My visit to Liberty New York Steakhouse at U.P Town Center

It was yet another marvelous Thursday filled with new acquaintances and exciting culinary endeavors.

Foodie bloggers and friends alike were given a chance to indulge in a feast fit for epicures. I was completely clueless at first about what to expect from this foodie review event, but I was confident that by the end of the day, my taste buds would be thoroughly satisfied.

The moment I set foot in Liberty New York Steakhouse, located on the second floor of U.P. Town Center in Katipunan, I knew I was in for a treat.

Liberty New York Steakhouse opened late last year and was recently featured on a TV show, KrisTV, to be exact.

These glass facades complement the structure and give it a more luxurious, modernized look.

You can easily spot the place near the escalators.

Upon entering the restaurant, not a single soul greeted me at the entryway, which was quite a letdown for me. I was hoping to be assigned to one of the tables, but none of the servers approached me. Thankfully, a familiar blogger’s face smiled and introduced herself to me.

The ambiance was stylish and modern, with a hint of retro vibe to it.

Vintage New York movie posters mounted on the walls added a nice touch to the overall setting.

The lighting fixtures were bright and evenly spread out, making it easier for us to take photos of everything we needed.

Comfortable and spacious leather dining chairs and booths were provided and not limited --perfect for huge friends and family gatherings.

Pieces of vintage art on shelves accent and highlighted focal point of the area.

I'm really into antique pieces so bringing home that vintage Phonograph Horn Turntable was a dream to be made into reality. Reality bites.

The drawing on the wall made me want to visit the world famous, must see New York City landmark and attraction which is the Empire State Building.

My appetite skyrocketed as we were nearing the introduction of the food from the menu.

They decided to give us a glass of bottomless lemon iced tea and it was a thirst quenching concoction i must say.

P 95

As a starter , a hearty tomato-basil soup was served. Their soups are made daily with fresh ingredients and in small batches.

The sourness was a bit overpowering for my taste, hence I left the bowl unfinished. But writing this review somehow makes me regret not finishing it down to the last drop.

P 140

Gluttony increased tenfold as the first appetizer was handed to us.

The way I see it, Spam fries will be an instant hit for kids and for kids at heart.

Three choices of dips were conveniently served along with the tempura-battered Spam. You can choose from cumin ketchup, whiskey mustard, or kimchi mayo, which has a bit of spiciness to it.

₱320

Doritos nachos was the next appetizer on the list. These Doritos chip nachos were perfect and left me truly satisfied because they were generously topped with mango cilantro salsa, chili con carne, jalapeños, and cheese sauce.

Just when I thought I had enough appetizers, out came the greens.

Known as the Chop Salad, it is an American garden-fresh salad consisting of mesclun greens (a mix of greens grown together for salads, often slightly spicy and always delicious), crispy bacon, charbroiled chicken breast, ripe mango, hard-boiled egg, feta cheese, plus red wine vinaigrette.

P 350

This, my friend, is the yummy Falafel Salad.

I enjoyed gobbling it up because of the caramelized walnuts.

It has deep-fried chickpea balls, mesclun greens with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and marinated olives, all tossed in herbed red wine vinaigrette.

P 250

Spicy foods are not palatable for my tongue, so I didn’t finish this sweet and spicy appetizer, the Liberty Buffalo Wings. But this dish was so tasty, and I was really hoping it wasn’t too spicy so I could finish the whole plate. The carrots, celery crudités, plus a bleu cheese dip were the perfect companions for this dish.

P 265

The most highly anticipated meal of the event was up next.

My choice for the main course was the roasted beef with rice topped with gravy. It was truly scrumptious. The serving of beef was juicy, thick, and tender in every bite.

The mushroom gravy, along with the roasted vegetables, was the perfect complement to the whole roasted dish.

P 350

This double quarter pound Liberty Ultimate Steak Burger didn’t make it to my taste buds, unfortunately. I was busy enjoying other dishes and forgot to try this one myself.

This charbroiled steak burger features a 100% Angus patty with an additional bacon patty, plus portobello mushroom, American cheddar cheese, and horseradish.

The fries were okay, but you can pair them with cumin ketchup or kimchi mayo to spice things up more.

P 530

Another favorite of mine was the Crazy Garlic and Mushroom tenderloin with rice. This dish was beyond superb and left me satisfied yet craving by the end. The succulent tenderloin pieces melt in your mouth and you'll just keep coming back for more. Actually we enjoyed it so much we ordered for two more happiness bowls!

P 320

The CAB Ribeye steak 21oz was served next. This divine dish with the mashed potatoes on the side and gravy complemented each other well.

P 2500

Perhaps I’m just not really into steaks, as I didn’t quite enjoy this Gaucho grilled steak served with corn on the cob. It was a delectable dish, don’t get me wrong.

The black bean rice and grilled pepper rice were appreciated much more than the steak. On a positive note, the steaks are large enough to accommodate a big group of hungry diners.

P 400

The next best part was , of course, the desserts!
First one on the list -- these Dark Chocolate Cigars filled with Mascarpone- an Italian cheese made from cream --drizzled with dark chocolate syrup. A bit bitter but as they say, dark chocolates are way healthier.

I adored these Liberty Cream Puffs! These babies made my day really. These light pastry shell puffs filled with semi-sweet custard cream and candied sugar are so addicting and I was utterly blown away :)

P 195

The last but not the least, the classic New York Cheesecake.
Yes, it's yummy, creamy and anything you can expect from a cheesecake.
Too sweet for me unfortunately.
I opt for the Cream Puffs as the dessert master!
The true winner in my mind.

Although there was a crew issue here, the chef’s creations surpassed any expectation we had and really does provide a top notch dining experience at U.P Town center.
We’ll definitely be coming back in a heartbeat!