Thai at Silk, Fort Bonifacio, Philippines
Last Visit: Dec 2008
OVERALL
I don't know why, but foreigners come to Philippines for Thai food. Maybe it's because Filipino cuisine is no comparison with the popularity of Thai food that dramatically increased in the last decade. Or maybe because there are simply many, many high-quality Thai restaurants in Metro Manila. If you are a fan of Thai food, then DO NOT miss Thai at Silk. I can't commend on authenticity because I'm not Thai, but I can say this is a solid restaurant that is worth all the praises it gets from all directions.
FOOD
I am not an expert on Thai food - I've only been there for 4 days, and rest of my Thai food experience happened in the US or Taiwan, but I can tell good food from bad. At Thai at Silk, I can tell that the chef put his heart into making the most meticulously prepared food with best ingredients that he can get his hands on.
I have been there several times, and we typically start with the usual Tom Yum Goong with seafood - too good to miss, but there are also the coconut soup which is awesome as well. Then we will get a couple appetizers, the shrimp cake is definitely a favorite and the beef/chicken sate, salads and frsh rolls are also good. The portions are not huge, so you can get an appetizer for each adult.
For entrees, you can't go wrong with some curry dishes, seafood like whole fish or prawns, vegetables like Morning Glory, coupled with fried rice and Pad Thai. As usual I am a bit disappointed with the beef dish, but compared with most other restaurants here that can't even spell the word beef, it's pretty well done at Thai at Silk. Notice I didn't get into the names of the dishes - because I don't need to recommend specific ones, most of the dishes are great so order whatever suits your taste!
And don't forget the infamous Thai dessert - mango with sticky rice - a MUST TRY if you are a sticky rice fan, a bit more sticky than what you'd find in Thailand but perfectly delicious - or an ice cream dessert. Just like rest of the meal, well prepared and presented, didn't miss a beat. Overall, the one big complaint I would have is that there can be a bit more creativity and adventure in the menu; there are too many same-old same-old and dishes tend to be a bit blend - maybe that's why the place is packed with lots of white people.....
SERVICE
Just like all others businesses, execution of details is the key to success. Thai at Silk sure knows that art of making sure all the details are well executed. From hostess to bus boy, Thai at Silk knows how to take care of their customers, making them feel like they're in a five-star hotel. Dishes were delivered gracefully in the right order, which is not typically the case for restaurants here in Philippines. One complaint we had was that everything took place a bit too slowly - including pouring of a bottle of beer which took about one minute. Nevertheless, would you rather have it done sloppy and fast or gracefully and slow??
AMBIENCE
Serendra is one of the those places that Ayala group has determined to showcase how it can "undo" Glorietta and "outdo" Greenbelt in some ways. There even the worst restaurant has the distinct advantage of having an amazing way to breath in serenity and festivity at the same time. Thai at Silk made this beautiful little plaza even more welcoming. Before you walk through the door of Thai at Silk, you can totally feel that the owner took his business very seriously, as it stands out amongst a bunch of nice restaurants. Even the CR (filipino restroom) is impressive - one of the nicest I've seen in Manila - so you should go at least once when you eat here.
VALUE
Let's face it, in Manila or anywhere Philippines you don't expect to pay a bundle for asian food no matter how great it is. Well, this Thai restaurant would have to be the exception. You can expect to easily spend more than P500 per head on food alone because portions are not that generous. Top that with a couple good Thai ice tea, cocktails and dessert, it's easy to leave with a P600-700 per head bill, pretty stiff for the cuisine. Not the best value in town by any measure, but I'd much rather have Thai at Silk than those mediocre Spanish and Italian that fill most of the city's fine dining scene....
BOTTOMLINE
I can almost write a book on how I witness Thai food to rise, in the last 30 years, from cheap ethnic fastfood to glamourous and exotic delicacy from a mysterious kingdom, putting authentic Chinese restaurants to shame. With restaurants like Thai at Silk, however, you just have to give it to them. The ingenuity in cooking technique and presentation, commitment to quality of both food and ambiance, and attention to details and consistency that you typically find in European-style dining are all there. It's just a matter of time that Thai food becomes synonymous with French and Italian.
BTW
I was there several times and it's almost full even on a weekday, so I'd advice booking ahead of time, especially on Fri and Sat. Also, this is not exactly a children-friendly place even though people do bring kids - you WILL get lots of stares from the friendly (no so!) foreign business patrons who're there to unwind after a business week.
