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Category: Manila

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

    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″ ]

  • Review of Café Travel (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Review of Café Travel (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Across DLSU and adjacent CSB along Taft Avenue, Manila, Café Travel is a Korean-inspired coffee shop which attracts many customers, particularly students of nearby schools, as if serving truffle-stuffed unicorn trotters. Its competitive advantage has to be its unique atmosphere and cute appeal. It’s ideal for those seeking a good and quiet place to hang out for hours without the rush. We visited this “pop” venue after having lunch at Café Laya.

    Review of Café Travel (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    At Café Travel, white walls and tables are “decorated” with names, anecdotes, quotes, notes and random messages written by previous customers, making them seem like DIY art. I think the freedom for guests to write anything on the surfaces (even on the ceiling and air conditioner above) is a plus point for the café. The end result, as rowdy as it seems at a glance, brings both style and creativity to the room. Very cool! 😉

    Soon though, there may be a lack of space to write on. I suggest that they put up a corkboard or hang a magnetic chalkboard, blackboard or whiteboard to ground the design instead. In this way, keeping old messages and replacing them with new ones will be easier.

    Overall, the atmosphere has a great homey touch. The bright lighting looks adorable. With plenty of seating, Café Travel is a good place to study and chat with friends. Everyone has to take off his/her shoes and others have to go to the “second floor” using the stairs. Privacy is assured by walls that strategically segregate dining areas to sections per group of customers. Wi-Fi is accessible for free!

    The only saddening thing was that air conditioning was poor and barely kept the room at a reasonable temperature. It was hot especially since we were seated right beside the window on a sunny day. We were sweating as if we were inside a sauna bath.

    (Note: This spot in Archer s Nook was once where Zark’s Burgers stood. Now the branch of Zark’s Burgers in Taft Avenue has expanded and moved to a more accessible and visible location.)

    Service: ★★★★★

    Service was kind and thoughtful. The staff handed out the menu to us upon entrance. We took a moment to finalize our order and proceeded to the counter to pay. Waiting time was acceptable and our drinks and cake were served politely to our table.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Café Travel has a simple one-page menu, but there’s plenty of coffee-based drinks and cakes to choose from, making it almost impossible to decide which to get in a minute.

    All drinks were super sweet. I bet that those with a sweet tooth will love every single sip and be instantly hooked! As for myself, I could not even finish one whole glass of the Travel Mocha alone. Fortunately, I have my sister to share it (the calories) with. 😛 We also tried a slice of cake which was moist and soft. The frosting was light but tasted rich and creamy as well as the strawberry that was struck in the middle.

    Travel Chocolate Cookie (PhP 180)

    Fresh Cream Strawberry (PhP 140)

    Travel Green Tea (PhP 180)

    Travel Mocha (PhP 180)

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Buzzed about for its ambiance and friendly vibe, Café Travel is a must-visit cafe where you can get your coffee fix without taking it too seriously. Never mind if there’s a long wait or there’s no seating available at Starbucks nearby. Prices are just about the same. Coffee purists may sniff but sugar hounds have to try their line-up of coffee-based drinks and a handful of pastries as well.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/ph.cafe.travel/” name=”Café Travel” description=”Archer’s Nook Dormitory, Taft Avenue, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 09052248003 ” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-01-26″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Café Laya (EGI Taft Tower, Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Review of Café Laya (EGI Taft Tower, Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Two weeks ago, my sister and I met with her college friends for lunch at Café Laya near DLSU. Soaking in the glorious sunshine, we walked from South Gate to EGI Taft Tower where the café is at. Seeing Velasco Gate (Gate 3) reminded me of the day I took the entrance exam at our alma mater a decade ago. Seriously, where do the years go? Indeed, it’s at landmark moments in life when the mind throws up a whole host of soul searching questions. That’s another story for another time. 🙂 Back to Café Laya…

    The shop and restaurants at the ground floor of EGI Taft Tower are new to my eyes except for SpeedBytes which even had an expansion. Café Laya at the farthest end looked like a great hangout place for students to appreciate art, become inspired to travel, focus on their reading materials between sips of coffee, and perhaps kill time. Laya means freedom and this place is where you can express freedom through art.

    Review of Café Laya (EGI Taft Tower, Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Café Laya’s ambiance struck me as a laid-back and cool, moodily-lit affair where photos of different wonderful places in the Philippines are posted on walls and short profiles of featured Filipino artists are on the tables. Clearly, this place strives to promote art and manages to incorporate it as part of the overall interior design concept. Visually speaking, there’s a lot to love about this chic cafe—or “art gallery,” if you will.

    Its unique factor lies in the fact that food, beverages, and furniture here are local. This is how the owner envisions to give back to the community and show support to fellow Filipino businesses. Across the order station, for instance, we found artisan products and food made with local ingredients from social enterprises.

    Upstairs, dining was quite an experience since we sat on floor cushions and had our meal at low tables (my kind of tables for creating flat-lay postings on IG). The space was a bit cramped though, and if not seated in a proper position, limbs are expected to be numbed and stiff after a while.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    Overall, service could be a hit or miss here, depending on where you’re seated. Since we were on the second floor, it was hard to bet on the possibility of staffs checking on us in case we need something. Luckily in our visit, we had almost always chanced upon one waitstaff either serving food or clearing tables of other customers.

    Note: Food and drinks had to be ordered and paid at the counter, and staffs serve them on the table once ready.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Tuyo Pesto (PhP 200) was creamy and delicious. The saltiness of the fish stood out as the flavor highlight that mostly enlightened our palate. Texture of the pasta was soft, tender, and almost delicate. I just found garlic and some crunch and nutty undertones from pine nuts lacking in the pesto dish. Eating bread in between forkfuls of pasta is necessary to appreciate the interplay of tastes.

    Served with egg and brown rice, Café Laya’s Smoked Bangus (PhP 125) was comforting and nice as it was able to deliver a nice hint of smoke. Sadly though, the fish was not as crisp and warm as expected. Adding more plump and juicy tomatoes could potentially be a good booster as well to complement the salty nature of cured fish.

    * Our Friends’ Picks *

    Flaky Adobo Rice Meal (PhP 125)

    Fried Liempo Rice Meal (PhP 125)

    Coffee

    Menu

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Café Laya in EGI Taft Tower looks like a charming place that plays regular host to students around the area. With the cute and relaxing setting, it must be a survival of the fittest to score a seat at this cafe in regular school days. While food aren’t perfectly exceptional, prices are moderate and reasonable especially for longer stays.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.instagram.com/cafelaya/” name=”Café Laya” description=”Unit 113, Ground Floor, EGI Taft Tower, Taft Avenue, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 5545534″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-01-26″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-11PM

  • Review of Seasons Restaurant (Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino, Manila)

    Review of Seasons Restaurant (Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino, Manila)

    In celebrating Christmas last year, we feasted on the dinner buffet prepared by Seasons at the Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino in Manila. This hotel is just 11-minute drive from our home, so it’s very convenient for us to avoid the holiday traffic. I got two vouchers from Ensogo.com.ph and paid only half of the regular price per person. Neat! Spanking and sassy, Seasons is an “interactive lifestyle restaurant” that offers a dining venue where the world’s most celebrated cuisines come together in one grand ensemble.

    Review of Seasons Restaurant (Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    No doubt, the atmosphere at Seasons speaks of beauty, style, and class. The buffet tables are laid out close to one another and in an organized fashion—according to cuisine and type of food. The interior design and arrangement of dining spaces in the restaurant have not changed since our last visit (two years ago).

    I love the play of wooden finishes and the deliberate use of illumination for aesthetics. Sleek chandeliers on a single row create a soft directional beam, and textured three-dimensional wall panels on one side makes a statement which can instantly draw attention. While everything looks posh in this hotel’s gastronomic arena, it will be great to see nice modern changes to the scene as well.

    Service: ★★☆☆☆

    There’s a certain level of expectation that comes along with hotel restaurants from an overall service perspective, and Seasons didn’t come close to it. Service was slow and was not up to normal hotel standards.

    At the onset, the waiter had me follow him walk through almost half of the entire dining area when asked where our reserved seats were located. Apparently, he was finding our table based on the name written on the “reservation name card” on top of each table when he could have noted the table number from the reception and directly pointed out where it was.

    The second disappointing instance was that we were given drinking water that smelled and tasted like ZONROX Bleach (an agent for cleaning, deodorizing, and removing of hard stains on clothes). Good thing that my mom and sister were able to taste it and raise the issue to one of the waitresses, so the glasses of water were replaced with clean and odorless ones.

    Thirdly, since we were seated in a corner that’s barely noticeable, getting the staff’s attention was as hard as finding a stud earring in the car. It was possible but hard. Fulfilling requests like taking out used plates and asking for tissue paper took longer as they should. I thought they’re understaffed because we saw quite only a few walking around and serving the needs of customers. It was not that they were not really paying attention or flirting with one another as if in a high school class without supervision.

    For all it’s worth, I give credit to the restaurant manager who immediately gave my mom a new fork when he passed by and saw it accidentally fell off the table.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Seasons in Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino serves a range of classic Filipino food and some international delicacies. From breads, Chinese dim sum, DIY salads, and soups to main dishes and mouth-watering desserts, Seasons maintains its long-held reputation for elegant hotel restaurant dining in Manila.

    Sadly, when compared against premium buffet restaurants in Metro Manila now emerging and battling to be the forefront in the food industry, Seasons takes a backseat, at least in our humble opinion. The food situation was average and there were no weird flavors that don’t belong, but nothing about the variety and the tastes was memorable and there was not much to get excited about either.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    As it turned out, Seasons at Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino was a letdown in terms of service and the food selection, hence it follows that my rating for the price for value is on the low side of the spectrum. Take one star down when basing it on the original price of PhP 1499 per person.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.waterfronthotels.com.ph/manila/outlets/seasons.html” name=”Seasons” description=”Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel & Casino, U. N. Avenue Corner Maria Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries or reservations, call (02) 5261212″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-1-15″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating hours: 6 AM to 10:30 AM (breakfast), 11:30 AM to 3 PM (lunch), 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM (dinner)

  • Review of Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet (Binondo, Manila)

    Review of Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet (Binondo, Manila)

    Strategically located in the heart of Chinatown, the Philippine’s oldest business district, Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel provides good amenities of an international standard business hotel. When my maternal grandmother found that Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet (來來大酒店) serves all-day buffet, she invited us to go try it out for breakfast. I thought it was definitely a great idea since this hotel in Binondo is just near our place and the cost per person doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Offered with a whopping price of PhP 148 (from 7AM-10AM), how could we say no? Also, restaurants around this area has not really disappointed us—until that day. 🙁

    We might had just expected more Chinese dim sum and more familiar palatable Chinese food to delight our taste buds. In any case, it was a nice try. The good news is that food variety they have on the buffet are on rotation, so it’s best to keep an eye every now and then to see what’s on the table.

    Review of Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet 來來大酒店 (Binondo, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    On the surface, interior design at Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet looked rather unassuming considering that it’s placed in a “hotel of international standard.” The restaurant’s ambiance was contemporary, cozy, and clean. Red table linens easily created a decent “Chinese restaurant” setting. Buffet tables were arranged at the farthest end of the dining room, and dining furniture were set across with enough space for everyone to move freely about.

    Food: ★☆☆☆☆

    This buffet restaurant in Binondo may be a good place where hotel guests can comfortably dine in to start the day, but foodies must understand that there’s a lot more choices of restaurants in Chinatown where they can go for a leisurely meal.

    Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet’s food selection simply failed to impress. We had plain porridge, white bread and eggs, ampalaya (bitter gourd), fish, salted pickled mustard (kiam chye), Chinese cabbages, hotdogs, pork, garlic rice, noodles, and soup. At one glance, I knew they’re skippable. Tastes were not terrible but nowhere near a worthy representation of what Chinese cuisine has to offer. I was with my family and that was what counted more than the unappetizing food.

    Price for Value: ★☆☆☆☆

    If you’re satisfied with these food selections for morning buffet, then dining at Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet may be the best bang for your buck and you’ll have plenty fun finishing multiple plates. Nothing was wrong with the tastes of the food; these were just not my ideal choices for a all-you-can-eat meal. I’m better off paying the same amount of money to get a bowl of ramen noodles or a short order of my favorite dumplings in Binondo. 很抱歉，我不想回來.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.chinatownlailai.com/” name=”Chinatown Lai Lai Hotel Buffet” description=”801 Ongpin St. Cor. Padilla St. Binondo, Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (+632) 25-22-888, (+632) 736-6501, or (+63927) 810-2559 ” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-01-09″ user_review=”5″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”15″ ]

  • Review of Ippudo Ramen (Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita)

    Review of Ippudo Ramen (Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita)

    Every time we pass by Ippudo Ramen at SM Megamall Mega Fashion Fall, we always see a long queue. The line alone easily draws in more interest and attention from the hungry foodie souls in the area. Some people have the patience [of saints] to wait for more than half an hour for their turn to be seated. Regrettably, I’m not one of them, yet I still felt positive that Ippudo Ramen is a place that’s worth a trip on its own merit.

    Last week, my boyfriend and I watched Walang Forever in Robinsons Place Manila. After the movie, we went downstairs searching for a restaurant for dinner. My eyes lit up when we found Ipuddo Ramen in the mall—without any queue outside. It was a miracle! 😛 Apparently, this famous hip Japanese restaurant has opened just recently and soon this year it will be branching out to more locations in the Philippines. Happy New Year, btw! 🙂

    Review of Ippudo Ramen (Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Ippudo Ramen’s interior design in Robinsons Place Manila looked edgy and functional. It was nothing too fancy, just a straight up restaurant with traditional Japanese decors such as the lanterns and simple furniture. Although it’s tucked away in a busy mall, I was pleasantly surprised that Ippudo keeps an intimate kind of feeling and peaceful atmosphere inside. Splashes of vivid red, white, and black made up a color palette making the restaurant interior exhale a certain sophistication that resonate with its Asian style. Spotlights spread through the area gave an inviting glow. Soup spoons and bowls displayed on the walls reminded me of Ramen Nagi.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Warm hospitality was provided the moment we came in. There’s no annoying movie-star vibe in the no-frills dining room, and service was reliable and friendly. With engaging personality, the staff asked us about our thoughts on each dish and he made sure we had a good time.

    Food: ★★★★★

    For starters, we had a short order of Hakata Style Gyoza (PhP 195, five pieces), Ippudo’s classic pan-fried dumplings. The meat and vegetable-stuffed gyoza had an extra crispy exterior, while its inner skin remained soft. Size was small so each piece fit right into the mouth. It was great with the vinegar soy sauce.

    Unagi Rice in Stone Pot (PhP 490) is a winning comfort food, I tell you. The chunks of grilled unagi on top of shredded egg and the bed of sweet soy sauce-based unagi flavored rice were phenomenal. Include this in your stomach’s itinerary next time you plan to dine in at Ippudo Ramen. 🙂

    Served on our table with a glimmering sheen of fat on top, the best recommended Akamaru Shinaji Special (PhP 490) was powerful as its taste struck a perfect balance with the rich broth, spices, and the pork belly. With salted soft-boiled egg, the “very hard” delicately bouncy noodles had an al dente bite to them. Topped with “umami dama” miso paste,cabbage, sesame kikurage mushrooms, scallions, and fragrant garlic oil, this ramen bowl of glory is right in my personal wheelhouse.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Ippudo Ramen is where us noodle junkies can get a proper fix. It gives patrons a run for their money with its memorable ramen and exceptional Japanese offerings. This restaurant is a solid standout with top-end food creations in a setting that’s unassuming relative to the hype. I would love to come back for another foodie adventure with my sister. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/ippudoPH” name=”Ippudo Ramen” description=”Midtown Wing, Robinson Place Manila, Pedro Gil St Cor Adriatico St, Ermita Brgy 667 Zone 72, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 353 0701″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-01-03″ user_review=”18″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of The Sunset Lounge (Pan Pacific Hotel, Malate, Manila)

    Review of The Sunset Lounge (Pan Pacific Hotel, Malate, Manila)

    “Pica-pica” pertains to a variety of small portions of food such as finger foods, whether in the form of snacks or appetizers. In comparative terms, it’s the Filipino’s version of Spanish tapas. Offering pica-pica at affordable prices, The Sunset Lounge of Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila is a worthy place to be discovered and visited. Located at the seventh floor of the hotel,  the al fresco venue gives you a chance to take a cozy and silent retreat while watching the famous Manila Bay Sunset. 😛

    The Sunset Lounge is open daily (weather permitting) from 5:30PM to 9:00PM. It is also available for private events and has a maximum capacity of 60 persons. Together with blogger friends, I was invited to experience dining here yesterday.

    Review of The Sunset Lounge (Pan Pacific Hotel, Malate, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    There’s an abundance of good restaurants in Manila where you can enjoy a meal, but only a limited few provide a spectacular view of Manila Bay’s sunset. Almost like a hidden treasure, The Sunset Lounge in Pan Pacific Hotel is one of them.

    With comfy couches and beds where guests can lie down, it’s an ideal place to unwind, relax, and lounge. Its romantic and laid-back atmosphere makes it perfect for a weeknight date, a quiet dinner with a friend, or an awesome deal on the weekends. The space may not look very large but it can accommodate 60 people for private events.

    The swimming pool area is only one floor down, while the gym just sits at the back of the dining area. Non-hotel guests can drop by and spend the day to use the pool and gym for only PhP 250 and dine in at The Sunset Lounge in between.

    At around 6:30PM, we witnessed the sunset and its blaze of colors. It wasn’t long when darkness enveloped the sky and the colorful lights were lit. It was an absolutely lovely sight!

    Service: ★★★★★

    One of the things I could rave most about in The Sunset Lounge is the great customer service. The staffs were super attentive to our needs and it was evident that they take pride in making the diners feel at home. There’s no rush and we lived in the moment, as they knew what we would need before we even asked.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    The Pacific Chicken Nachos (PhP 350) came as a mandatory appetizer to whet one’s appetite. Notable were the crunch of the tortilla chips with sliced chicken and the spiciness brought by the jalapenos. The salsa, cheese, and condiments harmoniously balanced out the heat and innocently packed a punch of flavors.

    Immersed with edam cheese, mozzarella, and corn kernels, the Baby Back Pianizza (PhP 480) was one of the most unique pizza flavors I’ve ever tried. It was topped with smoked baby back ribs that seemed to be marinated sufficiently, making the pizza true to the flavor of its name.

    If you want plain old comfort food, then Buffalo Wings and Chicken Drumlets (PhP 350) can serve you well. These are fond reminders of finger food we used to have in our childhood days. Though I would have preferred a boneless breaded chicken fillet, the deliciousness was easily justified and was enough to satisfy any craving.

    Filled with sauteed garden vegetables wrapped in rice paper and deep-fried to crispiness, the Crispy Spring Rolls (PhP 350) can be a safe bet for vegetarians. Forming a velvety sheen, the shell was good and tender. Eat the spring rolls right once they’re served or they won’t be as satisfyingly crispy. Sweet chili dipping sauce provided was okay, but I thought vinegar will yield a much better fit.

    The Reuben Quesadillas (PhP 350) for me were quite bland-tasting but the simplicity pleased the palate rather than overwhelm. The lightly toasted tortilla were made with green lettuce, sour cream, and melted cheese.

    A taco’s filling is infinitely variable. If you want to pick something hearty and interesting, you may want to go with The Sunset Lounge’s Pork Sisig Tacos (PhP 350). Fill the taco shells a fun play of pork mask, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cheese and red sauce. The result is not only rich but a spicy-sweet-tangy powerhouse combo.

    Note: The dishes we had were served buffet-style and the photos do not reflect the true portion per order. View The Sunset Lounge’s short but sweet menu. Each entree is good for sharing by two or three people.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    I like it most when staffs of establishments make me feel special the moment I walk in. The first-class service and intimate environment in this hotel contribute to a high-quality experience. These plus their menu of classic pica-pica dishes with a twist of Filipino flavor make The Sunset Lounge’s prices worth the value. My positive thoughts on this restaurants won’t die down for days! I can’t wait to be back to Pan Pacific Manila, maybe for a staycation next time. 🙂

    bloggers with Mr. Ernie Bigay

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  • Review of Komoro Japanese Dining (SM San Lazaro, Manila)

    Review of Komoro Japanese Dining (SM San Lazaro, Manila)

    Named after “Komoro,” a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Komoro Soba Japanese Dining serves Japanese food at affordable prices. This restaurant was established in the Philippines on the same year my sister was born: 1992. Yet, it was only two Sundays ago when we took our chance to dine in as we incidentally had an appetite for some Japanese food, after pampering our nails at Nails in Style in SM San Lazaro.


    Note: Komoro Japanese Dining’s first branch is in SM Megamall.

    Review of Komoro Japanese Dining (SM San Lazaro, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Decked out in earthy tones and illuminated by ambient lights, Komoro Soba Japanese Dining has a cozy setting with an attempt to give a “Japanese” feel as seen through the minimalist decors on the walls. Furnishings consisting of regular and cushioned chairs provided comfort. The side interior featured an understated backdrop for the open kitchen where we saw how the food were being prepared. So at any point in time, guests could be entertained with some action and activity while waiting for orders.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Komoro Soba Japanese Dining worked mostly as a fastfood restaurant. Diners have to order and pay upfront at the counter, while taking food references from the menu behind the cashier. Our orders were served fast and the servers were alert enough to keep their eyes on the tables. They took initiatives on their duty roster (e.g. taking away done dishes and refilling water to our glasses) even when no one else offerred.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    The Tentoji Don (PhP 125) consisted of an assortment of a piece of deep-fried prawn tempura, okura and seaweed tempura. The tempuras, considering that they were freshly served from the kitchen, failed to please. They were not crunchy and flavorful enough. Objectively, the batter was not light, flaky, and fluffy as it should be. Dipped in soy sauce, the okura wound up being a nest of deep fried veggies stuck together.

    The Gyu Don (PhP 99) was also not up to the standard. The meat in the beef bowl was not of good grade; most of the flavor depended just on the sauce that provided a right degree of fragrance.

    The broth in Niku Udon (PhP 128) was light and clean, and the thin beef slices went well with the udon. It was good that the noodles were not overcooked but kept its elasticity and firmness. There was a subtle taste of the miso on the soup which didn’t create a lasting impression.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Komoro’s food prices reminded me of Don Don, the Japanese restaurant we used to frequent in EGI Taft Tower (now closed) when we were still in college. Food here are really affordable and okay even for a student’s budget. However, one can’t expect much out of it. Komoro Japanese Dining has satisfied our hungry stomachs, but overall tastes of the dishes—at least of what we had—were not all that great.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Komoro.Philippine” name=”Komoro Japanese Dining” description=”Second Floor, SM City San Lazaro, Santa Cruz, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 5242296″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-11-14″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]