Words by Denise Nicole Uy / Photos by Hannah Beltran and Paolo Pareno

As a North girl, I don’t find myself venturing to the South often. As we all know, our transportation system leaves much to be desired to the point that the South seems like a whole different country to me, but bearing with the hellish traffic of Manila and dealing with the tollgates is worth it if you plan on visiting Akrotiri!

Akrotiri means peninsula in Greek and the homage to Greek culture doesn’t stop there. The restaurant specializes in modern fusion cuisine, and it will feel like you’re trespassing in a foodie’s dream when you browse through their ingenious menu. Inspired by Greek and Asian cuisine, they have truly come up with something unique.

Heck, even the water alone is enough to draw me in! They had PINK water and no, I am not exaggerating. David Jones, the General Manager, shares that they once had a man come to their restaurant just for their infused water! I really don’t blame him because I adore their pink orange and dragonfruit infused water. 

Amazing water aside, the restaurant’s ambiance really enhances the whole experience. Beautiful paintings line the stairwell and the wooden tables are cozy. The attention to both detail and customer experience elevate this place from a restaurant to a complete lifestyle.

Eurasian Sour Soup and Souvlaki Skewers (P350)

One of the most interesting things is how Akritori plays with the concept of food. They take ingredients you can easily identify and make them totally unique. The Eurasian Sour Soup and Souvlaki Skewers is one of those dishes. We all love sinigang, but their version has these wonderful souvlaki skewers that will just melt in your mouth. 

Wagyu Skirt Steak with Spicy Chili Jam (P900)

They really know how to make meat melt in your mouth because their Wagyu Skirt Steak with Spicy Chili Jam alone is enough to make me commute from Quezon City to Alabang. The Wagyu is very tender and well-cooked, the way steak should be (I don’t trust people who like their steaks well-done). But the standout for me is definitely the chili jam, which is so dang creative and so dang good. The texture combined with the spice is just amazing. I could honestly eat a mug of this chili jam on its own.

Wagyu Corned Beef with Turmeric Mashed Potatoes (P450)

Their Wagyu Corned Beef with Turmeric Mashed Potatoes is a great reinvention of a classic breakfast staple. Corned beef is good in the morning, but have you ever had CRISPY corned beef? I have no idea how they did it, but it is sublime and I could eat it all day everyday. The mashed potatoes are also a lovely yellow color, thanks to the turmeric and they elevate this basic treat into a creamy indulgence.

Tiradito Maya Maya with Spicy Lemon Dressing, Ginger, Radish and Wasabi (P400)

Perhaps one of the most interesting and daring things on their menu is the Tiradito Maya Maya with Spicy Lemon Dressing, Ginger, Radish and Wasabi. They took a fish typically used in local Filipino cuisine but prepared it in such a way that if sushi and Filipino food got engaged and had a baby, this is what it would taste like. I’m not a big fan of ginger but the ginger taste here balances out the umami of the fish so well that it’ll shock you that maya maya can taste this good.

Grilled Squid Stuffed With Feta Foam and Black Ink Risotto (P550)

Now, I have a big weakness for risotto, especially the black ink kind. Their Grilled Squid Stuffed with Feta Foam and Black Ink Risotto surprised me because of how much I enjoyed it despite not being a big fan of eating the actual squid. The risotto is honestly a standout dish. The rice is the perfect balance of soft and firm, and the delicious squid ink will perfectly meld with your tastebuds when you take a bite of the risotto.

The Chocolate Garden Mosaiko (P450)

No meal is complete without dessert and their dessert surprised me. Literally. The Chocolate Garden Mosaiko looks like someone plopped garden earth onto your plate complete with flowers and leaves on top. Mosaiko means surprise and you’ll definitely be surprised when you find out it’s actually chocolate with dulce de leche, wasabi, and edible flowers. There are no words to explain how excited I was to eat this dish.

Akrotiri is a restaurant one never expects to pop out in the local food scene. David says it well: “At the moment we are their option, but we hope to be their tradition.”

Akrotiri Modern Fusion Cuisine

Ground Floor, Commercenter, 1780 Commerce Corner Filinvest Avenue, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa

09451146573

Website: https://www.akrotiri.ph

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AkrotiriPH

Instagram: @akrotiriph