One mention of the word La Maison automatically brings to mind images of French girls, French bread, authentic pastas, delectable pizzas, and people sipping hot coffees with their favorite dailies, with the Eiffel Tower serving as their backdrop. Yes, the term La Maison is indeed a French term for “The House” or “The Home,” but don’t get too engrossed with pastas, pizzas, and Paris because at La Maison, they offer not just a taste of France but a taste of Europe as well.
Upon entering the cozy, artsy, and fancy interior of La Maison, one might wonder, “Is this a French restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, or what?” Truth is, the only French thing about La Maison is the name.
“We wanted to be called a European Family Dining restaurant,” said La Maison’s Corporate Restaurant Manager Robi Lim Caguiat. He also shared that the name La Maison was the result of a collaboration between Swedish Chef Robert Lilja and the restaurant owners, Ray and Marissa Alcoseba, who happened to be friends with his Cebuana wife.
Price-wise, one might think of La Maison as a bit pricey compared to its contemporaries. However, the cliché “looks can be deceiving” actually applies to this European restaurant. Behind the elegant-looking facade, fine dining ambiance, and intimidating menu, you’ll find entrées that are easy on the pocket and worth every penny you spend. As Mr. Lim puts it, La Maison is all about big servings.
“We’re all about big servings. When you look at La Maison, a lot of people would think that we’re expensive, but we’re actually not, because if you see the servings, they’re really big, really enormous,” explained Robi.
One order of ribs at La Maison can cost up to Php 900+ (1 kilo), but it’s actually good for 4-5 people. If you divide it among five, a sumptuous serving of ribs would cost only about Php 200 per person. That’s a good deal compared to other ribs in town that cost Php 500+ and are only good for one person.
When asked about La Maison’s best seller or signature dish, Robi, without hesitation, quickly said it’s either their steak or the Barkada Ribs, to be exact.
Now, to clear up the common notion that Baby Back Ribs originated in America and therefore doesn’t fit La Maison’s European style, Mr. Caguiat was quick to assert that Baby Back Ribs are simply part of a pig and not necessarily an American dish. What makes La Maison’s European way of preparing their unique Barkada Ribs special is what sets them apart from other ribs.
“Samin naka braised na ang barbecue sauce, puwede ka pang maglagay ng honey chili sauce. So it was done the European and not the American way.” (Our Baby Back Ribs are already braised in barbecue sauce, and you can add honey chili sauce if you like. It’s prepared the European way, not the American way.)
Aside from the Barkada Ribs that made La Maison famous, they also have other must-try dishes, which are also bestsellers.
The Chef’s Duck Liver Pâté, made from duck breast, ground pork, and pork fat, served with lots of bread, is one of La Maison’s house specialties. For only Php 310+, you can indulge in this gastronomic delight.
If you’re on a tight budget but still craving an epicurean meal, the Singular Sensations menu is perfect for you. For as low as Php 249+, you can satisfy your connoisseur’s palate. Each dish in the Singular Sensations comes with a petite serving of salad with vinaigrette, and the main course is served with tarragon rice—special rice with tarragon leaves, which gives your regular rice a different twist and taste.
Give your sweet tooth a treat and try La Maison’s Crème Brûlée (Php 140+), the best in town, or indulge in the Choco Lovers Cake (Php 105+). This sinfully sweet-looking chocolate cake is actually flourless and made with dark chocolate. Now, can you still feel guilty about it?
Love the fruity taste of lychees? Then Sapphire Twist (Php 170+) is something you shouldn’t miss. As the name implies, this lychee drink is blue like a sapphire. The blue-colored flavoring called Blue Curacao gives the Sapphire Twist a delectable taste with just the right sweetness.
If you’re planning to have a get-together with family or friends, or just want to treat your sweetie to a fine dining restaurant that offers a truly unique fusion of everything European, then La Maison is the best place to go to satisfy your taste buds’ big cravings.
Taste Europe and experience what big servings and good service really mean. Visit La Maison at Level 2, The Terraces, Ayala Center, Cebu City, and at the 2nd Level, Al Fresco Area, TriNoma Mall.
Written by: Maritoni Alvarez
Written for: Yehey.com
