The grilled fish arrived, smoking hot from the grill. Simply served on a blue and white printed ceramic plate with spiced soy sauce and pickled vegetables, it further whetted an appetite already being slaked by the salad – the chef’s special of ampalaya with a generous side of fried tawilis. Doused with spiced vinegar, it was the perfect accompaniment to the catch of the day.

Before that surprisingly good, fresh-salty offering from Manyaman, the name derived from the Kapampangan word for “delicious,” there was a plateful of pandesal to stave off hunger pangs while waiting for the main dishes. What a treat — the pandesal came in plain, ube and cheese flavors, with herb butter.

The restaurant quickly filled up. Long tables with families and their balikbayan guests, couples and groups of friends shared a meal in the spacious room where tables were spread far enough apart to afford some privacy.

Almost a year after it officially opened its doors, Solaire Resort North in Vertis North has become a hub for foodies looking for a good place to eat any time of day. With 10 dining outlets under its roof, the first and only five-star luxury integrated resort in Quezon City offers a wide range of options, from East to West.

A must-visit for lovers of Kapampangan cuisine is Manyaman, located on the third floor. While the mass gaming areas are on the second and third levels of the property, this restaurant can be accessed without going through them.

The food is modern Filipino with generous servings, perfect for sharing. Some of the dishes not to be missed are the Crispy Lechon Kawali Menudo, a healpiung plateful of twice-cooked Kurobota pork belly over tomato and liver sauce, with confit potatoes, sous vide baby carrots and chorizo — so tasty and filling; Beef Adobo sa Gata, coconut and soy-based short ribs, cauliflower, pickled onion, crispy garlic and can vinegar; and Sipo Egg, grilled prawn and poached lobster, heavy cream, corn, carrots peas and singkamas.

The menu presents a tempting array of dishes, from appetizers to desserts. There are salads, vegetables and sides, mains, grilled meats and seafood, rice, noodles and soups. It’s the kind of place that invites further visits as the food is excellent, yielding many favorites.

We ended the meal on a sweet note, Tibok-Tibok or carabao milk pudding, topped with latik bits, sauce, and cheese ice cream.

There is the Halo-Halo Cart to look forward to this summer season!

Solaire Resort North also houses Finestra, Yakumi, Fresh International Buffet, Red Lantern, Lucky Noodles, Pool Café, a Food Court with a slew of choices (Gusto, Kkanbu, Lotus Bowl, Inihaw, Mian 88, Pan Asia, Ranchero, Sandok), Café Mangrove, Trattoria e Dolci, Kybar, Dragon Bar and Lobby Lounge.