Torch Restaurant: All-Day International Cuisine in Greenhills

Whenever I eat out with family, friends or even with the beau, I'm always faced with the dilemma of where to bring them next. While I'd love to try out more unfamiliar dining spots, it's hard not to mind my companions' taste preferences. Fortunately, there are places like Torch Restaurant in Greenhills which offers a wide array of international dishes so each member of your circle can truly enjoy the whole dining experience.

Located along the foodie street of Connecticut in Greenhills, Torch Restaurant greets its guests with a sleek yet comfy ambiance in black and white. There are also pops of yellow, red and blue to make the place more hip. And of course, how can I not mention the tall grass divider in the middle of the dining area which doesn't only look refreshing to the eyes, but also provides privacy to those who choose to occupy the banquet seating.

Aside from having a nice dining area perfect for feasting with the family or just catching up with old friends, Torch Restaurant prides itself for serving an extensive selection of international fare. From burgers, sandwiches and wings, to pastas, pizzas and even sushi and ramen, Torch Restaurant got them all covered. And for our trip, the beau and I decided to try out some international favorites starting with Torch's take on pizza.

Even for the pizzas alone, Torch Restaurant has 17 different variants already. To make the most out of this Western favorite though, we were given a whole pizza with 2 exciting flavors. The first side we tried was the Gambas Pizza (P329.95) with chipotle garlic olive oil-sautéed shrimps and mozzarella cheese on top of oven-baked crispy thin-crust pizza. Being a shrimp lover, this pizza really got me digging. Every bite was delightful as it was an explosion of savory, cheesy and spicy flavors that I oh-so-love.

The other side of the board was the Philly Cheese Steak Pizza (P369.95) with classic flavors of one of the American favorite sandwiches. While this side of the pizza was meaty and savory, I feel like my heart and palate still belongs to the Gambas side. The beau on the other hand, felt otherwise. He prefers this more than the spicy shrimp pizza.

For main course, I had the Smoked Jabañero Glazed Salmon (P435.95) served with unagi (eel) citrus sauce, mango salsa and garlic parsley rice. While I generally prefer raw salmon (sashimi), I can't argue that this salmon dish was delightful. The smoked salmon was cooked perfectly, and was well-complemented by its tasty sauce, while the mango salsa added a refreshing flavor. I really liked this dish, and even the beau agrees.

The beau on the other hand, had the Salpicao Medallion (P479.95) -- 2 beautiful pieces of Certified Angus Beef medallions wrapped with bacon, and served with sautéed French beans and garlic parsley rice. This dish really smelled so good, and was uniquely presented too on top of a 2-story marble tile with a heater of sort at the bottom.

It was already a delight to view this meaty dish on our table. However, it looked more divine when we cut through the beef. The medallions were cooked to medium, I think, which I always prefer. And while it wasn't exactly the beau's preferred doneness, he was pretty pleased as every bite gave off an abundance of savory and succulent goodness.

For a sweet ending, we shared both the Panna Cotta with Fresh Fruits (P99.95) and the Bread Pudding with Sabayon Sauce (P99.95). Initially, I thought I prefer the panna cotta as I'd normally do. However, I really liked the sabayon sauce in the bread pudding upon tasting it. It was very comforting that I enjoyed it to the very last spoonful.

As for drinks, both the beau and I had Lemon Iced Tea (Regular P50 Bottomless P75). Unlike in other restaurants which simply uses Nestea, I liked that Torch Restaurant serves their own iced tea. It tasted of lemon with a hint of honey. Oh, and I really dig their glasses! It's not just because of the angle that the glass of iced tea looks like it's leaning. Even up-close and in person, it really is leaning! I call it Torch's leaning iced tea.

By the way, if you're a wine lover and you're planning a trip to Torch Restaurant, then you shouldn't miss its Wine-All-You-Can Wednesdays. From 6PM to 12MN, you can enjoy unlimited glasses of PKNT wines for just P400. Now, that's a good deal!

THE VERDICT

While I don't frequent Greenhills, I was really happy with our dining experience at Torch Restaurant. It has a nice ambiance, prompt and courteous service, reasonable pricing, and its ace -- a really wide array of international menu. Although restaurants with a super extensive selection of items typically serve mediocre dishes, Torch Restaurant begs to differ. Everything we got to try was of good quality, and we'll definitely be back for more.

If there's one thing I don't like about Torch Restaurant, I think it's their odd-even psychological pricing. I don't mind paying in full amounts anyway. What do you think?

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Torch Restaurant, Greenhills
63 Connecticut St., Greenhills,
San Juan City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 477-3771
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