In the popular fashion-centric movie “The Devil Wears Prada,” hardworking assistant Andrea Sachs as played by Anne Hathaway makes sure she gets her hand on the one-and-a-quarter-pound ribeye steak from the one and only Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan for her forceful boss: respected Runway Magazine editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, played by Meryll Streep in the film. And as we know, Priestly was actually based on real-life famed magazine editor Anna Wintour, who’s currently making headlines as she lets go of her editor role in the US Vogue.
Well, Miranda’s favorite steak is finally in the Philippines.
Known for its USDA Prime dry-aged steaks, the New York-founded steakhouse chain Smith & Wollensky is introducing its first-ever Philippine location at the Finance Center in Taguig City. The restaurant is set to be a new legendary luxury dining landmark in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), as it is poised to serve the same classic American charm and tradition, sophistication, and timeless hospitality in your dining experience.
Smith & Wollensky is ideal for discerning foodies, business elites, and luxury dining aficionados. After all, it is also the favorite steakhouse in New York of business mogul Warren Buffett, making it his top setting for his charity lunch auctions. The Smith & Wollensky dry-aged beef and wines make for a must-try luxury dining experience.
The legendary steakhouse was established in 1977 by Alan Stillman, the New York-based restaurateur who had previously founded the now world-famous TGI Friday’s.
Serving only the best USDA prime beef and the finest local seafood, paired with a pioneering selection of sumptuous wines from California, many believe that Smith & Wollensky were key to putting new American wines and steak on the map.
Today, Smith & Wollensky is a collection of iconic steakhouses in select American cities and well-traveled global destinations.
The Smith & Wollensky Experience
You can feel Smith & Wollensky’s excellence in hospitality the minute you enter the dining place. The staff members are approachable and obviously knowledgeable, giving you a friendly first-hand guidance upon deciding your food choices.
I visited the Smith & Wollensky BGC place expecting a hearty lunch, and bread and creamy butter were served as I awaited my order.
For starters, I chose the Crab Cake, with lump crab meat you can instantly taste, made even more flavorful with cognac mustard and ginger sauce. The Seared Duck Foie Gras was a delicious starter too with its savor.
The Soup of the Day was squash soup, with hints of beef and bits of popcorn, which also made a wonderful, saporous prelude to the main dish, too.
And for the main course: the popular Smith & Wollensky USDA Prime 28 Day Dry-Aged Bone-In Rib Eye.
The server gracefully cut the medium rare steak for me, and I totally understood the hype after the first bite. Soft, chewy, juicy meat— yet distinctly flavorful and mouth-watering. Every slice of meat was a delight because of the sumptuous taste, with the meat around the bone a succulent finish.
I paired my steak with Sauteed Mushrooms with Chorizo, as well as Steamed Asparagus Crema with caviar as side dishes.
For my dessert, I opted for New York Cheesecake, which was surprisingly not as overwhelming in taste compared to other cheesecakes in the market.
It was just the right taste of creamy and sweet, with texture that’s unique in comparison with other cheesecake options in the metro.
Beyond the Iconic Steak
After my dining experience, I toured the Smith & Wollensky BGC location. This legendary dining place is introducing a Jazz Lounge here in Manila too, with Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Bobby West poised to be a regular musician in the place.
The Smith & Wollensky’s Jazz Lounge also boasts of an impressive wine list, ranging from 4,500php to 158,000php per bottle.
Book the ultimate steak experience at the Smith & Wollensky BGC location during its soft launch in the Philippines starting July 2, 2025. Grand opening is on July 8. You may book via reservations@swmnl.com.
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