When in Manila, there are lots of destinations that are worth discovering. Today, I feature an exceptional restaurant in Manila that is unique because of its setting. This restaurant is actually an ancestral home located at the very heart of Manila – La Cocina de Tita Moning. I am sure you will find it an ideal place for having one of the best dining experiences with family and friends.
La Cocina de Tita Moning is not just a restaurant, it is a dining experience. It is like a museum of a spirited past where one can re-live one of Manila’s elegant eras, complete with heirloom recipes, doting staff, and family collections of china, glassware and silverware. The café is a genuine ancestral home filled with priceless works of art and memorabilia.
Reasons why you should visit La Cocina de Tita Moning
Experience the rich history of Manila’s elegant past as you walk around the restaurant and enjoy a meal at the main dining room using heirloom china, glassware and silverware and sample recipes from the era.
Tourists may enjoy the house collection of antiques like antique camera equipment, antique clinic area, antique radio equipment, and works of art by Filipino National Artists.
La Cocina de Tita Moning offers catering to private groups for both lunch and dinner. It is an ideal place for dinner parties, business functions, and receptions with the rich and refined history of Manila as your background.
La Cocina de Tita Moning serves Spanish-Filipino dishes and uses family heirloom recipes, what Tita Moning used to cook for her family in their home. Your meal will be served just like how Manila's elite used to enjoy them at the turn of the century. They also offer and accept orders of their homemade specialties.
The La Cocina Story
By Suzette Montinola
La Cocina de Tita Moning began, as appropriately named, in the kitchen. When my grandmother passed away in 1999, my aunts encouraged me to come up with a shortlist of food items she was especially known for. Being unemployed, and “searching for myself”, I said “why not?”
To my own amazement, people ordered. With the invaluable help of my grandmother’s staff, La Cocina de Tita Moning delivered more food orders in that first Christmas than I ever imagined possible.
Turning the old house into a restaurant was never really an idea, but for some reason, the dinners began. Our first guests were just friends of friends. Before I knew it, the phone was ringing with inquiries and the press was knocking on our door writing wonderful things.
One party became one hundred parties.
New Guests became new friends.
Today, I look in amazement at what a shortlist of my grandmother’s specialities has grown into. An ancestral home with a personal family museum where a guest can experience first hand how those at the turn of the century dined in Metro Manila. We are one of a kind in Metro Manila. It is a small as a business but it is done in a very big way.
What stands today is the result of a lot of work by a faithful and hardworking staff. It is born of a great deal of confidence my family has placed in me. And it exists because of luck, and of course, the love that surrounds me everyday.
Things to remember
Their website outlines La Cocina de Tita Moning's policies for the best experience of their customers:
At least Twenty Four Hours Notice must be given for ALL RESERVATIONS and a menu must be chosen in advance. Private groups get a personalized tour, a full seven course menu and the complete dining experience. Our suggested menus can be requested at tel. (+632) 7342146 You must make a reservation and you must choose a menu twenty four hours before arriving so that we may be ready to welcome you as our guest. No Walk-ins are welcome.
A full course dinner (seven courses) at La Cocina de Tita Moning will cost a minimum of P1, 500 per person. This price includes your meal, appetizers in the patio, access to museum and tour brochure of the ancestral home, as well as the dining experience on antique china, glassware, and silverware. Our diners get to interact with all our staff personally and we leave it up to our diner’s discretion to leave a tip as they feel fit.
You are most welcome to bring your own wine. The corkage charge is P300 ++ (subject to 10% service charge and 12% Value added tax per 750ml bottle) . We will gladly serve it at your table, or you may order from our wine list.
La Cocina de Tita Moning is located at # 315 San Rafael Street, San Miguel District, Manila. All lunches and dinners are strictly by reservation
For more information and inquiries:
- Telephone Number – (+632) 7342146, (+632) 7342141
- Facsimile Number – (+632) 7342141
- Mobile Number - (+63) 9175315203
Or email at talktous@lacocinadetitamoning.com / lacocina@pldtdsl.net
Our "restaurant" is a highly personal one, and every member of the Legarda family and staff looks forward to sharing with you their unique heritage. We hope that you will be making a reservation , and we will be meeting you very soon.