Warmth, comfort and elegance have been added to what started out as a passionate ode to a mother’s love. Bistro Aurora, the newest addition to the culinary vision of Atty. Nilo Divina, one of the country’s most respected legal minds and managing partner of the top-tier Divina Law, formally opened its doors at The Podium Mall in Ortigas on 28 May. 

At first, Atty. Divina had no intention of starting a second location. But, he says, his passion “cannot be quenched.”

Simply named Aurora after the love of his mother, his first restaurant in Makati City is an exceptionally cozy, “spirited bistro that pays homage to robust Asian flavors and heartwarming homestyle classics.”

“I want them to feel the same experience that I had when my mother prepared our dish,” he said in an exclusive interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE. “Because that restaurant is named after my mom, and it’s my desire to honor and give good dishes to her.”

The venture has evolved into something more. “I still remember the first time she prepared the dishes for me — made out of basic ingredients, but turned out to be magical,” he reminisced. “So I would like our customers, our patrons and our diners to feel the same way. The same magical feeling that I had when my mom first prepared it.”

Aurora has always had a strong sense of nostalgia, tenderness and affection. The dining experience in the Makati restaurant is defined as “an experience that engages all the senses, from the ambiance to the presentation, flavors and service” with “a sense of warmth, elegance, and delight.”

Now, at Bistro Aurora, Atty. Divina provides a more laid-back — but equally heartfelt — take on the original.

“The second branch is more casual in ambiance,” he shared. “It’s still elegant, but more casual. It’s brighter, more welcoming, as opposed to Makati which is our restaurant for fine dining dishes. It’s supposed to cater to the tenants and the mall goers in Podium.”

Why Podium? “I think Podium is known for high-end restaurants,” he said. “I think that’s a perfect spot for us.” Turn to page C18

But don’t expect a carbon copy of the Makati menu—Bistro Aurora has a flavor of its own. “There are dishes in Aurora, Makati that are not in Podium,” Atty. Divina revealed. 

For first-time diners wondering what to try, Atty. Divina has his go-to favorites—and they’re not to be missed. 

“If I have to rank, I’d say the steak is the best,” he shared to DAILY TRIBUNE, referring to the Australian Wagyu Tomahawk, a showstopping cut served with a fermented chili steak sauce and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt.

Another on his must-try list is the Salmon Donburi — a comfortable yet elevated bowl of house-cured, smoked, and torched salmon topped with ikura, mentaiko, yuzu kosho, shiitake, and corn over healthful multigrain rice.

Rounding out his top three is the Lamb Rendang, an Indo-style standout featuring tender lamb slow-cooked in aromatic spices, served with sambal matah, serunding, makrut lime, and crispy fried shallots.

It’s no coincidence that Atty. Divina, whose career in law has earned him national renown, likens himself to the very dish he recommends: “I’d say it would be a well-aged steak—complex, refined, and full of depth. A great steak requires time, patience, and mastery, just like a career in law. It’s a balance of strength and finesse, with each element carefully considered to create something exceptional.”

That same dedication to accuracy, style, and heart continues at Bistro Aurora. 

The new Ortigas location offers comforting cuisine and new flavors that will transport you back to your childhood, with the same signature care that earned Aurora Makati Tatler Dining’s Best New Restaurant for 2024 and a place on Tatler’s Dining 20. 

Your new favorite spot for soulful, feel-good food is Bistro Aurora, situated on the 6th floor of Podium Social, The Podium Mall, Ortigas Center, open from 11 am to 11 pm.