Elevate the Filipino dining experience and make the Philippines a jump off point of international concepts this is the goal of Excello.
The Excello Restaurant Management Group is composed of three main partners – Raymund Magdaluyo, Marvin Agustin, and Leina Bolinas. The partnership is founded on a common love for food and the performing arts. It was established late 2016 as the need arose to establish a new group to represent and operate the international brands – beginning with Wolfgang’s Steakhouse.
In 2013, Raymund Magdaluyo of the Red Crab group discovered Wolfgang’s Steakhouse while on vacation in New York City. The Wolfgang’s Steakhouse family under the leadership of Peter Zwiener started building restaurants in Japan in partnership with the WDI Group. Raymund saw this as an opportunity to bring Wolfgang’s Steakhouse to Manila.
The first store of Wolfgang’s Philippines opened early in 2016. Located at Resorts World Manila in Newport City, the fourteenth branch of the Wolfgang’s Steakhouse group was a welcome contribution to the local dining scene. The group plans to open two more branches of
Wolfgang’s in 2017. Both stores will be smaller versions of the Resorts World flagship store.
This project opened new doors for Raymund and business partner Marvin Agustin. Very soon, the new group is launching Gen Korean BBQ. A third managing partner, Leina Bolinas, was taken in to lead this exciting project. Gen Korean BBQ is a super concept from California founded by Jae Chang and David Kim. “It is a giant cook and order all you can Korean BBQ concept with an upbeat club feel. The vibe is a huge hit with the young crowd,” says David Kim, group President.
David Kim was surprised that half of the customers are Filipino-Americans and so the anticipation and excitement to open in the Philippines. Through the WDI Group of Japan, he has agreed to use the Philippines as a launch pad for Gen Korean BBQ for the rest of the region. Gen BBQ Philippines is opening in SM By The Bay in SM Mall of Asia first quarter of 2017 and will be the first location outside the USA.
The new group, Excello, will also be bringing in other concepts such as Sarabeth’s of New York City. Sarabeth’s, founded by couple Sara and Bill Levine has several stores in New York and is known for their legendary preserves, pastries and baked goods, and their all-day dining. They have also opened stores in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. The Philippine branches will be the first in Southeast Asia and will be launched in 2017.