Vlad Bunoan

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Finestra

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:890px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760691653342IMG_0600.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">A view of the open kitchen welcomes guests to Finestra. <em>Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>At Finestra, the music of Sinatra and Bennett fills the air — a warm, familiar croon that fits perfectly with the restaurant’s Art Deco interiors and gold-and-black palette. It’s the kind of old-world polish that reminds you that you’re in a five-star hotel restaurant, without ever feeling clichéd.</div><p>In fact, there’s a cinematic quality to it: but think Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” — not “GoodFellas” — all suave and controlled glamour instead of chaos and grit.</p><p>Perched on the 38th floor of Solaire Resort North along with the gorgeous Sky Bar, this outpost of Finestra brings the brand’s refined Italian sensibility to Quezon City — a move that feels both fresh and much delayed. </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:890px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760691694061IMG_0599.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Sweeping views dominate the dining room. <em>Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>Through floor-to-ceiling windows, the city unfolds below: the glassy towers of Vertis North, the green sprawl of Parks and Wildlife, even the ABS-CBN compound in the distance. From up here, Quezon City looks cosmopolitan, almost reborn — and Finestra mirrors that view.</div><p>This is Solaire’s Italian steakhouse, a more formal, serious counterpart to the lively Trattoria on the ground floor that serves gourmet pizzas and playful gelato desserts. </p><p>And now’s the perfect time to give it a try. For the ongoing Gastronome Giving campaign — a collaboration between Globe Platinum and Fine Dining Club Philippines running until November 30 — Finestra is offering a special four-course menu priced at P6,800, with P1,000 from each meal going to the Hapag Movement, which funds livelihood programs for families affected by involuntary hunger.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Classic recipes, modern flair</strong></div><p>Apart from the now-mandatory bread basket and olive oil-balsamic dip, a small meatball skewer also welcomes guests: an amuse-bouche made using the chef’s own family recipe. Rich and tender, and finished with arugula pesto, it makes me wish this were a burger — I’d line up in a heartbeat.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:890px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176069217182617102025-combo-2.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Chef Joel Manchia <em>(handout)</em> and antipasto of Hokkaido scallops <em>(Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News)</em></span></span></span>The meal proper begins with pan-fried Hokkaido scallops served with gazpacho — not quite a soup, not quite a sauce. The cold tomato base cuts through the scallop’s sweetness with a clean, bright acidity. It’s an opener that feels Mediterranean and measured, a subtle signal of what’s ahead.</div><p>Then comes the artisanal orecchiette in prawn broth with spicy bell peppers with large prawn bits, a dish that best captures what chef Joel Manchia wants Finestra to be. </p><p>The pasta is robust and meticulously created by hand, the bell pepper lending warmth, and the prawn broth rounding it out with a briny sweetness — with a nod to its origins. A sprinkle of dehydrated ricotta adds not just texture and contrast but a clear contemporary touch.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:890px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760691736759IMG_0612.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Artisanal orecchiette. <em>Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>“We try to diversify a few different recipes, usually focusing on regional foods or traditional combinations but we make it in a modern way,” Manchia tells this writer. “We have very traditional flavors from certain regions that are not very well known everywhere.”</div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Done right</strong></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:890px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760691807881IMG_0618.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Josper-grilled beef tenderloin.  <em>Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>The main course, Josper-grilled USDA Prime beef tenderloin, underscores Finestra’s dual identity as both Italian restaurant and steakhouse. It’s served with truffle confit potato and Swiss chard, a dish that leans on balance rather than embellishment. The meat, grilled to the requested medium, arrives perfectly rested — a hallmark of a kitchen that takes precision seriously.</div><p>The dish captures what Finestra does best, with no flash or flourish — just the satisfaction of something done exactly right.</p><p>For Globe Platinum and Fine Dining Club members, the meal includes a small interlude: a complimentary affogato, rich espresso poured table-side over creamy fior di latte, a delightful indulgence that primes the palate for the dessert that follows.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:890px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760691859300IMG_0624.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Ricotta cassata. <em>Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>The ricotta cassata is airy and composed, dotted with candied orange peel, pineapple, and bits of brownie, plus a side of cherry compote for sweetness and texture. It’s traditional Sicilian fare, plated with style and finesse — light, playful, and the perfect conclusion to a purposeful meal.</div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Beyond the special menu</strong></div><p>The dishes in the Gastronome Giving menu are not direct replicas from Finestra’s regular offerings, though they echo its spirit.</p><p>The a la carte menu itself is concise and well curated with standards like carpaccio, risotto, and tiramisu, alongside less-seen fresh pastas — not just orecchiette, but also garganelli and risoni. </p><p>Pizza is notably absent, a small but telling signal of the restaurant’s focus.</p><p>“We try to bring something different to the market and try to give a different perspective of what Italian food is. There’s not only pizza, pasta, and meatballs,” Manchia explains, noting that every region in Italy has something unique, and even Italians from other areas may not be familiar with these specialties.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:890px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760691975423IMG_0602.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">The special Gastronome Giving menu. <em>Vlad Bunoan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>This kind of intentionality is reflective of the restaurant’s tone: refined, structured, yet constantly evolving — like the osso buco giving way to Wagyu beef cheeks.</div><p>“We try to change the menu seasonally,” he adds. “Between four times a year. Soon we’re going to have a few other changes coming up.”</p><p>For diners familiar with Finestra’s original home in Paranaque, this Quezon City branch feels like a continuation rather than a mere copy. Some dishes differ but the sensibility remains: regional Italian cuisine seen through a modern lens.</p><p>In this part of the metro long dominated by casual dining and <em>inihaws</em>, Finestra brings something rare — an Italian restaurant that doesn’t just raise the bar but quietly and confidently defines it.</p>

<p>Finestra at Solaire Quezon City brings refined Italian dining to the north, pairing cinematic views with a menu rooted in tradition and quiet sophistication.</p>

Finestra at Solaire Quezon City brings refined Italian dining to the north, pairing cinematic views with a menu rooted in tradition and quiet sophistication.

QC eats: In this part of town, Finestra easily towers above the rest

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QC eats: In this part of town, Finestra easily towers above the rest

Vlad Bunoan,

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

Published October 17, 2025 05:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Finestra

Solaire Resort North

steak

Italian food

Globe Platinum

Gastronome Giving

restaurant review

food review

QC eats

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