I can’t believe it’s already been twelve months since the Cupcake asked me to be his girlfriend in Bohol! Since then, we’ve had so many memorable adventures together—from local trips, to Kuala Lumpur, to Vietnam, and finally to Cambodia. I can’t wait for what 2015 has in store for us!
To celebrate the special occasion, he surprised me with a couple of things: a new toy that will help me take better photos for my blog and a romantic dinner date at a gourmet restaurant we’ve both been so curious about for months now, because we always pass its signage everyday in New Manila before going to work.
I’m a huge, huge fan of degustation restaurants and my favorite one happens to be The Goose Station by Chef Rob Pengson (I think I’ve mentioned it one too many times on the blog). After reading a bit about Lemuria, I definitely got excited because I expected a similar culinary experience.
One thing that makes Lemuria stand out is its ambiance—it’s perfect for private, romantic dinners and it provides such a homey feel. Unlike other fine dining restaurants that have a tendency to make its guests feel intimidated, Lemuria makes you feel welcome instantly.
The Cupcake and I over-ordered a bit. We got Scallops with Mushrooms and Beurre Blanc (Php 830) for our appetizers, which turned out to be my favorite dish of the evening. Though there were only two pieces, the scallops came in large portions and I like how they were heavily doused in butter, making it extra juicy. I also got the Mushroom and Gruyere Soup (Php 395)—the soup alone wasn’t anything great but if paired with the gruyere, tasted delicious. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough gruyere in the soup.
For our entrees, we got three dishes: Bone Marrow Risotto (Php 550), Iberian Pork Loin (Php 1,050), and Beef Bourguignon (Php 830). I was really happy with my Beef Bourguignon—the meat was very tender and reminded me of my mom’s Korean Beef Stu. These were laid on top of carrots, shallots, and lardoons, which gave the dish such explosive flavors. The Cupcake seemed to enjoy his Iberian Pork Loin—I think I cut the wrong part of it though, because I found it incredibly salty! The most disappointing dish was the Bone Marrow Risotto. Though the consistency was spot-on, I wasn’t too happy with its overall flavor. It tasted very bland, and even the Cupcake agreed, saying he expected more.
Despite feeling 50/50 about the dishes we ordered, I think Lemuria is still a great place to celebrate a special occasion. What made up for it was the remarkably attentive and well-mannered staff, and how the whole restaurant immediately sets the romantic mood without trying too hard. I would still go back to try their set menu!