Rockwell in Makati has always been a haven for foodies with discerning palates, but there’s one resto where locals usually retreat for elevated comfort food from around the world: Prologue.
Consider it as one of Rockwell’s best-kept secrets that’s often a hotspot for satisfying meals and weekend brunches. Located outside the hustle and bustle of the commercial centers, Prologue in Rockwell is nestled inside the cozy Aruga Apartments.
Lovingly regarded as a “fine neighborhood kitchen” among the regulars, it offers a curated selection of recognizable favorites from different cuisines to satisfy a world of flavors. This means you can find not only a single kind of dish here. Rather, you can travel the world through food at Prologue and explore different flavors with every visit.
With a strong foundation and proficiency in fine dining standards and techniques, Prologue isn’t like your usual go-to brunch spot as each dish is uniquely and expertly interpreted and made lovingly from scratch with the freshest ingredients, offering an unforgettable luxe casual culinary experience.
To develop this distinct gastronomic repertoire, Prologue has tapped acclaimed Chef Hiroyuki Meno, who’s trained in classic French cooking—that’s been a reference in many contemporary cooking—and has mastered the intricacies of Japanese cuisine—which is known for bringing out the natural flavors of every ingredient.
Meno’s tenure at Michelin-starred restaurants and food destinations in France and Japan—and Indonesia, too—equipped him with a unique skillset that allows him to marry the best practices from different culinary foundations, and improvise to cook up every Prologue dish with his own signature creative touch.
One of the must-try dishes at Prologue is Iberico Cabecero Risotto, which uses Spain’s highly prized iberico pork known for its incredible marbling and nutty, complex flavor to elevate a simple yet comforting Italian rice dish. Then, there’s Beef Rendang that’s made from Australian wagyu brisket for that buttery flavor and extra tender texture and dished up with fragrant jasmine rice as well as French beans, broccoli, and carrots.
Prologue also has its own irresistible version of Chicken Tandoori that’s whipped up with Indian spices and yogurt and plated with turmeric rice, French beans, and a special cream sauce.
True to its promise of serving an assortment of ‘round-the-globe flavors right in your neighborhood, this Rockwell food spot also serves up some go-to European picks with pizzas like Margherita and Quattro Formaggi as well as pasta like Pancetta Carbonara and Vongole, and appetizers like Gambas and Escargot Bourguignon.
For flavors closer to home, the resto has a selection of mouthwatering Asian picks like Japanese Gyudon, Nasi Goreng Prawn, and Pad Thai, and even Filipino recipes such as Pork Adobo and Arroz Caldo that’ll never fail to make you smack your lips and beam.
This Rockwell haunt is part of a restaurant portfolio that includes branches in Quezon City and San Juan City. What’s more admirable about Prologue is its attention to detail, as each branch adapts the experience to its own neighborhood. Each restaurant has a different persona and ambiance as well as special menu offerings, creating a distinct experience at every location. At Prologue, no restaurant is being replicated. Its only benchmarks are its meticulous fine dining standards that you can expect at all three.
“We’re proud to bring fine dining expertise and techniques to a casual everyday dining setting, and serve familiar flavors from different parts of the world with the guidance of an amazing chef like Chef Meno,” Prologue owner Alyanna Uy states.
“With this brand ethos, we can assure that everything we offer at each branch is created with the best and freshest produce on the spot, so you can savor each bite and share the joy of excellent food with your loved ones,” Uy ends.