One of Legaspi Village’s reliable watering holes, The Belle & Dragon, recently celebrated its fourth anniversary. Since its inception, the frequented establishment along Carlos Palanca Street has prided itself with its cross-cultural concept, merging East-meets-West influences, to create an inventive menu of food and drinks for the city’s swinging set.
To mark the occasion, the restaurant recently launched several new items in its menu, including Spicy Orange Chicken, Goju Tofu Mini Taco, Nasi Goreng Ayam, White Chicken Rice, Pork Schnitzel Parmigiana and Dragon Kaldereta.
It has also introduced a fresh bunch of happy-hour cocktails to go with these entrees: Dark and Bolder, Elder Lychee, Belle All the Way, the Wrong Iced Tea, Green Minded and Spice Me Up!
“The Belle & Dragon was initially conceptualized to become our customers’ third space, so to speak,” says Indy Villalon, the restaurant’s SVP for Operations and Marketing. “The first being your home, the second your office. We aim to be a space and sanctuary where customers can just hang out after work, relax, meet up with friends, or meet new people. We aim to be your favorite neighborhood bar.”
The whole concept of The Belle & Dragon plays with duality. The name itself “Belle,” the French word for beauty, and “Dragon,” which touches on the venue’s Oriental roots, reflects this European-meets-Asian vibe. From the interiors, down to its menu, the thoughtful concept is evident.
For its regular menu, some of its most popular items include the Wonton Nachos, Go Chang Wings and its famous fried chicken sandwich The Colonel. Since The Belle & Dragon is all about bringing people together, expect their dishes to be good for sharing.
When it comes to signature drinks, Sunny Jhamtani, VP for operations, highly recommends such “fan favorites” as the Lucy Liu, which sweetens the spirit with the addition of Yakult, Hot Bitch, a special cocktail infused with local labuyo, and Date Night or No Regrets.
“On top of that, we have over 16 different selections of beer—both craft and international,” adds Jhamtani. “So, whatever your preference, we have the perfect pint and glass for you.”
The Belle & Dragon has also whipped out a new lunch and dinner menu, which includes new Asian-inspired dishes along with some healthier as well as vegetarian options.
“We’re very proud and thankful for the community that has helped the Belle & Dragon grow over the past years. And we have so much more that we want to do for our patrons,” says Armand del Rosario, SVP for business development. “Since the space is perfect for events, we’re pushing for more private and corporate events this year. We’re happy and committed to serving you better drinks, fare and experiences.”
