TWIST (The Way I See Things): Delicious steak (and more!) that keeps budget in check

Steakhouses have a reputation for offering premium beef cuts that are priced so stratospherically high it could cover a whole family’s entire meal had they eaten in a fastfood restaurant. And while steakhouses in the country have become more mainstream in the country in the past several years, the huge tag price still intimidates many people.

This is what the Highlands Prime Steakhouse hopes to change. With their more affordable steaks—which they say are the cheapest in town price-wise—the people behind the steakhouse hopes to entice more individuals to see for themselves that delicious, tender steaks need not break the bank.

“Our prime steak offerings are our pride. Our steaks are the cheapest—by up to 20 percent. But the quality is just the same, if not better than the others,” Cyril Reyes, the company’s general manager, told TWIST over lunch at the restaurant’s flagship store at the SM Mall of Asia.

It’s more about managing their finances, he said. For them, it’s better to have lesser margin with every transaction but with more volume of customers. This is how they manage to keep their prices more within the reach of Juan dela Cruz without sacrificing quality.

Cyril Reyes, general manager of Highlands Prime Steakhouse
at the SM Mall of Asia (2F near the moviehouse)

“We want to erase the notion that when it’s a steakhouse, it is expensive. One of the things we did was put up a huge screen outside out store showing pictures of our bestsellers with their prices,” he said.

With a more Western feel and ambience, the spacious restaurant can fit up to 300 people. It can seat another 50 people inside its three function rooms.

Highlands Prime Steakhouse sports a log cabin type of ambiance with large glass windows that allows dining customers a view of the Manila Bay. It also gives potential customers a visual of the interiors, with the cozy tungsten lighted atmosphere, fireplace, and smiling staffers.

This is why the place has also become popular with lots of celebrations with a large number of attendees such as wedding receptions, anniversaries, and birthdays. In a month, these group events and functions generate about half a million pesos for the company, some 10 percent of its total business.

But nothing would fruit without the sumptuous food. Its rib eye and prime rib are slow cooked and marinated; its steaks cut perfectly (not too thin, not too thick), with its tenderness intact. But the steakhouse has also expanded its menu to include pork chops, pizzas, and baked scallops, among many others.

Even the herb butter for their bread and the mushroom gravy (made from scratch) for their steaks are flavours sent down from up above.

“Our advantage is that we’re a local company. We have built our own set of following. The concept is stable and has become trusted by many,” said Reyes, who used to be a chef at Italian fine dining, Italianni’s.

He said: “We’re all about value for money. Who ever said that you can’t eat a good steak that is low in price and high in quality?”

Here are more photos of items that foodies can enjoy during their visit to Highlands Prime Steakhouse. :)