Hidden Gem in the City | Bistro Charlemagne

Bistro Charlemagne is a hidden gem in the city. You won't easily notice its existence in Ayala Malls Feliz because the location is quite unseen in the mall's prime spot. But believe me, their food here is a reward after finding where they are located.

This restaurant started out their first branch in Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The concept of Bistro Charlemagne mainly came from Little Asia, the restaurant that loved by many as they served satisfying Asian cuisines. Now, they got the idea to bring back the legacy to this restaurant and apparently, add more fresh food concepts that will surely excite every diner. Bistro Charlemagne offers more than hundreds of food on their menu which has the Asian and European food twist.

I was glad to be part of the bloggers who recently visited Bistro Charlemagne and tried out some of their best sellers. Together with my co-foodies, we were warmly welcomed by Mr. Charlemagne Lim, the owner of the restaurant. He humbly told us how he started everything - from Little Asia to his two branches of Bistro Charlemagne.

As part of the menu, we had the chance to try the following:

PUMPKIN CARROT SOUP

Creamy pumpkin and carrot puree with yogurt

We started off by eating this comforting soup. I loved how it was too creamy and satisfying. One bowl could be shared up to two persons.

JAPANESE MIXED SEAFOOD SALAD

Tossed tuna, shrimp and kani with spicy mayo finished with ebiko, tempura flakes, and sweet soy

If you are a sushi lover, you will definitely enjoy this starter. It has a bit of spice but everything worked so well for my taste buds. I also found the crispy tempura flakes surprisingly good with the salad.

BEEF TENDERLOIN ROLLS WITH CHEESE

Finely rolled strips of beef tenderloin with cheese sauteed in authentic teriyaki sauce

Another crowd's favorite! This dish had burst with cheese and teriyaki sauce inside my mouth. Imagine how heavenly all the ingredients combined that even kids would surely love this.

OX SISIG

Slow-cooked ox tongue and ox tripe mixed with special livermansi-mayo topped with chicharon bulaklak

The dish is sinfully satisfying. I loved all the ingredients combined that created a texture of flavors. Every bite was exciting (especially with the rice).

LITTLE ASIA'S CRISPY CHICKEN

A classic house special crispy chicken with freshly made savory gravy

An heirloom recipe that passed from three generations until today. The taste was almost the same as a Chinese spring chicken. It was savory good, especially when combined with their gravy.

SHRIMP POPPERS

Lightly battered deep fried shrimps tossed in special sweet chili-mayo sauce and chili oil served with a side salad

I loved how the shrimp was too succulent and flavorful. The flavors popped inside my mouth as it the combination of creamy and slightly spicy.

OCTOPUS ALA POBRE

Slow-braised octopus in special homemade chorizo, vinaigrette, and herbs

Super tender octopus meat but for me, the taste was too bland. It lacked a little bit of saltiness as every food that we tried was too flavorful.

SMORE'S

We tried two flavors; chocolate and Reese's. Both were good if you want to have the best of both worlds.

BLUEBERRY BANANA SHAKE

Ordering shake is always my thing whenever I visited a restaurant. Here in Charlemagne, I tried this flavor which is something I found interesting in the menu. The taste? I loved it as it wasn't too sweet for my preference.

Bistro Charlemagne has a sophisticated European vibe when it comes to their interior design. The chairs, tables, and everything matched its overall feel.

Bistro Charlemagne is indeed a gem in the city. With its delectable food items that came from heirloom recipes to newly created modern twist, every diner will surely love every single item on the menu. Thanks to Mr. Charlemagne Lim for inviting us! With everything that I tasted here, I would definitely be back.