“Love and appreciate your parents. We are often
so busy growing up; we forget they are growing old.”
My dad recently celebrated his 60th birthday. Sixty! If you’ve been following my blog posts, then you probably know that we’re not big on parties. That’s why for my dad’s big 6-0, my husband and I planned an intimate but no less special dinner for him at one of our favorite spots in Antipolo: Oscar’s at Eugenio Lopez Center.
My parents separated when I was 10 years old. But looking back to what happened to our family then, I wouldn’t call ourselves broken. Sure, it wasn’t the ideal set up, but it was the best we can do for our family. I understand that now that I have a family of my own.
Although my parents were separated, my dad never stopped being a father to me—and that’s all that matters to me now. He used to bring me on dates at Rack’s when there used to be one in Sta. Lucia Mall. And when the Rack’s branch closed, he’d bring us to House of Minis. He loves a good slab of steak; I love it too. So for his birthday, I knew that the best place to bring him to is Oscar’s.
Set atop a hill that overlooks Metro Manila, Oscar’s is the perfect restaurant for dining as a couple or with the whole family.
I first discovered Oscar’s when my husband surprised me to a dinner date for Valentine’s Day. We’ve been there a couple of times after Valentine’s Day for our couple dinners and little celebrations. I absolutely love their steak so, knowing that my dad loves steak too, we brought him there for his birthday dinner. And they didn’t disappoint.
Our Dinner Menu at Oscar’s Eugenio Lopez Center
To set the tone of our dinner, we ordered their Mandarin Salad (PHP275). I wasn’t able to take a photo because everyone dove right in, but to give you an idea, it’s a mix of spinach, strawberries, and oranges topped with a slightly sweet dressing.
Once our salad plates were wiped out, the waiters soon came out with our main course: Filet Mignon (PHP799). My husband and I enjoy it medium rare, but my dad had it well done and he loves that it didn’t come out tough. It was served with a generous serving of mashed potatoes, crunchy string beans, and a delicious pepper sauce. This is best paired with their red wine, but since we were dining with the minis, we opted to just have it with tea.
For the kids, we ordered Oscar’s Chicken and Spaghetti Meal (PHP250). I wish they have more of these kiddie meals available, but that’s all they can offer for our minis. It wasn’t bad though. In fact, despite the generous serving, the minis finished their orders because the kiddie meal is really good too!
We didn’t order dessert because my dad is diabetic and we were quite full after our salad and steak. But, I encourage you to try out their cakes and pair it with brewed coffee.
Other Things We Love About Oscar’s at Eugenio Lopez Center Antipolo
Oscar’s at Eugenio Lopez Center Antipolo is a hidden gem. They serve good food with reasonable prices and you get one of the best views of the metro from their dining hall. It was unfortunate that it was raining very hard when we went there for my dad’s birthday because all we can see from the restaurant is a foggy view of Metro Manila. But, go there when the skies are clear and you’ll be treated to a spectacular view.
Aside from the delicious food and the beautiful view from the restaurant, we love the warm and friendly staff of Oscar’s. We love that they’re quick to assist diners. However, they can do better if they have more waiters during busier times of the day.
They’re very patient, too, when it comes to explaining their menu items. Seeing that we’re frequent diners ordering the same meal (haha), their waiters also recommended other menu items for our next visit.
Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 5/5
Budget: Php 2,000-3,000 for two
Family-friendly: Yes
Wi-fi: Yes
Oscar’s at Eugenio Lopez Center
Sumulong Highway
Antipolo City