MANILA, Philippines – In the recently launched Miele Guide, which seeks to be the most credible restaurant guide in Asia, Antonio’s Fine Dining in Tagaytay was acknowledged as one of the Top 20 restaurants in Asia (#10), in the league of Robuchon a Galera in Macau, M on the Bund in Shanghai, Mozaic in Bali, and Les Amis in Singapore. How fitting that this praise comes so near Christmas, when Tagaytay becomes a favorite destination.

I’ve come to realize, meanwhile, that although I’ve mentioned Antonio’s several times in my articles over the past two years, I have never in fact done a whole story on this restaurant. I’ve shied away from doing a review, first becase it seems everyone’s done a write-up on Antonio’s, and secondly because it would just be paragraph after paragraph of oohs and aahs as I have honestly never had a bad experience at this destination restaurant.

From my first time at this restaurant four years ago to my last visit just before they closed for renovation, every visit has been impeccable. From the awesome wooden doors that usher you into Antonio’s world and the pictures by the wall that give you a sense of home, to the attentive service and the very romantic ambience, Antonio’s Tagaytay escape has always delivered in providing a sense of the surreal.

I believe I’ve dined in all sections of Antonio’s by now, throughout the years, from the fine dining hall reminiscent of old rich Manila, to the patio just outside this hall, to the garden by a little man-made pond, to the patio downstairs, to the indoor patio underneath the dining hall. And the verdict is that wherever you dine, you get the same great service, the same great food, and the same great experience.

It’s a two-hour drive to Antonio’s from Manila. But at the risk of sounding like too much of a fan, I would still say that it’s worth it. The absolute must-try are the salads. Tagaytay offers the best greens in Metro Manila and Chef Tonyboy Escalante has given the concept of a green mind a different meaning, showing us that he knows how to make a mean salad. Most impressive is the Pear Arugula, new on the menu, which comes with foie gras, blue cheese and walnuts.

Most popular on the menu, though, are the meats: Steak Tartare for appetizer and Certified Angus Beef Prime Ribeye Steak for the main course. But I prefer the ducks: the duck confit in Grand Marnier Beurre Blanc is fine and the truffle-infused roasted duck breast with foie gras is, I believe, the best among Mr. Escalante’s signature dishes.

If you are dining for the first time, you might want to try the Trio Sampler, which offers in just one plate a taste of Escalante’s favorites: Beef Fillet a la Plancha with black pepper sauce; Chilean Sea Bass wrapped in prosciutto; and Lamb Cutlets in cardamom beurre blanc. If you are dining in a big group, with at least ten heads, go for the Spanferckel, a roasted boneless 40-day old weaned pig stuffed with herbs and fennel and served with horseradish cream and homemade apple sauce. This is baboy heaven.

Dessert serves its purpose of putting the proper punctuation mark at the end of the meal. My personal favorites are those with chocolate, such as the dark chocolate soufflé with cardamom creme anglaise, which brings chocolate to a whole new level. The chocolate cake is also given a unique angle with its orange caramel sauce. But I have also, at times, opted to trade in dessert for Antonio’s frozen mojito, which is second only to those found in the party-happy island of Boracay.

We have many talented chefs in the country—I’m sure you have your own vote as to who you believe is the best—but I think for those of us who have visited Antonio’s in Tagaytay, we all agree that we came back with a wonderful experience and beautiful memories, aside from a very satisfying meal. And that’s probably why it has been recognized to be among Asia’s best.

Antonio’s Fine Dining. Purok 138, Barangay Niyogan, Tagaytay City. Tel. 0918-8992866. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Reservations recommended. Major credit cards accepted. Not wheelchair friendly.