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Category: Food Reviews

  • Review of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    Review of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    It was my last night in the condominium unit in Eastwood, so my housemates and I decided to go out for a goodbye dinner. I chose Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken in Eastwood Mall since it’s a feel-good place where we could have great food and an awesome chat without having to splurge a lot. Established in 2011, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken serves grilled Portuguese-style chicken with their signature African-Portuguese spice mix brought all the way from Africa. The term “Peri-Peri” refers to African bird’s eye chili, a key ingredient in creating their customized sauces.

    Review of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Whether you’re on the lookout for a solo lunch spot or a chic hangout place with coworkers in Eastwood, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken is the quite the move. It’s located on a prime spot on the second floor of the mall. The space is enough to accommodate big families and spontaneous group dinners. You’ll be delighted and impressed by the character diversity showcased by the colorful bottles displayed against the walls and the wooden finishes that bring just the right accent to the dining area. The lights provide profound energy that adds warmth and welcoming vibe to the setting.

    Food:

    The Rio (PhP 695) is a phenomenal plate with one whole hearty peri-peri chicken with java rice, java garlic rice, fries, and tortilla. The chicken was perfectly cooked and amazing with all the side dishes. It came out really juicy in the middle and somewhat charred outside. The staff said that the Rio Peri-Peri is one of the best things on the menu, and we agree. It’s a solid order with a “yes” factor to the taste.

    Topped with grilled peri-peri chicken strips, onions, tomatoes with perinnaise sauce, the Ala Peri-Peri Pizza (PhP 350) was another great entree that can represent what Peri-Peri chicken is all about. Chicken strips were on point texturally with a nice interplay of hot-off-the-grill, savory and rustic flavor. It’s easy to be head-over-heels with this one!

    Price for Value:

    Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar in Eastwood Mall offers soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, and chicken platters that can make you truly satisfied. Average budget per person is at around PhP 300. It’s not too bad considering the quality of food and friendly service. Come hungry and leave full! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/peripericharcoalchicken/” name=”Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken” description=”Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 4706884 or +63 9174222117″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-02-16″ ]

  • Review of RSM Lutong Bahay Restaurant (Tagaytay City)

    Review of RSM Lutong Bahay Restaurant (Tagaytay City)

    En route to Tali Beach in Nasugbu, Batangas, we stopped over at RSM Lutong Bahay Restaurant along Aguinaldo highway for lunch last Saturday. Specializing in “lutong-bahay” or home-cooked Filipino dishes, this “garden restaurant” is located at the heart of Tagaytay City. Think open-air dining tables, luscious garden, multi-level outdoor seating, and a magnificent view of the Taal Lake and the Taal Volcano, and you’ll get RSM Restuarant in the picture. We couldn’t really ask for more beyond these, but of course we did in an attempt to check out the food, and again, no big complaints.

    Review of RSM Lutong Bahay Restaurant (Tagaytay City)

    Ambiance:

    Romance is in the air in this tropical garden ambiance. RSM Lutong Bahay looks like a great venue to hold photoshoots for prenuptial weddings and a lovely restaurant for baptismal, family reunions, and other special occasions. The interior is filled with wooden furniture that makes the environment more charming, a little rustic, and homey.

    Outside, the al fresco setup is surprisingly spacious, an oasis of calm that reminds one of why Tagaytay is looked upon by many as a retreat and recreation area. Bold decorative touches and plants are present throughout. Every corner is Instagram-genic! We snagged the highly coveted spot in a cozy bahay kubo at the back for more privacy.

    Food:

    Tagaytay has restaurants left and right offering and highlighting “bulalo” on their signage. There’s no question that it’s the city’s specialty. At RSM Lutong Bahay Restaurant, the case is no different. The main attraction of the menu includes bulalo, crispy tawilis, crispy pata, sisig, and adobo among others. We made sure to have the best recommended dishes covered. Well, pretty much.

    Lunch started with Fried Tawilis (PhP 195), a type of fish that’s found exclusively in Taal Lake. Best served with spiced vinegar, the tawilis is notable for its taste and texture. This freshwater sardine is believed to be one of a few former marine species trapped within the lake that have evolved into purely freshwater species. It can be eaten whole, including the head, scales and tail, since the fish bones are soft, small, and entirely edible. The tawilis was a bit salty but not fishy. It made an excellent pairing with atchara (pickle made from grated unripe papaya) which lend a tinge of sweetness.

    For our vegetable entree, we had Tinutong Laing (PhP 210) made with dried taro (gabi) leaves, coconut milk, shrimp paste and chili peppers. It’s really creamy. Eating it with rice—Kanin sa Dahon (PhP 45)—will be hard to say no to, especially for the diet-conscious.

    Pork Binagoongan (PhP 385) is pork cooked in shrimp paste. It’s one of the all-time favorite Filipino dishes with pungent, tangy and savory notes. When you crave for flavorful and extravagant Pinoy food, this must be a palpable choice.

    Bulalong Tagalog (PhP 685) was well prepared and delivered. The bone marrow within the tender beef shanks were plentiful, but I thought the broth lacked richness. The soup was lightly seasoned and mildly salty. This may be okay for others but it did not capture the attention of my taste buds overall.  Veggies were crisp and fresh.

    Price for Value:

    Established in 1987, RSM Lutong Bahay Restaurant in Tagaytay City was given the Most Outstanding Home-Cooked Restaurant Award by the Philippine Quality Award for Business Excellence—and for good reason. Authentic “lutong bahay” food on the a la carte menu are wholesome, all familiar to the eyes and comforting to the palate. Prices are on the expensive side though, considering that the portions were not served in mandatory abundance as expected for group sharing.

    Maybe next time, it’s worthy to try their buffet offering. Weekend buffet is available from 11am to 3pm for lunch and 6pm to 9pm for dinner. A huge buffet selection ensures that everybody will walk away happy. Buffet rate is PhP 650 per person (ages 9 and up) and PhP 350 per child (ages 4 to 8).

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RSM-Lutong-Bahay-Restaurant-Tagaytay-1451460795145228/” name=”Review of RSM Lutong Bahay Restaurant” description=”Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Maharlika East, Tagaytay City, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (046) 860 2297″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-02-07″ ]

  • Review of Meat Plus Café (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)

    Review of Meat Plus Café (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)

    As part of our wedding preparations, we went to Subic last week for our prenup video shoot. My supportive family tagged along and they were very helpful in providing everything that we needed. I’m so glad they came with us! 🙂 After a long day, we had dinner at Meat Plus Café, a popular steakhouse in Subic offering different kinds of steaks like American Angus steak.

    Meat Plus started its operation when there was still a US Naval base in Subic back in the nineties. It first became popular among many American soldiers because of their delicious char-grilled steaks. Several restaurants closed down after the US soldiers left but Meat Plus still serves the public up to this day. They even expanded in Metro Manila with another restaurant called Tender Bobs which also offers steaks and other dishes.

    Review of Meat Plus Café (Subic Bay Freeport Zone)

    Ambiance:

    Meat Plus has a laid back vibe. It’s a casual hangout place where you can get great food without being forced to wear job interview clothes. It has a lot of space to accommodate even big groups. Upon entrance, our eyes immediately met the freezer containing steak (US Ribeye, US Sirloin, US porterhouse, US T-Bone, US Topsirloin, Beef Cubes, etc.) that can be ordered for cooking. At Meat Plus, you can also order a la carte or combo meals on the menu that’s mainly dominated by different kinds of meat. Also available are sandwiches and pasta. Orders and payment are done over the counter.

    Food:

    Meat Plus has no shortage of fabulous meat plates. We ordered Baby Back Ribs (PhP 315), Tenderloin Steak (PhP 315), and Oven-roasted Beef Belly (PhP 270). Eating these will make you think that elastic-waisted pants are made for this reason. Everything was hearty and flavorful. Far from dry and tasteless, our favorites are the baby back ribs and tenderloin steak. The tenderloin spurts juices wonderfully on our first bite. It’s so juicy you may want to give it a minute to settle down. Servings are generous, enough for two people to share. The salpicao, pork chops, and burgers also seem worth a try.

    Price for Value:

    The name won’t fool you. Meat Plus Café in Subic serves plenty of good meat with a clean taste that lets the flavors come through. I thought it’s the same as the Meat Depot in Banawe, Quezon City where you can request frozen steak to be cooked according to a certain style from rare to well done, but apparently it’s a different business altogether.

    Steak is a showy dish, a luxury item with a price tag to match. With an average price range of PhP 250-Php350, dishes at Meat Plus Cafe are priced with good value. Hitting all the right notes, this restaurant deserves the spotlight as a must-try foodie destination for those who love meat.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Meat-Plus-Cafe/132297200181591?fref=ts” name=”Meat Plus Cafe” description=”Sampson Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, 2222 Olongapo City” rev_name=”For inquiries, (047) 252 6090″ rev_body=”Operating hours from 10:00AM – 9:00PM” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-01-25″ ]

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

    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. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/rosellecakeboutique/” name=”Roselle’s Cake Boutique” description=”Customized Longevity Cake for Chinese Birthday” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-01-17″ ]

  • Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

    Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

    Whether you’re trying to supply sweets for your family and friends, or just need to wind down with some coffee after a rough day, Sweet Avenue Cafe along Leon Guinto Street can be your new go-to. It’s an extremely warm and friendly environment in a rather more quiet neighborhood in Malate, Manila. Their cupcakes are excellent, as are the cookies and cakes. Made-to-order cakes with cute designs for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings are available as well.

    Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

    Ambiance:

    Sweet Avenue Cafe is what you might call “homey” or “lived in,” a charming place to grab a drink, have a casual low-stakes dinner, get your sugar rush fix, and host some other situations—reunion with old friends, party with a group of about 30 people, or your next first date. A large glass pastry display counter stands at the center, immediately welcoming guests from the entrance. Paintings on the wall show nature and places the owners have visited. Wooden furniture further add warmth, sophistication and character in the room.

    Food:

    Any of the sweets and pastries here are a safe bet.

    Love matcha? The Matcha Chocolate Cake (whole cake-PhP 1200, slice-PhP 125) is quite good. Featuring four layers of dense and rich chocolate cake, the matcha in it wasn’t too overpowering. Instead, it brought both rounded sweetness and a pleasant bitterness, providing a depth that’s light and refreshing. With the top layer outfitted with whipped cream, this cake is a delicious hit.

    The Raspberry Cupcake (PhP 55) almost got me in the mood for Valentine’s Day. 😛 This pretty in pink, berry-luscious, moist cupcake had a tart and tangy flavor in a thick melt-in-your-mouth cloud of buttercream. I enjoyed it a lot!

    Sweet Avenue Cafe’s Assorted Squares (PhP 120 for 9 pieces, PhP 220 for 18 pieces) and Cookies (Chocolate Chip-PhP 20, White Choco Macadamia-PhP 25, Matcha Almond-PhP 28) are presentable gifts to bring home this holiday season. Light in consistency, they are tasty in bite-size pieces and the flavors are interesting.

    As far as pairing goes, you can go with ice blended drinks, enjoy a few with hot coffee, or go bold with fresh guyabano shake or halo-halo. Other recommended drinks are as follows: Cafe Americano, Cafe Latte, Cappucino, Cafe Mocha, Caramel Machiato, White Mocha, Irish Mocha (PhP 80-120).

    Price for Value:

    Sweet Avenue Cafe is a cafe/coffee shop shoot off with reliable cakes and pastries. Average price per head at PhP 100-200 is considerably affordable. If you work or live in the area, consider yourself lucky to be in the vicinity. (Note: Closed on Sundays) Gotta try their rice meals on my next visit! 🙂

    Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:30AM-9:00PM

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/sweetavenuecafe/” name=”Sweet Avenue Cafe” description=”1970 Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila 1004″ rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 2469069 ext:944 or (02) 668 2340 Ext 5238547″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-28″ ]

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

    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!

    The Birthday Girl

    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

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

    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!

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.planetgrapes.com.ph/” name=”Planet Grapes” description=”Discover wine, one grape at a time. North Wing, Shangri-la Plaza, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 531 8207″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-27″ ]

  • Review of Fatburger (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Review of Fatburger (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Fatburger’s first branch in the Philippines is now open in Glorietta 2! What’s behind the excitement? A quick look in this setting would probably lead you to believe this is just another American casual burger joint in the mall, one where you can hang out with friends and enjoy comfort food. However, this restaurant will probably deserve a more serious stamp of approval for burger-lovers as it offers a fun “create-your-own” ordering experience. There’s no shortage of ways of build your meal. You can choose different ingredients and add-ons for the burger. Want bone-in and boneless chicken wings? You decide. Choose the flavor and the heat level, the dips, and so much more.

    My family and I visited Fatburger during its soft launch to taste some of its best-selling dishes and learn what’s it’s like to dine in a restaurant which was founded over 69 years ago. Aside from US and the Philippines, Fatburger is also present in other nations including China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq, India, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Tunisia, Macau, Pakistan, Oman, Panama, Singapore, Canada, and Qatar.

    Review of Fatburger (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Ambiance:

    Creating a modern interior of a restaurant that has been existing for ages doesn’t seem an easy task, especially if it’s one of the most storied ones in history. Fueling in creativity, the designers of Fatburger must have made a good job. The color scheme looks subtle and elegant, with neutral colors for the fixtures, walls, and ceiling and red and yellow on the logo as accents. On the surface, this works to positively ooze charm and character as well. Overall, the vibe is casual and relaxed.

    Fatburger is appointed with decent natural lighting across the dining area, but the fancy spotlights even makes the venue look more stylish and appealing as a post-date place to grab snacks in the heart of Makati City. From the entrance, the order counter is properly positioned upfront so customers would see the menu as they walk in. This is then surrounded with a choice of seating at individual tables or at a trendy communal table that’s perfect for mixing and mingling.

    Service:

    Customer service is pretty straightforward. Check the Fatburger menu, order and pay at the counter, and wait for your orders to be served at your table. Need something? Attendants take and manage requests efficiently to ensure a smooth and pleasant dining experience.

    Food:

    Light and hearty, the Garden Salad (PhP 235) may be the best choice for salad lovers and vegetarians. The greens were remarkably fresh and crisp, and the tomatoes had a refreshing snap and brightness that positively screamed garden. The cheese on top disguises the fact that you’re eating something healthy beneath. Aside from making the taste balance and more coherent, it definitely helps to trick the brain into actually enjoying the salad. 😛

    The Chili Cheese Fries (PhP 165) were soft and addictive. The fries would be boring on their own, but the chili managed to tie everything together, while the cheese added sharpness to contrast the richness of the dish. It’s another lovely appetizer to start to the meal.

    Fatburger serves different kinds of burger sizes, and each size upgrades with a layer of patty: original (1/4 lb), double (1/2 lb), triple (3/4 lb), and quad. Customers who would successfully finish The Quad alone will be awarded with a certificate of acknowledgement with congratulatory greeting from Fatburger on conquering the challenge. For huge fans of burgers, it just feels awesome to be at the top at the food chain! Decadent in the extreme for sure, this is “the burger” you eat before standing in front of a firing squad: a last meal of epic proportions. 😉

    For a regular meal, the Original (1/4 lb) (PhP 195) was enough to keep us satisfied. It’s made with chuck-eye beef patty that’s grilled to perfection. It may not be as intense and tremendous in size as The Quad, but it’s a solid burger that’s spot on tasty and not boring. You can’t go wrong.

    Fatburger’s Chicken Sandwich (1/4 lb) (PhP 195) is available in three preparations: Grilled, Crispy, and Cajun. We tried the Cajun-spiced chicken sandwich and we enjoyed it. The chicken was tender and it had a beautiful blend of salt and spices.

    Moist and juicy, the chicken wings were our mighty favorites. We got Sweet Bourbon Bbq – Boneless Chicken Wings (PhP 185, Small – 5 pieces) and Honey Garlic – Bone-in Chicken Wings (PhP 175, Taster – 4 pieces) in medium hot level served with celery, carrots, and our choice of dressing. Well spiced and both sweet, these flavors are a nice departure from the standard buffalo. My sister liked sweet bourbon bbq more, while my mom and I favored the honey garlic. If you want piping hot, get the Death Valley or Scorchin’ and be mighty brave.


    Kick’N Chicken Wrap (PhP 195) is not a rival of the burger but a great complement for a full meal. It’s made with boneless wings tossed in wing sauce with rice, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing wrapped in a tortilla. The ingredients were put together firmly and tightly. It’s structured in a way that allows the flavors of each piece to burst in the mouth while still providing spots in the chew for hot juices of chicken to collect, ready to be gushed and dribbled out the moment you bite into it. Eat the chicken wrap right away though or it will end up soggy.

    For drinks, we had Lemonade (PhP 65) and Oreo Cookies and Ice Cream Milkshake (PhP 195) which were served as great accompaniments to food at Fatburger.

    Price for Value:

    Fatburger Philippines ushers in flavor bombs beyond the original beef burger we all know and love. Keep in mind that it’s not about burgers alone. Buffalo wings, fries, and other sandwiches are also available and they are all reasonably priced. There’s also a full bar with beer, cocktails, and wine averaging at PhP 150-PhP 200 a glass. Wait…burger and wine? Why not? We’ll try that next time!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/FatburgerPhilippines/” name=”Fatburger Philippines” description=”Glorietta 2, Ayala Center, Palm Dr, Makati” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (800) 459-4647″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-10″ ]