FIVE by owner and cook Paolo Bustamante is a different kind of private dining experience, like a homey private function room where you pay per head for the food, including rental of the space for 5 hours. It’s a lifestyle private space good for intimate team building, milestone celebrations and Christmas parties.
It is located in the former Fox Square Center which, after the pandemic, was rebranded as BLK 113 with FIVE being the sum of the digits of the block.
Here’s what to expect at FIVE and some tips for a memorable experience.
FIVE Private Dining
📍3rd Floor, BLK 113 (former Fox Square Center),
Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
📞 +63 945 119 1555
✉️ fiveprivatedining@gmail.com
⏱ Tuesday to Saturday for dinner (5 hours reservation)
🌐 https://www.facebook.com/fiveprivatedining
Ambiance
FIVE is located on the top floor of the BLK 113 building, which now features art galleries, bars, and other innovative concepts.
(Note: There is no elevator so you have to climb the grand staircase to reach the venue.)
It has bohemian-inspired interiors that match the home-style meals. This is perfect for bonding sessions with your teammates or company-sponsored celebrations.
We tagged along during the Mommy Mundo company dinner, and this is what my friend Janice Villanueva has to say about the FIVE dining experience:
“Loved the experience at Five—cozy and comfortable like home, and the food [was] like comfort food as well. Set up allowed for dining and lounge seating which made it more relaxed and the music inspired accents gave extra chatacter [sic] to the place. I [liked] the big square set [up. It] allowed people to talk and interact (and sing!) Service was great- [Paolo] was there to be with us a bit [and] his two servers were also warm and efficient. Food was good and flavorful abd [sic] filling- maybe [I should] have ordered a veg dish to balance the menu but [I] enjoyed all the dishes Pao served.”
Mommy Mundo Team
With just an acoustic guitar, we sang the whole night, and I got to sing my favorite Francis M song during the pandemic—Kaleidoscope World.
(Note: There’s no karaoke system or TV system so you have to be creative with your team building session and conversations over food).
Food
FIVE features original dishes by owner and cook Paolo Bustamante which they have been serving for 3 decades to family and friends. You can also customize and specify other International cuisines.
The set menu (₱1,500/head) is inclusive of appetizer, soup, 3 mains, dessert, and house blend iced tea. (Note: You can bring wine without corkage.)
Southwestern BBQ Pork Belly
Baked Chicken Casserole in Truffle Cream
The pork belly was served with big cuts and covered in sticky BBQ sauce. Best eaten with rice. The truffle baked chicken was a favorite. I remember going back for more servings.
Panna Cotta
Not a fan of fried fish but this homestyle fish and chips was a good pulutan throughout the night. Best to bring a cake or dessert for a satisfying finish.
Facilities
There is service staff to assist during the dinner and a wet pantry for washing the dishes.
(Note: There is no kitchen.)
There is a dedicated smoking room beside the dining area to which I have a mix reaction because you can probably still inhale secondary smoke since it is only separated by a sliding door.
The restroom, located outside the room, is small and common for all third floor tenants.
There is sufficient parking on the gated basement so don’t worry about parking.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is the kind of venue that we like, where you pay for good food and get the venue exclusively to bond with your group. We loved the main dishes and I wonder if they allow potluck food or at least cakes/desserts to make the dining experience more awesome. Good thing, they don’t charge corkage so make sure to bring your own booze for the whole night.
Also, make sure to bring acoustic guitar or have a program planned for the 5 hour duaration specially for your own private Christmas party. Make sure to book it as early as now because this venue is unique and located centrally if you have guests coming from the north and south.
Thank you to Janice and the Mommy Mundo team for making us feel welcome during the dinner. 🙂
FIVE Private Dining
📍3rd Floor, BLK 113 (former Fox Square Center),
Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
📞 +63 945 119 1555
✉️ fiveprivatedining@gmail.com
⏱ Tuesday to Saturday for dinner (5 hours reservation)
🌐 https://www.facebook.com/fiveprivatedining
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Thanks to Nikkei Team for the experience. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
Disclosure: Our Awesome Planet is the organizer of _________________________
Disclosure: We paid for our meals. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
Disclosure: Thank you to ___________ for the invitation. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. You can have your after party in the next door jazz bar, 78-53-86.
One thought on “FIVE Private Dining Experience (A Review)”