Sintâ by Chef Ariel Manuel is Our New Favorite Fine Dining Restaurant in Tagaytay
There's a new fine dining restaurant in Tagaytay that really impressed us and made our weekend trip all worth it. Sintâ is a charming and beautiful property where Culinary Artistry Meets Inspirational Views, especially with its fantastic landscape overlooking the majestic Taal Volcano and Taal Lake.
The Hungry Kat was invited to visit the new Sintâ restaurant a few weeks ago and it was a great way to escape the scorching summer heat in Manila. We had a leisurely Saturday drive all the way up to Sintâ which is located in a slightly different corner of Tagaytay. You can find it at 5385 Mystic Hills, Sitio Catmon, Ligaya Drive, which is closer to the Tagaytay Highlands and Picnic Grove side of the ridge. Just look for Sintâ Restaurant on Waze and you can't miss it. Traffic is actually much better here as most of the restaurants and tourists can be found on the other side near the Rotunda and Sky Ranch.
We were welcomed at the lobby reception by their very friendly and knowledgeable restaurant manager. Sintâ is an enchanting culinary haven helmed by the legendary Chef Ariel Manuel who is well known for his Lola Dad's and Bistro Manuel restaurants. Sinta emerges as a beacon of transformational dining, seamlessly blending sumptuous cuisine, captivating art, and awe-inspiring vistas to craft an unforgettable journey for the senses. Welcome drinks were served and we got to relax here a little bit after our long drive. Parking will not be a problem since they have a huge parking area right in front.
The place actually looks more like a hotel or resort lobby rather than just a restaurant. Formerly known as The Observatory Tagaytay, Sintâ brings exquisite art and food together to create a very lovely dining experience. It is open from Tuesday to Sundays from 10:00am to 3:00pm and from 4:00pm to 10:00pm.
What makes Sintâ different from the few other fine dining restaurants in Tagaytay is this majestic view. There are many casual dining restaurants in Tagaytay where you can just go and chill any time of the day. However, for those special occasions and important dates, the popular fine dining restaurants we know are mostly located outside the ridge and does not come with a backdrop like this.
One level down from the reception floor is Santâ's cocktail lounge. This al fresco dining area is a nice place to enjoy some drinks while waiting for your friends to arrive.
Sintâ's commitment to excellence extends beyond their culinary offerings to their meticulously curated beverage menu. They have a selection of handcrafted cocktails, premium wines, and artisanal spirits, thoughtfully chosen to complement their culinary creations and enhance your journey through flavors.
We ordered a few of their specialty beverages while enjoying the cool Tagaytay breeze. The Mt. Taal Sour (P320) is a signature cocktail that comes with a combination of whiskey, lemon super juice, tamarind, aquafaba, and aromatic bitters. It's a fruitier and more Asian version of the popular whiskey sour.
Another specialty beverage is the Nest and Mirror (P290). This one has rum-infused cinnamon white cacao, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, orgeat, and cacao bitter. They also offer classic cocktails like the Aperol Spritz, Tequila Sunset, and Champagne cocktails. You can also have signature mocktails like the Pineapple Fresca, Cucumber Spritz, and more.
This structure is actually just the lobby and cocktail lounge. The main dining room is a bit further down the property. The garden can also be the venue for outdoor barbecues or other sunset events.
The main dining area is as gorgeous as you can get! But before we go down to the dining hall, let's explore some of the other areas around the restaurant.
What sets Sintâ apart is its commitment to curating a holistic dining experience, where every element - from the meticulously crafted dishes to the carefully selected art pieces adorning the walls - serves to stimulate the senses and nourish the soul. You can spot interesting art pieces all around the property and the restaurant manager will be more than happy to share the history and stories surrounding these.
Would you believe they even have hotel rooms right inside the property? For big events like weddings, Sintâ offers two big suites for the bride and groom plus their families. These come with panoramic views of Taal Volcano as well.
Now let's go down to the dining hall. You will immediately notice this elegant art structure at the top which is actually an inverted version of the lake and volcano. Isn't that cool?
You can find tables for bigger groups as well as smaller tables for intimate dates and gatherings. This would probably look so romantic and colorful during sunset.
We were also welcomed by none other than Chef Ariel Manuel who runs the kitchen at Sintâ. The restaurant is owned by PYC Foods Corporation which also owns and operates One World Deli, Pardon My French, Tokugawa, and more. PYC is an importer and distributer of high-quality meats and seafood, so there will be no shortage of premium ingredients here at Tagaytay’s newest dining destination.
From farm-fresh ingredients to innovative culinary creations, every bite at Sinta is a testament to Chef Ariel's passion for excellence and dedication to his craft. The menu at Sintâ showcases some of the classic favorites found at Lolo Dads like the Baked Oyster with Foie Gras (P650/pc). This was our first time to try this popular starter and we were really amazed!
These are big Hokkaido oysters baked with chardonnay cream reduction served on its own shell and placed on top of soba noodles. To make it even more impressive, a piece of foie gras is added to complete the set. It's an astounding combination of flavors that really shows Chef Ariel's mastery of French and Asian cuisines.
The Tartare (P1,420) is also one of the specialties at Sintâ. This is prepared live tableside with its brunoise of Angus beef tenderloin plus condiments and apple kimchi.
It doesn't get fresher than this as the server will grind the raw beef and mix it together with the ingredients while you watch. Sintâ might be one of the very few restaurants in the country that does this tableside. We loved the tartare as it doesn't even taste like raw beef at all.
Another appetizer we enjoyed was this Fresh Ocean Trout Scallopine (P1,300) and ceviche with radish kraut, soy jelly, mustard leaf puree and salmon roe. Sintâ gets its fresh seafood from the best regions in the world so you know that the quality of their dishes are really excellent.
For our mains, my mother in law had the Chilean Seabass (P3,340) which is baked with a caramelized unagi crust, truffle, potato terrine, and doused with a ginger and green onion sauce. The combination of seabass and unagi is truly a match made in heaven.
We also ordered a few items From the Grill. You can't go wrong with the Maine Lobster (P4,280) which comes with two pieces of Maine lobster tail (450g) served with vegetables and sauces. The lobster was cooked perfectly and was absolutely one of the best I have ever had.
Another amazing main course you can order is the Eye of Rib Eye (P2,770). The juicy loin of rib eye steak is topped with its sisig-like rendered fat, making it doubly delicious. Onion jam and anticucho sauce are also added to complete this unique steak dish.
If you love eating lamb, then you must order their Rack of Lamb (P3,590). This comes with three huge pieces of Herb de Provence crusted rack of lamb with melted garlic and Roquefort cheese risotto. The lamb is very tender and doesn't taste gamey at all.
To end our fantastic lunch, Chef Ariel served his specialty French dessert, the Souffle (P550). Unlike other versions, this one is a coffee-flavored soufflé with baked cappuccino meringue and vanilla crème anglaise. Then there's also the Declension (P550), a declined mango and mascarpone cheese “mille feuille” with berry and balsamic ice cream.
Sintâ Restaurant by Chef Ariel Manuel is now our new favorite fine dining restaurant in Tagaytay. The elegant property fuses art and culinary creativity from the moment you step inside the lobby until the end of your gastronomic journey. Add the majestic view of Taal Lake to the story and you have the perfect dining destination that will make the drive to Tagaytay all worth it. Congratulations to PYC Foods Corporation for another great new venture.
Sintâ Restaurant
5385 Mystic Hills, Sitio Catmon, Ligaya Drive San Francisco, Tagaytay City
(0962) 453-3570
www.sintarestaurant.ph
www.facebook.com/sintarestaurantph
