Bistro Charlemagne - Santa Cruz

No very nice experience. Value for money is low. Taste is so... a bit expensive, but small aerving size. Not so attentive service crew for the high service fee. We waited so long to complete our order that I just asked to take the last dish as it took so long and was ready.

For all imagination Pomp and quasi-elegance try to portray them, they simply do not cut the mustard. The truffle sauce on my salmon was actually quite good (the reason I gave them 2 stars), but it had to be to cover the dryness of the overboiled fish itself. Even if you are a foreigner, expect to be treated with the typical stars and glares that you might expect from children, but that adults should be above.

We chose to celebrate my brother's birthday at this bistro instead of a buffet restaurant for a change of pace. We ordered a la carte dishes of our choice. The food received mixed reviews, ranging from 3 to 4 stars out of 5. I was pleasantly surprised by the crispy Dinuguan-Paella, which was recommended by the server. The ambiance was nice, the restaurant was clean, the food had good taste, the service was satisfactory, and the value for money was decent.

Every time we visit Nuvali, I always notice this bistro. I used to assume that it would be an expensive restaurant, but to my surprise, it was not. The ambiance is almost like fine dining, with comfortable couches and soft chairs. They offer a wide variety of dishes with a fusion of different cuisines. They have options for sharing as well as set meals, which is a plus. We tried the Lengua with white sauce, the fish fillet wrapped in bacon, and the Pork belly with green mango, which all came with free soup, rice, and iced tea (I apologize for forgetting the names). Everything was delicious, and my son particularly enjoyed the fish fillet. The prices are reasonable considering the taste, ambiance, and service. The only downside was that our table was not properly wiped and had some stickiness on it. Despite this, I would definitely return to try more items from their menu.

Excellent meal at a surprisingly affordable price. Outstanding service, especially from the Captain Waiter, Noel! We were there for a special occassion with family and friends, and the restaurant crew delivered very good service, and the food was much better than what we expected. Would...recommend this place to everyone going to Nuvali, Sta Rosa, Laguna area.