Date # 16: Il Pirata [Closed]

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  Il Pirata is a Pirate-themed Italian Restaurant in Eastwood Citywalk, Libis. It’s the first thing that you’ll see if you get dropped off at the pedestrian strip between Eastwood Mall and Eastwood Citywalk.

  Douglas told me that he used to think Il Pirata was just an Eastwood “design”. He didn’t know it was a restaurant. I am making this review to make you guys stop ignoring this place :)) I’m sure you’ve passed this more than a dozen times but never bothered. We think it needs a better sign.

  The interiors are just as true to the theme, making use of wooden floors and furniture painted with golden accents. The warm, yellow lighting gives a very cozy, cabin-like ambiance, complete with the earthy wooden smell. (Which isn’t exactly bad, it’s quite amazing when you think about it.) 

  The galleon replica beside our table. Wonderfully crafted.

  What’s a pirate ship without a parrot? Arrr. By the way, I’ve heard heartbreaking reviews about people criticizing Il Pirata’s interiors. Excuse me, anyone who isn’t “game” for this kiddie stuff needs to lighten up. Seriously. I’m not exactly a big pirate fan, but I can appreciate things which are nicely done.

  The bar area, for alcohol drinkers.

  I had my typical order of Bottomless Iced Tea. (P65) The staff was very attentive in replenishing my drink. I’m quite happy with that.

  Douglas normally just drinks water.

    On to the food (finally). I’m on my quest to finding the best lasagna in the city, so I ordered their Lasagna Bolognese (P155 w/ discount). It was very meaty and creamy instead of herby and saucy (as Bolognese should be). Not very cheesy, I’m not sure if you’d like that. I would’ve preferred a cheesier version, but I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Noodles were quite firm and had the right chewiness. 

  We know that Il Pirata specializes in Italian seafood, but since we weren’t quite in the mood for it, we ordered their Pizza del Pirata (P195 w/ discount) instead. In order to make good pizza, one must consider the quality of the dough and the manner in which it was cooked. We were happy to say that the dough was thin and chewy (as it should be), and was cooked in a traditional wood-fire oven. I tried eating just the pizza dough, (Douglas removed all the toppings so I could get a better grasp of it) and it was superb in taste and texture.

   I also love the quality of spices and cheeses on the pizza. They were quite flavorful. The Italian sausage and the salami added to the herby combination—the ingredients felt like they were shipped straight from an Italian Deli.

  We brought these home for our families. :) We learned that the flavors were quite delicate, so be careful in handling the pizza. I don’t remember if the boxes had heating instructions, but based on my experience, microwave ovens sort of… make them a little bland.

The Verdict: This restaurant is so underrated. Seriously. You guys should visit. As you can see, I was very passionate about my evaluation of this restaurant. People say you’re only paying for the ambiance, but I don’t think so. Maybe authentic Italian cuisine is just different from what we’re used to. If you’ve noticed, everything we ate was on discount. They have a promo going on right now: 50% discount on all pizzas and pastas between 2:30 - 5:30pm (Mon-Fri ata?). If you can, though, I still recommend that you go here beyond those hours. It’s worth a try. We’re very excited to come back and try their other dishes.

Il Pirata Italian Restaurant is at Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City; tel. 4211994-95; fax 4211996; and website www.ilpiratamanila.ph

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

http://mydailydoseofrina.tumblr.com

P.S.

ITALIAN GUY IS SAD NO MORE! :D