The Philippines makes a comeback in the food scene, as one restaurant takes the 42nd spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants List, while the other came in at number 48.

Established in the year 2013, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is a celebration of gastronomy across the region, which aims to “provide diners around the globe with local insight and culinary recommendations.” Aside from being a gathering for chefs, restaurateurs, media, and food industry VIPs, the group—composed of over 300 leaders in the restaurant industry—also curates an annual list of restaurants annually.

“The well-structured voting system and procedures, which are overseen by global adjudication company Deloitte, ensures the list and awards have a credibility and influence that is renowned across the globe,” the website reads.

And in this year’s list, the Philippines makes a triumphant return to Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list as two of its restaurants have made it. Toyo Eatery and Metiz—both located along Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati—ranked 42nd and 48th on the list, respectively.

No restaurant from the country ranked in the 51st to 100th spot on Asia’s Best Restaurants lists this year. As for Asia’s best this year, Le Du, which is located in Bangkok, bagged the coveted position. Tokyo’s Sezanne and another restaurant from Bangkok, Nusara, round up the top three. 

First Time for Metiz, Fifth for Toyo Eatery

The award ceremony for the 2023 Asia’s Best Restaurant List took place in Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. This is the first time that Metiz—helmed by Chef Stephan Duhesme—made it to the prestigious list. “When we got the email, it was an oh my god moment,” Chef Duhesme tells ABS-CBN News upon learning that Metiz made it to the list. 

As for Toyo Eatery, which is run by the husband-and-wife team Jordy and May Navarra, this is the fifth time that the restaurant has made it to Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Their new ranking is a big jump from last year’s ranking, where they placed 94th. 

Aside from making it to Asia’s 50 Best, Toyo Eatery was also awarded the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award for this year. It was likewise hailed as the country’s best restaurant for 2023. 

Effects of Prestigious Awards on Restaurants 

Making it to a prestigious list such as Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list is undoubtedly a testament to a restaurant’s success as well as the exceptional quality of food and service it offers to its patrons. After all, receiving such an honor will undoubtedly cause a lot of interest among diners, especially first-timers.

Overall, this is beneficial for a restaurant’s business, as receiving an award can lead to more exposure for the brand, as well as an influx of diners who are interested in trying its offerings. 

Such awards are also beneficial to the overall morale of the staff. Awards can foremost make anyone feel like their hard work is acknowledged and has paid off. But even moreso, it serves as a validation that they can deliver food and service that is worthy enough to merit an award. 

However, there are pitfalls to receiving such awards—as seen in some instances where restaurants have received Michelin stars. Said awards and distinctions can bring a lot of pressure on chefs and restaurateurs that may cause them to invest too heavily in expensive decor and ingredients, among others. 

In fact, it has been pointed out in a study published by Cornell Hospitality Quarterly that “nearly half of the sample group of 26 two-Michelin and three-Michelin-starred restaurants from across Europe were found to not be making a profit—regardless of their ranking.”

At the end of the day, restaurants are businesses, and a business fails when it doesn’t make any profit. While awards will always be something to be proud of, it’s good quality and service that will keep reeling people in. Award-winning or not, a restaurant will always be loved by its customers if it keeps providing food and service that people will keep coming back to—and keep talking about, as well.