Oyen has been wanting to dine here because she heard the steak is good. There was one time she wanted to have her birthday dinner here but decided against it thinking about the traffic from Quezon City to Makati. #wehatetraffic
The other day, she forgot her diet food at home so we saw it as an opportunity to explore places we haven’t tried. When she said she wanted steak, Prime 101 came to mind. Steak for lunch? Why not?
Prime 101 is on the second floor of a two story building in Pasong Tamo very near our office and Don Bosco Technical School.
They share the space with Casa de Dios, a furniture and interior design firm, a sister company of the restaurant.
I didn’t find it a negative having a bed at the restaurant’s entrance. In fact, I got excited because aside from eating, I get to look at nice home furnishings.
The minute we stepped-in, I liked it already.
I so liked the ambience.
Oyen checking out the menu
I stood up and walked closer to this long table. It’s not for sale according to the waiter.
I saw Oyen looking at the menu board
They also have seafood but I was not in the mood to eat fish on that day. Hingi na lang ako whatever Oyen would order.
I saw this guy guiding Oyen through the menu. He was very knowledgeable about the dishes so I asked him if he’s the owner.
Yes, he is Marco Legasto, the chef and the owner. He studied culinary in United Kingdom for 3 years. He was the executive chef at the Ocean Castle Hotel in UK.
He came back to the Philippines eagerly excited to open his own restaurant. He is one of the pioneers of the Spiral Restaurant in Sofitel together with Boy Vazquez of Cafe Juanita. He also owns a bar called 22 Jupiter (its name and address). Prime 101 opened in 2012 with cousin Gardo Vazquez and friend Jenny de Dios, an interior designer.
Oyen ordered the 300 g Tenderloin steak. She told the waiter we’re just going to share.
First, they brought us this tiny tomato bisque bowl. The bread was deliciously seasoned, I have never tasted anything like that. I wanted to request for more but I controlled my appetite. I can eat a dozen of that thinly sliced bread. I wonder what Chef Marco put in there. I want more of that.
I really felt so happy Oyen brought me here. What a quiet and relaxing meal.
I was blown away by the strong smell of truffles from this mushroom dumplings. I am a sucker for truffles and this was perfect for me. I know what to order next time I come back.
Oyen and I ate three pieces each. I feel high while eating this, Na ha high ako with the truffle smell.
We thought our orders were not enough, nagpa habol pa kami ng seafood pasta (P380). We had it wrapped. I brought it home and ate half for dinner.
I scraped the bottom of the sauce bowl. Nay ko ang sarap din. We didn’t try the different kinds of salt. The food’s well seasoned, no additional seasoning needed.
We sent back the Tenderloin steak to the kitchen for more grilling. We forgot to inform the waiter that we wanted medium well or almost well done.
Oyen had coffee. I said no to dessert #raretimes.
How come I didn’t know that there’s such a good restaurant near my office? I will make up for the lost time by dining here often. I know what to order- mushroom dumplings with truffle if I were alone.
If with a companion, I will share a tenderloin steak . It’s not only the good food that makes me want to go back, I love the ambience. Prime 101 here I come.
