Brunch is the art of spending half the day lingering around the table. If you enjoy brunch as I do, then you’re one glamorous soul who sleeps fashionably late and a curious spirit who wakes up and adores sampling a little of this dish and a little of that one. That’s why we love to ‘brunch.’ It stretches the time between waking up and lunch, and allows for the delight of talking with our dining companions in that special late morning calm.
Solaire Resort & Casino’s quintessential ristorante Finestra is back with its Italian Sunday Bruch beginning this month. I recently had the pleasure of brunching at this modern and elegant yet friendly and dynamic restaurant. The contemporary and hip atmosphere made Finestra a classic Manila social gathering place and a feast for the eyes. Distinguished for its fascinating character and strong identity, the atmosphere in the main dining area is stylish without being stuffy. I was welcomed by the warm and friendly maître d, and seated in a cozy round banquette.
The menu boasts a wide variety of dishes, truly something for everyone’s palate. Pasta, seafood, steak, and meat for the hearty appetite and variety of savory made-upon-order ‘pizzettas’ straight out from the restaurant’s brick oven are among the standouts.
For starters, I ordered a Finestra signature, the hot Seafood Tower. It has a variety of grilled and baked items like garlic prawns, Rockefeller oysters, mussels baked with panko and herb, and crab cakes, plus dollops of tartar sauce, horseradish dip, lemon butter, and lemon and lime sauces. One can also have this dish ‘iced’ or served cold, featuring exceptionally fresh shucked oysters, poached prawns, crab and crab salad, mussels as well as different dips and sauces like your classic cocktail sauce, horseradish whip, raspberry mignonette, and lemon and lime.
The enticing menu emphasizes authentic Italian cuisine prepared with the best local- and imported-from-Italy ingredients. After all, in Italy, Sunday is the best day of the week.
Indulge in a series of iconic dishes from this Sunday brunch like Octopus Carpaccio, Rich Foie Gras Terrine with fig jam and dehydrated pear, or velvety-smooth Scrambled Eggs with Truffles. I ordered the house breakfast of sunny-side-up fried egg, Italian sausage, crispy pancetta, and tomatoes. As for sides to my Finestra Breakfast, I had Buffalo Mozzarella and the stellar homemade Clams Linguine. The Pappardelle Tartufate, Risotto Asparagus, Four-Cheese Gnocchi, and Green Duck Ravioli with vegetable brunoise and rosemary jus are some of the must-tries from the Pasta menu.
Now comes the main. As a steak lover, I ordered the USDA Filet Mignon served with green beans and potatoes fried in duck fat, paired with smooth and sweet Remole Frescobaldi Red. Do save space for the incredibly appetizing meats and seafood dishes like the Braised Beef Cheeks with Polenta Targana, Josper-cooked USDA rib-eye, Baked Norwegian Salmon, Pacific Seabass Fillet, and the Lobster Thermidor, among others.
What’s an Italian brunch without wines and bubbles? Finestra’s extensive list of wines to pair your meals with boasts varieties from around the world. There are also spirits and liquor if you prefer a lighter or stronger drink, crisp house champagne as well as beers from Europe and locally. Digestifs such as amaretto, sambuca, and the restaurant’s own limoncello are also offered. If you prefer mixes or a more non-linear beverage, Finestra has also come up with artistic cocktails like the Finestra Negroni; the Pigafetta, which is made with limoncello and a blend of sweet and bitters; and the Giramondo.
What’s an Italian brunch without wines and bubbles? Finestra’s extensive list of wines to pair your meals with boasts varieties from around the world.
At the end of the meal awaits a splendid dolce refuge starting with the affogato station. Watch affogato-making before your eyes with the help of liquid nitrogen. Have this Italian staple with coffee, alcohol, or just as it is with homemade biscotti or other decadent toppers. There’s also the popular Finestra Tiramisu, Chocolate Zuccotto Cake, and Velvety Mango and Passionfruit Semifreddo—all served family-style. But just when you thought the sweet sensations are done, a candy trolley filled with other Italian sweets and chocolates will make its rounds for you to pick some to take home.
Finestra’s Italian Sunday Brunch is delicious and unpretentious yet executed with explicitness and taste, served with flair, care, and attention. The enticing menu emphasizes authentic Italian cuisine prepared with the best local- and imported-from-Italy ingredients. In Italy, Sunday is the best day of the week. Take pleasure in the refinement of extraordinary Sundays at Finestra.
Finestra Italian Sunday Brunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Price is at P4,999+ per person.
For inquires and reservations, please call 8888-8888 or email [email protected].
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