This place was an accidental find. Cos reservations in December were so tough I was looking through Chope and deciding what other places we could go. So I saw this was available on a Friday night and thought of giving it a try. Located at Ngee Ann City, it was pretty crowded when we visited. What surprised us was we got a private room – totally unexpected. The private room was good cos it was…
There are some days when it seems so hard to get up and all you want to do is to stay in bed all morning and just do away with breakfast altogether. While most people cannot afford to do this on a daily basis since school or work is waiting for them, Sundays allow us this special indulgence and we can sleep in as long as we like, even for just one day in a week. I used to be a morning person, but lately there are days when I wake up so late that there's no point in eating breakfast anymore, and the next thing I look forward to is having a full and hearty Brunch.
A friend invited me to have brunch one Sunday afternoon last month at a relatively new posh Japanese restaurant in Bonifacio Global City called Magosaburo. I had actually passed by this establishment a few weeks before when I had lunch at Sunshine Kitchen, which is located just a few steps away at the Fort Strip at 28th Street, and I really wanted to see what they had to offer.
The interiors of Magosaburo are indeed elegant and posh, with high ceilings and a modern minimalist design. Magosaburo originated from the Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan in 2009 and specializes in high-grade Wagyu beef. The Manila branch opened one year ago in July 2013 and I had been eager to taste its much-acclaimed Wagyu dish ever since.
I got to view their second floor which houses several areas for bigger groups and more private events, as well as the Mago Wine Lounge and bar.
We went to Magosaburo specifically for their Sunday Brunch Buffet (P980) which was sort of a semi-buffet as you can order one of their a la carte main dishes and with that you get a buffet of appetizers, desserts, and drinks.
There are several choices for the main dish but I can only order one of them. I had my eye on their Wagyu Steak so it was easy for me to choose my order. Unfortunately, Magosaburo had already ceased serving the Sunday Brunch Buffet this month but will be serving new lunch sets to take its place. Anyway, diners can still order these items from their a la carte menu.
The buffet also includes bottomless iced tea. I had the guava iced tea with was quite different but they also served Tamarind iced tea and regular iced tea.
All the appetizers, rice, and desserts are laid out on the buffet table and you can get any many servings as you can while waiting for your main dish to arrive.
First in line was the Cream Cheese Tofu & Potato Salad.
There were also Assorted Rolls like California Maki. These are great appetizers which you normally have to order separately at Japanese restaurants but I could have as many of these here.
I really enjoyed the Assorted Sushi that was served fresh from the kitchen by the head chef. They served Tuna sushi and Tamago sushi.
I'm not sure what type of sushi this one was but I also liked it. I had several pieces of sushi for myself but I didn't want to be full before the main dish even arrived.
Kimchi and Salads were also on the buffet table but I don't really like these so I just skipped them. Miso Soup is also included.
Aside from these appetizers, you can also get their Beef Fried Rice to go with the main dish. Plain Rice is also available and yes, all of these are unlimited.
The Stir-Fried Udon Noodles are also quite good if you prefer noodles over rice.
Their Shrimp Dumplings were actually my favorite among all the appetizers. They were meaty and flavorful, definitely of high quality and not just full of stabilizers.
Another of my favorites is the Deep Fried Prawn with Mayo but I forgot to take a clear picture of this so I only have this one to show. These appetizers alone can almost make a full meal but now it was time for the main dish.
My mouth was already watering when my order arrived. The Wagyu Steak with Garlic Sauce was placed on a sizzling lava stone plate and the smell of the steak and the garlic was so good. The serving was a bit small for me but it is understandable since this is Wagyu.
As expected, the Wagyu Beef was so tender and succulent. The garlic bits brought out even more of its flavor and I was so happy eating this.
I also got to try the Lava Stone Salmon & Vegetable Fry which was similarly served on a sizzling stone plate. The salmon was soft and fresh and beautifully cooked.
But my Sunday Brunch was not yet over. Desserts are still waiting at the buffet table so I went back to get some treats. The desserts include Earl Grey Creme Brulee, which is great for those with a sweet tooth, and Flourless Chocolate Cake.
Skipping breakfast is truly worth it if Magosaburo's Sunday Brunch is what is waiting for me. It is unfortunate that they have stopped this promo as I was looking forward to having this again. Hopefully they can put back a similar set or buffet option soon. If not, then I will just have to go for one of their lunch sets next time.
-- The Hungry Kat
MAGOSABURO
G/F Fort Pointe 2 Bldg., 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
