It is the season for office parties! While there are many hotels with function rooms in the Fort, they can be expensive if your group is not more than 30 persons. We have compiled a list of restaurants that are suitable for a small corporate party, with excellent food, great service and at reasonable price. We share with you our local insights as well, so you can get the best deal for your party!
Botan Taiwanese Cuisine (BGC branch)
Second Floor, Wumaco Building, Lane P. Corner 9th Avenue, BGC.
Tel. +632 8873 3333
How do you get exclusive use of a big space, while spending less than the cost of a bowl of ramen on each person?
Botan Black Cafe is an authentic Taiwanese restaurant in a casual and modern setting. Its food uses quality ingredients and is without MSG. While you would normally need to book for over 60 persons during lunch or dinner hours if you want to have exclusive use of the place, if you hold your company party between 2PM and 5PM, you can actually have the whole place to your party at minimal cost, even if you have just 30 persons! 
It is because the restaurant is usually quiet between these hours. The restaurant only requires each customer to order one drink (P130 or above) if you want to reserve the place for your party between 2PM and 5PM. Our suggestion to you as the party organizer is that you order one drink for each person, and then a lot of snacks from their extensive list of street food, so that your guests experience something like a Taiwanese street party.
Their sound system with mic can be rent for only P1,500. So you can even play some party games and your own music. Now does that sound like a fun party or what?
lÔÇÖentrec├┤te┬áBistro and Upper Room
Unit A Bellagio II, Forbestown Road, near Burgos Circle.
Tel. +632 8856 4858
email:  info@lentrecotemanila.com
lÔÇÖentrec├┤te Bistro is the most established fine-dining restaurant in Forbestown Center, and for a good reason. Its owner and chef is very hands on, and takes great care in maintaining a high standard of food and service with consistency. It is an European restaurant with an elegant yet cozy setting.┬á The Upper Room on the 2nd floor is particularly ideal for hosting corporate parties for up to 25 people, with comfortable seats for everyone.
While the restaurant is most well known for its steaks, there are many other main course dishes as well as salads, pasta, and cheese fondue that can be ordered for sharing. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that, even though it is a high-end restaurant, you can order enough food for your party for as little as P1,000 per head. At a slightly higher cost, you can add quality European wine to your party as well. 
Photo above:┬álÔÇÖentrec├┤te┬áBistro has many gorgeous appetizers that can be served as party food
Mary Grace Cafe
2/F., One Bonifacio High Street, 5th Avenue
Tel. +632 8856 0858
Photo: inset is the large function room, while one of the two private rooms are in the background
Mary Grace Cafe is a chain of casual cafes that serves delicious local fusion food and is famous for its cakes as well as garden style interior.  The newest branch of Mary Grace Cafe in the Fort is very spacious. It has two private rooms that can be combined to accommodate a party of 20 persons, while its large function room can seat up to 40 persons.
If your party has over 30 persons, you should probably make a reservation ahead of time. You can reserve the use of the function room by making a deposit that is about 50% of the minimum consumables (around P850 per person). This will give you exclusive use of the function room for three hours. For every additional hour, they will charge a venue fee of P1,000. If you need audio equipment, you can also borrow their mic and speaker for free, subject to availability.
Photo above: Mary Grace Cafe’s pasta selection
Since the consumables per person is around P850 including service charge, we suggest that you can, for example, order a tea/coffee/chocolate, a main course and a slice of cake for each person, and even share some appetizers! Talk to their manager, Ms Tess Jaspe, or any of their super friendly staff, to find out how they can help you plan your party.
Other options
If you’d like to have a 1970s pastel theme for your office party, Stacy’s at Rizal Drive (Tel. 8555 0140) would be a good choice, as it is neatly decorated for that era. Its second floor can accommodate about 20 people for an exclusive party. Food is simple Filipino with a western twist.
Over in Uptown Mall, Six Doors BBQ Buffet (Tel. 0918-484-3255) is a restaurant that has many function rooms. Since it is usually not very busy, you may be able to negotiate a good deal with them.
If your guests like Filipino food, Ab├® restaurant at Serendra Piazza (Tel. 8856-0526) serves excellent┬áKapampangan food and has a couple of function rooms that you can rent for your office party.
Since the good deals that we recommend above are likely to be in high demand, hurry up and book yours now!
