Valentine’s Day is just a few days away, and while some of us are eagerly awaiting it, some really couldn’t care less. If, like me, you’re one of those who do NOT think Valentine’s Day is overrated and would still like to celebrate it with your special someone, then here’s a suggestion for where you can have a delicious dinner in a romantic ambiance. And even if you belong to the other group who would rather avoid all the hoopla (and bad traffic) surrounding V-Day, you will find that Nostalgia Dining Lounge in Ortigas is still worth a visit on any special occasion you wish to celebrate.

I was recently invited to the launch of Oakwood Premier – Joy Nostalg Centre’s refurbished dining lounge that brings you back in time somehow with its thoughtfully selected furniture and decor to match its “contemporary classic” ambiance, as well as with its menu of “cross-continental classic” cuisine. Basically, it hopes to be the place that makes you want to remember the past and celebrate all the wonderful memories and special occasions in your life—Valentine’s Day included—and provides the perfect setting and dishes for it. The dishes are specially created by their resident French Executive Chef Jerome Cartailler and are a combination of his favorite family recipes from France and the most requested dishes of the hotel’s diners over the past five years.

I sampled some of these dishes, and I wrote mini reviews of each of them in the gallery below (click on each photo to read my descriptions). Then, read on below the photo gallery for what you may expect when dining in Nostalgia—whatever the occasion—and to know what’s in their special Valentine’s Day set dinner menu.

If you would rather visit Nostalgia Dining Lounge with your family and friends, you’ll be happy to know you can make the get-together even more special by having it in one of their three themed, private function rooms, all with a distinct interior and vibe representing the international concept of the main dining lounge. Click on each of the photos below below for a closer look and description of each.

So whether you want a romantic place to exchange stories of how you and your special someone met each other and fell in love, or a warm cozy place to remember family memories, or a chic room to recall barkada secrets and misadventures—all while creating brand new memories you can talk about in the next gathering—there’s a spot for you here.

Valentine Special
Nostalgia Dining Lounge has a special five-course Valentine’s Day Dinner available only on Feb. 14 at P1,500 net. Here’s what’s on the menu:

1. Seafood bisque with garlic croutons
2. Choice of:

• Chef’s Terrine, red onion and mango chutney with freshly baked bread
• Classic Caesar Salad
• Homemade potato gnocchi, parmesan, and parma ham

3. Frozen bellini
4. Choice of:

• Char-grilled US beef tenderloin with alfalfa, gratin potato, and roast shallot sauce
• Chicken Supreme filled with mushroom mousse, light gorgonzola sauce
• Pan-seared Macadamia-crusted Salmon with buttered vegetables and Chardonnay sauce

5. Fresh strawberry macaroon and white chocolate whipped ganache with superfruit sherbet (served with coffee or tea)

The Nostalgia Dining Lounge is at the 6th floor of Oakwood Premier – Joy Nostalg Centre along ADB Ave. in Ortigas Center. For reservations and more information, please call 637.7888 ext. 8603. To book your stay at the hotel via Agoda, click here.