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Category: Celebration

Review of Roselle’s Cake Boutique (Customized Longevity Cake for Chinese Birthday)

My grandmother (外婆) turned 80 yesterday. The family planned months ahead to prepare a surprise birthday party for her last Sunday. A few weeks before the party, she kept wondering why nobody bothered to tell her about how we were going to celebrate her big day. She must felt really anxious in anticipation. One of my aunts invited her to lunch and told her to wear a beautiful gown without actually divulging what to look forward to in greater detail. Fortunately, my grandmother obliged and went to The Legend Seafood Restaurant, Pasay, where all her relatives, close friends, and old neighbors were waiting in excitement. Upon her entrance, everybody greeted her a happy birthday. Totally surprised, she cried in joy. We were all relieved that our plan became a success. 🙂

Review of Roselle’s Cake Boutique (Customized Longevity Cake for Chinese Birthday)

Weeks prior to the event, I ordered a customized Chinese longevity cake from Roselle’s Cake Boutique through Facebook Messenger. I sent her the photo taken from Google Images which was originally a three-tiered birthday cake. The design focuses on the Chinese character for longevity 壽 (寿) (pronounced as shou) and good luck or fortune 福 (pronounced as fu). Longevity is recognized as one of the Five Blessings (五福 – longevity, wealth, health, love of virtue, a peaceful death) of Chinese belief. It is usually presented and used for birthdays to wish loved ones a long life of good health.

After some consideration, we decided to make it a two-layer cake (the bottom layer is edible) in red accented with gold swirls and topped with traditional longevity peach. Flavors available were Vanilla, Buttercake, Devil’s food cake (moist choco), Dark chocolate, Mocha, Red velvet, Buttermilk, and premium ones include Ube, Carrot, Banana Choco Chip (additional Php 200). We chose moist choco and got the cake in size 6″ top 9″ bottom.

The birthday cake was delivered to the venue on time. Moist, fudgy, and intensely chocolate-y, it was crafted perfectly and taste was delicious. Everyone had a slice and liked it very much. 🙂 Many of the guests asked where we bought the cake. Thanks to Roselle’s Cake Boutique, my grandmother was happy to blow her simple but elegant-looking longevity cake on her 80th birthday.

Total amount for the cake was Php 4100. 50% down payment was deposited ahead and the remaining balance was paid upon delivery. Overall, communication with Roselle was efficient. She replied to questions promptly and professionally. We definitely recommend ordering your next customized cake for any special occasion from Roselle’s Cake Boutique. 🙂

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January 17, 2017
Review of Café Ilang-Ilang (The Manila Hotel, Manila)
My sister surprised us when she booked seats for four (via Deal Grocer) at Café Ilang-Ilang, Manila Hotel in celebration of her 24th birthday last November 26, 2016. We only learned about it when she dropped us at the hotel entrance on the day itself. 😛 Happily, we went around the lobby and corridors to have a glimpse of the grandeur of “The Grand Dame” (for the first time) and then experienced a scrumptious lunch in the spacious buffet restaurant. 🙂 My heart raced with excitement. Everything looked sooo beautiful! Christmas adornments and sparkly decorations were all over the venue.

Review of Café Ilang-Ilang (The Manila Hotel, Manila)

Ambiance:

Café Ilang-Ilang is one of the most famous and highly raved restaurants housed in a hotel in Manila. The interior exudes a casual elegance that fits in with the decor in the rest of the theme. The color palette is mostly brown shades, ranging from delicate beige to rich chocolate brown hues. What made it interesting to look at is the wonderful play of textures and patterns in different types of fabrics. It’s these architectural and design touches that create such a sense of old world sophistication with a twist of modernity. Lovely!

Food:

Serving an array of cuisines from across all continents in well-positioned buffet counters, Café Ilang-Ilang for the most part looks like a renaissance of chic casual dining. Designed artfully to satisfy the distinguishing palate, it features an extensive selection of food delights with a fresh spin on various open kitchens and a delectable desserts space that highlights its tradition of unique and excellent dining.

We started our culinary adventure at the Italian section, where we picked up some deli and made our own fresh pasta and pizza. The spinach ravioli was captivating! We savored every bite. Italian food induced so much pleasure that we had to remind ourselves to save space in our tummy as we had to visit over 10 more food stations next.

We headed to the appetizers section which displayed wows and rows of tables with tantalizing cheese, bread, salads, and cold meat—all nice for the eyes and savory for the taste buds.

Café Ilang-Ilang’s central stations serve a mix of Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Korean, and Mediterranean specialties. The range covers from Thai Tom Yang and flavorful Kare Kare, Patatim, Peking Duck, Tandoori Lamb Chops, Steak Rendang, and a plethora of Korean side dishes such as kimchi to even a dedicated spread of Halal food. There’s also a meat corner where we each had a slice of smoking Churrasco with Prime Rib, Wagyu Beef, and finger-lickin’ Baby Back Ribs.

Just when we were so full and about to leave, we visited all corners of the restaurant once more and were struck to find out that there’s also a Japanese food section situated in another dining hall. The sushi and sashimi were presented neatly and colorfully. This was one of those times when we wished we could take some food home ’cause our stomachs can’t take it anymore. 😛

For desserts, we especially enjoyed ALL the flavors of gelato, which were not too sweet but really, really good. The cakes, chocolate fountain, and other pastries were also excellent.

Price for Value:

The variety and the number of food selections at Café Ilang-Ilang may not surpass Sofitel’s Spiral or EDSA Shangri-La Hotel’s HEAT, but these are soulful food that takes a journey through the brain yet doesn’t for a second forget its purpose: to delight and dazzle, sure, but also to comfort and please on a deeper level. With the classy atmosphere and friendly customer service to boot, price for value is fair. Rate per person was discounted at PhP 1,195.5 from a total of PhP 4790 in Deal Grocer’s awesome deal: Lunch Buffet for 4 at Café Ilang-Ilang (Monday-Saturday). Thanks, again, to my sister for her treat!
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The Birthday Girl
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If you’re interested to try and take advantage of the deal, please note that the Deal Grocer offer is redeemable Monday to Saturday for Lunch (11AM to 2:30PM) only from October 31, 2016 to March 25, 2017 EXCLUDING declared holidays and NOT valid on Sundays.

[schema type=”review” url=”http://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/” name=”The Manila Hotel” description=”One Rizal Park, 0913, Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 527 0011″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-27″ ]

Opening hours
Breakfast: Daily 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Lunch: Daily 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Dinner: Daily 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM

Café Ilang-Ilang Rates:
Breakfast Buffet (Mondays to Sundays): PhP 1,450.00 NET per person
Brunch (Sundays only): PhP 2,400.00 NET per person with bottomless chilled juices
Lunch (Mondays to Saturdays): PhP 2,150.00 NET per person
Dinner (Themed Nights):
Mondays – International Buffet: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
Tuesdays – Mediterranean Night: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
Wednesdays – Asian Night: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
Thursdays – Surf And Turf Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
Fridays – Seafood Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
Saturdays – American Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
Sundays – International Buffet: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
December 27, 2016
Company Christmas Party: A Sumptuous Feast at Planet Grapes (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong)

At this time of the year, most of us take “dieting” to a pause and reward ourselves with decadent food. Christmas celebrations are everywhere! I’ve been to at least five events with different groups in two weeks, and the parties don’t stop until the first week of the New Year. Last Friday, we held our company Christmas get-together at Planet Grapes – Shangri-La. Food served buffet-style from a special menu were palatable, toothsome, and even more enticing with wine. We enjoyed merry-making and eating until we waved a white flag. Full and satisfied tummy = blissful surrender. 🙂

Company Christmas Party: A Sumptuous Feast at Planet Grapes (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong)

When it comes to ambiance, Planet Grapes definitely knows how to push all the right buttons. With glamorous interior design, dim lighting, enomatic machines, and wine bottles displayed on the walls, this restaurant makes for the perfect balance of convenience and space for a party of 70-80 people.

Planet Grapes is a great go-to place for a la carte meals, but it can also be dressed up and host private special occasions. So whether heading in with a group of dining companions in search of a decent function room or just coupling up for a quiet, intimate lunch or dinner, you won’t need to look further. Street food meets wine at Planet Grapes, where wine lovers young and old can enjoy international wine with Filipino comfort food.

Food Rundown: Street Food Meets Wine

In my book, Paella is a party dish, the kind of endeavor you’d only undertake if you plan on feeding at least 10, if not 20 people. Planet Grapes’ Seafood Paella worked as a great comfort food, elegant and down-to-earth all at once. With the top layer of rice nice and crisp like those of big Spanish paella pans, the result was a hot and hearty meal, full of shrimps, slices of green and red peppers, and eggs. The best part? The rice soaked up all the flavor of the saffron, so even without the feisty ingredients, taste was spot on.

Porchetta was as delicious as it looked, and we’re glad it’s available in Planet Grapes’ Christmas Package. How can you go wrong with succulent pork with tender, juicy, well-seasoned meat and crunchy skin? The impressiveness of this monster roast makes it a “can’t-miss dish” for the holiday table, but it’s so good that’ll you’ll want to eat it all year. Yum!

Beautifully moist and evenly cooked, the Chicken Barbecue hit the right sweet, tangy, fruity, and spicy notes a barbecue sauce should. With an intoxicating smoky-sweet aroma, it was meaty, flavorful, and not too saucy. Love it!

Steamed meatloaf prepared the Filipino way, the Pork Embutido had a slight pâté-liver-like smokiness from the ground meat combined with the sweetness of the raisins and the bits of veggies stuffed in it. It’s another Pinoy celebration staple that’s simple and homey.

Buttered garlic shrimps were cooked with garlic and butter—two of the greatest pleasures in life, also the two ingredients I could probably live off of for the rest of my life. 😛 Every last juicy bite of the shrimp was completely worth devouring and cheating your diet for. Some of us kept returning to the buffet table to get more of these!

A bowl of Tinolang Manok was particularly warm, wholesome, and soothing. It’s chicken soup made with bone-chicken, wedges of green papaya, and ginger-flavored broth. If you’re wondering how’s tinolang Manok with wine? I thought it’s fantastic. At Planet Grapes, you can be adventurous and try to mix and match the pairing of food and wine or ask the staff for the best recommendation. A sip of white wine provided a welcome note of freshness and contrast, almost like a squeeze of lemon or an extra layer of flavor. Usually, the saltier the broth, the better high-acid wines tend to taste.

Hugel 2013 Alsatian Riesling came with a bouquet of green apple, peach, lime, almond, and a plush mouthfeel with the usual lashings of acidity.

For desserts, we had Suman with Latik (Coconut Caramel Sauce) and Chocolate Balls and Leche Flan (Sweet Egg Custard). Both were heavenly luscious! It’s really hard to choose one over the other. These are the kinds of treats that make me close my eyes for a moment while solely appreciating the taste and texture of food with a smile on my face. Thank you, Planet Grapes. #foodporn #foodcoma 🙂 Happy holidays, everyone!

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December 27, 2016
Krispy Kreme Teams Up with World Vision Philippines on its 10th Birthday!

Krispy Kreme celebrates its 10th year in the Philippines this year. I can’t believe ten years have gone by since we have first tasted Krispy Kreme luscious doughnuts in November 2006! To keep on sharing the joy, Krispy Kreme teams up with World Vision Philippines for their “Share the Vision of Hope” project to help as many communities in the country and fund the construction of classrooms for public schools. The good news is that Krispy Kreme fans can help out and be involved as well.

For every purchase of half a dozen doughnuts in their specially made tin cans, PhP 20 will be donated to World Vision Philippines. Three new delicious flavors are launched to fill your day with joy. The mouthwatering line-up includes American Pie Doughnuts in classic apple crumble, mascarpone cream-filled cherry kreme, and chocolate loaded choco kreme.

These are great treats indeed to share with the entire family, friends, and workmates. 🙂 Get six assorted doughnuts for PhP 395 and help build the future for our youth!

September 25, 2016
My Birthday Celebration at Tim Ho Wan (SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City)

It has been over a year now since my sister and I have last dined in at Tim Ho Wan in SM Megamall. This time ’round, we came in with our parents and grandfather, to celebrate my birthday. 🙂 Yay! Tim Ho Wan is one of my favorite restaurants when it comes to Chinese food. Its dimsum entrees definitely leave everyone wanting for more. When in Tim Ho Wan, especially when with a large bunch of friends or family, expect your table to look a bit…messy but magnificent. 😛 Just look at all these food!

Birthday Celebration at Tim Ho Wan (SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City)

Arriving flavorful and deliciously presented, the Wasabi Salad Prawn Dumpling (PhP 140) was like a taste of garden by the sea. Stuffed with prawn and some greens, these fried dumplings are worth an order. The wrap was crisp and light. Not the “singe-your-nose-hairs” kind, the wasabi dressing on top wasn’t too spicy and just gave a “horseradish” kick, so don’t worry about it.

Conveying a combination of sweet and savory, the Beancurd Skin Roll with Shrimp (PhP 150) was also well-fried. It left a small trail of oil on my lips but that’s okay. These rolls presented a flavor profile reminiscent of a more robust version of the Vietnamese pancake we have tried in Saigon Steak in Vietnam. I liked that the bean curd wrapper was not too thick. I thought dipping these rolls in black vinegar will bring a smoky punch with a light, pleasant bitterness.

Next up, the Vermicelli Roll with Sweet and Sesame Sauce (PhP 140) was soft and satisfying. It’s a great choice also for my grandfather who did not want to chew hard. The sesame sauce was excellent as it’s aromatic.

Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin (PhP 120) tasted nothing fancy, but its heartiness and juiciness are winning factors. Thumbs up for that. 🙂

Dinner would not be complete without a rice entree. Louie and I shared the Spare Ribs Rice (PhP 170). Coated with tasty sauce that enveloped all throughout the rice underneath, the spare ribs had a silky smooth and supple texture. Meat was tender and juicy, not so fatty. Love it.

So far, we enjoy eating anything with pork floss. When my sister told me Tim Ho Wan features a new dish such as the Tofu with Pork Floss (PhP 130), we knew we had to try it. It was really good. The silken tofu was very soft inside yet the exterior managed to stay firm. Flavor bomb exploded with every bite. Almost like cotton candy, the fluffy pork floss was as expected. It’s the real deal.

Finally, we also shared a bowl of Braised Soup in HK Style with Shredded Chicken and Mushroom (PhP 160) (good for two). Comforting, warm, and tasty, it’s an awesome treat for those dreaming of the ultimate Chinese food.

Tim Ho Wan has a special place in my heart. I highly recommend it! ♥

Tim Ho Wan is a Michelin Star hole-in-the-wall eatery in Hongkong, famous for Baked Pork Buns.

Branches:

G/F SM Mega Fashion Hall
470-8836
10:00AM – 10:00PM

G/F Glorietta 3
729-9367
10:00AM – 10:00PM

SM North EDSA
374-2966
10:00AM – 10:00PM

1F Midtown Wing
Robinsons Place Manila
354-3562
10:00AM – 9:00PM

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July 6, 2016
Review of Le Petit Soufflé (Century City Mall, Poblacion, Makati City)

In celebration of Father’s Day this year, we had lunch at one of the most talked-about restaurants in Century City Mall when it comes to interior design and creative food. Eating at Le Petit Soufflé is a high-drama opportunity since there’s always a long queue and we don’t get to always see an indoor garden-themed restaurant featuring cozy seats, greenery, and bright lights that are a treat for the eyes. Dining here is worth it for the right occasion and with the right people interested in soufflé and a French-Japanese menu that’s a little different…different good. 😛

Review of Le Petit Soufflé (Century City Mall, Poblacion, Makati City)

Ambiance:

The trendy Le Petit Soufflé has an awesome ambiance complete with beautiful light bulbs, faux trees with rolling pins hanging as decorations, attractive walls, interesting panels, and yellow chairs—all the makings of a superb restaurant interior. It’s definitely a vivid space where every corner is Instagram-worthy. The greens bring a sense of nature inside the restaurant, making customers feel almost a world away from the bustle of the city. Pretty charming! 🙂

Le Petit Soufflé has a good mix of spacious and intimate with a real casual feel. Instead of dividing the room with walls, it signifies zones through transitions in the table-and-chair setup so it looks organized and warm without being too packed or crowded.

Service:

The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, so take their advice if you’re unsure of what to order. Despite the busyness of the restaurant at lunch hour, service remained efficient and attentive. I thought this is one of the factors that contribute to the success of the restaurant and make every experience positive for diners.

Food:

The waitress suggested getting the Japanese Beef Curry Soufflé (PhP 525), and we’re happy she did. It took 15-20 minutes for it to be served but we we’re willing to wait. The dish consisted of savory cheese soufflé filled with fine strips of US beef short plate and Japanese short grain rice with Japanese curry sauce. It’s nothing like the Japanese curry rice of other more straightforward curry restaurants such as Coco Ichibanya, Curry Bee, or Eri Curry. The taste of curry was subtle and so pleasingly fragrant. Cheese gave it a boost in flavor.

Another main entree we tried was the Squid Ink Rice (PhP 395) which was made with a combination of fresh seafood, shimeji, mushroom, and scrambled egg on delicious squid ink rice. The soft scrambled egg was so fluffy but firm enough. What I love most about this black rice is its refined iodized flavor. What I hate most, on the flip side, is that there’s no way to enjoy it without black-stained lips. Don’t forget to wipe your mouth with tissue. 😉

For my dad, the shoyu-based Vegetarian Soba Pasta (PhP 325) had an earthy taste that’s unique, one you won’t get tired of eating. Cooked with shimeji, zucchini, eggplant, and bell pepper, it’s like the Japanese version of spaghetti.

Chef Miko Aspiras’ signature dessert, the Valrhona Grand Crus (PhP 375), was nothing short of spectacular. Formed with layers of decadent Valrhona chocolate (Araguani 72% flourless cake, Caramelia 36% flourless cake, Dulcey 32% ganache, and Equatoriale 55% ganache), the heavenly blocks of chocolate were served with a vanille creme anglaise sauce.

Honestly, I didn’t have a slightest clue on what Valrhona chocolates are. I just learned now that Valrhona produces the world’s finest gourmet chocolates. OMG. No wonder why it tasted so good! The chocolate has a bitter base with strong liquorice, raisin and chestnut notes and the use of brown sugar. The texture is like silk for your tongue, as different in texture compared to Hershey’s as fine silk is to a burlap bag for your fingers. Please, try it! 🙂

Quite a show-stealer as well, the Strawberry Lychee Parfait (PhP 195) had a nice presentation with colorful display of ingredients composed of the highlights: strawberry, lychee, and matcha. This treat is so refreshing and addicting. 🙂 The parfait was made with vanilla and matcha custard base, softee swirl with almond dacquiose, fresh strawberries, strawberry sauce, lychee and matcha jelly, matcha mochi and matcha powder. There’s a lot going on; the key is to get a little bit of everything involved in each bite.

Price for Value:

There are days when you just want to have a peaceful time and enjoy unusual and interesting choices of food. Let Le Petit Soufflé be your antidote. Prices may cause pain to the wallet but they offer high value. The menu is simple with a few pages, but the execution of the food is so good that seemingly simple ingredients will wow you in ways you didn’t think they could. We had a great time!

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June 28, 2016
Review of Café Ysabel (Addition Hills, San Juan City)

Louie chose to celebrate his birthday at Café Ysabel last weekend. We were so happy to have finally tried food cooked and prepared by San Juan’s “best-kept secret” restaurant. 🙂 Lauded as a neighborhood bistro where guests can walk in to have their morning cup of coffee, a quiet lunch, or dinner with family and friends, Café Ysabel has really gone a long way satisfying customers for over thirty years now.

Café Ysabel has become a San Juan foodie mecca for visiting tourists who are taken by their expatriate friends in Manila. Its menu is quite coherent, featuring classic comfort food favorites of Filipino cuisine plus some European dishes also thrown into the mix, which is not surprising given Chef Gene’s background. The result is interesting and delicious but not trying too hard.

Review of Café Ysabel (Addition Hills, San Juan City)

Ambiance:

Housed in a refurbished 1927 ancestral home, Café Ysabel looked impressive with a rustic vibe, artsy-decorated ceiling, collections of china, glassware and silverware, and period furniture. The dim-lit ambiance was intimate and the space felt special without being pretentious. Colors everywhere were awe-inspiring. With the interior design, you can probably look back and imagine Manila’s bygone era of sophistication and culture. If you’re looking to have a special dinner to impress people or take someone out on a date, this is the place. Hey, we even witnessed a marriage proposal here that night! Sweet. 🙂

Service:

Food were served in a timely manner and with a heightened level of care. Service was downright friendly and on point, attentive but not overbearing. This is one of the restaurants where you can feel welcome and comfortable, just like visiting a relative’s home.

Food:

Fried Mozzarella in Anchovy Dressing (PhP 198) for appetizer was fine but not upstanding. The anchovy on top brought a certain deep oceanic savoriness out of the almost tasteless cheese. Tender, stretchy and not stiff, the mozzarella was enveloped with coating that’s slightly thicker than the standard breading we have tried in other restaurants. It was nice though that the coating did not overpower the cheese or border on “batter-like.”

Ordering Café Ysabel’s Paella Sulipena (PhP 578) was absolutely best. Made with classic saffron rice, this paella contained a vibrant mix of seafood and mixed meats coming also into play. Seasoning tasted great and the dish was assembled with tender grains of rice which soaked up the saffron flavor very well. Arriving in a healthy portion, it’s a delicious and filling meal for two (or maybe three).

As if carbs from paella wasn’t enough, we had Polly’s Pasta (PhP 348) which turned out as silky spaghetti noodles coated in briny, garlicky flavor studded with grilled white cheese, Calumpit sausage, kalamata olives and basil. The combination of the ingredients just hit all the right notes. We added a touch of lemon zest which imparted sort of a discordant sourness but nevertheless worked so well in making the simple taste even more sublime.

Price for Value:

A must-try in San Juan area, Café Ysabel is truly a gem. With dishes that are built to please and food that personify elegance, expect to pay a premium price but one that can make your visit worth it for any celebratory occasion. Warm service and the romantic atmosphere also add up to a great fine-dining experience. Reservations are highly recommended.

[schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/cafeysabelphilippines/” name=”Café Ysabel” description=”455 P. Guevarra Street, Addition Hills, San Juan City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 2469069 ext:114″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-06-11″ ]

June 11, 2016
Review of Sky Lounge Music Bar (Diamond Hotel, Ermita, Manila)

We spent Mother’s Day this year at the chic Sky Lounge Music Bar located at the 27th floor of Diamond Hotel, Manila. I know that my mom loves watching live bands perform while she’s enjoying every aspect of the food and drinks on the table. Hence, there’s no other place in Manila I could think of that will be better than the Sky Lounge Music Bar to celebrate her special day. The Music Network serenaded us with songs from the 60’s to the recent years that night. We had high hopes, and are happy to report that the band exceeded all expectations. 🙂

Review of Sky Lounge Music Bar (Diamond Hotel, Ermita, Manila)

Ambiance:

Diamond Hotel’s Sky Lounge Music Bar is a recommended spot for those who want a classy space to enjoy drinks with a date, catch up with friends or even make new ones. It has a laid-back, lounge-like atmosphere where you can just be cool and have fun. Without checking in the hotel, guests can dine in here and unwind. Different bands play music and hit songs nightly starting from 8PM. As the night wears on, the crowd gets thicker and the audience cheers louder, appreciating the music and approaching it in the right spirit.

Social and energetic, the Sky Lounge Music Bar is a remarkable venue that’s featured with dimly lit corners that exude a late-night vibe even at 5:30PM (opening time). Guests can either be seated at the non-smoking area or at the smoking area. Air-conditioning is powerful so be sure to carry a jacket.

Service:

The staff was accompanying and friendly without question. We were made comfortable at the sofa and cushioned chairs and our requests were well taken care of. With regard to the entertainment, song requests were taken from the audience and various melodies were performed to set the mood throughout the evening. Our meal wasn’t rushed and the entire experience was great.

Food:

On the menu, Sky Lounge Music Bar offers a simple list of comfort food that are not a fancier version of modern bar delights but delicious nonetheless. Drinks have a mix of juices, soda, and liquor. We ordered Beef Salpicao (PhP 730)—sautéed beef tenderloin, garlic, onion, mushroom, finger chili served with garlic bread, with rice, of course. It’s a Filipino dish that never fails to please whatever the occasion. The beef was tender and juicy with a savory garlic flavor. The sauce had just enough kick. You’ll want to be soaking that stuff up with the bread.

Breaded fresh squid with garlic mayo dip, the Calamares (PhP 495) was perfectly done. It was easy to bite, not rubbery and not too crispy. I love that it was paired with French fries that were equally lip-smacking.

Far from bland, the Vegetarian Pizza (PhP 480) was loaded with toppings (white onion, red and green bell pepper, sauteed garlic, asparagus, black olive, tomato, and cream cheese). Taste was superb! The crust was nice, light, and bready, soft and moist inside.

Price for Value:

Prices of food are notably expensive but costs were easily justified with the entertaining experience we had at the Sky Lounge Music Bar. With snazzy bar bites, this place is a must-visit. Guests would not need to worry about checking the schedule, as there’s always something going on that keeps music very much alive every night of the week.

Sadly though, I just heard from Marketing last night that this area will be renovated and be transformed to something else. We’ll definitely watch out for that. 🙂 In any case, we have the rest of May to catch the remaining days of the Sky Lounge Music Bar. Note: Official closing will be on June 1, 2016.

[schema type=”review” url=”http://www.diamondhotel.com/dining-and-leisure-sub.php?id=138″ name=”Sky Lounge Music Bar ” description=”27th Floor, Diamond Hotel, Roxas Boulevard Corner J. Quintos Street, Ermita, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 5283000″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-05-20″ ]

May 20, 2016