REVIEW: Luna del Sol Restaurant And Wine Bar Brings Modern Flair To Angeles City Restos

Sophisticated elegance. Soothing ambiance. Exquisite selection of wines. There were plenty of things to enjoy at Luna del Sol Restaurant and Wine Bar on top of its scrumptious food.

Western and Japanese cuisines in modern and classy resto bar

PilipinasPopcorn.com sat down with owner Malou Santos to find out everything we can about Angeles City’s newest place-to-be for food lovers. We tried seven of Luna del Sol’s bestsellers among its Western and Japanese cuisines. It was not easy to pick a favorite. Everything was simply appetizing. We were in love.

You can’t possibly miss Luna del Sol once you’re in the neighborhood. We reached the restaurant’s street at around 6 p.m. and immediately noticed a bright, sparkly building meters ahead. As we approached closer, we could easily tell even from the outside that we were in for a modern yet classy experience.

Luna Del Sol menu: Steak, salmon, tempura, tuna tataki, and more

Being situated in a multicultural city, Malou made sure that her menu would cater to local and foreign palates. Malou was always hands-on in the kitchen and the bar. She also considered the fact that she is around Korean restaurants and wanted to stand out instead of going with the flow.

As soon as Luna del Sol celebrated its soft opening on December 16 last year, she quickly noticed that she was bound to have European customers, too. That’s how her menu came to be.

Malou’s chef used to cook for well-known restaurants and hotels. She made sure that she only got the best. With presentation, taste, and the amount of serving you get, you know for sure you are getting the best.

Luna Del Sol co-owners: ‘We love eating while enjoying hearty conversations’

Putting up a restaurant in Angeles City is a daunting mission in itself. For starters, Angeles City is the home of the original sisig, which has caught the attention of international chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain. One has to be some sort of a masterchef in order to jump in the competition, right? Malou and her business partner Lawrence Santos prove otherwise.

Malou and Lawrence met through a common friend in the construction industry. They are not particularly remarkable at cooking, Malou tells us. However, they certainly know how to select and appreciate good food. Still, they took their time in choosing the perfect chef. After all, they take their food and drinks seriously.

“We think good conversations and great food get even better with wine or other drinks,” Malou says. “That is something that Lawrence and I agree on.” (Just to clarify, it is just a happy coincidence that Lawrence shares the same surname as Malou’s husband.)

From buildings to the kitchen

Malou is a construction supplier, while Lawrence is a construction engineer. They met through her real estate broker, Lea Maccam. Malou was looking for a  place where she could put up a restaurant, while Lawrence was also looking into business prospects.

Since losing his wife to a battle with cancer, Lawrence thought being busy in a business that truly appeals to him should be a part of his healing process. For Malou, she knew food is the right direction.

So, why Luna del Sol? Malou has placed the business under the name of her youngest son, Angelo, who incidentally has a Persian cat named Luna. (Did you see that coming?)

She then thought that with her nickname Lou, she and Lawrence share the same initials: L.S. Taking the name Luna, Malou then thought of an S word. It so happens that Sol, the Spanish for sun, is a perfect fit.

Royal treatment

The restaurant was a vision to behold. Malou and the staff were warm and friendly. We were treated like royals in what felt like our own dining room.

The dining area accommodates an average of 30 people, so a reservation is a must. The place looks excellent for family and organization parties, as well.

As we make our way to the bar at the second floor, we were drawn to the resto bar’s fancy accent chandelier. Seriously, everything here is by design and it’s all marvelous. The bar, which seats around 50 people, is great for fun KTV sessions with friends and family.

From the bar, we see the resto’s romantic well-lit open garden with a picture-perfect fountain. If you’re thinking of nice places for wedding proposals in the Philippines, here’s an option! It’s also perfect for those who want to relax with a glass of wine.

Malou, who masterfully planned the resto bar’s design, says she takes artful balance into account whenever she takes on a project. It’s more than art, thou. Feng Shui is also involved here. The dining room on the left, the garden in the middle, and the kitchen on the right. Everything is where they should be.

Here’s a look at some of the food we had on our visit:

Herbed Pork Chop

The herbed pork chop came with mashed potatoes, vegetables, plus two large, very tender pork chops. We actually thought it was the steak. The flavor of the herb reaches the inner part of the meat which made every bite a treat. If you are a fan of pork chops, this is where you should have it.

Rosemary Chicken

As soon as we had a slice of the chicken, we all thought we were actually having turkey. We had two other gentlemen with us who grew up in the U.S. and swore that it was indeed a turkey. It could be the flavor or the size of the chicken, but there was definitely a good amount of flavor in it.

Crusted Salmon in Lemon Sauce

This dish was a thing of beauty. You know how the dish looks like in a magazine? That’s how it looked like as it was served. Tasting it was a different story. Each bite was heavenly.

Shrimp Tempura

We were a bit skeptic on the tempura because we know that usually, it would be a thick layer of flour and just a little piece of shrimp. One bite changed all that. The tempura had shrimp, a big one, rich flavor and right amount of crunchiness to it.

Ribeye Steak

As the dish came out of the kitchen, we saw this smoking and sizzling hot piece of meat with mashed potatoes and veggies. Pouring the mushroom gravy on top was the best part. The smell of comfort all in one plate. The beef was very tender and the flavor unforgettable.

Tuna Tataki

This thing of beauty was such a treat. A deviation to the meat dishes. Eating tuna that fresh made us feel like we were in an actual Japanese restaurant.

Kani Mango Salad

The Kani Mango Salad was refreshing. It was creamy and crunchy and was definitely a delight to see and of course to eat.

Specialty Drinks: The Titanic, a trademark

Lawrence Santos enjoys drinking with friends, while Malou has a collection of booze and wines which are made available for customers. One good thing about this place is that they have a Buy Bottle option. If you buy a bottle and you weren’t able to finish the whole thing, the restaurant can keep it for you and your friends for the next time you visit.

The Titanic. One drink, in particular, could be the next big thing and you can only find it in Luna del Sol. It’s named after the movie Titanic inspired by the characters Jack and Rose. It’s a combination of Jack Daniels and Tequilla Rose mixed only by Luna del Sol’s in-house bartender created originally by Malou.

The verdict. Luna del Sol easily goes to our top list of must-go-to places. It’s great for a dinner date, a group get-together, a family event or just a place to relax, slow down, with good food, booze and wines, and the company of a great staff.

How to go to Luna del Sol Restaurant and Wine Bar

Casual dining at its best only at Luna del Sol located at 17-21 Kampupot Street, Timog Park, Angeles City. The resto-bar is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. If you would like to reserve seats for dining in, reserve for company events for family get-togethers, or simply have that date with your plus one, you may call or text Malou Santos via at 09275490785. You may also check them out on Facebook at Luna Del Sol Restaurant and Wine Bar here.

Angeles City is known to be a first class highly urbanized city in Central Luzon. It is popular for many reasons like the Clark International Airport and Freeport Zone. Being the former home of the Clark Air Base, it remains home to a large number of Americans. For us, though, the biggest reason why it has become so popular is because of the food. And now, every time we roll in, we add Luna Del Sol Restaurant to our must-revisit destinations.