1919 Grand Cafe
1919 Grand Cafe is a restaurant in Binondo, famously known as “Chinatown” in Manila, that will relive the city’s old memories. It is a former office building of the HSBC (oldest foreign bank in the Philippines) back in 1922 until they vacated the place and moved to Makati in 1971. The abandoned and neglected building was restored and refurbished by the new owner and became a cafe that serves sumptuous meals and the best coffee in the area.
The Exterior
The cafe exterior looks like a classy vintage hotel, with the building’s original facade and columns remaining intact, along with the commemorative plaque displayed above the main entrance. It has various live plants surrounding the building.
The Interiors
The restaurant reception counter has a hotel lobby-like ambiance with traditional Chinese features, lovely indoor plants, and fabulous light fittings.
The waiting area: The restaurant has a cozy lounge for its customers on the waiting list. The accent wall displays the restaurant’s building history and various frame sizes with photos of the country’s influential personalities who visited the place.
Since the restaurant is in a full house that day, and no reservation is allowed during the weekends, our waiting time was almost 30 minutes considering it was a Sunday.
The restaurant interiors are a mixture of classic and modern looks. The Spacious dining area, the minimalist lighting fixtures, and the sophisticated leather seats create a luxurious ambiance in the restaurant. Other accents are live plants, iron grill wall partitions used as a wine cellar, and some black-and-white photos of old Manila.
At the mezzanine
On the mezzanine are private function rooms for private meetings and other intimate events and gatherings. This relaxing area will make you feel like you are in a traditional Chinese tea house.
Our table on the mezzanine has a home-like mood, having comfy seats and cute throw pillows with a lovely sheer curtain on the window walls. The background music fitted the relaxing spirit of the place.
The 1919 Grand Cafe offers a variety of food selections, including Asian, Mexican, and American dishes. Also on the menu are lattes, frappes, mochaccinos, sweet bakes, and good wine.
THE FOOD
Kani Salad: It consists of assorted green lettuce, shredded crab sticks, and cucumber topped with nori and wasabi mayo dressing. The greens are crisp and refreshing, a little sweet and spicy because of the wasabi mayo dressing. The serving size is good for sharing.
Crispy Pork Belly: Deep-fried pork belly in mango demi glaze served with young carrots, beans, and corn. This tasteful pork belly is crunchy outside yet fork-tender, and then dip it in the sauce to get an extra boost of flavor.
This tomato base Seafood Pasta consists of shrimp, squid, and mussels topped with shaved parmesan cheese and fresh basil or parsley leaves. It has a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and a bit spicy. It goes well with garlic bread.
My friend told me the restaurant serves the best pizza in town, so I ordered the 4 Cheese Pizza. I was disappointed since the pizza crust is like ordinary bread for me. However, it was a real cheese overloaded. It was very tasteful but not overwhelming. It consists of cream cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan cheese.
We finish off our meal with a thick slice of creamy Oreo Cheesecake and a cup of strong yet sweet Muscovado Latte coffee. These desserts are pretty good and were very satisfying and comforting.
The service:
- The staff at the reception area was pleasant and courteous. She told me that the restaurant is at full capacity and that if we are willing to wait until a table is available for us. She ushers us to the waiting area as soon as I say yes to her.
- The waitstaff at the mezzanine was quick, courteous, and attentive. He is always on the lookout for our needs and never leaves our water glass empty. He is also neat and tidy.
- The serving time is not quick but understandable because of the influx of customers.
The parking area: Customers can park their cars on the sidewalk, which is a bit challenging since there are a lot of parked cars along the street.
Overall Impression:
- Food: Above average
- Ambiance: Cozy atmosphere
- Interior design: Upscale/Modern/Stylish
- Service: On the average
- Cleanliness: on the average
- Location: Accessible location
Complete address: 117 Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila, Philippines.
Contact Number: 0956 497 6223