A Michelin-selected restaurant in Metro Manila offered a full refund and a renewed Valentine’s Day invitation to a woman who canceled her reservation after a breakup.
TikTok user @hey_merie shared that her dinner plans for the Day of Hearts “changed last minute” after ending her relationship with her partner.
They were supposed to dine at Modan, a private Japanese dining concept by Chef Jorge Mendez.
The TikTok user asked to cancel her reservation and for a refund, saying she and her partner had broken up.
“Thus, no more Valentine’s day date,” she wrote with a smiling-with-tear emoji.
“Thank you for considering my request,” the user added.
Restaurant response
She later received an email from the restaurant, stating that her payment would be refunded in full.
The TikTok user was also invited to dine with them on February 14 or on any date she preferred.
“You’re very welcome to bring a companion of your choice — whether a friend, a family member, or anyone you’d feel comfortable sharing the experience with. Chef simply wants you to still feel love in another form,” the email from Modan said.
The TikTok user shared her gratitude in a post.
“I was met with so much kindness and generosity, shout out to Chef Jorge for the incredible heart behind it all. Sometimes, love doesn’t come the way you expect it to, sometimes, it comes through really good food and genuinely good people,” she wrote.
“Thank you, Modan and Chef Jorge. Grateful beyond words,” the user added with a blushing emoticon.
Her post also went viral on the X (formerly Twitter) platform, garnering 22,000 likes and 1,500 reposts.
a girl made a reservation at Modan for Valentine’s Day and wants to cancel it after she and her partner broke up at ito ang response ni Chef Jorge sa kanya.
no doubt caprice has a good upbringing pic.twitter.com/aFBgO0MiiT
— 🍒 (@saintjennix) February 15, 2026
Meanwhile, Chef Jorge said in an interview that he “really didn’t expect” her to post about it and to blow up.
Modan offers a progressive Japanese degustation menu inspired by the chef’s personal journey and paying tribute to his loved ones.
It was previously commended by filmmaker Erik Matti for its food quality and for giving a “thoughtful” dining experience to its patrons.
