Mario's Restaurant at Tomas Morato Quezon City for the Best Paella in Town

Last Saturday, October 18, 2008, about 25 bloggers who are inclined to food-blogging were treated to an intimate dinner by no less than Jose Fil Benitez, the current manager of the establishment who took over the helm from his mother, after finally convincing her it was time Mario's is taken to the next level, and we were all impressed with what Fil has planned and laid out for Mario's and of course, what he has planned and laid out for us bloggers that night.




(Fil, the gracious host, shown here with Arpee)
Fil, was the perfect host, entertaining us all with anecdotes about Mario's origins in Baguio city until it was burned to ashes (sadly) and how it remained to be a landmark in the restaurant scene after 37 years.

Yours truly can't complain about the food I ordered and tried. Let me enumerate them, from appetizers: Oyster Rockefeller in pesto hollandaise, buttered garlic, and chorizo shrimp. For main course: Paella marinera, Chilean seabass, broiled salmon, Steak in peanut sauce. These I took with white wine. And for the desert, we were also amazed at the preparation of the Mango Jubilee which was a flambee.

(Mario's cochinillo offered during Sundays)
I encourage you to try Mario's Lunch Buffet Sunday. They have the most reasonable Lunch Buffet at P 535.00+ for adults and P 405.00+ for kids 7 yrs and below, you can have choices of Roast Beef, Cochinillo and Turkey plus an array of dishes such as Sushi, Pastas, Paella, Desserts and their popular Chocolate Fountain. Caesar Salad is inclusive. (Their Caesar Salad is just divine, it was not very oily and not very sour)



Another specialty you will be able to get a taste of during Sunday buffet is the Roast turkey.










Cap your lunch buffet with deserts from the wide cake selection of Mario's. This is a photo of Mario's Toffee Sansrival. Truly unrivalled.












(Familiar faces aren't they? Fritz, Juned and Ward, made sure they emptied their plates, Yum)










The dinner was more delectable because it was shared with witty people like Lorna Lopez, Noreen Ponce Lazaro and a host of other bloggers who shared info about themselves. Mario's is located at Tomas Morato in Q.C. To Fil Benitez, Muchos gracias.




(Pasimple pa, pero takam na takam na ako sa Mango Jubilee...s'more please)