Fantasia Cafe

If you regularly visit Fairview Terraces, it is impossible not to notice this imposing cafe. From the outside, you can already see the gleaming lights and the classy, posh interiors. My sisters and I were figuring out what the theme of the resto may be because its ambience suggests something European, but their menu caters to American palate. Anyway, maybe that is why it is called "Fantasia Cafe" to portray something out of a fantasy, I don't know.

I looove their chic flat plates! I can say that based on the ambiance and their tableware, the owner must really be an artist or an art aficionado. Unfortunately, they still weren't able to master the art of cooking, for their food were just so-so. I ordered Mango Crepe and Strawberry Shake, and they were... okay. The crepe was oozing with cream, which I personally don't like in crepes, while the shake was too full of artificial sweetener. If you want to eat in a place that is Instagram-worthy, then this place is for you. But if you want to satisfy your inner foodie, there are better places in Fairview, my friend.

I've been curious about this place for the longest time because of its fancy interiors. We had dinner here recently, and I love that the place wasn't crowded (actually, I've never seen it full, which is one of the reasons I wanted to check it out). There were several different kinds of tables inside, but we sat at one with a normal height (as opposed to the low tables) because we were going to have a meal. The table we chose was not that clean; there were bits of food on my seat and there were water streaks on the table itself. This bit of untidiness was somewhat off-putting because less than a third of the place was filled, so they really ought to have had dedicated more time to ensuring the cleanliness of the place. It's not a fast food joint, so I expected it to be cleaner.

The bathroom interiors were also nice, but it could use a little cleaning; the toilet water supply seemed to be leaking, the trash can was overflowing, and the sink was wet.

After we sat down, it took some time for the servers to give us menus. But they were friendly and we didn't have to ask for service water, so it balanced out. We ordered macaroni carbonara, chicken ala king, green salad with turnip, beef quesadilla, melon shake, and strawberry shake.

The macaroni carbonara tasted like something out of a box, but the other dishes were fine. Serving is also kinda big, so if you're not a big eater, you could share each meal. The shakes tasted artificial.

If you read the other reviews here, the common theme is that the decor is awesome but the food is not, so I hope the owners will take note. But I'm going back here soon to check out the coffee.

i really thought of having a blunt experience from this cafe, but their food proved me wrong. i had ceasar salad and banana crepe. i was surprised on the serving size of the salad, its good for 2 indeed. lastly, the crepe was instagramable and remarkable.🤘🏻

It’s easy to get attracted to this Mediterranean French masquerade-themed café in Ayala Fairview Terraces.  Why not? It’s like reliving a childhood dream of being in a masquerade ball right out of a fairy tale. As such, we readily chose Fantasia Café in one of our weekend meet ups with our friends.

Now, I think there are three elements in fantasia Café that are feedback-worthy: interior design, service and food.

A Trip to Fantasy Land at Fantasia Café

It’s easy to get attracted to this Mediterranean French masquerade themed café in Ayala Fairview Terraces.  Why not? It’s like reliving a childhood dream of being in a masquerade ball right out of a fairy tale. As such, we readily chose Fantasia Café in one of our weekend meet ups with our friends.

Now, I think there are three elements in fantasia Café that are feedback-worthy: interior design, service and food. 

Design

There is no doubt that the interiors of this restaurant are stylishly-designed and very attractive.  The Mediterranean-style windows, the French masks that adorn the walls, the oversized seats with whimsical designs and elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceilings – all pieces are picked well and combined beautifully to create a charming ambiance and relaxing vibe.

The tables are of different sizes – there is a long table in the middle, mid-sized ones for families, small round tables for intimate dining and low tables for those who prefer the unconventional. This was a clever move; aside from the obvious practicality, the disparity added to the relaxing atmosphere of the place.

There are also masks and headdresses spread out on a table that are free for guests to try on and photograph themselves in.

Food

My wife and I only ordered dessert, choco lava cake, and coffee – iced mocha and café latte. The choco lava cake was really good. It was warm chocolate cake filled with oozing chocolate. It was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that balanced the taste of the sweet and slightly bitter cake. We enjoyed this dessert tremendously.

Our friend ordered Chicken Teriyaki which she said was just fine; nothing ordinary or noteworthy but, nonetheless, filling. She loved her crepe though because the generous mango slices were fresh and sweet..

Food though was served in big odd-shaped plates that added a bit of fun to our dining experience. 

Service

This is one area that severely needs improvement as the servers all seemed uninitiated and dazed. For one we had to repeat our orders several times before our server was able to finally get it right. And then we had to wait long for our choco lave cake. When we asked about it, we were told that they were still preparing it but it was close to thirty minutes before our dessert arrived. Lastly, when one of our friends called a waiter to request for water, the server replied, ”Sir, ibang waiter na lang po at nagseserve pa ako.” (Sir, please ask another waiter as I am serving a customer).

These are three different instances in a single visit with three different personnel involved. Fantasia Café definitely needs to up their customer service.

Conclusion

To round up, Fantasia Café is a restaurant that fares strongly in creativity and design. Food is average to above average. Price is also at par with other cafés and coffee shops: P150++ for a medium-sized blended coffee drink, P125 for a cup of latte and P200 for the choco lave cake. I think the choco lava cake is a bit pricey considering its serving size but it was excellent. It will leave you wanting for more. As mentioned earlier, service definitely needs to improve greatly and quickly.