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Toni & Sergio Gastro Italiano Offers Al Fresco Dining With A Romantic View

Diners nowadays are always on the lookout for good al fresco dining options, especially with the ongoing covid pandemic still happening across the country. We’re also all a bit weary from the numerous lockdowns and are aching to travel abroad, so here’s a restaurant where you can imagine yourself dining in the streets of Venice while enjoying a safe and healthy Italian meal.

Toni & Sergio Gastro Italiano is a quaint restaurant located at the Venice Grand Canal Mall that offers delightful and authentic Italian and Spanish cuisines. This is from the same group that owns Parmigiano Pizzeria in Resorts World Manila and Mamma Mia in Uptown Bonifacio so they really know how Italian food should be.

Just like Filipinos, Italians are very close with their families, so every dining experience at Toni & Sergio becomes a celebration among friends and family members. Led by Filipino-Italian Giulius Iapino, the restaurant got its name from his father and uncle - Toni and Sergio Iapino, who simply love sharing food with their friends and loved ones.

Toni & Sergio Gastro Italiano comes with a casual and relaxing dining ambiance. Indoor seating is available but it is really better to experience their al fresco dining.

The best seats are definitely here beside the grand canal. My friends and I gathered for a Christmas get-together last week and it was the perfect afternoon to enjoy the holidays. You can get a little taste of Italy and Venice right here without having to travel abroad.

Of course, what can be more festive than having a round or two of their cocktails and beverages? They offer a wide selection of Italian wines, liquors, cocktails, plus local and imported beers. The Sangria (two for P300) is always a great way to start the conversations.

You can also get the Frozen Margarita (two for P280) to share with your date. They also have several Happy Hour offerings to choose from.

I suggest trying some of their refreshing Italian Sodas (P155) which come with a mix of soda plus cream and milk. It’s like an Italian milkshake with a little fuzz. We tried the Peach Italian soda and the Mango Italian soda which were both so good, especially with this gorgeous view.

The Homemade Bacon Chicharrones (P280) is also a good way to start your Spanish and Italian adventure. These crispy pork belly strips are prepared with spicy chimichurri and garlic sauce.

Pizzas are a staple in any Italian meal so these Brick-oven pizzas from Toni & Sergio are highly recommended. They are made fresh daily with hand-tossed dough and have several interesting flavors on the menu.

The Tres Salsiccia (P495) is a meat lover’s delight offering three types of meats. This tomato based pizza comes with prosciutto cotto, pepperoni, and Italian sausage.

Another option is the Creamy Spinach and Chicken Pizza (P385) which is a cream based pizza topped with gratinated spinach, roasted chicken and mozzarella.

I love pasta so I was happy sampling some of their offerings as well. The Carbonara (P365) is a traditional spaghetti carbonara mixed with parmesan cheese, black peppper, and pancetta.

On the other hand, the Fried Chicken Pasta in Aurora Sauce (P385) is something a little bit different from the usual pasta fare. This is a tomato cream pasta topped with crispy fried chicken marinated in mojo sauce.

Toni & Sergio also offers several Spanish favorites like the paella which is a complete meal in one big plate. The Paella Con Carne (P620) is a meaty combination of paella rice with chicken and pork chunks in tomato sauce. Each paella is good for three or more persons so this is perfect to share with the entire family.

For seafood lovers, the Paella Dela Casa (P620) might be a better option. This seafood paella comes with a lovely combination of prawns, mussels, clams, chicken, chorizo, and black olives.

Another seafood favorite is the Prawns in Garlic (P440) which has big pieces of stir fried prawns cooked in garlic confit, garlic chips, and olives.

The Callos (P440) is Madrid’s favorite beef tripe stew with pork and garlic rice. We all grew up with these Spanish dishes so we know how good they are when done with love.

Another must-try is the Porchetta (P495) or Roasted Pork Belly. This is a classic Italian pork roast roulade served with mashed potatoes, tomato salsa, and mixed salad. These juicy pork belly will surely satisfy any hungry diner.

The highlight of our main courses was the Rib-Eye alla Griglia (P400/100g). This huge grilled US ribeye steak was cooked medium according to our preference. It is also served with mashed potatoes and spinach on the side.

We also had some lovely desserts to cap off our Spanish and Italian escapade. The Apple Crumble (P220) comes with layers of sweetened red and green apples, graham cookies topped with cashew nuts and vanilla ice cream. There was also the Tiramisu (P180) which is a traditional Italian dessert with layers of mascarpone cheese and lady fingers sprinkled with espresso and cacao powder. Lastly, the Pannacotta (P130) is another traditional Italian dessert served with strawberry coulis.

We would like to thank Giulius Iapino, president of Rigatoni Corporation, for hosting us that afternoon. Toni & Sergio also has a branch in Eastwood City for those living closer to the north, but you really can’t beat the atmosphere and Italian feel at the Venice Grand Canal Mall. Ciao!

Toni and Sergio Gastro Italiano

G/F Venice Grand Canal Mall, Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Hill, Taguig

www.facebook.com/toniandsergio

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