For my sister’s birthday, we decided to hold a simple dinner celebration last March 27 in Uptown Mall. We had limited options for alfresco dining, so we chose a venue that is near our place. We realized that we haven’t brought our family to Uptown yet where they can appreciate the nice dancing fountain or the lights surrounding the buildings. Hence, we took it as a perfect timing to let them experience it.

Our first option was Mama Mia but then we stepped back, realizing our food choices would only be limited to Pasta and Pizza. Having thought that Filipino food won’t disappoint, we just decided to have dinner at Flatiron 1771 instead.

Reservation

I made a reservation a day before so that we won’t encounter any hassle given the stricter protocols for dining these days. The staff was also accommodating to accept our advance orders over the phone. I like organizing events for our family and I always wanted it to be well-arranged that way. When we arrived, there was a table prepared for us outside and I appreciate the nice view of the fountain. We also had a dedicated server in our table.

Our orders

My sister and I ordered our family’s favorites and just added some best-sellers from the restaurant. We’re also happy and confident that it is under 1771 group of restaurants, that it also accepts orders for Sentro. Sentro is also known for its high-quality and delicious Filipino food.

Here are our orders:

*Not in the photos are Ceasar Salad, Pork Sisig, and Drinks.

Food Feedback

If I were to describe the food, it was a combination of hit and miss. For one, the Corned Beef Sinigang is a sure winner. I’ve had it several times in Sentro and I like this dish for the tenderness of beef and the well-balanced acidity of the tamarind soup. Secondly, my family also love the Flat Iron Brisket. It is so fork-tender and the meat is well-seasoned. Third, the Kare-Kare is passable (as my sister would describe it) because the sauce is not overly sweet. The Chicken Barbecue is very chewy and savory too, reminding you of the delicious Chicken Inasal. The Sisig is also fine, but nothing too exceptional.

However, we got disappointed with their version of Diniguan and Sizzling Tofu. Their Diniguan had this odd taste and smell that is quite bordering to a spoiled food. We are not sure if has to do something with the vinegar that was used to cook it. The Sizzling Tofu was too sour. We were expecting it to be like the one in Max’s that is soft and creamy, but we can’t event taste the mayonnaise in it. The sour taste is overpowering and the tofu was not that soft.

The Meatball Marinara is too dry and bland for me. The Brekkie Pizza is not commendable as well. The combination of ground beef and egg did not complement in the dough.

Not to brag, but all of us in the family knows how to cook so we somehow have high standards for Filipino food. My grandmother’s signature recipe is Diniguan, while for my sister, it’s Kare-Kare. The food in Flatiron 1771 is overpriced yet mediocre and ordinary. Imagine spending 5k for restaurant food that we can do better at home? Their prices can be compared to the famous Filipino restaurants in Tagaytay!

I am writing this not to bash Flatiron 1771. It is not usual for me to write negative write-ups for restaurants because I know the passion and labor in the food industry plus their struggle this pandemic is something not to be taken lightly too. However, I am sharing this as an honest feedback as a food blogger and a customer. I also have the responsibility to share truthful information to my readers.

Conclusion

This experience made me realize how important is reading the reviews or doing a little research before dining in expensive restaurants. It’s not bad to help the resto industry during these times, but you also have to think twice about spending at this time of crisis.

I would commend Flatiron 1771 for its warm hospitality and good service, but they have to prove themselves worthy of their customer’s payment through their food.

Anyway, at least we were able to celebrate my sister’s birthday differently. That’s all that matters.

Flatiron 1771
Address: Ground Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street, Corner 9th Ave, Taguig, Metro Manila
Phone: (02) 8802 5458
Website: https://flatiron.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Flatiron1771
Instagram: Flatiron1771