisimo by Cafe Ysabel (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)
Ambiance:Β β β β β β
As a cozy nook in the heart of Tomas Morato, this place sets the standard for “special-ocassion” dining. With itsΒ clean lines and neutral colors, the interior design exudes aΒ luxury feel made for celebrating something special.Β Buenisimo by Cafe Ysabel in Tomas Morato providesΒ a modern take on Filipino minimalism. The relaxed yet upscale atmosphere looked impressive.
Service:Β β β β β β
The staff was gracious and accommodating, helping make for a relaxing setting thatβs as casual or formal as you want to make it. When there were more guests though, servers were not as attentive and they did not respond promptly when called for as when there were fewer active tables. That’s prettyΒ understandable at prime times, butΒ there must beΒ a room for improvement in terms of efficiency and alertness to keep a high level of customer service.
Food:Β β β β β β
Buenisimo by Cafe Ysabel delivered a perfectly roasted chicken that’s brined overnight served withΒ caramelized onion gravy. The dish is calledΒ Giannina’s Roasted Chicken (PhP 318) on the menu, and it’s definitely one of the most recommended comfort food in the list. Along with mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side, the roasted chickenΒ had crisp skin and tender andΒ juicy meat that draws theΒ difference between good and great. As soul-satisfying as it is, this entree can beΒ theΒ ultimate weeknight staple.
Four Cheese Pizza (PhP 468)Β made withΒ pomodoro, mozzarella, bleu cheese, gruyere cheese, white cheese, and fresh basil was great. The bottomΒ partΒ revealed a soft crumb that is pliant and chewy, not crackery or tough, that transitioned from being soft and bread-like to moist and slick right where the cheesy flavors and sauceΒ meet it. The pizza was tad salty and had the right amount of cheesy goodness with a bare hint of sweetness.
Three Mushroom Truffle Cream (PhP 438) was overwhelmingly good. Made with shiitake, oyster, and button mushrooms. We chose theΒ spaghetti type of pasta over penne andΒ fettuccine, and it turned out well.Β The creamy pasta wasΒ intensely flavored with fresh mushrooms, and truffle oil gave a savory depth. We love it! π
Price for Value:Β β β β β β
Buenisimo by Cafe Ysabel serves excellent renditions of food without an ounce of pretense. Staffs give guestsΒ a warm welcome andΒ offer its approachable menu in theΒ vibrant, stylish setting. All in all, this charmer in QC makes wow-worthy dishes matched with fair prices to boot. ItΒ deserves its well-earned reputation for premium-quality cooking.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
I haven’t been to Buenisimo because hello Quezon City hahaha… But I sure want to eat there and try the four-cheese pizza in particular. And wow, I love the presentation of the Gianninaβs roasted chicken.
I live also quite far from Quezon City but I went there when I was on the way home from work (in Eastwood). π You must try dining here one day when you have an event to attend nearby.
That four cheese pizza looks absolutely amazing – As does everything else. Even the decor is beautiful, I love the modern artwork especially. Buenisimo will definitely be on my list of must-eat-at restaurants if I ever am around Quezon City.
The pizza was glorious. π Buenisimo is a great restaurant to visit with your family.
The pizza looks good. I love that it looks like a dining room set that people have in their homes here in the states. I would have to wear my fancy clothes for this type of setting lol
I think it will be pretty apt to wear smart casual clothes here. You’re welcome! π
Love the ambiance of the restaurant, definitely feels cozy. The roasted chicken looks awesome! I bet it tastes just as good.
Go for the roasted chicken. It’s one of the best we’ve tried thus far. π
The roasted chicken and pizza would definitely hit the right spot for me. It all looks just delicious and I’d love to visit. I might order everything you did!
These are comfort food that everyone can enjoy. π Hard to resist!
I hate when we can’t find the place we want. Sounds like you found a great restaurant to have a meal at. Getting lost is always something we worry about when traveling but sometimes we find new favorite places by getting lost.
Maybe it’s fate. π Buenisimo serves the kind of tasty, nourishing and healthy food that your mother or grandmother might have made.
This looks like such a lovely restaurant, I can see why you gave it 5/5 stars for ambiance. The food looks absolutely delicious too, that four cheese pizza and the truffle cream pasta look mouth-watering. It sounds like a fab place to go and eat.
It is, definitely, one of the best recommended restaurants in my book. π Check it out if you’re in the area.
I think fate worked out for you both. The food looks amazing and I love the decor and setting of the restaurant itself. It looks very welcoming and cozy yet still sophisticated.
Just as I thought! π
the chicken sure looks delicious! the place looks nice and feels pretty up-class too!
Yeah, I can easily imagine this place to be filled up with so many couples and close-knit groups enjoying meals together. π
Wow! This food looks to die for – especially the chicken! It sounds like dining here was a happy accident. But I’d love to know what the dessert menu was like!
My boyfriend did want us to try some dessert but I was super full that time so I declined. Next time we should save room for desserts for sure. π
Your reviews always make me hungry π Looks like this place has a great assortment of vegetarian options, wish I lived in the area because I’d definitely check it out, but I’ll settle for a little kitchen inspiration instead π
Thanks, Sage. That’s my goal and I’m glad you did feel hungry. π Hahaha!
Looks like a great restaurant!
Yup. Thank God we had a nice dining experience here. It will be regretful if we didn’t (since it was not our no. 1 choice in the first place). π
That looks really delicious, and I think I’d enjoy eating there. Sounds like a great place to add to your travel eating wish list! YUM! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Tomas Morato has lots of good restaurants to try. You can make a list of those you want to try and go food tripping next time. π
The food looks simple yet delicious. The ambience looks so cosy and can be romantic!
Our great experience here makes me want to visit Cafe Ysabel in San Juan soon. π
Too bad you didn’t have a chance to try out the Frazzled Cook β that sounds like a really cool restaurant name. I think the backstory of the Buenisimo is pretty cool (run by a son-daughter team). I appreciate an eatery that offers experimental dishes β I like trying unique and creative food combinations. The interior is really nice.
These chefs are all admirable because they are exceptional at what they do and they serve great food at reasonable prices. π
That looks like a neat, sophisticated restaurant. The 4 cheese pizza looks divine!!
There are more pizza choices on the menu. If you have sincere adoration for cheese though, the Four Cheese Pizza would be perfect! π
The place looks like a perfect date place with and elegant ambiance and backdrop. The food looks tasty too.
Yup, this is a great place to bring a date. You can’t get wrong with anything. π
With all of the nice dishes that you show in your photos I would have had a difficult time choosing just one.
I love a nice chicken dish for dinner, but pizza always gets my attention as well.
Have a great new year!
You can always order more than one item and share it with friends and family with nice conversations going over dinner. π Happy New Year!
Thanks for another recommendation in the Tomas Morato area which we will definitely try out one day, especially with my mom and my wife’s birthdays coming up this month. Are you saying there is a Frazzled Cook branch in Tomas Morato as well aside from the one in Luna Mencias?
The one in Luna Mencias closed down and moved to this one in Tomas Morato (bigger space). However, for some reason, we just could not find it. Haha. π
The Three Mushroom Truffle Cream pasta may look simple I think its flavorful and aromatic. Nice cafe to hang out with friends.
Yup! I love mushrooms and this mushroom truffle cream pasta was spot-on delicious. I bet you’d love it, too. π
The Gianninaβs Roasted Chicken looks appetising indeed. My usual choice will be the pasta and pizza, but for the first time, the chicken looks like something I will like to try for a change.
Change is good. π It’s the New Year and it will be a refreshing start when you get to try food you didn’t know you like!
hmmm looks so tasty – i just hate reading reviews like this as it makes me soooo hungry – good review !
Thanks! These food were amazing. π
i love the ambiance of the resto, tho i am not sure if i can eat there.
Call the restaurant for reservations so you can be sure to get a table. π
Sometimes, I wish I lived in the city to have easier access for a variety of good spots to try! I’m tired of the usual here in Tagaytay. But then I remember the traffic and then I get over it.
Oh yes, the standard time to get from Point A to Point B anywhere here in Metro Manila is about 2 hours. I’ve not been to many restaurants in Tagaytay but I hear the lineup of great places there is growing. π
Wow, all those 3 you ordered look really good. Thanks a lot Waze!
Yes, Waze is a lifesaver most of the time. It gets me to places I never thought I’d reach! π