I had dinner at the Ministry of Crab restaurant in Manila, at the Shangri-la BGC tonight. This was definitely the hottest table in the city tonight. The Ministry of Crab in Colombo is the most famous restaurants in Sri Lanka. It is also one of the best restaurants in Asia.

OPENING OF THE MINISTRY OF CRAB IN MANILA AT SHANGRI-LA BGC

The Ministry of Crab in Manila, at the Shangri-la BGC, is opening formally next week. But tonight I was a guest of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka at her private table for eight persons, for the exclusive soft opening.

WHAT TO ORDER AT MINISTRY OF CRAB

I eat at the Ministry of Crab restaurant in Sri Lanka whenever I am in Colombo, living a Travelife. In fact, I’ve memorised their menu by heart. My favourite meal there is an XL crab in garlic butter sauce, with garlic rice. It’s not easy on the diet but it’s pure heaven.

What a treat it was to dine with the Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan friends at this private dinner prior to the public opening of the restaurant. It was like being back in Colombo again — and I have many wonderful memories in Colombo, as well as in Sri Lanka.

A STYLISH CRAB RESTAURANT

Meanwhile, the new Ministry of Crab restaurant in Manila is way more glamorous than the original restaurant in Colombo. It’s a massive and stylish space with high ceilings and tasteful decor. The tables are spaced wide apart for privacy and the overall atmosphere is just so wonderful for a nice dinner. This was truly a New Year’s treat for 2019.

DELICIOUS CRABS

As for the food, most of the dishes we tasted were very close to the taste of the food at the original restaurant. No wonder, too, since one of the main chefs of the Colombo restaurant is in Manila to oversee the opening. He came out to greet us and I’m sure I saw him on one of my many visits there.

The crab with garlic butter sauce is authentic, as is the garlic rice. We also had crab with black pepper sauce and crab with chilli sauce. These were delicious as well, but I highly recommend the garlic butter sauce.

The bread served was different from the one in Colombo. But it was tasty all the same. I am not a bread person, but I could not resist dipping my bread into the sauces, just like everyone else.

PHILIPPINE CRABS FOR DINNER

Interestingly, the Manila restaurant has some Filipino variations. This makes it worth a visit as well. I tasted crab sisig for the first time, and it made a very nice appetiser. They also offer two Philippine sauces, including one made with grated coconut.

Finally, do not miss the cocktails or the dessert. I ordered a Ceylon cocktail made mainly of ginger beer and it was perfect. For dessert, I ordered a chocolate cake with yoghurt ice cream and caramelized bananas. The cake was perfectly done and the yoghurt ice cream went so well with the cake.

Of course, the conversation made the evening ever so memorable. We talked and laughed about so many things. Coupled with the authentic food of the Ministry of Crab and the elegant atmosphere of the restaurant, I can certainly recommend it to foodies.

In fact, I confidently predict that reserving a table at the Ministry of Crab in the Shangri-la BGC will be the thing to do from next week, as these will be one of the hottest tables in the city over the next few months.

Read more articles about traveling to Sri Lanka in Travelife Magazine.

The post Garlic butter crabs in Manila appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.