BFF Mia Trinidad Hashim is back home, visiting from Malaysia, and we celebrated her birthday last night at Va Bene, rumored to be the best Italian restaurant in Manila. The location is odd – right above the Petron gas station by Dasmariñas Village in Makati and it’s as brightly lit as a mini mart too. Still the tiny diner-deli was packed. (Reservations are an absolute must!)

We tried three salads: one with chicken, one with octopus, and the other with beef carpaccio (which isn’t on the menu). They were all wonderful.

The best dishes of the night were the lamb (- either basil or truffle-encrusted) and the vegetarian tortellini arrabiata. I didn’t get to try the veal cheeks or the pasta negra but I heard they were very good.

I wasn’t a fan of the crab tortellini and thought the pasta with artichokes was too dry, lacked salt and needed some zing to it.

There were only two desserts available that night, the profiteroles and the panna cotta, both of which I didn’t like. To be fair, I’ve never liked profiteroles, although I am open to having my mind changed about it. This didn’t do it. I am, however, a panna cotta snob and I don’t agree with drowning the cream in fruits.

But, since I had the truffle-encrusted lamb, I was more than satisfied with my meal. I’m not sure that it is the best Italian restaurant in Manila but I would still totally recommend dining at Va Bene.

Va Bene is owned and run by Massimo Veronesi who was chef at the Peninsula Manila’s Mi Piace and Old Manila for five years. He sent a chicken dish to our table that was very good and gave the birthday girl a bottle of wine, which was very gracious of him.

Va Bene
2/F Petron Gas Station, EDSA cor. Pasay Rd.
Dasmariñas Village, Makati City
Tel: +63-2-556-9442, 904-6063, +63 917 345-6869
Operating Hours:
Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
(Late-night dinners after 9:30 PM are possible with prior reservation.)