We dined here last January 2026, so this review might not be very helpful given that they change the menu. We don't regret spending our first anniversary here! We had the 10 course tasting menu, which started with some small bites while touring the restaurant. The food was good and made me appreciate gastronomy for the first time (as this is also my first food tasting experience). We especially loved the kare-kare ball, the A5 wagyu steak, and the rice-based dessert. I am missing the Sampaguita drink. Good showcase of local produce. The service is impeccable, no long waits for the food, and the place (even the washroom, appreciate the Aesop hand wash) is clean. The place is pretty spacious and the tables are set far from each other, so there's privacy. If you're celebrating something, they'll give you complimentary dessert!
5.0Kirin· a month ago
Overall dining experience at Gallery by Chele was decent. I was honestly expecting a bit more, especially after the Michelin star recognition. We went for the 10-course tasting menu, and I personally did the alcohol pairing as well. That said, I really appreciated the concept behind the menu — especially the focus on heirloom rice and preserving ingredients and traditions that may slowly disappear because of modernization. Thought that was meaningful and well thought out. Food-wise, I think it just came down to personal palate. A lot of the dishes leaned heavily into sour flavors, which isn’t exactly my preference. Still, there were definitely standout dishes for me: the burro crab, lobster, pulpo, and of course the wagyu were excellent. Service was good overall too. Special mention to the gentleman handling the drinks/pairings — he was very warm, jolly, and genuinely added to the experience. The staff also presented each dish confidently and explained everything well. The only major downside during the evening was finding a hair in one of the dishes. They apologized and replaced the plate immediately, but we honestly felt the situation was brushed off a bit too casually for a restaurant operating at this level. It made us naturally compare the experience to other Michelin-starred restaurants we’ve visited, where incidents like that are usually handled with a bit more care and urgency. Still, I appreciate the creativity and concept behind Gallery by Chele. It just didn’t fully live up to the expectations we came in with.
3.0Ian Umali· 4 months ago
Celebrated my birthday here last night. We had the 10 course with the pairing. The pairings had great synergy and the progression of courses felt both exciting and thoughtful. The Tuna+Champagne Chavost, Pulpo, Grouper+Cremant, Abalone+Morellino/Sangio, and Wagyu+Pedro Parra Cinsault courses were standouts. The experience feels authentically Filipino but boosted by innovative techniques from various culinary traditions and concepts from all around the world. The pairings add both flavour contrast and a bit of adventure—Filipino food alongside snapshots of different times and places. Bea, Justin, Enzo and the rest of the team were great guides & story tellers whose knowledge transformed the dinner into The Journey promised on the menu. The best dining experience I've had so far, bar none.
5.0Julio B.· 2 months ago
This was such an amazing experience! I now understand why the restaurant is named “Gallery.” Each course was like an art piece that I was able to taste and enjoy. Similar to the pieces in an art gallery, each dish also had a story explained by the staff and some even had their very own note card! The food is incredible. They change menus every year in February, and this year they have the theme as heirloom rice. I really enjoyed the grouper dish with the green caviar. Honestly, everything was so good. (I just thought the arroz caldo was a little salty but it was lowk an 8/10 for me compared to the dishes all being 10/10’s) This was my first ever fine-dining experience in the Philippines, and I truly think it was worth it. Highly, highly recommend, especially if you are like me—someone who enjoys experiences and appreciates art deeply. I could also tell how much they care about the environment and supporting the farmers that grow the heirloom rice. Also, this was such a minor detail but I was so so so pleased about the plates being warmed when it was a hot dish and the plates being cold for the cold desserts. That just made me so happy. I got the 10 course and got the non-alcoholic drink pairing. The drinks were a lovely addition. The drink paired with the arroz caldo really helped neutralize the saltiness for me, but yes, amazing. This should be a given but the service was impeccable! I dined alone, and I never once felt neglected by the staff. Actually, the tour at the beginning took a while to start for me, so they gave me a free drink to sip on while I waited. I also had them charge my phone because my phone was almost dead lol. Those little things just really are what does it for me. TLDR: this restaurant gets a big badge of approval from me! :)
5.0Elysa· a month ago