Pasta e Basta! Read this phrase in Filipino and you'll get the general idea. How about a taste of Italy in Manila?! I had a wonderful lunch filled with pasta and travel conversations yesterday at the Oakroom in Ortigas! They're having an all-pasta a la carte menu this whole month until November 10 and I'm giving you and your friend/date/guest this same Italian experience in Manila! My spotlight today is with this restaurant because it has made it into my Favorite Guiltless Date Places in Manila list. As I've said before in that post:
Eating different cuisines in Manila is a great way to experience a slice of life in different parts of the world.
Let me tell you a little about Oakroom. If you haven't heard of it, it's located at the 6th floor of the Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center in ADB Avenue, Ortigas - the one that rents out the super cool fully-furnished serviced apartments (even for an overnight staycation). Oakroom Restaurant & Bar functions as a restaurant for guests of the serviced apartments, a meeting place for businessmen, a hangout place for expats and a great foodie find for locals like me =)
A brief introduction of my food preference: I love pasta and noodles. Nobody can stop me if I want to get lots of pasta in a buffet. I have a fascination with the flat pasta noodles (brings back childhood memories). I'm more of a white sauce kind of gal when it comes to pasta and my favorites include the Truffle Pasta of L' Opera at The Fort and Mamou in Serendra. Sometimes, I mix the red and the white. I'm still looking for the perfect Aglio e Olio. I have my pure red sauce moments but I'm looking for a particular taste, something that I think I found here at Oakroom.
The Oakroom's gala of nothing else but pasta (Pasta e Basta!) just started this October 1 so I was super glad I got to try it out early so that I can still come back hehe. The good thing is that it is available every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.!
The hardest part was choosing among the 10 Pasta Dishes. It's either you look at the sauce or what's in it or do you simply want a dish with Pappardelle, Rigatoni, Linguini, Spaghetti, Bow Tie, Fettuccine, Gnocchi, Angel Hair or Tortellini pasta? Enlarge the image below for the full menu and prices.
Each dish comes with this wonderful focaccia bread that you can dip in balsalmic vinegar and olive oil. I can taste the pesto in both and I liked the round one the best.
Every order also includes this hearty and perfect cup of minestrone. The generous bits of vegetables are not mushy and the broth is full of flavor. It's actually one of the best minestrone soups I ever had.
I ordered the Gulf pasta - spaghetti tossed in olive oil, tomato and cream with grilled Cajun shrimps. It looked simple enough in the menu but it was bursting with flavor when it came out! It was not that spicy and the pasta was cooked just right for me. I loved the sauce and you can taste it equally intense with every bite, even the two big shrimp pieces. The serving size of one dish was also huge for one person. This, I would definitely come back for.
I also tried out the Gnocchi Gorgonzola pasta. I think the walnuts were a great complement to the gorgonzola and the potato pasta called gnocchi. I had gnocchi before but I didn't like it. This Oakroom dish definitely made me consider having it again. I'm giving you a fair warning that this dish is heavy! haha. Each bite has a particular rich and creamy kick of gorgonzola cheese.
I took some of the Gulf and Gnocchi home to have people taste it and the Gnocchi was their winner because of the unique taste. The Gulf was still my choice because of its wonderful flavor and I had it all to myself hahaha. Either way, I got to thinking about the other pastas available and devising a way to drag a lot of people there so that we get to taste all before this limited lunch menu disappears next month hehe. I believe the prices are super fair and worth it for the two wonderful dishes and the ambiance at Oakroom. They have a dessert pasta called Black and White with Dark Chocolate included in the menu by the way!
So there you have it, folks! You won't regret having this for lunch or snack or dinner or pre-midnight snack on a rainy day like today. Don't forget to get the couch seats near the big windows! The Pasta e Basta menu is available at any day (Mondays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.) until November 10. I'm predicting it will pick up soon so better reserve for seats!
Wait! I'm also giving away a Pasta e Basta! experience for 2 to one reader =) If you join, you must be able to dine in with somebody at the Oakroom. It's time to be present to the wonderful food in front of you and to give yourself and another an awesome short getaway! This prize is redeemable only during the promotional period that ends on November 10, 2012 and must be consumed by 2 people at the same time.
The prize includes:
- 2 complimentary servings of ANY pasta dish from the Pasta e Basta a la Carte menu
Have a taste of Italy in Manila through Oakroom and plan your visit now =) Enjoy freshly pulled pasta in all shapes, colors and sizes in Manila! Consider this a date for that special person, bonding time with the family or a wonderful experience with a friend. Fare una spaghettata! (Eat spaghetti with your friends! - Oakroom's Executive Chef Jerome Cartailler)
Oakroom also has a weekday and Sunday lunch buffet available with cuisines from around the world if you're not into pasta.
Oakroom also has a weekday and Sunday lunch buffet available with cuisines from around the world if you're not into pasta.
I dream of eating my way in Italy soon because of this. Oh, all for the love of pasta =)
Which pasta dishes from the Pasta e Basta a la carte menu would you order and who would you take with you for the Oakroom dining experience? Please feel free to comment below. You can also subscribe to my updates via email on the top left part of the sidebar if you liked this post.
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Restaurant Details:
Oakroom Restaurant & Bar Ortigas Address
6th Floor, Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila
17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig
Open Mondays to Sundays
719-1160 (direct line) / 637-7888 ext. 8604
Oakroom Ortigas Facebook
Which pasta dishes from the Pasta e Basta a la carte menu would you order and who would you take with you for the Oakroom dining experience? Please feel free to comment below. You can also subscribe to my updates via email on the top left part of the sidebar if you liked this post.
Contest Period is from October 3, 2012 12:01 a.m. EST to October 24, 2012 12:01 a.m. EST.
Please enter through Rafflecopter below:
Restaurant Details:
Oakroom Restaurant & Bar Ortigas Address
6th Floor, Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila
17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig
Open Mondays to Sundays
719-1160 (direct line) / 637-7888 ext. 8604
Oakroom Ortigas Facebook