The Island Has You Covered This Rainy Season With Their New Menu
The rainy season usually puts a damper on our plans. Al fresco dining has mostly been the sought-after setup during the pandemic, but when the rainy months arrive, how can we enjoy these outdoor experiences? Don’t worry, because The Island has got us covered with their fully tented al fresco dining venue as well as a new Dinner Menu that promises comfort food and nostalgia with their new take on Filipino dishes.
You can find The Island at The Palace Manila complex in Uptown Bonifacio, right beside the Uptown Mall on 9th Avenue corner 32nd Street in Bonifacio Global City. It is one of the country’s biggest outdoor restaurants and is open from Thursday to Sunday from 6:00pm to late in the evening. Head out to The Island with your officemates after a long workweek or go on a night out with your friends for a night of good food and awesome drinks.
It was a rainy Friday evening when we went to The Island but we really just wanted to relax and enjoy the evening after a very tiring week. It was still quite early in the evening so thankfully there weren’t any long lines yet. Reservations are highly encouraged but walk-ins will also be accommodated depending on availability.
Patrons will enjoy dining with friends and family in this very colorful and huge outdoor establishment. No need to worry about the rain because the place is fully covered from the rain clouds, so you can still enjoy the cool breeze and the trendy ambiance even during the rainy season.
There are several dining areas to choose from at The Island, each with its own quaint charms. You can choose a table near the bar if you are hungry and want some quick orders.
This area is best suited for big groups but there are also some cozy dining spots on the side for more intimate dates.
If you are coming here for post-dinner drinks, then the sofas and tables at the center of The Island should be the spot for you and your friends. This is also closer to the DJ booth so you can dance and party the night away.
The Island also offers a couple of private VIP rooms for exclusive events like birthday parties, graduation parties, corporate activities, or any other celebration you can think of.
These rooms can accommodate bigger groups and come with their own bars as well.
Come early because The Island has its Happy Hour promotions from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Take advantage of their Buy 1 Take 1 offers with shots starting at only P80. You can also order some cocktails like Darla’s Fizz (P320), a creamy concoction made with gin, strawberry, soy milk, and egg white. There's also the Legends of the Hidden Temple (P320) which is a Yes, Please classic. This comes with a mix of bourbon, green mango, tamarind, and lime as a twist to the classic whisky sour.
On the other hand, you can also go for some healthier beverages like the Lemon Yakult Shake (P150) or fruit shakes like the Watermelon Shake (P150).
But the main reason I am here is to try The Island’s brand new menu. The Palace Manila’s Head Chef Ron Cruz pays tribute to our Filipino heritage and created a delectable lineup of local Filipino dishes. These will give you a taste of home with dishes that our moms and lolas would cook for the family.
We ordered the Cheesy Baked Oysters (P390) for our starters. These yummy oysters are baked with quickmelt cheese and garlic miso butter. Each piece was topped with generous amounts of cheese so I really enjoyed eating them.
Since everyone was drinking, we also tried the Crispy Drunken Shrimp (P520) so even the shrimp could get in the action. These white shrimp are deep-fried with hibe, fried onions, and spiced vinegar to create a tasty bite-sized appetizer.
We were quite curious about the Mussels and Oyster Sisig (P620) so we had to try it for ourselves. Instead of the usual pork sisig, this is a healthier seafood version which comes with calamansi soy, cream, onion, and chili.
Of course, we couldn’t have a proper Filipino dinner without rice, so we chose to get the indulgent Aligue Rice (P240). One order is good for up to three persons, but this is just right for my husband and me. The aligue rice is cooked with aligue butter and topped with onion frites to complete the dish.
The Ginger Garlic Crispy Tilapia (P470) is a crispy fried tilapia cooked with ginger garlic oil and served with patis sweet chili and salted egg tartare. It’s a good companion to our meaty main course which we are eager to dive into.
We couldn’t wait to get our hands on the Sizzling Short Ribs (P965). This big sizzling plate comes with big cuts of short ribs doused in truffle gravy and served with french beans, roasted garlic, and shiitake confit. It’s honestly good for up to three persons so we really enjoyed having this all to ourselves.
Groups and barkadas can also order their Boodle Feast which is good for 5 to 6 people. For our dessert, we went for the Mango Graham Wafer Meringue (P310) with its mango chutney and graham streusel topped with whipped cream.
The Island at The Palace is still one of the most popular nightlife destinations here in the city. Whether you are coming here after long hours at the office, or meeting up with your friends and college mates, The Island’s new menu and Happy Hour promotions will keep you all talking and partying all the way up to the late evening. See you at The Island!
The Island Outdoor Bistro at The Palace Opens Its Doors Once Again
The country’s premiere lifestyle and entertainment complex, The Palace Manila, is once again opening its doors to the public with the long-awaited launch of The Island Outdoor Bistro. Formerly known as The Palace Pool Club, whose grand opening I still remember attending way back in 2015 (Read: It’s Always Summer at The Palace Pool Club), The Island has been transformed into a refreshing al-fresco dining restaurant to adjust to the restrictions during these pandemic times.
The Island Outdoor Bistro made a quiet opening last January 14, 2021 and its loyal fans are now once again coming back to enjoy its young and energetic vibe. You can find The Island at The Palace Manila complex in Uptown Bonifacio, right beside the Uptown Mall on 9th Avenue corner 32nd Street. It is one of the country’s biggest outdoor restaurants and is now open daily for dinner and nigtcaps from 5:00pm to 12:00mn.
Health and safety measures are strictly enforced right at the entrance. Everyone has to wear their face mask and face shield while walking around the premises. Guests also need to fill up a health declaration form using the QR code, while temperature checks are also done to ensure everyone’s safety and compliance.
The Island will be operating at a limited capacity in line with IATF and Taguig Safe City Guidelines, so reservations are highly recommended. My husband and I made a reservation for dinner last Friday, so we simply gave our names at the reception and made our way to our table. Walk-ins are allowed as long as there are tables still available after reservations.
Patrons can expect a light and fun atmosphere at the new and improved The Island Outdoor Bistro. You can still feel the vibe of the Palace Pool Club, but with a more subdued and relaxed ambiance. There is live music played by the house DJs, but guests are not allowed to dance and mingle like before. Swimming is also not allowed now.
Patrons will enjoy dining with friends and family in this very colorful and huge outdoor establishment. No need to worry about the rain because the place is fully covered from the sun and the rain clouds.
There are several dining areas to choose from at The Palace Outdoor Bistro, each with its own quaint charms. Despite the number of guests, the tables are spaced very well, with physical distancing strictly followed.
We also found a couple of private rooms at The Island for small groups who want to enjoy a more secluded dining experience. There is no minimum spend required for these rooms so anyone can freely use them if they wish.
There are several Sanitation Stations located all around the establishment where guests can wipe their hands with tissue and alcohol. All of these safety measures made us feel very comfortable and secure during our dinner.
The all-new Island boasts of a food menu that contains all of the crowd favorites at The Palace Manila complex like the Wagyu Burger, BBQ Chicken Salad, Truffle and Honey Pizza, Yes Please’s Garlic Steak Rice, Tamarind Glazed Salmon, and many more.
The last place we visited at this complex with our friends was B.A.D. Late Night Breakfast Bar, just a few weeks before it was forced to close as the pandemic started, so we were really excited to be back and see how the place looked now. We really love the fun vibe and feel of The Island Outdoor Bistro, it’s as if you are dining at a beach resort.
You can check their Digital Menu using the QR code found on each table. Make sure you have your QR readers ready since it is a must nowadays. There are also markers on each table to show how far apart diners should be seated. Your face masks can also be stored inside the pouches provided.
We started by getting some cocktails. Based on IATF guidelines, cocktails and alcohol beverages can only be ordered together with food items. There is also a limit of two glasses of cocktails, wines, or beers per person so this has to be enforced. It may not be like how we did it before, but those are the rules we have to follow to keep this pandemic in check. My husband got Maverick (P400), the perfect wingman which has a strong mix of whisky, elderflower liquor, Sauvignon Blanc, and Amaro.
I had a glass of Forever a Bridesmaid (P320) which is a tiki-inspired silky sour gin cocktail made with a sweet side. I do love gin so I made sure to order the cocktails that came with as much gin as possible.
Make sure to order wisely since you can only have two glasses! My next order was Darla’s Fizz (P320), a creamy concoction made with gin, strawberry, soy milk, and egg white. Then Dexter asked for Legends of the Hidden Temple (P320) which is a Yes, Please classic. This comes with a mix of bourbon, green mango, tamarind, and lime as a twist to the classic whisky sour.
Of course, our cocktails were paired with some of our favorite appetizers like the Umami Truffle Fries (P350). This generous serving of potato fries was doused in truffle parmesan sauce, aonori, and bonito flakes.
You can also get the Classic Nachos (P240) for your table with its beef and bean chili, house cheese sauce, salsa, garlic crema, and cilantro.
I do recommend ordering the Carne Asada Tacos (P350) which comes with spiced beef belly, pickled chili, salsa, and garlic crema placed on a bed of soft flour tortilla. This was a very meaty and flavorful tacos that goes well with all of the cocktails we ordered.
There is a good selection of main dishes to choose from at The Island Outdoor Bistro. Pasta lovers can go for the Chicken Parm Pasta Melt (P390) with its silky spaghetti topped with arrabiatta sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil.
Burger aficionados should try the Wagyu Cheeseburger (P495) which comes with an Australian wagyu patty, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes on a brioche bun. This is served with a side of french fries.
I am a certified steak lover so my easy choice was the Yes, Please Garlic Steak Rice (P500). This specialty from the still-closed establishment comes with a U.S. Angus flat iron steak topped with fried egg, corn, and soy on a bed of Japanese rice.
The steak rice is what makes this dish so special. It is a bit similar to Pepper Lunch but with a more smoky and garlicky flavor. The beef was served medium, just as I requested. Mix the fried egg on top and everything goes so well together. It is absolutely delicious. This is what comfort food is all about!
During another trip to The Island Outdoor Bistro (yes, we went back just a few days after), I ordered the Flat Iron Steak (P690) instead which comes with a bigger portion (180 grams) of U.S. Angus steak. This is served with your choice of two sides. I chose the steak rice plus creamed spinach and corn, but you can also request for fries, mashed potato, buttered corn, or garlic bokchoy as your sides.
Do you know why we went back to The Island right away? We heard about their new promotion during weekdays (Monday to Thursday) where diners can get a free cocktail with every main dish they order. You can choose from Daiquiri, Margarita, or Gimlet to go with your main course. Now that is more than enough reason to keep coming back to The Island. So make your reservations now and enjoy the Island Life once again.
Last night’s show was amazing! Thank you @miguel for a great night! ✌🏻#GlobeMiguel #MiguelAtTheIsland #TheIslandPH #MiguelInManila (at The Island PH) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3b2ThOnqZeZp16IibElMZ8VerSZNH9HWfXtHk0/?igshid=elnqsmsvq51z
Last night was fun. Safe trip back to Canada @jasboutet @mdesautels @bwillcote @e_bouts @legare16. See yall guys soon for Boracay! 👋🏻 🌴🤙🏻#itsmorefuninthephilippines #theislandph #teamcanada (at The Island PH)
Happy 2nd Birthday @escapetothepalace! What a fun night! 🎉 Congratulations, @kayepernia and to your team! More years of savage articles to come! Cheers 🍹💃🌴🍍 #IslandEscapePH #The2ndEscape #TheIslandPH (at The Island PH)
