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Category: Food Reviews

Review of Paris Delice (Makati Avenue)

Every day busy, busy every day.

That’s probably the line I’ll tag to myself since I have not gotten enough rest recently. When I have free time for myself, I would rather spend it relaxing over a quiet meal with friends, chill out in a library (or bookstore), or sleep than indulge in hours partying for freedom and screaming with loud company. And I think Aldous had just spent this perfect time to chill with a great company of bloggers last Thursday.

They went to Paris Delice for an event that got them focused only on food, drinks and conversation. Me: envious. 🙄 I personally have not been to Paris Delice in Makati, but judging from their dining experience, I think their dishes must have met the lunchtime standard served promptly with care to customers.

The following is a guest post by Aldous Calubad, my co-blogger and writer at SEO Hacker and When in Manila, sharing his review of Paris Delice:

Paris Delice offers freshly baked bread, getting daily deliveries from France. Their bread is half-baked there, then it is baked again here in the Philippines for total satisfaction. 😉

Event host Chef Al Laine De Leon is the head chef of the restaurant and also the manager at the same time. Mr. Thibault Daniel, one of the restaurant owners, greeted us and served us with grace—always asking if we needed anything and how the food was.

Review of Paris Delice (Makati Avenue)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

The restaurant has the ambiance of a coffee shop and it provides high speed Internet access for those looking to spend time here. A lot of people don’t know it is actually a French fast food restaurant because customers can drop by and buy only bread.

Service: ★★★☆☆

The servers failed to ask us if we needed anything. They just did their job in serving the food to us. Perhaps, they are not used to seeing customers who drop by and order a lot of food so I can forgive them for that.

Food: ★★★★★

First, we were served two kinds of soup: Cream of Tomato Soup and French Onion Soup. One of the bloggers found her French onion soup a bit salty, so she didn’t finish it. Anyway, I think that is quite normal for that soup.

Next, we were given salads including French Salad, Pinoy Salad, Roma Salad and Tagaytay Salad. I had the Tagaytay Salad and chose the classic Caesar dressing. The other salad dressings available were Raspberry, Balsamic and Asian.

Two long sandwiches headed our way, namely: L’Europeen (ham & cheese) and L’Atlantic (salmon). I have to say their specialty really is their bread which made all the sandwiches delicious.

Then came four big plates of pastas: Chicken Curry Pasta, Poulet Au Pistou, Bolognaise and Aragula-Chevre. I chose the Chicken Curry pasta and I noticed it was not spicy which was good. All other bloggers enjoyed their picks likewise.

The final serving contained breads and pastries but the other bloggers were too full to even notice that. I noticed the croissant though and I just could not resist tasting that because I love croissants. I must say their croissant is a must try.

I also got to try their Nutella Beignet and it is like a cream puff with nutella inside. That was one bread I enjoyed and it is perfect for dessert.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

The store closes at 7:30 in the evening and they have a 40% sale on their breads starting at 7PM. That is such a huge giveaway given the fact that it is not yet that late to be giving away their breads at such a handsome price.

I highly recommend this French themed restaurant if you are a big fan of bread. I would love to come back because I saw they also have quiches that we did not get to taste.

Paris Delice
1 Juno Street, corner Makati Avenue, Makati City
For inquiries, call 09173157667

February 3, 2013
Review of Mangan (SM North EDSA)

Mangan is a Pampangan restaurant, related to Cabalen. In Ilocos, Pampanga and Pangasinan, “mangan” means “eat.” For Cantonese like us, “mangan” or 眼盲 means “blind.” That’s why when I first learned of this restaurant years back, I wondered why the owner branded the restaurant with such a negative connotation.

Current branches of Mangan are in Robinsons Place, Manila; Robinsons Galleria; SM Mall of Asia, Pasay; and SM North EDSA.

Review of Mangan (SM North EDSA)

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

Though Mangan offers traditional home-cooked meals, it projects such a modern ambiance. When we stepped inside, we were rapt with the white plates displayed on the opposite walls as design, while the longer wall imitated a shelf filled with mock violet books.

Elegant chandeliers provided the bright blaze of light valued by diners. The entire rectangular area of the restaurant can have room for about 70 people (yes, we counted the chairs).

Service: ★★☆☆☆

Except for giving us free fritters, the rest of Mangan’s customer service was devastating.

Mangan partnered with BDO credit card for BDO credit card users to avail of Mangan’s promo: buy the bistig bangus belly and get another dish worth PHp 220 or lower for free. You can also buy a dish with a higher price tag but you need to pay for the excess amount (more than pHp 220) later.

Mom inquired about the deal, and the waitress at the entrance corrected us with her own version. She said we needed to dine in and purchase at least PHp 1000 worth of food from them before we can have the free dish worth of PHp 220 or lower. My mother insisted on what she knew (according to what’s written on the voucher) and asked the girl to confirm the thing with her superior. After a few minutes, the waitress returned and admitted that her belief was according the old promotion they had and not this ongoing one we were referring to.

Second encounter was the wrong order the waiter served, which I could probably blame on the name of the restaurant. Mangan, right? Does this actually mean the waiter was not able to clearly see what he wrote on the paper where he listed our orders? Instead of placing the lengua caldereta on our table, he mistakenly gave us lengua with button mushrooms (sauteed slices soft boiled ox tongue with lavish creamy mushroom sauce and hefty mushroom).

I thought they just had a different kind of caldereta (brown, not orange) and even turned to Mom to argue my point. 😛 However, when Mom tried it, she immediately knew it really wasn’t what she wanted to have. So the apologetic staff couldn’t do anything but change it to the right one.

Third fault was another wrong order served by another waiter. He gave us the glass of regular halo-halo instead of our actual order, the special kind. Whoa! What’s happening here? They were all careless. Not to mention customers were not that many for us to tolerate their sloppiness.

After giving us the right desserts, my sister asked for two extra spoons for my mom and me (since we would share the halo-halo). The waiter gave us only one and walked away! ‘哇佬耶!

So this branch should not only stick with the name “Mangan” or blind but should also affix “Jilung” or 耳聾 which means deaf. 哎喲! 🙄

Food: ★★★★☆

Filipinos of any province or region are typically known to be good cooks. And Kapampangans are no exception. Their cooking prowess made them win the reputation for being creative at the forefront of culinary wizardry. That’s why when we learned that Mangan is Kapampangan, we really set our expectations up high.

Mangan did not fail to meet that level of expectation. As much as it offers a variety of meaty dishes, it also has plenty of selections for vegetarians and seafood-lovers. So we ordered: jasmine rice (PHp 31), tofu sisig (PHp 100), bistig bangus belly (PHp 220), lengua caldereta (PHp 220) and special halo-halo (PHp 128).

Absolutely free of meat, the tofu sisig was well served without burnt portions stuck on the hot plate. We just pinched one calamansi for it to taste better and mixed it with rice.

The second course was lengua caldereta, made of soft-boiled ox tongue, garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, potatoes, red and green bell peppers. I can’t believe I ate a piece of lengua! 😯 (Huhu, eww…) Texture was soft and not spongy as I imagined. The potatoes in the caldereta were too solid and hard to chew on. There was not enough time to boil them, perhaps.

The pictures below show the wronged lengua order…

Next we had the fish fare. Because there’s a stable supply of milk fish in Pampangga rivers, locals have tons of resources to experiment cooking with inventiveness and versatility. Mangan reflected on this and included several variants of fish on their menu. Aside from the item we had, there are the likes of sinigang na bangus sa bayabas, kinilaw na bangus, bangus a la pobre and bangus salpicao.

Anyway, the bistig bangus belly was just one among the many results of their intrinsic talent. The central part had the belly fat which was sinful and delicious. The accompanying sauce was flavorful, both salty and sweet.

Finally, we punctuated our meal with dessert. The special halo-halo contained a mix of all the following: a dollop of ube ice cream, leche flan, macapuno, banana and mongo beans with smoothly shaved ice. Every spoonful made us experience one to two seconds of brain freeze. Its sweetness was acceptable though we can add more syrup if we wanted to.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

All dishes were almost drool-worthy and they had affordable prices to match. Once tasted, twice satisfied!

Menu:

January 23, 2013
Review of Manos Greek Taverna (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay)

One mention of my office mate that there’s a newly opened Greek restaurant in MOA last month and I was thrilled to go in and try. It has been over a year since I had Greek cuisine on my plate, so I went with my girl friends from DLSU to hang out a bit and have lunch at Manos Greek Taverna or Manos Greek Tavern (just beside Sbarro).

Bit of Insight: Upon hearing “Taverna,” I thought of Anthony Taberna (a.k.a. “Ka Tunying”), a broadcast journalist in ABS-CBN. Then I researched what the word actually means: taverna is a a small, unpretentious café or restaurant in Greece. Now we know!

The idea of building up this restaurant materialized when Manos Sapountzakis and his Filipino wife, Estrella, thought of opening an eatery where both Filipino and Greek people can enjoy Greek cuisine.

Esterella was a great cook back in Greece where they lived for 20 years, so she’s not a newbie in terms of cooking delicious Greek food. Supporting her was Manos as the host who greeted and served customers in their dining experience.

The first branch of Manos Greek Taverna in the Philippines was founded in 2005. It is located at Calamba Road in the greater Tagaytay area. Now we don’t have to go road-tripping and travel that far. If you’re in the city, find yourself a spot in Manos Greek Taverna, MOA and you can go shopping afterwards!

Review of Manos Greek Taverna (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay)

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

Call me killjoy but I really did not sense the “Greek-ness” of Manos Greek Taverna as the interior walls were painted only in white and fixtures were covered with white and blue sheets as any other ordinary restaurant could have.

Yes, the rustic atmosphere was there but I thought it was only the Greek instrumental music that helped in reinforcing the tradition. Lights were badly dimmed reflecting blue shades, making me feel sleepier than excited to eat.

Service: ★★★☆☆

Service was okay but staff were not so service-oriented. There were only two active tables at that time so I could not have a better judgement.

Food: ★★★☆☆

As an appetizer, we had tzatziki dip (PHp 150) with three pieces of heated pita bread. If you’re not familiar, tzatziki is a Greek and Turkish meze that is made of strained yoghurt, mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt and olive oil.

Wraps are my favorite version of “fast food or snack.” So when I read that Manos has vegetarian shawarmas on their menu, I felt excited to have a platter full of different ingredients which I can wrap with the pita bread. Actually the vegetable shawarma came in two variants. I went for Vegetable Shawarma 2 (PHp 195), following the waitress’ recommendation. It costs the same as the shawarma#1 and even have more ingredients such as cauliflowers, lettuce (which tasted somewhat like basil), potato fries, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta cheese, and tzatziki.

With all these savory classics, this vegetarian dish is not one that will make you feel so stuffed that you can’t walk straight to the front door. As it contained no MSG and preservatives, it will just leave you feeling refreshed after having a fairly healthy meal. Every ingredient had its distinct taste that was not overpowering the other. I do recommend this dish for those who desire detoxification in their diet. But expect it not to be any tastier than your regular food.

Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆

Admittedly, I am a very picky eater and I look at the ingredients and setting of the place foremost to rate the price for value. This meal has its good points but it does not deserve to be a total winner. My friends ordered pasticcio (baked macaroni, minced beef, bechamel sauce with Parmesan cheese) (PHp 255) and Kototpoulou Fournou (oven-baked chicken legs with potato fournou) (PHp 385).

I tasted a bit of both and felt that more content and specialty in taste should be added, else a reduction in price is definitely needed.

Menu:

January 23, 2013
Review of Yabu: House of Katsu (Robinsons Magnolia)

Yabu has been hyper in its advertising efforts in the recent months. Word-of-mouth marketing plus social media, I think, are working at best as this Japanese restaurant also known as “the House of Katsu” is gaining popularity in fast track. Katsu translates to “cutlet” in English, a piece of meat that is deep-fried and breaded. Yabu serves a variety of food in this ordeal, and according to the first page of its menu, the restaurant aims to “elevate beautiful dishes to a high level of culinary art.”

Last January 12, Louie and I treated four of our friends to Yabu’s branch in Robinsons Magnolia. It was a super delayed birthday treat! (We did not find common free times from our busy schedules since June of last year.) It was also a great time to catch up with these good friends and for the first time try out what Yabu offers.

Review of Yabu: House of Katsu (Robinsons Magnolia)

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

Yabu does not exactly give a traditional Japanese vibe but is the stark opposite. This restaurant has a completely modern appeal and a comforting vibe. Look around and you’ll see packs of diners who look like they’re really enjoying their meals. Impression from outside was good as much as the inside. The atmosphere was just chill with warm brown tones. The walls were decorated with huge anime pictures, and everything in the dining floor was organized appropriately.

Service: ★★★★★

Service attendants were efficient. Food came out relatively fast. While waiting for our orders and amidst our conversations, the waitress guided us on how to smash the black sesame seeds and mix them with the special Yabu sauce (thick black dip) to add more flavor to our food. Pictures were gladly taken. Also, because our friends were hinting that it was Louie’s birthday, one of the waiters took notice and gave him a slice of hot chocolate cake with a small scoop of chocolate ice cream for free!

Food: ★☆☆☆☆

I wished I could tell you about the same positive feedback other bloggers are exclaiming on Yabu’s tonkatsu. But from the word “ton” (pork) itself, that plainly would not be possible because I’m just not favorable of eating this dish. Neither did the rest in the group.

I had the healthy choice (Vegetable Mixed Set, PHp 290) and met the most disagreeable fried vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes and Japanese silken tofu with crispy bread crumbs. Given the pedigree of ingredients, you can probably figure out the one major drawback here. Yup, it’s the grease. The vegetables were so soaked in oil that the strainer became a very useful tool in getting the excess oil out.

The katsu set came with a salad made up of sliced cabbages we can ask the waitress to refill. We could add either vinaigrette and/or sesame dressing to it. I did add both but they tasted not so fine still. Another disappointment was the hot miso soup, which was even lucky to have been sipped through for three spoonful.

Opposite me was Jeatte who ordered the soft shell crab set (PHp 480) coated with fresh panko. I thought the food presentation looked nice so I tasted it as well. I swallowed my bite slowly, realizing that it’s not only me whose food has gone wrong. There was also something in the soft shell crab that I didn’t like, and I was left unsure if it was mostly just the texture of the crab’s insides or all ot it.

Louie ordered the Menchi Katsu Set (PHp 350), served also with unlimited Japanese rice, cabbages, miso soup and a bowl of fruit. The highlight of this dish was the superior ground beef and pork minced together with Yabu’s special spices and stuffed with cream cheese. The picture on the menu may seduce your taste buds, but the actual thing was not at par.

Price for Value: ★☆☆☆☆

Compared to other Japanese restaurants, in my experience, everything has been condescending except the food. And if food is what I pay for, then I’m sorry to report that it’s not worth the price. If you have not been to Yabu, I’m not discouraging you to try their entrees. Somehow this elegant place is worth visiting once in your lifetime.

January 22, 2013
Review of California Pizza Kitchen (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

If there’s one thing I noticed on the California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) menu, it’s the creativity. I’m not speaking about design (but yes, that part is also true) but on how the ingredients are packed together and are called as one dish labelled with a relevant-sounding name.

CPK serves mostly pastas and pizzas that are tweaked from the norm to perfection. After reading its menu from cover to cover, I deem that CPK has no shortage of exceptional entrees. In fact, it’s hard to think of another restaurant as jam packed with these many great food finds. I mean, where else can you find Adobo Pizza, Peking Duck Pizza, Thai Pizza and Jamaican Jerk Chicken among many other interesting food in one store?

While we were smack dab in the middle of deciding which one to order, I thought that CPK has been in the Philippines for years now. Actually, it has been 15 years since the first branch opened in Glorieta 3, Ayala Center, Makati City. But I have only dined in here and actually called out orders this once. (Better late than never, right?)

I also must say kudos to Global Restaurant Concepts Inc. for bringing the brand in the Philippines. I read reviews of CPK in other countries and found out that the dishes available to us are different from theirs. Why so? Their website indicates that CPK sells “100-percent Filipino-made and conceptualized” global-inspired dishes with a California twist.

Review of California Pizza Kitchen (Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Who doesn’t love to watch chefs work their magic in the kitchen? In California Pizza Kitchen, diners can catch the action at the open counter which appeared like a fireplace at the back. The lights gave a classy feel and the wall decors contributed as well to the noble setting. Tables can be transformed and assembled to be longer, from squares to rectangles. Seats are of different shapes and sizes: long-seat sofa, regular chairs, high chairs for elevated tables and the individual soft-foam chair.

Service: ★★★★★

Service was flawless, and I can’t say anything more.

California Pizza is smart in developing enticing marketing gimmicks that make customers coming back again and again. Upon receipt of the bill, the waiter introduced their membership card program: Subscription fee is PHp 100, for a lifetime (no recurring annual renewal fee). Points are earned and derived from 10% of the current bill and may be used in the next dine-in session for payment. 1 point is equivalent to PHp 1 when used. Card is non-transferable. I was sold on the idea so I got myself a card.

Another thing that can make customers feel good is that for every PHp 1000 spent, CPK gives two pieces of PHp 100 gift certificates that can be used next time in any branch with no expiration.

Food: ★★★★★

We ordered the Mushroom Cappuccino Soup (PHp 190), Vegetarian Pizza (PHp 535), Original BBQ Chicken Pizza (PHp 375) and the Fettuccine with garlic cream sauce (PHp 475).

The mushroom cappuccino soup was made with fresh button mushrooms, abalone, Shiitake cream soup topped with milk froth and nutmeg. It almost felt weightless on the tongue but gradually as I mixed the froth with the mushroom soup, it surrendered to multiple waves of nutty melted mushroom purée. I think this soup can be further improved by adding on cubed sautéed croutons and drizzling it with small white marshmallows on top. This recipe can then pass as on a five-star dish and in years become a classic that truly won’t disappoint.

Next, the pizzas. The vegetarian pizza’s toppings were composed of broccoli, grilled eggplant, button mushrooms, red onions, pine nuts, roasted kettle corns and goat cheese. On the other hand, the Original BBQ Chicken pizza was in full-effect amazing. I had never thought that pizzas can be made this way—with defined barbecue flavor and not with the regular tomato base or cheese base sauce—with diced chickens. Both had set our palettes for goodness piled over goodness. Crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, the pizza crusts turned out wonderfully fragrant. And the condiments (chilli flakes, salt, pepper and hot sauce) we infused fitted outrageously well.

You don’t have to resort to blotting the pizzas with paper napkins when you see grease spreading over the top of semi-coagulated cheese like an oil spill, dripping off the edges of a slice, making the whole endeavor treacherous, as there’s none. CPK bakes their pizza with grease just right, unlike most pizza joints do.

As if we weren’t full enough, Mom ordered the Chicken Tequila Fettuccine but requested it to be cooked and served without the chicken. Although without any other add-on, this white-sauce pasta can’t be said as one with light calories attached. It’s creamy, tasty and just satisfying.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

Price didn’t come cheap, but given the quality of their food and the unique tastes, the price fitted the bill reasonably to me. So I don’t have to be drugged, handcuffed and dragged against my will to spend extravagantly to get my next pizza from California Pizza Kitchen.

Sorry, Pizza Hut, Sbarro, Shakey’s and Greenwich, I found my new favorite pizza place. 🙂

January 22, 2013
Review of Infinitea (Benavidez Branch)

Tea bars and cafes are sprouting more in the number of brands and their branches across the city. So there’s really no excuse for me (and you) not to try one at least—unless you’re following a super strict diet. I don’t have any addiction or obsession with teas but I appreciate the taste of bitter and sweet together.

Today together with my office colleagues, I visited a friend’s franchise of Infinitea, another tea haven, to discover how good (or bad) their teas taste like. This post intends to showcase my thoughts on its best recommended drink: Wintermelon Milk Tea. To give more justice to this post, let me share what I think of this branch on the whole.

Review of Infinitea (Benavidez Branch)

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

This Infinitea branch is small but a thing of beauty. It had its first anniversary yesterday but the place was newly renovated, so its ambiance is really fresh and invigorating. With the limited floor space it covers, this tea house seems to possess a special charm that inspires intimate get-togethers apart from casual walk-ins.

Interior theme is a mix of green and brown from the walls, counter, tables and chairs. It’s a place where you can stay without worrying about time. It gives patrons encouragement to huddle over a cup while chatting with friends. Three types of seats are available for customers: regular chairs, sofa seats and the ones outside for those who prefer natural air and those who smoke.

Service: ★★★★★

Navigating the menu at Infinitea can be a bit tricky. Why? It’s broken down into sections: milk teas, coffee selections, flavored fruit teas, original teas and add-ons. How much should you order, and which one? The dizzying parade of flavors would make your head spin, with each one looking better than the last.

Good enough, their staff offered recommendations and helped us choose the customers’ favorites of all time. After shaking the concoction up and down, they’ll signal the drinks that are ready for pickup at the counter with a gadget with a number.

Drink: ★★★★☆

Customers may choose the amount of sugar and ice put into the drink, from 100% full sugar, 70% less sugar, half sugar, quarter sugar and no sugar. Mine encompassed the default which was probably half sugar. It did not lean toward the sickeningly side of sweet at all. The pearls were very chewy and they did not give my dental braces a hard time.

In a fantasy world, I’d probably buy myself one Infinitea drink per week (or a couple more times). But since I’m watching my weight sternly, I prefer to be stuck to my discipline and take these refreshments once a month at most. Health benefits and fitness take precedence over anything else, in my world! An exception maybe is when their drinks would be pinched in with ashitaba—a rare case I pray would materialize in the future. 😛

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

For the price range of PHp 40 to PHp 80, Infinitea drinks can provide you with a good introduction to the world of milk tea. It caters to the Class A-B market. This little tea shop serves a good artisan teas with bounty of flavors that add fuel for the soul.

Infinitea’s milk tea is not one to be messed with. Aside from milk teas, Infinitea at Benavidez now also serves coffee mixes! Since it’s near the Chinese schools in Manila (just across Hope Christian High School), I guess Infinitea drinks would be perfect to release stress of students from completing assignments and studying hard for exams. They can also serve to please anyone’s afternoon on the dock and satiate people’s craving for desserts after lunch (or dinner, for those who have tutoring sessions at night).

Another plus of Infinitea is that it offers delivery service for free, with a minimum order of four cups—to nearby areas reachable via bicycle. 😀

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January 19, 2013
Short Reviews of the 10 Restaurants I’ve Tried This 2012

2012 draws to a close, and I’m stuffed. Still hungry? Let me hark back on the food / restaurants I have tried but did not manage to post a review of because of my busy schedule. You might want to stop by them this holiday season or sometime next year. 😛

In no particular order, here are short reviews of the 10 other highly recommended restaurants I have been to this year:

1. Buffet 101 International Cuisine

Date of Visit: November 30, 2012
Event: Celebratory dinner with wushu and lion dance teams
Location: Bldg K, Seaside Blvd. (near Microtel) San Miguel by the Bay, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay

If you’re looking for a place to catch up with your friends for hours and you’re okay to ruin your diet, Buffet 101 International Cuisine is THE ONE!

Buffet 101 can be put in comparison with Sofitel’s Spiral, with elegant food and top notched service to match. And oh, their ambiance is a delight. They have HUGE glass chandeliers all beautifully set up high above the long tables and comfortable chairs. There’s plenty of cuisines to choose from, from appetizers, main courses, drinks to desserts. Not breaking news, but Buffet 101 at the SM Mall of Asia compound wins over Vikings, if you ask me.

Budget-wise, prepare around PHp 1000 per head. See snapshot of their buffet rates:

Another must-have preparation is to have light meals throughout the day before dining here and don’t be guilty to overindulge as this posh experience would only come once in a while. Wear loose clothing as well. Remember, you are warned. 🙂

Because I took so many pictures (all the food, yes!), I won’t post them here; you can visit my Facebook photo album instead. Feel free to give me your two cents on what you’ll be seeing. And bon appétit!

2. Uncle Cheffy

Date of Visit: March 25, 2012
Event: Coincidentally met Auntie Irene and family inside Lucky Chinatown Mall
Location: 3/F Lucky Chinatown Mall, Reina Regente St cor Dela Reina Binondo, Manila

Uncle Cheffy’s brick-oven pizza surely is not just for nephews and nieces. Or, if the restaurant calls itself “uncle,” will you call yourself a relative? *Wink*

Uncle Cheffy presents tender and juicy roasted chicken maurino, superb steaks, and of course great panizzas which are thin-crust pizzas rolled with arugula leaves and bean sprouts. Staff are courteous and assisting. The price won’t break the bank but is considered more on the costly end. Prepare PHp 300 to PHp 500 for each dish.

3. Chef d’ Angelo

Date of Visit: April 9, 2012
Event: Araw ng Kagitingan
Location: G/F SM Mall of Asia, Main Mall, Seaside Blvd Manila Bay Reclamation Area, Pasay

We were just taking a stroll down SM Mall of Asia and it was not even dinnertime yet. Mom saw Chef d’ Angelo’s tarpaulin featuring their eat-all-you-can promotion. Immediately, we took a table and waited for a few minutes before the waiters started preparing the buffet table for dinner. The deal is only available from Mondays to Thursdays. Lunch is from 11AM to 2PM, while dinner starts from 5PM and ends at 8PM.

What to catch? For only PHp 150 per head, we had pasta (tomato, pesto and white sauces), potato salad, mushroom soup, three types of pizzas, sensationally crispy chicken, rice, beef brisket, salad with dressings, jelly and potatoes. One disappointment though was that while eating, we also had to be busy waving our hands to shoo away the flies. Tsk.

4. New Bombay

Date of Visit: April 10, 2012
Event: Mon’s birthday
Location: G/F Glorietta 3, North Drive Ayala Center, Makati

Have you tried something different like Indian cuisine lately? Exactly. We don’t see a lot of Indian restaurants in the Philippines. And great Indian eateries here are even harder to hit. So if you ever come by Glorietta, encourage yourself and your friends to place a reservation at New Bombay as its courses would be worth your every penny.

New Bombay offers authentic Indian food that can be a cure for a bit of ethnic flavor. We had ajawani tikka (fish fillet marinated in yogurt with ajawani seeds and Indian spices), chicken tandoori, vegetarian tandoori (dip fried mixed and chopped vegetables with Indian spices rolled in sesame seeds), a couple of masalas, rice and rotis. Everything was succulent.

Expect to spend an average of PHp 150 to PHp 300 for each dish.

5. Kitchen

Date of Visit: April 21, 2012
Event: Hangout with G and H
Location: G/F Greenbelt 3, Paseo de Roxas Ayala Center, Makati

Just beside Seattle’s Best Coffee is Kitchen spelled with an inverted “K,” where you get a romantic setup candle-lit meal, food with unique names and overall supreme satisfaction without spending much. Ambiance is astoundingly cozy and classy. My girl friends and I had: hot tomato pasta, tuna alfafa sandwich roll (a. k. a. “Roll Up Your Sleeves”) and “Jack of All Trades” (pandan rice, catfish deep fried to a crisp, jackfruit cooked in coconut milk). With plenty of vegetarian-friendly choices on the menu, this place is a steal! We’ll definitely visit again next time.

6. Omakase

Date of Visit: May 1, 2012
Event: Third-year anniversary with Louie ♥
Location: Greenhills Shopping Center, Connecticut Arcade, Ortigas Ave Greenhills, San Juan

As we entered, I thought this was going to be just another Japanese restaurant serving typical Japanese food our taste buds are all familiar with. But no, Omakase’s dishes are extra special. Their menu boasts of a wide range of sushi, sashimi, soups, chicken, seafood and pork dishes, tempura, makimono — freshly prepared so that even the most discerning palates are satisfied.

As Louie is a frequent diner here, he ordered really the must-try pitch-perfect dishes for us: spicy tuna salad (PHp 215), softshell crab tempura (PHp 325) and salmon teppan (PHp 255). Other great finds are: the California crunch maki, Mt. Fuji roll, Tofu Steak, Oyster Butteryaki, Beef Teppan, SAR platter (Salmon skin roll, American dream, Rock n’ Roll maki), and Sukiyaki. Every nibble was a heavenly experience.

7. Torch Restaurant

Date of Visit: June 2, 2012
Event: Jhoana’s despedida
Location: Home Studio Bldg, 63 Connecticut St Greenhills, San Juan

Looking for a place that serves feel-good food? Don’t sweat. You can go to Torch, a fusion restaurant by Peppermill Caterers. Atmosphere feels like a cross between Omakase and Amici. Torch Restaurant has “knowledgeable” service, as waiters know what to recommend best for a delightful gastronomic experience.

We had: the twice-baked potato (PHp 70), crispy chicken pesto pasta which is a classic pesto pasta in fettuccini topped with small pieces of golden fry crispy chicken (PHp 325), seafood panizza that is anchovy alfredo-based panizza with mozzarella topped with shrimps (PHp 330), delectable steak panizza with U.S. angus beef strips opped with mozzarella and cream cheese (PHp 330), and other pastas I can’t remember now (haha, sorry).

8. ibayo by Barrio Fiesta

Date of Visit: June 13, 2012
Event: My birthday! 🙂
Location: Bldg G Unit 7-8, Seaside Blvd, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay, Metro Manila

Ibayo, which literally means “the next town,” is a new bistro style Filipino restaurant housing the famous Crispy Pata, the mouth-watering Sinalab Special, and the crave satisfying Mama Chit’s Special. If you’re not into much of those meat, then you can order the seafood paella, Ibayo crispy catfish, grilled tuna belly, fried chicken, sizzling mushrooms and sizzling corn (just as we did) to satisfy your short cravings for traditional Filipino food.

Ambiance was relaxing as lights were dim. Ibayo has no problems in delivering the ultimate delight for hungry taste buds and gourmands alike. If you have foreigner friends who want to sample Filipino food, you might want to bring them here to enjoy a remarkable place full of tradition together with a twist of modernity. Then go shopping in the Mall of Asia afterwards!

9. North Park Noodle House

Date of Visit: October 28, 2012
Event: [Advanced] All Saints Day — after visiting Thousand Buddha Temple with family
Location: 689 Banawe Street, St. Peter, Quezon City

Sorry, Chowking, but North Park to me is the real “chow king” when it comes to Chinese fast food restaurants. North Park serves Cantonese food concocted to Pinoy tastes with generous servings and at very reasonable prices. Its yellow trademark sign can be your assurance of quality, value and consistent great taste. This is a restaurant for family gatherings or friends without much frills.

10. Racks

Date of Visit: April 25, 2012
Event: Casual; Dinner after watching The Avengers
Location: 2/F SM City North EDSA, Main Bldg., North Ave. Sto. Cristo, Quezon City

With several branches within the metro, Racks is one restaurant that will keep you on coming back. They say that “If you love chewing off the bone, then you will at first get disappointed, but once you taste the ribs, you will forget the bones completely.”

For years now, Racks is praised for having the most tender baby ribs which I have not tried and don’t have any intentions of trying. Attesting to this is Louie, who favors Rack’s menu for all times. I have tried Racks’ seafood specials though: blackened salmon steak, pan-fried dory with lemon garlic butter, fish and chips, clam chowder soup and their house-made pasta, the garlic scampi pasta — and they are all good. Food prices are heavy on the wallet though; expect to spend about PHp 500 to PHp 800 for each dish.

December 25, 2012
Review of Mongolian Rice Bowls (SM Mall of Asia)

Much to your liking, you can’t really go on a diet and not eat in the holidays. This is the time when indulging is acceptable. Nobody wants to count the calories, fats and carbohydrates when everybody else’s plates are filled with sumptuous food and hands are holding bottles of wine. Do expect tasty treats that would make you loosen your belt and leave your heart stent.

Thanks to our senior manager who treated us girls last Friday, we had met another one of those tasty treats for free. 🙂 Lunch was spent at Mongolian Rice Bowls, which is located beside Yakimix, at the Ground Floor Veranda of Entertainment Mall (by the bay), SM Mall of Asia. This branch has celebrated its second year anniversary last December 15. *Way to go!*

Mongolian Rice Bowls is an eat-all-you-can Asian-focused restaurant where you can make interesting mixtures of taste and texture with a wide range of ingredients to choose from to come up with the best stir-fried combo. Although this concept is nothing new to me, as I’ve had my fair sampling of Mongolian rice bowls in the past, dining here at this restaurant was a first.

Review of Mongolian Rice Bowls (SM Mall of Asia)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Orange may not be color I like to see people wearing, but it’s definitely one that is perfect for walls as it brightens up a room and the mood of people inside it. Mongolian Rice Bowls’ interior design was rich with this motif. Its walls were painted in different shades of orange, accented with light brown bricks and large mirrors that reflect the skillful craftsmanship of its sourced artisans.

The ceiling was draped with chandeliers and spotlights, contributing to the modern hype of the seating area. Soundtrack playing in the background was a very nice mix of instrumental Christmas songs, which added more class to the atmosphere. The buffet table was situated near the counter where orders and requests for food cooking were being placed. Deelish!

Service: ★★★★★

How it works at Mongolian Rice Bowls: get a bowl, fill it with spoonfuls of whatever food you desire, hand it to the waiter, get a number and wait for 5-10 minutes until the food is cooked. Waiters go on tables to serve the cooked food in a bowl in exchange of your number and pour unlimited iced tea and/or water included in the buffet package. Staff were friendly, fast and responsive, totally commendable for five stars.

Food: ★★★★★

In going for this Mongolian eat-all-you-can adventure, we highly anticipated on hitting the right fusion of sauces, spices, and toppings such as beef, pork, chicken, squid, fish, chopped squid balls, vegetables and oils.

Four ensembles were suggested by the posters to follow: ‘sweet,’ ‘sweet and spicy,’ ‘hot and spicy,’ and ‘sweet and sour.’ While it was tempting to add anything according to the heart’s command, the surprising end result may not turn out well. So both for the two bowls I concocted, I just followed the instructions for ‘sweet and sour’ and ‘sweet and spicy’ with noodles, rice and seafood. Everything was fresh and cooked just right.

Desserts at the other table were overwhelming as well. Too bad I could not have as plenty as I wanted because I had a sore throat, fever and runny nose at that time.

Price for Value: ★★★★★

If you want to satisfy your cravings for delectable and affordable food, this place can be a safe bet. Let your imagination run free and experiment with fabulous choices of your favorite ingredients and indulge in Mongolian food only for PHp 280 (during week days, 10AM-3PM). Regular rate for weekends is also reasonable at PHp 380 per head. Service is free of charge. Tips are welcome.

Plus, if you are game to pose as a kid for a day, place your knees on your shoes and walk to their door, cross your fingers and say a little prayer that they won’t notice your real age and height, and you might get a 50% discount. Haha! Kidding aside, only children below four feet can have that privilege.

If you want to know more about Mongolian Rice Bowls, click here to view their website.

December 24, 2012