IN 1994, exactly 20 years ago, TGI Fridays was launched in the Philippines as the flagship brand of the Bistro Group of Restaurants, and the very first Philippine store was located at Glorietta 3 in Ayala Center, Makati City. It is therefore only fitting that when TGI Fridays decided to undergo re-imaging to make the restaurant chain more hip and chic, it should unveil its new look and feel via its Glorietta 3 store. The new and more modern look of TGI Fridays, coupled with a simpler rendition of it logo with the iconic red-and-white awnings still remaining, showcases the evolution of the brand through the years.
What immediately greets diners when they enter the store is the Promise Wall, which reminds everyone that “In here, it’s always Friday.” Adjacent to it is a hip rendition of the New York skyline in silhouette, painted on baseball bats that line the wall. Again, this is meaningful in the sense that TGI Fridays opened its very first store in New York City, at the corner of 1st Ave. and 63rd St., in 1965, and that baseball happens to be America’s favorite sport.
At the turn, there lies the Heritage Wall. It bears framed photographs recapping TGI Fridays history and depicting the journey of its founder, Alan Stillman, in putting up the restaurant chain. This is the closest to what used to be plenty of memorabilia items that lined the walls and corners of TGI Fridays stores. Adjacent to the Heritage Wall is the Graffiti Wall.
The dining area has likewise undergone changes, with modern seating now coming in the form of cozy C-shaped couches and more spacious booth seating that can accommodate six instead of the usual four. Wooden community tables are elevated with square bar stools that can seat up to six, and these have become instant favorites among families and friends who dine in groups.
The bar, too, has undergone changes to look more hip and give bartenders more room to put on a flair-tending show with lots of bottle-spinning and drink-flipping moves that never fail to wow the audience. No more wall-mounted shelves for the alcohol and spirits. In their place are now hanging shelves that share ‘floating’ space with large TV screens. The vibrant deep red bar stools complement the lighted black-and-white striped tile flooring of the whole bar area which separates it from the dining areas lined with wood parquet. Coinciding with the unveiling of TGI Fridays’ new look, feel and vibe is the roll-out of new items on the menu. Fridays’ lunch promo has just started last May 12 (2014), as it serves up choice lunch plates such as Grilled Chop in Shiitake Cream Sauce (dry-rubbed and fire-grilled pork served with rice pilaf and summer coleslaw) and Jalapeno Mushroom and Stuffed Chicken (deep-fried chicken fillet stuffed with sautéed mushrooms, Jalapeno and mozzarella cheese, served with rice pilaf and summer coleslaw).
Starting Monday (May 19, 2014), TGI Fridays will also be offering new Stacker Burgers: Texas Chili Cheese Burger and Cheesy Bacon Cheese Burger. Both are juicy and decadent burgers just like what TGI Fridays is known for. “TGI Fridays has changed with the times to cater to the next generation guests, but we carry on with a desire to keep our regulars coming by giving them no less than what they deserve: good food and great times,” says Guia Abuel, vice president for operations. Expect more exciting events, promotions and offerings in the months to come as TGI Fridays celebrates its 20th anniversary in the Philippines this 2014.
