What Makes Smith & Wollensky the Perfect Power Lunch Spot?

Imagine this: you’re working as a fabulous fashion magazine editor and in the middle of a hectic day between collection previews, events, and meetings. You find yourself calling your assistant to get your usual order at, of course, one of the best steakhouses in town. Does this scene sound awfully familiar to you? Because it’s none other than that iconic scene from The Devil Wears Prada.

Scene from The Devil Wears Prada with Anne Hathaway as Andy, Miranda ( Meryl Streep)’s hardworking assistant at S & W getting her usual order of: one-and-a-quarter-pound ribeye, raw; two baked potatoes, big and steaming hot; one small side container of smashed potatoes, made soft with lots of heavy cream and extra butter; eight perfect stalks of asparagus.

The steakhouse in question is none other than Smith & Wollensky – a New York institution that is known for its dishes such as the Swinging Tomahawk ribeye, Gigantic Chocolate Cake, and Seafood Tower. As one of the quintessential icons of Americana hospitality, Smith & Wollensky has been frequented by the likes of Warren Buffett, Tom Jones, Anthony Joshua, and the list goes on.

It’s been called “the steakhouse that ends all arguments” by then New York Times restaurant reviewer Ruth Reichl, who wrote the article in 1997 ( click here to read the full review) when Smith & Wollensky was only 20 years old, and at that time, she was thoroughly impressed by their dry-aged steaks and thought them to be “very, very good.”

Smith and Wollensky — The official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Smith & Wollensky Manila organized on noon of July 8, 2025 headed by Smith & Wollensky Manila General Manager Aidan Duffy, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group in the USA president Nathan Evans, Granville Restaurants Philippines, Inc. (GRPI) Chairman John Hardyment, Forward Banner managing partner Gerald Baldivia, and Asia SVP of Operations Ray Yen

Fast forward to 2025, Metro Manila now officially has a Smith & Wollensky in the country, located at the iconic Finance Center of Bonifacio Global City. This Manila location is the first Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in Southeast Asia, which, for those who do power lunches exceptionally well, is an exciting venue to talk business while being served a luxurious dining experience unlike any other.

The grand launch event on the evening of July 8 was attended by USA Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, who gave their welcoming messages to the man who brought the iconic American steakhouse to Asia: John Hardyment, chairman of Granville Restaurants Philippines, Inc. (GRPI) and Bayshore Pacific Restaurants, Inc. (BPRI).

USA Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson, John Hardyment, chairman of Granville Restaurants Philippines, Inc. (GRPI) and Bayshore Pacific Restaurants, Inc. (BPRI), and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano

“This evening is not just about world-class steak—though certainly, we will all enjoy that. It’s a celebration of the enduring friendship between the United States and the Philippines—as friends, partners, allies, and foodies. Let me start by congratulating John and the entire Smith & Wollensky team for your great endeavor here—this teamwork with your Philippine partners. Bringing a brand with this kind of heritage and swagger across the Pacific is no small feat,” USA Ambassador Carlson said in her speech.

Smith & Wollensky Manila Demonstration of Chateaubriand with Chef Cale Jackson, the Culinary Director for Asia, during the July 8 Lunch with the media

“This isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a slice of Americana, a symbol of hospitality, quality, and tradition. And as you can imagine, bringing this symbol of American hospitality to the Philippines—that’s like coals to Newcastle. This place is well known as the most hospitable place in the world. So that takes a lot of swagger indeed,” she added.

Hardyment shared how he brought Smith & Wollensky to Asia during his speech, saying, “We opened Smith & Wollensky in 2019 in Taipei, and we had plans for expansion very quickly—then COVID got in the way. We opened our second one in Taichung, also in Taiwan, which we did in 2024, sort of at the tail end of COVID. And now, we’re very happy to open our third restaurant, here in the Philippines, and our first in Southeast Asia. I’ve watched the growth here in Manila, I’ve watched how the society has boomed.”

Filipina socialite & actress Ruffa Gutierrez graces the Smith & Wollensky Philippines dinner launch event

“Starting about four or five years ago, we started thinking seriously about doing one of these restaurants. We thought we’d bring a real American steakhouse—something with a little bit of size, a little bit of scale. We also take great pride in our music, wherein Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Bobby West is set to play regularly in the near future. I think very soon we’ll have the reputation as the best music venue in the whole Philippines as well.”

“I arrived in Asia 47 years ago and I’ve been involved in the food and beverage business for about 35 years. We decided to come to the Philippines where we’re very excited to be opening one of our new Smith & Wollensky’s in Manila here in BGC at The Finance Center, one of the best buildings in the city,” the Canadian national added.

“On behalf of the city officials of Taguig, allow me to thank the management for making the right choice. Allow us to commit that we will be a strong partner—a reliable partner—because you know, we don’t treat you as just a benefactor, but really a part of the family. Taguig, as you all know, is a work in progress but a booming city, and it’s because of your investment, your trust, and support that we are able to reach where we are right now,” Mayor Cayetano said in her speech during the event.

Actress Ruffa Gutierrez also graced the dinner launch event.

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