Now in Podium: Wolfgang's Steakhouse

Steak has always been part of the menu whenever R and I are celebrating something special. I still remember when he made steak for me on Valentine's Day and when I did the same for our anniversary this year. There are times though when we're not in the mood to create a yummy mess in the kitchen and eat out instead. It's a good thing that there are a lot of options to choose from these days and the good ones are branching out. One steakhouse that made itself closer to home is Wolfgang's Steakhouse. 

Hello, Wolfgang's Steakhouse. 

This posh steakhouse founded by Wolfgang Zweiner, has a history that could be traced back to the New York classic Peter Luger. Mr. Zweiner was a waiter (turned head waiter) at Peter Luger for 40 before he decided to start his own steakhouse. If you've been to Peter Luger, you'd notice similarities with Wolfgang's menu. 

We've visited its second branch in Manila and it is noticebly smaller than its restaurant in Resorts World Manila. But I love how this place is well-lit, more inviting and modern. 

We tried its Lunch Sets and I decided to go with The Wolfgang Experience which has Seafood Taster (Tuna Tartar + Lobster Salad + Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail), an option for soup or salad and an entree with options of: 

USDA Prime Dry-Aged Loco Moco (PHP988, 220g) 

USDA Prime Petit Filet Mignon (PHP1,988, 250g)

Fish of the Day (PHP988, 250g)

USDA Prime Dry-Aged Rib Eye Steak (PHP3,788, 600g) served with Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Spinach on the side and Dessert of the Day. I went with Rib Eye. 

R on the other hand went with Taste of New York (PHP2,500) which includes USDA Prime Dry-Aged Sirloin Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Spinach and New York Style Cheesecake. 

Just like any steakhouse, we were given a complimentary basket of bread and butter. Taste-wise, it was just your usual bread and it would have been nice if they also have some salt on the side for the butter. We also noticed that there was no butter knife provided. 

First served was the impressive starter. The mouthwatering Seafood Taster was screaming fresh with its vibrant colors. 

The tuna tartar was bursting with the high seas taste. Texture was firm and it it didn't smell fishy at all. The prawn had that great snappy texture and the lobster was delightful. But I would have loved it more if it was served buttered instead. Then again, it might be a tad too heavy already as an appetizer. 

I went with Soup of the Day for my second dish and it was Chicken Soup during my visit. Though I enjoyed the generous serving of chicken bits, I found the broth too salty for my liking. 

While waiting for our mains, we were treated to try Wolfgang's hefty burger. Though I was not really curious to know its taste as I prefer to eat steak than burger at a steakhouse, I took a bite. And I sure am glad that I did as it was one of the best burgers I've had to date! 

The patty was very juicy and its aroma would make anyone drool. It was lightly seasoned with salt allowing us to indulge and enjoy the patty's beefy taste in its pure form. 

The stars of our meal were served soon after and I was overwhelmed by the size of my rib eye. I thought that it was tomahawk given its humongous cut.

R and I noticed that some parts of the top layer of the steak were a bit too charred but the inside was done just right. 

The meat may not be as fragrant as the burger patty but each bite of the prime dry-aged rib eye was blissful. Succulent in every bite, you don't even need any sauce or sides to make this dish enjoyable. I had it with salt instead of sauce for me to enjoy its beefy taste.

But if you want sauce with your meat, do try Wolfgang's old fashioned sauce.

R's USDA Prime Dry-Aged Sirloin Steak was pretty good too. It's more tender than rib eye but its taste was not as beefy. 

For the sides, I liked mashed potatoes more than creamy spinach.

We also enjoyed our steaks with Reserva wine.

To cap our meal, we enjoyed a slice of New York Cheesecake and Tiramisu. Both were good but not stellar. 

It would have been nicer if a cup of coffee was included in the lunch set as a hefty meal like that would anyone sleepy. Or perhaps wine pairing would make it even more attractive. There are also a few hiccups on service but were easily addressed by the staff. 

Overall, it was a lovely lunch. Though I can't say that Wolfgang offers the best steak in town, it definitely belongs to my top 5 steakhouses in Manila. It is a good contender for high end bang for the buck steak. 

Wolfgang's Steakhouse is located at Ground Floor, Podium Mall, Ortigas, Pasig City.