A couple of weeks ago my partner and I were looking for a venue for one of their upcoming events, since it was going to be for the entertainment press, QC was the preferred choice so we headed to the T. Morato and Timog Area to check out the restaurants and what they had to offer.
Our first stop was
B Hotel, one of the newest hotels in QC that has been gaining quite a reputation and good reviews from very satisfied guests. This came as no surprise, however, since
B Hotel is under the Bellevue Resorts group who also runs,
Bellevue and B Hotel in Alabang and the Bellevue Resort in Bohol. B Hotel is under The Bellevue Group of Hotels, Inc, who also runs The Bellevue Manila
It was already lunch time so we decided to check out
Johnny’s Steak House a stand alone restaurant located at the ground level of
B HOTEL.
Coincidentally, we ran into our good friend Suzette Morelos, who was also having her lunch there. Suzette says she frequents B Hotel whenever she feels like escaping the horrendous Makati Traffic. It was a good thing as we were able to ask her about the place and give us a little background of Johnnys.
Johnnys opened in late June and despite the tough competition with the numerous steakhouses nearby, is also creating quite a buzz judging from the reviews I’ve read online.
The restaurant,
Suzette says is named after
Johnny Chan, the chairman of Bellevue Hotels & Resorts, who she said loves steak.
We were handed the menu and the first thing we noticed were that the prices were really very competitive, considering that they use Certified US Angus Beef (CAB). The most affordable steak on the menu was the US Beef Rib Eye 190d, the 300 gram order is priced at P640 which already includes a choice of a side and steak sauce. I chose to order that with a side of truffle fries. My partner Ed got the US Tenderlioin Defatted 280 grams which was priced at P790.
I liked the fact that their menu was very simple and straightforward, and for those who are not too familiar with the differences between rare and well done, the menu includes an explanation as well as cooking time so you know how long your order would take.
We both chose to have it medium cooked, which according to the info on the menu: takes 4 minutes to cook, seared outside 25% red center, an internal temperature of 57-63°C It also says the steak should feel fairly firm and springy. How’s that for setting an expectation?
As for the side dishes you have four choices: Mac and Cheese, Mashed Potato, Cajun/Truffle Fires and their Steak Rice. Like I mentioned I got the truffle fries while Ed got the Mac and Cheese. Suzette also suggested we try the Steak Rice and the Onion rings—so we ordered those as well.
We were barely finished with reading the details on the menu when our steaks arrived. Four minute promise check! It actually took us longer to take photos of the steak and the side dishes.
IMPORTANT NOTE: don’t take too long taking photos as it will affect the quality of the steak. So it was our fault that our steak wasn’t as hot as it should be.
Now for those who know me, I’m not much of a meat eater, and whenever we get invited to a steakhouse Ed and I would just share and order another dish. But this was an exception. The meat was so tender that I felt like I was drooling as I sliced and forked the first portion. And as soon as the meat touched my lips it was like getting kissed for the first time! I’m not kidding! There was a real tenderness to the meat and mixed with the heat coming from it, it was surreal.
It was actually my very first time to finish an entire order of steak! It was just that good.
As for the truffle fries, I swapped it with Ed’s Mac & Cheese, it was good, but I didn’t like the way it complemented my steak. The better choice would have been the Steak rice which had generous portions of steak bits!
For the sauce I chose peppercorn and also got to taste the mushroom sauce that came with Ed’s order, both were good, and complemented the flavor of the meat very well. Then there was the onion rings, unlike other which hid the onion slice under a thick breading, this one was a bit more balanced.
As Suzette said the owners love steak and it shows, because Johnnys really know how their steaks well.
"What is exceptional about B Hotel Quezon City Johnny's Steak House is that the customer has the privilege to place their order, enjoy and choose their preferred meat cut size and watch the chef prepare it from the kitchen, giving the customer a sumptuous dining experience." said Ryan Chan, Bellevue Hotels and Resort Managing Director
of B Hotels.
For desserts we tried the
Belgian chocolate cake which was included in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s list of best desserts. It was spot on. The sweetness, the creaminess was the perfect ending to a really sumptous lunch!
Oh I almost forgot to tell you about the ambiance. Much like the interiors of B Hotel Johnnys has an industrial design with bold modern touches that really gives off a millennial modern vibe. It can seat up to 40 people and it’s the perfect escape if you want to spend a quiet lunch.
I am definitely coming back!
Johnny’s Steak and Grill
Website: http://www.bhotelqc.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/bhotelqc
Twitter & Instagram: @bhotelqc
B Hotel Quezon City, 14 Scout Rallos, Laging Handa, Quezon City
