Deo Gracias: My Go-To Spanish Restaurant

I love introducing friends and family to Deo Gracias for lunch/dinner! Each visit would always be marked by their consistently top-tier Spanish cuisine and the staff’s hospitable service.

BERENJENAS CON MIEL (P320)

Since its main structure is of a remodeled home, the comfortable ambiance comes easily – even at its busiest, dining in Deo Gracias always feels intimate. Another thing that I love about it is that it has the most interesting set of appetizers – boasting of familiar tapas such as the Gambas, but also dishes such as the Berenjenas Con Miel – that are refreshing to see on a Spanish menu in the Metro.

TUNA TARTARE WITH AVOCADO SORBET (discontinued)

Every time I dine in a group of at least 4 or more, the Berenjenas Con Miel would definitely be a staple on my table. Crispy eggplant chips drizzled with honey that’s quite similar to the taste profile of banana chips – but with better texture. I love everything about this appetizer – it’s fun and surprising to eat and it’s an affordable meal filler! During my very first visit to Deo Gracias, my friends and I were fortunate to try the incredibly fresh Tuna Tartare with Avocado Sorbet – I love the play on colors and textures of this dish – so I was pretty devastated to know that it was discontinued already in my successive visits.

PUNTILLAS FRITAS (P670)

Another staple on my table would be the Puntillas Fritas – or their crispy baby squid – which was so addicting to eat – especially when you play around with the parsley aioli and squid ink aioli it's served with! Definitely, an absolute delight to eat! They also do have Pulpo Frito (fried octopus), but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the Puntillas Fritas.

PATATAS BRAVAS (P390)

Another affordable and filling crowd pleaser would be the Patatas Bravas – deep fried marbled potatoes drizzled with a medley of a brava sauce (paprika-based) and its creamy garlic sauce.

GAMBAS AL AJILLO Y GULAS (P795)

Gambas Al Ajillo would probably be the most quintessential tapas – you can count on it to be featured in most, if not all Spanish restaurants in Manila. Usually though, it’s priced unnecessarily high (possibly to account for market fluctuations), but seldom does it have a wow-factor. Personally, I only genuinely enjoy Terry’s version of the Gambas al Ajillo – however, Deo Gracias’ tosses in baby eels in their Gambas – making its price tag a tad bit more justifiable. Expect plump shrimps, tons of garlic and quality olive oil served hot and sizzling on your table. You wouldn't want to waste a single spoon of this dish!

NEGRA (P845)

I have yet to try a paella from Deo Gracias that I didn’t like. The Negra comes with crunchy baby squid pieces and instead of the usual white-hued aioli, they mix in some parsley with the aioli, lending this usually minimalist paella some nice pop of color and flavor!

SENYORET (P890)

The Senyoret is also a nice choice – as it features perfectly grilled cuttlefish, maya maya fish and prawns atop well-cooked paella and dressed in aioli. All its paellas can be swapped with fideua noodles (which I have yet to try). Yet, my ultimate favorite rice dish from Deo Gracias is one that I don’t have a photo of – its Risotto Iberico (P790) – which marries fresh porcini mushrooms with jamon iberico is finished with a lovely serving of Manchego cheese. Definitely, a must-have!

LENGUA ESTOFADA (P820)

One (huge) room for improvement for Deo Gracias would be for it to expand its main dishes selection. It’s extremely narrow and not as exciting as its extensive list of hot and cold tapas. Their version of Lengua Estofada is executed well – tender beef tongue stewed in a flavorful sauce and served with cherry tomatoes and pearl onions (a personal favorite) – but fails to have a wow factor.

ENTRECOT 400 (P3400)

The Entrecot (400g) is also just alright – yes, it’s a pretty good ribeye steak - that comes with a lovely roasted bell pepper confit, roasted garlic and thick cut fries. It’s well-executed, but again, nothing spectacular about it especially after the showstopping appetizers.

TARTA DE QUESO MANCHEGO (P450)

Fortunately, you’re guaranteed to end on a sweet note as they do have a pretty interesting selection of desserts that you can choose from (apart from their extensive list of drinks)! The Tarta de Queso Manchego is a personal favorite – although, it’s best shared – as it does fill you up quite quickly – this burnt Manchego cheesecake is paired with some fruit jams to lend a slightly sweet and tangy dimension to this treat.

CHURROS (P330)

Deo Gracias does a playful take on the classic Churros – serving both traditional churros and chocolate-covered ones; and pairing them with the classic chocolate sauce and condensada de coco to spice things up. I was already extremely full when we ordered this – so I couldn’t even sneak in even a single bite! One interesting dessert I did enjoy though on another occasion was the Flan de Coco (P290) – if you’re looking for a dessert that’s made for individual consumption, each Flan De Coco is served in a cocktail glass filled with smooth and lusciously creamy coconut flan topped with passion fruit - it's light enough to be consumed in its entirety by your lonesome and enjoyable enough to be a sweet ending to your meal.

Deo Gracias

12 11th Jamboree, Diliman, Quezon City

Multiple Dates of Visit Since April 24, 2022 with Jeric Badion, Sam Bautista and Giselle Lim, Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua, Jem Chua and Steph Marquez, Dan Dayonayos, AJ Esplanada and Myca Rolloque, Jolly Aganon and Lisa Manila