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MANILA, Philippines – Restaurants play a huge part of our lives. We spend hours at these places, not only eating, but also making memories – whether it’s a weekly scoop of ice cream with dad, a first date, or relaxing with classmates after a particularly difficult test.
Like many other aspects of our lives though, restaurants come and go, and many of the places we used to frequent – no matter how popular they used to be – have since closed.
Fortunately, we can always relive our favorite moments at these iconic restaurants. Here are a few we remember and miss:
Magnolia Ice Cream House
Banana Split #MagnoliaFlavorHouseIce Cream Specialty
Posted by Magnolia Flavor House Official on Friday, 23 May 2014
A childhood favorite of many, Magnolia Ice Cream House along Aurora Boulevard was the place for that weekly scoop of ice cream, that celebratory sundae, or even school field trips to the factory where it was located.
Magnolia’s factory and ice cream parlor was open from the ’70s all the way up to the mid-90s. Nestle took over the site in 1998 after San Miguel Corporation backed out of a joint venture, and it closed in 1999.
Today, Magnolia Ice Cream House has a small restaurant in the middle of Robinsons Magnolia Mall, but the experience doesn’t quite match our memories.
Prince Albert Rotisserie at Intercon
When InterContinental Manila closed its doors forever on January 1, 46 years after it opened, so did its iconic Prince Albert Rotisserie. The fine dining restaurant has played host to many celebrities in the past, and its steak and seafood were perfect for special celebrations or romantic dates.
For dessert, Prince Albert’s crepe samurai – a baked crepe with mangoes swimming in cream – was the crowd favorite.
Le Coeur de France
It came as a surprise to many that bakery and cafe Le Coeur de France was closing its doors on February 19. Aside from their fruit tarts and delicious garlic bread, Le Coeur regulars would wait for the restaurant’s fresh loaves of bread and pastries to go on sale at the end of the day and buy enough to tide them over until next time.
Le Coeur opened in 1994, and was around for 22 years.
Tia Maria’s Cantina
If you went to school in the Katipunan area, chances are you’ve been invited for a drink at Tia Maria’s Cantina at some point – probably after a particularly difficult test. The Mexican-themed joint was a popular drinking place among the students and dormers in the area. It closed its doors in December 2012.
A&W
A&W is an American fast food chain that set up shop in the Philippines in the ’60s. People visited the chain for their fries and hotdogs doused in their signature Coney chili sauce, and their A&W root beer floats.
A&W root beer is still available in supermarkets, but you’ll have to top it with your own soft serve. The space closed in 2004.
2nd’s
Home of the famous bacon chicharon, 2nd’s along Bonifacio High Street surprised everyone when it closed its doors in 2015. The restaurant was quite young, having opened in 2010, and many people have fond memories of the low-key and comfortable space.
Aside from their bacon chicharon, 2nd’s served delicious comfort food but with a sophisticated touch. Their interiors matched their food too – dark wood, bookshelves, big, bright windows, mirrors, and dim lighting at night.
2nd’s has announced on social media that they’re re-opening soon in a different location, so we’re keeping our eyes open for updates.
Mag:Net Cafe
Mag:Net cafe started out as a string of magazine and book shops, but were turned into cafes with regular book launches and poetry readings. The restaurant, which had branches in Katipunan, ABS-CBN, Paseo, and The Fort, had reasonably priced Filipino food, but what kept people coming back were the events – artists frequented the branches to attend readings, film screenings, art shows, and gigs.
Whether it’s a small cafe or a fancy restaurant, it’s the memories, more than the food that made these places special.
Are there any closed restaurants that are special to you? What do you remember about these places? Share your memories in the comments! – Rappler.com
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