COCONUTS HOT SPOT — City of Dreams Manila, the casino complex where high-rollers gamble away hundreds of thousands without a care in the world, may seem like an unlikely place for wholesome family fun. Then again, it’s actually more family-friendly than most people think.
True, there are posh restaurants in the area, but most of them actually have high-chairs, which mean babies are welcome.
Let’s start with Red Ginger, a 24-hour restaurant showcasing Southeast Asian cuisine.
I was pleasantly surprised to see big families with toddlers in tow when we tried it out for lunch over the weekend.
I went with my husband who loves everything spicy, and our 18-month-old, who is currently going through a noodle phase. Fortunately for me, the restaurant’s menu was able to accomodate their highly-polarized tastes.
Red Ginger offers a mix of Indonesian, Singaporean and Thai food, but don’t expect anything too adventurous or exotic.
The restaurant also holds regular food festivals, highlighting dishes from various Asian regions. For example, food of early Chinese migrants called Peranakan cuisine takes centerstage until the end of the month.
The place had nice and comfy interiors with tables that could accomodate big groups. The staff were alert, and more importantly, they patiently helped us out when we ordered, since there were items that weren’t familiar to us.
We ordered Singaporean wok-fried flat noodles called char kway teow (PHP440) for the young one, and we requested for it to be as baby-friendly as possible. The server guaranteed that it wouldn’t be spicy, and she even offered plastic utensils that we could use to make meal time much easier.
![](https://cdn.coconuts.co/coconuts/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/red_ginger_noodles.jpg)
For ourselves we had popiah (PHP380), which was crispy fried barbecued duck spring rolls served with a generous serving of iceberg lettuce. I loved the crunch of the crispy skin, and it went well with the chili garlic dipping sauce. To be honest, I didn’t notice that it had duck meat, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
![](https://cdn.coconuts.co/coconuts/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/red_ginger_spring_roll.jpg)
We ordered lam mee (PHP480) from the Peranakan menu. It was basically a version of birthdays noodle for longevity. My husband made a request to make it as spicy as possible. The servers probably underestimated his tastebuds because though the noodles were good, he kept adding the chili sauce to keep the spice level up.
![](https://cdn.coconuts.co/coconuts/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/red_ginger_lam_mee.jpg)
We also got Indonesian-style beef rendang served with potatoes and crispy shallots. (PHP590). This time, we asked for a milder version since we wanted our baby to try it. It was perfect with their white rice!
![](https://cdn.coconuts.co/coconuts/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/red_ginger_beef_rendang.jpg)
The three of us spent about PHP2,000 for lunch. Yes, it was a bit pricier than a typical Asian meal, but what can you expect from a casino complex? It was worth it, thanks to big servings and good service.
We asked the server to pack away the leftover char kway teow. Tip: That evening, we ate it cold, and paired with a bottle of wine. It was not bad at all.
My only regret? I didn’t get to try dessert because I was too full.
![](https://cdn.coconuts.co/coconuts/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/red_ginger_cakes.jpg)
Red Ginger’s cakes surprisingly look so pretty. Unfortunately, they don’t sell by the slice, but it’s a perfect gift for someone’s birthday or anniversary.
I didn’t expect to see so many customers leaving the place carrying boxes of pastries from the sweets section — I made a mental note to try the eclairs next time.
City of Dreams, Asean Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard, Entertainment City. Parañaque; +63 2 8008080, Daily, open 24 hours.