continuation of peninsula filipino lunch buffet finds...$ten at fort mckinley?...random buffet carts pushed near walls...tight walking space for even the thin...odd lines forming and traffic congestion...elderly man carefully taking only the crispy pork skin and leaving the rest....trays running out quick and refilled slow...making way to table...quite a large space, but only one buffet food station?...private banquet area back...nice space and a filipino buffet not fitting...trays turned to slop quickly from mass picking and taking...sausages sweet...noodles fine...pork missing the crisp...soups bland...enough and done...ready to leave...waiter asking for drink orders nearly forty-five minutes after seating?...quick laugh and requesting a check to pay...
Review Source:I would've given this place 0... ZERO stars if I could, but that wasn't an option.
Have only been here 2 times. The first time I came, my family and I had dinner. I was a little impressed with the classy-ness of the joint given that it's only filipino food. Ordered our food. There was one dish I ordered, Guinataang Kalabasa (Butternut Squash, Pork and String Beans in Coconut Cream Sauce). I SPECIFICALLY asked the waiter if there was shrimp paste in the dish and SPECIFICALLY TOLD him I DID NOT WANT SHRIMP PASTE!!!! He stated that there wasn't any and not to worry, so I ordered it. We get the food. I tasted what I had ordered and it tasted shrimpy. Tasted like there was shrimp paste. I flagged down the waiter and inquired about the dish. He said he would go and ask the cooks, but before that he asks if anyone was allergic. I said no, I just don't like shrimp paste. He comes back a couple of minutes later and says there was no shrimp paste in the dish. I called bs but he insisted. So I dropped it since obviously this place didn't care to make the customer happy and just remake the dish. Towards the end of the meal the waiter comes back and asks if we wanted dessert. At this point I was already pissed so we said no. Sat around for a bit (5 minutes) with our party then changed our minds about dessert. We flagged down another waitress since our waiter seemed to have disappeared. Asked her if we could get the dessert menu and stated that we wanted to order dessert. She said sorry we're closed. Which we thought was interesting since we were just sitting there and were offered the menu 5 minutes ago.
Came back to this place yesterday, because the hubby wanted to see how their lunch buffet would be. So I said OK. Give this place another shot, besides $10 for all you can eat Filipino food isn't bad. Their poster says lunch buffet 11:30 am - 3:00 pm. Got to the restaurant a little after 2:00 pm. The restaurant was empty. No hostess to be found, but the buffet bar was still set up. Went to go see what they had to offer and a waiter comes out. Told him we were looking or a table for 4. The waiter apologized and said the buffet ended at 2pm. Wtf?!? The poster says 3pm?!?! He just stood dumbfounded and speechless.
With both of my experiences here being negative I have determined that I will never.... NEVER come to this establishment EVER again!!! Horrible!!
A very interesting place...very nicely decorated, staff was extremely friendly and attentive, and it was all decently priced. Everything we had was excellent, but there's not much "fusion" going on here. It's pretty much straight-up Filipino on the menu. My wife had two mixed drinks, both of which were done well. We'd eat here again, but I suspect the real attraction is their banquet facilities. It'd be great for a party or reception.
Review Source:Great lunch buffet! Â Today they had all my favs, crispy pata, kare kare, pochero, monggo soup, green beans w/ kalabasa and pancit. Â They also had garlic rice, scrambled eggs, langonisa, and chop suey. For dessert they served buko pandan with small tapioca. Â All were very good. It is so worth it. Â I also like the pineapple infused water.
Review Source:My experiences here are limited to private parties.
A good friend had a college graduation after party in the lounge. Â It was fun and no cover. The chicken lollipops were crispy and had a good sauce. The drinks were well-priced for a place with DJs and no cover.
My niece also had a high school graduation lunch here in the courtyard. Â It was very nice, ambiance of fountain and there was a mic so her friends sang for her and gave testimonials about her. The buffet was very delicious and never ran out of food. Some of the menu was kaldereta, lechon kawali, fish and more! Our servers were pleasant. One was this guy who spoke bits of Tagalog and was fun and made the occasion very memorable. Â
The place is big and great for large parties, with different private dining rooms for large groups. They tailor the menu to your needs and don't only make Filipino food. What I've had so far is tasty. I haven't come for the weekday buffet or regular dining. I haven't come on a regular lounge night either- I hear there's kareoke. But I will sometime soon because this place had aunties going for the baon  boxes afterward.
My review is for the lunch buffet  that includes drinks with refills.
We went for my mother's birthday and she just wanted a cheap/close location to get some grub for her bday. The place was packed on a monday and we waited about 10-15min as we had a party of 10. Not a problem with me since we had a large group. NO RSVP for the buffet so with large groups think about the wait time.
Onto the food, their was about enough entrees to chose from ranging from sweet longanizas, baked basa, beef and vegetables, eggs, white & garlic rice, bistek, fried prawns, pancit and chicken katsu. The flavors were just your average filipino restaurant cooking and nothing special about it. To me it was more like an all you can silog buffet, as fish, beef, chicken items was on the trays.
Unlimited drink refills was not bad, coffee is not free but it is unlimited refills. They had calmansi juice with small cups in the middle area. They had some desserts but i did not indulge on this occasion. When i go back, I will report on that.
Service staff was good and kept my iced tea refilled which was pleasant to have unlike other places.
Would i go back again, sure the ambience is great for having lunch to catch up with a friend or two during the week.
We have been here multiple times and have not been disappointed during any of our visits.
We typically come during lunch on the weekends, however, we have come here for dinner on the weekends on a couple of occasions.
Family and friends that we have taken here have enjoyed both the food and the service. Family favorites are the Tofu Sisig, Bangus Sisig, Calamari, Chicken Inasal, Fried Suman stuffed with Ube, and the Bibingka Souffle.
Barry and his team get our thumbs up!
Dishes are flavorful, overall service impeccable, clean, wait staff attentive, lunch buffet is very affordable and so worth it. My personal opinion about the wait staff: Maitre d' needs to acknowledge people who are waiting with a nod or a wave when she/he is away from her post so they are aware that they were noticed; customers need not be addressed as "tita" or "ate" but instead "Ma'am" or "Sir". Â I may be wrong or this may be a company policy but many might take offense. Â Just saying....
Review Source:The best Filipino buffet In the bay area. Their dishes of food taste great and are always warm, its never cold. You won't have to wait long  for the food tray to be served, food trays are always replenished immediately.  The service is superb, waiters are always on top of everything and place is very clean.  I would highly recommend Fort Mckinley to my friends anytime.
Review Source:In the past I've been a big fan of Fort Mckinley even when it was Intramuros. However, my most recent experience was not so pleasant. Other than the bartender, Jon, the other workers seemed unwelcoming and acted rudely as if we weren't paying customers. The manager kept on staring at me and the people I was with, it was extremely uncomfortable! Solely because of this experience I am never coming back here!
Review Source:Came here with the owner's sister. we got the grand tour of all the rooms (this place is MASSIVE) there was a banquet hall, a private dining room, and upscale dining room and a lounge area. Myself and 2 others were out of town guests and we were treated to a feast. myself being Filipino, am very familiar with any and all Filipino dishes. We ate in the fancy dining room that night after a couple of drinks in the lounge.
I like the crab longanisa, however, it needs more crab, less shell. The lamb shank was cooked perfectly, and I really enjoyed the mussels on the menu. My one critique/advice for this place is to not over-do it....really try to NOT be everything to everyone. Some of the dishes I had like curry cauliflower and the suhi-like suman with ube in the middle were more flashy than flavorful. Filipino food is country food. simplicity in ingredients and proper execution is what makes it good, not necessarily trying to re-invent the wheel.
The ambience was nice- except the lounge area became WAY too thuggish as the night got later....not my cup of tea.
this place has great potential, but I think its size makes it hard to manage.
I think this place is getting worst and worst. The last time we got just in time to make it to Happy Hour. Order Beer and Appetizer. Come to find out when we got our check.
Corona Beer is not part of Happy Hour.. Huh???.. Has anyone heard that before.
Is corona a special beer?
This is the type of thing that gives filipino own business a very bad name.
I do mind paying five dollars a beer but dont BS saying that @#!@#.
The started out good now on its way down..
1) I had a reservation, but the waiter had no idea what I was talking about. Either way.. it was pretty empty so no problem seating our group.
2) Decor was beautiful but that's the only positive thing there other than dessert. They aimed for fine dining but completely FAILED. There was a private party in one of the back rooms that was loud and I think they were singing karoake. It was extremely distracting to try and have a pleasant dinner in the Main Dining area and be disturbed by LOUD and extremely bad singing. No music playing in the Main Dining area to even slightly pull us away from the horrible background of that part.
3) Set up on the table was rectangle papers under the plates. This is not a dim sum restaurant but whatever. It did not really bother me until dessert. When it came time for dessert, the plates were changed by the papers were not and no food was cleaned up. (Dining family style so some food were dropped on table). Therefore, we had to wait  15 minutes for dessert while staring at a dirty table and listen to crap karaoke. Seriously... who trained this waiter?
4) Several people ordered the Halo Halo martini. None available so the waiter came back and asked if they wanted some Thai Tea instead. ???????? Thai Tea is nowhere close to a martini. It's not even an alcoholic beverage! How is that a sufficient substitute? I should have known from the Get Go that this waiter was a incompetent. * Not to mention that our group was a mix of young adults and teenagers. No one was carded. Majority of us were over 21 but that's not the point. I would prefer that my little sisters and cousins did not get served alcohol if they came on their own.
5) Food was so so. **Waiter did not know how to recommend food and was flustered when I asked him to** The only thing he recommended was the Beef Steak Filipino and it was so DRY. I would not even want it in a sandwich. Calamari and Lumpia was good but you can't really go wrong with that. Sisig was tasty but too salty. Fried rice lacked flavor. No one liked the Crispy Binagoongan.
** Oh but the bibingka souffle was really good. Except the annoying waiter strikes again. I heard that they had mango souffle and when I asked he said "Yes, we have regular". I asked again 'Do you have the Mango souffle?" and he said "We only have regular". What is regular??? Can you tell me what flavor????
6) Here's the topper. After I paid my bill (which lucky for the waiter, already had tip included), he came back and asked me for the my signed receipt. Umm.. there's no reason for him to look at it or take it while I was still there and seated. I paid with a card and already signed it. No change since I did not pay cash or anything additional was needed. HE ONLY WANTED TO VIEW IT while standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME to see if I added extra tip for him. That was the extremely rude ending to my general horrible experience here.
***Basically, Â the waiter was the dumbest I've ever encountered, this is not fine dining in anyway possible, and the food was only so-so. I am completely embarrassed for suggesting this restaurant to my group.
Had a friend that just baptized their son and for the reception Fort M. was their destination of choice. From the outside it didn't look like much but walking in it was upscale and modern. Nice long bar with a fire place and seating was nice. There are also multiple areas for different functions. We reserved the covered courtyard area dressed very nicely with covered tables and chairs. Our dinner was buffet style with a huge whole roast pig carving station that was the main attraction. It did get a little cold but they had overhead heaters that kicked on an off. Overall the experience was pleasant with good food and friends. This spot also has club nights and I wouldn't mind coming back for dinner or checking out the night life.
Review Source:I chose Fort McKinley after considering several other venues including local hotels in which to host a dinner party celebration for my wife's 50th birthday. And I'm so glad I did!
The banquet room looked beautiful, the food got raves from all our guests, and the service impeccable!
The owner, Barry, was very professional and a pleasure to work with! He helped us with menu suggestions and his recommendations were spot on!
We went with the Paella Valencia, Rosemary Roast Chicken, Fish Fillet Escabeche (a big hit!), Pancit Bami, Beef Culdereta, and Chopsuey. The fruit salad and baked Turon were excellent desserts!
Holding our event at The Fort was key to the success of our party!
Additionally, the place is easy to find and there's ample of parking in their lot as well as a large parking lot across the street.
If you're thinking of a place for a first-class banquet, I recommend Fort McKinley Restaurant!
This is my 4th time dining here. Â
Service remains...courteous, professional and awesome.
Food...still inconsistency on taste.
Desserts remains the same...the bibingka souffle rocks! Â All other desserts sucks.
Drinks...aaaammmmaaaazzzinnnggg!
Music...hopping & great bands
Ambiance...nice
I willl recommend the bar,music and desserts to my friends but not dining in.
***Update: Owner has contacted me with her apologies, however, I am now being threatened by one of her classy clientele or employees who is threatening to take me to the hood and show me the real ghetto. Thank you 'Syndey G' for proving my point so beautifully, but I unregretfully decline the offer to enter your ghetto. I think I've seen enough of it. Peace***
Went here for a Superbowl party. It was awful to say the least.
The buffet food was cold and bland. Not impressed by the spread at all, it was like bad picnic food.
The bartenders were rude to the point of unprofessional. Outfits were pretty ghetto and unattractive. The service alone was a turn off.
However, the servers/botte service girls were nice. Some of them didn't have any respect for us watching the game and were more interested in getting their tabs signed off on while blocking our view.
Overall, the scene attracts a lot of ghetto clientele and the whole event was just terrible. The emcee blasted the music way too loud, to the point that people left or moved into a different room. They should have had better A/V on an event like this and not let the ameteur DJ run his own show.
Only 2 stalls in the ladies room was a disaster as well, the place was a mess.
Overall, I would not come back here, simply due to the crowd it attracts (ghetto) and the poor service at the bar. Much better and more higher class options close by.
Food is okay. But they need to have employees take ownership. Â We complained that the bathroom is dirty and did not have supply. For being a restaurant with an okay ambiance their bathroom sucks.
We told a server regarding the bathroom and he said he will tell someone. Â On our way out we went to the bathroom, it still need not have toilet paper. Â
We then saw the Manager and told him and then we saw him putting toilet paper.
The restaurant just opened and no one check the condition of the bathrooms.
***3 Solid Stars****
We went out of our way to try Fort McKinley based on a strong review from a friend, and we weren't blown away, but we weren't disappointed either. Â
Service- reservations were made with ease. Â When we arrived the hostess was the most unenergetic, unfriendly person. Â Ever. Â Minus One Star. Â Our waitresses on the other hand were amazing. Â Add One Star. Â
Food. Â We ordered the lechon kawali, string beans, pork sisig, caldos, and the papaya salad. Â All was very good. Â Our drinks were even better. Â You must try the island martini, not too sweet, and chock full of alchohol!! Â
Ambiance- Â From the outside it doesn't look like tmuch. Â But once inside you will be pleasantly surprised. Â Loved the grand piano in the middle of the room, and the Christmas tree and Christmas decor was just amazing (we went in December). Â The bar/lounge attached to the restaurant is very hip. It would be the perfect spot for a birthday/ get-together/bachelorette. Â Dj in the lounge was playing techno music which was a bit annoying, but I'm sure he would have taken requests. Â
Prices: Â Our bill was close to $130 for the food and all the drinks we indulged upon. Â Honestly, I don't think that filipino food is "cuisine" enough to charge these kinds of prices, but given the upscale ambiance, i guess they are able to get away with it. Â
Random: why is there only one stall in each bathroom? Â This is a very random observation I know, but had to put it out there. Â Â
I will come back to hang out in that lounge area. Â They only allow you to order appetizers there, but it will be a great spot to chill with friends.
What a disappointment. I came here with friends during the holidays. I pre-ordered the lechon roll w/paella filling because it was recommended by a friend who frequents the restaurant. I was disappointed. The paella was nothing but rice. it had no sausage, chicken, seafood...not even vegetables!!! Â Just rice---plain rice cooked in some kind of sauce because it was coated with something brown. The price that the restaurant was charging for the lechon roll was not worth it. I would not order that again.
We also ordered the seabass in claypot. Â Another big disappointment. Â The fish was overcooked and very, very dry. Seabass is supposed to be butter, melt in your mouth experience. Nope. Not this dish.
We liked the desserts. The bibingka souffle was different from the traditional bibingka, but it was a nice twist. The fried suman roll was also pretty good. It had ube and mango.
The atmosphere is great. The serving staff were great. But it's hard to come back to the place if the food isn't all that great...not even good.
I don't know if we wll give this place another try. We'll see.
We came here once, and wont go back again, even if you convince any of us. We came here as a family with 2 other friends for a Christmas dinner and to experience this new restaurant.
Our friends called this place "salty mckinley"
We ordered all that our server suggested. Various items that was deemed best seller and it was all salty. Our server was cordial and engaging, he always asked if we liked our meal..but we did not have the courage to be upfront and tell him to change or get the food fixed...bottom line, it was ALL salty. Â Maybe that was the style of their cooking?
We did not even finish any of what we ordered. I had to just order more cocktail to down the salt. We tried a dessert with suman, hoping for it to be the saving grace, but it was a blah! You can buy a suman in the grocery and jazz it up better at your kitchen and not even be a chef!
My 4 year old son had the beef kenji (i forgot the complete name but it is their famous beef entree), and had food poisoning a few hours after that  resulted to a 1.5 week of LBM. I was so upset because of this. Never again! WTF!
On the flip side, they have good martini and they have a fruit mojito that was refreshing.
What an incredibly pleasant surprise.  I've have Filipino food at an other restaurant started by Barry, one of the current Fort Mckinley  owners. That one was very good.  But FK's Bangus Sisig and Beef Caldereta were incredible.  The Bangus was moist and yet had the flavor of the grill, spices and seasonings accentuated the flavor of the fish without smothering it. The Caldereta beef practically melted in my mouth; the sauce provided a harmonious balanced vegetable counterpoint to the meat.  The Banana Blossom Salad is more Vietnamese, and was executed with perfection.  The shrimp were grilled just right, not over done, the fish sauce and vinegar sparkled in unison with the banana flowers and sprouts.  The meal was topped off with Fried Mango Ube Suman.  So yummy. Â
The only reason that I fear returning is that I'll eat too much. Â But the rest of the menu is so sinfully tempting.
I don't understand Sister Camile's comments. Â What does a war in 1901 have to do with the quality of food? Â Why bring in old politics? Why the extreme hyperbole - really millions died at the hands of US in the Fort? Â A mass genocide? Â Why I can't find any mention of it? Â American brainwashing? Â
Perhaps the sister needs to get out of the monastery more often. Â Too much time on her knees makes her bitter.
The name alone should have stopped me from coming here. Fort Mckinley was established during the Philippine-American War, which was when the Philippines fought for their independence. As a result, millions of Filipinos died and the Philippines became a US colony for fifty years. It was created to house US military forces while they rested after slaughtering Filipinos and this restaurant chose to pay homage to that?
On top of such an offensive act, they offer very little Filipino cuisine. Choosing to go with an array of SE Asian cuisine and inadvertently displaying the United States' forced influence on such countries.
The food was okay. The papaya salad is clearly made by someone who knows nothing about how to prepare Loatian food. The bangus sisig and pinakbet was good - I'm sure the chef is Filipino. I asked for the pinakbet without meat and the server said he would do us a favor with that. Maybe he could have done us a favor by bringing water to our table before our food arrived. He walked by so many times promising to get us waters, but I went through half my meal before any drinks hit our table.
Why do they offer paella? This restaurant is all over the place with their food. They don't have a clear identity and it shows in the name of their restaurant, their menu, their food.
This is the Filipino restaurant where I will bring out of town visitors. Â The ambiance is very nice and the food is great. Â We went on a Thursday and there was live music (a pianist and singer).
-Roasted Crab Longanisa = great.
-Bangus sisig = great.
-Fried chicken = really juicy and the skin was crispy.
-Sea bass = great.
-All the servers were attentive and friendly: Â Dino, Barry, and I forget the other gentleman's name
Highly recommended.
One of my clients took me here for lunch as a form of appreciation which was a totally delicious gesture. She ordered the banana heart salad, seafood sinigang, the crispy binagoongan, brown rice and the sea bass in a clay pot. Even with loads of food that were leftovers, we managed to share the fried suman stuffed with ube, mango and coconut shavings was the perfect sweet finish over coffee. I'd skip the banana heart salad and the seafood sinigang for next time, but the crispy binagoongan is worth the comeback!
After this lunch, I came back twice and brought some friends with me. We tried the HH and had the bar chow with those chicken lollipops, lumpia shanghai, the curry mussels. Tried their ube mudslide and also their halo halo martini too! Yummy!
I don't know enough about traditional Filipino food to tell whether this interpretation of fusion successfully blends tradition with new ideas, but some of the dishes sure are tasty! Â I especially liked the milkfish dish. Â Milkfish is not at all fishy, but it can be a hassle to eat with all the bones. Â Here, the milkfish comes de-boned.
5 stars for the ambiance and friendly service.
Does the name in the least bit sound like a filipino restuarant? asian restaurant? That's what I said!!
Came for a Grandma's birthday and my aunt ordered for the family. Here's the yum stuff:
- Pinakbet- filipino veggie dish.
- Pork sisig
- Tilapiang Sisig? (At least thats what i thought they called it- either way its some type of fish plus sisig)
- Binagoongan- liked it not loved it but my aunt swears by it.
Had a lot more than this but I pretty much summed up those that mattered! ;)
Loved it! And the place is huge! there's like 3 plus different rooms where i heard they have parties and concerts!
A filipino stapled establishment!
We recently had my grandmothers celebration of life at Fort Mckinley. We arrived and the reception was in the back with 12 round tables all set up with linen table cloths & blue water glasses. The place was very nice.
Waiters were setting up the food as we got there.
Everything was great! They even served us the food.
We had 7 items which included
lumpia shanghai
Pancit
Vegetables in coconut milk
Fish escabeche
Chicken inasal
Lechon kawal
Beef calderetta
There was so much food & all of the items we good. My family was glad I pick this place. We had a private room so we could talk, take pictures & no time limit. I would have another party here anytime. Oh forgot we had fruit salad for dessert too.
Great food, great drinks, fabulous staff and very cool management! One of my best experience. I just did one of my annual charity fashion show event here and we had a blast! they accommodate everything we need, even help promote and decorate the space for our event. Â
Definitely a destination for me to bring family and friends, clients and produce events. :-)
Enjoy delicious Asian food with Filipino influence in a classy restaurant. They have fantastic decor - for Halloween they had moving statues everywhere and clever decorations that you didn't notice at first but appreciated once you did, such as the spider eating a little doll.
We went here for a birthday lunch and took up two full tables. The food was delicious - my favorites were the grilled bangus (and I don't even like fish), the calamari (it was a hit with the kids) and the garlic green beans. The beef steak was okay - it had onion chips but other than that, home cooking was still better. The Thai wraps was pretty good - seasoned ground beef that we wrapped in lettuce and sprinkled peanuts and sauce over. Paella was decent too, though not my type of food. The Thai iced tea was meh, and my cousins voted the mango juice drinks as canned.
We had a great time, and though we were dressed very casually, we didn't feel out of place, which goes to show how welcoming the staff was. It was good over all, but just rated a 3 because I felt the food could have been better. Would love to come back and check out their happy hour or dinner!
We recently attended our friend's birthday bash here - first time visit
No cover charge; $8 for a mojito
Dress code: quite a few people were dressed up
Huge fans to help cool down the room
One restroom for each gender, so plan accordingly while enjoying cocktails
We didn't have dinner there, but the pictures look fancy
Where's that show Restaurant Makeover when you need it?
Grrrrreat space but doesn't match the food.
I didn't expect such a great looking lounge, patio, and event space to come from a former funeral home. Yeah it's a little creepy, especially since there's no windows, BUUUUTTTTT like Yelp homie Cherylynn N said, the interior fits better in LA/NYC rather than this armpit of SSF. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fort-mckinley-restaurant-south-san-francisco-2?select=G5A_jsa3cPWK6dhXecgR3g">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
The service is great but the food, a little misleading given the name. Fort McKinley is basically a Filipino restaurant with pretty much the same owner, interior, and menu as it was previously (Intramuros). They changed the name with the hopes of bringing in a more diverse crowd. Doubt they'll reach their goal unless their alter and hopefully broaden and tasty up their menu.  (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fort-mckinley-restaurant-south-san-francisco-2?select=oVhA4yHFUWYnWfoO8Na5IA#oVhA4yHFUWYnWfoO8Na5IA">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
Here's what we had. They have the plating/presentation down.
CALLOS - $15 - A blend of tripe, tendon, garbanzo beans, olives, and chorizo simmered in tomato sauce. Good idea, eh execution. Amateur since the tripe was still chewy and the chorizo tasted like hot dog, there was some interesting cherry like tasting sweetness. Wouldn't order it again. Gilberth's makes something similar but better. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fort-mckinley-restaurant-south-san-francisco-2?select=8hlyXW4Z4GJOSW0xh_PDZQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
SISIG - $12 - Â I'm pretty much conditioned to order sisig anytime I see it on a menu. Just like I'm conditioned to say "Thanks, I'm just browsing today" each time a worker asks if I need any help upon entering a store.
I liked the egg in the middle but the pork bits were beef jerky chewy!?! (old?)  This version didn't come sizzling to the table and was greasier than it should be. I have to say Boracay's (down the street) version is superior. (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fort-mckinley-restaurant-south-san-francisco-2?select=6qC_j_qcrWnq-j9C_xLkfw#6qC_j_qcrWnq-j9C_xLkfw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
I want to see these guys succeed, there's potential. Suggestions.
1. Look at Attic in SMateo. They have a Filipino fusion menu that appeals to non-Filipinos. Granted the location, the crowd is always mixed. Great happy hour vibe over there as well.
2. Based on food alone, I'd rather go to Boracay's or Kuya's. Maybe incorporate some seasonal ingredients to give me something I can't get anywhere else.
3. A pop-up event. Feature some up and coming chefs, both Filipino/Asian and non-Asian.
4. Incorporate some culture. Â Their happy hour special - $7 Shot a Jameson and a Budweiser. Â Shouldn't it be a bottle of San Miguel and shot of Tanduay (rum from the PI)?
Doubt I'd come back for lunch. Might come back for happy hour given their great space.
Lounge (<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fort-mckinley-restaurant-south-san-francisco-2?select=wGY26g3OLmFUNuEndTimiw#wGY26g3OLmFUNuEndTimiw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>)
3 stars for the food but for the service 5 stars
I had high hopes for this place in regards to there food, sadly it seems they are still trying to get there things together. The ambiance in this place seemed to get a bit fancier then the orignal place (Intramuros). The menu has some standard and some new choices. Here is the breakdown of things we tried.
Callos - Â (beef tendon, tripe, chorizo, garbanzo bean simmered in tomato sauce) - the ingredents alone make you say wow I got to try this, for me it was not so good, I love tendon, and tripe, this dish did not do it for me as well,
Pork Sisig (diced pork marinated with soy sauce) - sisig is usually on point sadly here it was anything but, the pork tasted old, if you eat enough sisig you know what a fresh batch should taste like, for this place it was not a fresh batch, the pork tasted rubbery and hard. similar to day old adobo you can tell by the taste and chewness of the meat, there also with this plate comes diced jalapeno's onions, and they added a fried egg sunny side added dead in the center, presentation wise definitely looks appetitising but taste wise was a disappointment.
The venue is large there is a bar section in the back also large, patio area that stretches to the back with covered outdoor feel, for small events ideal location, one of the waiters stated they are looking to get some of the younger age patrons to visit this venue, as well as older patrons, with the music they play seems like they will be getting more of the older crowd the aunties and uncles age range 45-65 haha, this place has a lot of potential I think they will need to up there game on the food, that is just me other people stated the food was good but the again everyone has their idea of good. For me it is a pass, for the lunch menu, I may come back to check out the nite life but until the food gets better I don't think it will return.
The service is excellent, I did not have to ask for a refill of water, did not have to ask for more rice, the servers are well aware of the portions they served and checked on us during our meal. The server we had was very knowledgable about the restaurant and all of it's dishes, very helpful and made us feel at home.
Food *** sisig although it came on hot plate tasted old, the Callos red tomato sauce with tripe, though would be an interesting pairing unfortunately it was not.
Price$$ this is fancy filipino food cost is higher then I'm use to
Service ***** excellent
Ambiance ***** large venue, with complete bar, semi outdoor patio, hall for private parties,
Will return for nightlife not the food =(
Decided to take my parents out to a nice dinner since my mom told me about this place when she saw it featured in a Filipino Newspaper. Â Called earlier in the day to find out of I needed a reservation for a 6:30pm dinner on a Sunday night. Â He said no reservation was necessary and to just come in. Â
First impression after walking in, restaurant was very nice. Â Bar area was even nicer. Â Greeter asked if we had a reservation, we said no, and then proceeded to seat the 4 of us fairly quickly. Â We were attended by our waiter, Jeffrey, who was awesomely pleasant the whole night. Â He made the effort to know our names and was very talkative (but not too intrusive) and entertaining. Â He knew the dishes very well and even though it was a bummer to learn they had run out of calamari, he suggested the crispy cauliflower which came out very quickly turned out to be delicious!
We also ordered the banana leaf salad which was also very tasty. Â Our waiter, Jeffrey, even made the effort to introduce the desserts while we were looking over our menus. Â He told us that if we wanted to order the Babingka Souffle (which he mentioned was their most popular dessert) to let him know ahead of time since it takes 20 minutes to make. Â It was good knowing this so we could order early and so that we wouldn't be left wondering where the heck our dessert was.
As for the rest of the entrees, we ordered the pork sisig, Filipino beef steak, braised sea bass, halo halo, turon strudel, and babingka souffle. Â They added an egg on the sisig which made it more delicious. Â The Filipino beef steak came with small potato chips which were a nice accent, but not necessary because the beef steak was still really good. Â The sea bass was AMAZING and came with mushrooms that were full of flavor. Â My dad was so amazed by the halo halo that came in a coconut (!!) that he didn't wanna touch it, but he definitely indulged in it and scraped some of the coconut to eat as well. Â Turon came with yummy mango ice cream. Â And the babingka souffle was the best part! Â It was so fluffy and airy and delicious and seemed really big but was a good portion for two people.
Although dinner was a bit pricey (came out to $105 but that was for 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts), it was definitely well worth it with the quality of the service and the food. Â Definitely would come back again!
WOW! What a great restaurant! Â We had a birthday lunch there yesterday and could not believe how awesome the food and service was!! Â We were greeted and seated by Dino who was absoutely amazing and courteous to us, as were all the servers! Â
In addition, we had the opportunity to meet the chef whose dishes were creative and delicious overall! Â Barry, the owner even recommened new desserts, which we tried without hesitation and enjoyed very much....they were all to die for!! Â
Thanks Fort McKinley for a fantastic dining experience for our birthdays! Â We will be sure to return again!! Â CHEERS!! Liz, Maria, Marilu and Linda.....
My friends and I had a memorable high school reunion here. We were thrilled when Barry (owner and chef) graciously agreed to have us over for dinner despite the fact that their scheduled opening was a month away.
For appetizers, we had the perfectly crispy calamari and the vegetable lumpia in ube wrap. This fresh lumpia (spring rolls) was pretty unique and you'll want to savor this one to experience that ube (purple yam) flavor.
Don't hold your breath as this is a nine-course meal which our host planned. We started with the healthy Asian lime salad with shrimp that was light, crisp and simple. This was followed by sinigang na lechon (pork in sour broth) which was a major hit. We emptied the bowl in five seconds that a second serving was in order. The lechon was so tender that it melted in my mouth. I think this is the best sinigang I've ever had!
Excited screams (from us) accompanied the huge crabs that arrived. They were cooked with longganisa (Filipino chorizo) paired with yummy spinach garlic noodles. It was divine and out of this world. The adobo claypot was one of my favorite entrées. There was a subtle sweetness to it that suited my palate. The balut (duck embryo) al ajillo was another hit. Filipinos are known for this exotic food but this one came with garlic sauce which made the dish even more scrumptious. Take your American friends here for their initiation to our (infamous) balut and let them know it is an aphrodisiac!
More screams as we saw the arrival of the rich, luscious lengua lathered in creamy mushroom sauce! We also had the tasty salpicao with lots of garlic, the kangkong with chicharon topping, and the all time fave crispy binagoongan (pork cooked in shrimp paste). I have to say that all the entrées were delicious. Wonderful and surprising flavors are in every single dish on their menu.
We had two heavenly desserts to cap our evening. The fried suman (sweet sticky rice) filled with creamy ube halaya (candied purple yam) with puréed mango on top was off-the-charts delicious! We ended with the Halo Halo Martini, a mixture of sweet beans, coconut jelly, shaved ice, milk, and ube ice cream. This creative concoction was served in a martini glass that everyone kept raving about. It was a refreshingly light treat, perfect for this summer season.
Thank you Barry and business partner Tiffany for this special accommodation and for such an amazing dining experience for our group. We appreciate all the thought and care you and your staff put into making our reunion very special!
Innovative, well-prepared Filipino-American fusion cuisine, amazing flavors, high quality ingredients, generous portions and reasonable prices in an elegant and cozy atmosphere. The service was attentive, knowledgeable and efficient. Fort McKinley is worth it. I can't wait for it to officially open next month! Needless to say, I highly recommend The Fort to people of any nationality. You will find it a memorable experience.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
