If you’re looking for classic American-Italian cuisine, Italianni’s serves some of the best in Metro Manila, with a mouthwatering array of handcrafted pizzas, hearty pastas, as well as meat and seafood dishes.
Originally from Florida, it is helmed by F&B giant The Bistro Group in the Philippines (the same company behind many international franchises such as TGI Friday’s, Olive Garden, Denny’s, and Hard Rock Cafe).
We tried the Italianni’s branch at Uptown Place Mall, Taguig, which offers indoor and al fresco dining. Those who like balmy weather will enjoy sitting outdoors to the view of the business district’s towering skyscrapers.
The Italians are known for their love of the good things in life: they coined the term ‘la dolce vita‘ , or “the good/sweet life”, after all. Italianni’s interior pays homage to this philosophy, sporting popular phrases in Italian and framed photos related to food, travel, and life, alongside beautifully painted scenery on its walls.
The menu has an extensive list of items. Pizzas run the gamut from beloved classics like pepperoni, margharita, and quattro formagi, to modern-influenced offerings like tropicale (pine ham and pineapple). Diners can choose from either classic or thin crust.
The pasta selection also features a diverse variety, including aglio olio, carbonara, vongole, pesto, and bolognese. As for mains, tuck into dishes like parmesan crusted fish fillet, pan seared halibut with clams, grilled pork chop au poivre, or chicken milanese.
Any Italian restaurant worth their salt will always start off with a basket of freshly baked bread. Italianni’s delivers in spades with wonderfully warm and toasty Tuscan and Foccacia bread served with olive oil and aged vinegar, on the house. I think I could have just eaten baskets of these on their own!
Next came a Sicilian salad of Romaine lettuce, mangoes, red grapes and walnuts. The salad combo worked well; I thought the vegetable and fruit pairing would be weird, but it was balanced, and the creamy anchovy dressing bound everything together perfectly.
The thin-crust Quattro Formagi pizza was pretty good – I thought it had a texture closer to crackers with melty, oozy cheese on top. Still tasty though, and I think people with lighter appetites will enjoy this.
The seafood cioppino is a traditional tomato-based soup, but Italianni’s has its own spin in the form of pasta. It brimmed with seafood such as mussels, clams, shrimp, and squid, tossed in marinara sauce with a dash of white wine. The flavours were well balanced and the pasta was al dente. You can get this in two sizes, the smaller at P525 and the larger at P695, making it ideal for sharing.
Overall, Italianni’s offers good and freshly made Italian food, served in a cosy, family-friendly setting. You can find their branches all across Manila, usually in higher end malls like in Venice Grand and Newport City.
ITALIANNI’S (UPTOWN)
3rd Level, Uptown Place Mall, 9th Ave, corner 36th St, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
Opening hours: (Daily) 10am – 10pm
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PS2: All food reviews are at own expense unless otherwise stated. Views here are my own and are based on my personal experience. They are not meant to endorse or disparage businesses in any way.
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