El Cocinero By Chef Arnaldo

Must Try: Pulpo Alla Gallega, Paella de MariscoWe loved everything we tried, it's too bad there was only 2 of us dining, otherwise, we would have ordered more! The service was amazing as well, the server was attentive, and quick on their feet. It's too bad that because of the Taal Volcano eruption, it's affected their supply as the commissary is at their Tagaytay branch. All in all we loved the food, and would come back again with more friends to share the paella with! Would love to try the the Ibiza dishes next time too.What We Tried:
Pulpo Alla Gallega - The octopus was seasoned well and tender! Plus the potato underneath was a treat to pair it with. 
Champinones con Chorizo y Gambas - Mushrooms with Shrimp and Chorizo, cooked and seasoned well, plus the chorizo was really really good. would love to try the pintxos next time too!
Salpicao (Chef's Version) - Tender pieces of beef with button and oyster mushrooms, loved the combo.
Paella de Marisco - Seafood Paella, the star of our dinner, we loved how there was so much seafood in the paella, they did not skimp on the ingredients

Service and Ambiance: A++

My top three with what we had are: Verdura Y Pollo A La Plancha (Grilled chicken and veggies), El Cocinero Paella, El Cocinero Pizza.

So far the best Paella I ever had. I love how cozy the place is. Would love to go back for more and to share the word to my friends about El Cocinero.

I've been here once and will definitely come back. We had veggie pizza, paella, chorizo, etc. and every food was just soooo good. What's more surprising was the price...very reasonable, not costly at all. The staff was all nice as well. One of my faves now.

I seldom drink outside. Edit... actually, I don't really drink that regularly. However, when I drink, I try to find places with a relaxed vibe, no super loud music, (just music I can probably hum or sing along to). Yes, the days of rock band stalking are over. The tita days are here. Ok,.. Edit.... the cultured days are here! Yeah!

Discovered El Cocinero through fellow food bloggers and I was lucky enough to try them for their much-awaited Tapas X Pintxos X Cocktails night! Their tagline -- Your taste of Ibiza in the heart of Manila!

It's simple and is quite foolproof. I wonder why bars did't think of doing this even before. All you have to do is pick your poison, that's it! Kidding aside, you just choose your tapas x pintxos from the huge spread of food they have presented at their ground floor, then pair it with your chosen cocktail. Their cocktails feature the rustic aromas of Hierbas Ibicencas. When mixed with cosmopolitan flavors we are all familiar with, this makes awesome cocktails that are uniquely Ibizan. Chef Arnaldo himself has designed his own cocktails for El Cocinero for his guests' enjoyment.

I have tried all of the cocktails featuring Hierbas Ibicencas, the artisan-crafted spirit infused and macerated with herbs from the Balearics. I personally enjoyed the cherry-laced Cozmo Ibiza (cranberry, lime, sugar), and the lemon-infused Oro Oscuro (ginger ale and lemon). The Cozmo Ibiza gave off that syrupy aftertaste, which is not bad at all since I think it does cater more to those who prefer sweeter cocktails, while the Oro Oscuro was light and refreshing. They also have the Mojito Payes (lime sugar and mint), Toni Manzana (sugar, apple and lemon), and Hierbalicious (green tea sugar lime and lemon).

Out of the different tapas in their line-up, I find myself gravitating more towards those with shrimps, cheese and their Ibizan tapioca or cassava. My favorite still would be the Kebab and the Bolitas de Yuka Y Auevo or cassava balls with quail eggs.

From now on, I'd say Friday Night means tapas and cocktails night at El Cocinero, Molito! Your taste of Ibiza in the heart of Manila featuring El Cocinero's Signature Cocktails paired with Ibizan tapas and pintxos.

From mouthwatering pulpo to gambas and all the other kinds of tapas and pintxos, they have them here! Make sure to try their cocktails too and get your taste of Ibiza every Friday night.

What can I say?! El Concinero will definitely be up there amongst my favorite restaurants now. The food was great and the service was amazing. We ordered the Calamares, Salpicon de Marisco (Seafood Cocktail), Mejillones Gratinados (Baked Mussels), Paella Mixta (Pork, chicken and shrimp paella), along with a bottle of house white wine. We also received 2 rounds of complimentary bread and dips. All of the dishes were delicious. The ingredients in the paella all tasted fresh. Will definitely come back here again. Highly recommended.