Rochkirstin | com

Category: Pasay

  • Review of CRU Steakhouse (Manila Marriott Hotel, Newport City)

    Review of CRU Steakhouse (Manila Marriott Hotel, Newport City)

    I took a vacation leave from work last Wednesday to join the Zomato foodies for dinner at CRU Steakhouse, and surely I had no regrets. At CRU (pronounced as “kroo” and “not C-R-U”), steaks cooked to perfection are a given! This high-end restaurant inside Manila Marriott Hotel doles out generous portions of amazing grilled steak matched with an imaginative fare elevated by an extensive wine list. By the end of our meal, we could only utter one word to describe their menu: phenomenal. CRU Steakhouse presents everything you would expect in a quality steakhouse. 🙂

    Review of CRU Steakhouse (Manila Marriott Hotel, Newport City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Elegant and polished, CRU Steakhouse certainly is a good refuge after a busy day of noise and networking. Upon entrance, I felt the warm embrace of a traditional steakhouse ambiance consisting of dark wall panels, wooden flooring, and dim lighting along with plenty of wine bottles displayed across the dining area. To keep the consistently prime vibe, CRU Steakhouse is open only during dinnertime daily.

    Orange light fixtures echo off the adorned designs effortlessly, while chairs dressed in red polka dots and line patterns complement the pristine white tablecloths. Central to the dining area is an open kitchen which gives a sense of contemporary dining with a twist. Adorning the space in tasteful fashion, the front part houses the bar that’s set up well to draw in any type of crowd.

    For private events such as the Zomato Foodie Meetup we attended, CRU has two function rooms that seat eight to ten people. Note: Reservation of the function rooms should be made a week ahead.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Customer service was first class. Treating everyone as VIPs, the servers were kind and professional to explain about the food and demonstrate a short cooking presentation before serving some of the entrees. They also made regular rounds to make sure that our glasses were filled with drinks and that guests felt welcome and appreciated. The smooth and attentive team definitely added perks.

    Food: ★★★★★

    Salads

    Think oranges are just for breakfast, snacks, or desserts? Think again. The orange made such delightful addition to the Organic Baby Spinach Salad (PhP 550), thrown together with blue cheese crumble, walnut in Parmesan crisp, and mustard dressing. Fruity notes to the well-dressed leaves of baby spinach made the salad taste outlandishly better.

    Tossed with red onions, balsamic, crushed olives, and feta cheese, the giant organic cherry tomatoes locally grown from the Marriott Organic Farm served in the Organic Tomato Salad (PhP 580) were super juicy and fresh. This salad was sweet, tangy, and full of character, with the natural flavor of tomatoes combined with cheese oozing with a savory sensation. It’s a must-order for those who are in a diet. 😛

    Appetizers

    Voted as the best appetizer we had for the night, the Sauteed Duck Liver (PhP 920) with apple chutney and sweet maple lemon glaze was very satisfying. Admittedly, the number of times I’ve tasted foie gras is probably less than five. But by far, CRU’s take on the foie gras is the best. It melts on the tongue like the creamiest butter but with a distinct cured sweetness.


    The Certified Angus Beef Carpaccio (PhP 750) reminded me of yukhwe, which is raw beef eaten with raw egg in Korea. Wandering more into a fancy territory, this appetizer was an absolute home run, and it turned out to be love at first bite. The paper-thin slices of beef were topped with parmesan, arugula, and tarragon dressing. So good!


    Next, we were treated to seafood galore. The Seared US Scallops (PhP 730) were plump, briny, and buttery but still supple, with a very slight sweetness. Spicy shimeji mushrooms, pickled onions, and Hollondaise sauce all contributed to the robust flavors that stood up to the zesty sauce.


    The Tuna Tartare (PhP 650) looked so tiny and simple, but this dish should not be underestimated. Every element was on full display (not sure if that’s egg yolk on top but it tasted like egg yolk), and the complete bite, with the soft wash of the wasabi aioli, was so much more than the sum of its already excellent parts.

    The Salmon Tartar (PhP650) was another knockout. It was pure decadence: perfectly cooked chunks of ultra fresh raw salmon with lemon mustard dressing and extra virgin coconut oil. Close your eyes and bite into this and you could imagine you’re tasting the best salmon you’ve ever had.


    Crispy and crabby, the CRU Crab Cakes (PhP 690) with the celeriac apple slaw and creamy Cajun remoulade were quite dainty, gone in three or four delicate bites at most—but they were three or four perfect bites, I can assure. I’m also glad that these crab cakes were not too heavily coated in breadcrumbs but packed more with crab meat than pasty binders. Taste was stellar.


    Too appealing to slip by, the Chilled Ocean Shrimps (PhP680) looked like a starfish or spider from afar. Its presentation was so captivating with summer colors lifting our mood and appetite. Dipped in the cocktail sauce and eaten with jalapeno salsa, the shrimps tasted nice and fresh, titillating our taste buds for the final appetizer.


    If eating crabs in shells isn’t your thing, try the Lump Crab Cocktail (PhP690) and savor the juicy lump crab meat without getting your hands dirty. Spicy pineapple salsa and cocktail sauce added texture and a hint of sweetness to the cold dish.


    Soups

    We were served with three kinds of soup. The Shrimp Gumbo (PhP 370) consisted of a mildly spicy broth that’s a far cry from the one-dimensional broth made from instant meal packages available in the grocery store. The soup had a rich body and a faint aroma of the sea. At the bottom of the bowl, we found bits of fragrant rice and minced vegetables popping out as a nice surprise.

    The Caramelized Onion Soup (PhP 350) sang a chorus of layered onion flavors topped with a blanket of gooey cheese. Yum! We enjoyed the variation in tastes and textures.


    The Wild Mushroom Soup (PhP 390) was super creamy, rich, velvety, smooth, and with the aroma of truffle oil, intoxicatingly delicious. OMG. I loved the soup so much and I think I won’t ever get tired of it. 😛

    Mains

    The long wait was finally over and well worth it. The spectacle of parading the three sizzling slabs of pound CRU’s US Certified Angus Beef Bone-in Rib Eye (PhP 5,400 for 900 grams/31.75 ounces) through the function room invariably led everyone wanting one. Well-browned and crackling with some fat, CRU Steakhouse’s signature steak was sliced open and revealed a juicy pink center that extended from edge to edge. Each slab had a commendable crust and a succulent interior.

    Each 900-gram steak comes with two sauces, five sides of your choice, and carved table side. Choose to pair it with black peppercorn, forest mushroom, spicy tomato and onion, CRU blue cheese, Shiraz, or Béarnaise sauce, and you have one unforgettable dish. I’m not a fan of sauces for the steak, but I tried them anyway. What I wasn’t able to resist were the sides that have a good fit with the food.

    Since we got three slabs of steak (shared by 12 people), we were pampered with all the sides which were more than enough to please our demanding palates: truffle mac and cheese, grilled organic sweetcorn, organic sweet corn on the cob, corn and pepper hash, grilled portobello mushrooms, creamed spinach, steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce, green beans pancetta, organic steamed broccoli, honey glazed organic baby carrots, fried onion rings, black truffle risotto, warm organic tomato salad, and sliced potato fries.

    Above all, truffle mac and cheese, grilled portobello mushrooms, creamed spinach, and black truffle risotto for me struck as the best complements to the steak and almost worthy of as much discussion as the steak itself. 🙂

    Desserts

    The Banana Foster (PhP 410) took a few minutes to get prepared. The waiter ignited caramelized bananas, raw sugar, flamed rum, whole butter, and sliced almonds at the tableside and then poured over vanilla ice cream for our enjoyment. It was like a one-plate dinner theater that’s undeniably fun and interesting to watch. The first bites of the banana foster were luxurious, as crisp flakes of almonds and swimming banana in ice cream completed the equation.

    If you have a sweet tooth, you can’t miss the Sweet and Salty Chocolate Moist Cake (PhP 400) with homemade dark chocolate ice cream. It had a moist and buttery crumb that packed a toasty, nutty punch. This chocolate cake isn’t particularly novel, but it’s not disappointing in any way.

    Basically an ice cream cake of chocolate and cognac, the Grand CRU Chocolate Praline Mousse (PhP 400) is one of those desserts that create a great textural experience, as the mousse melts away while the praline provide crispiness. Make sure to snag the layers in one forkful! 🙂


    Another pure chocolate bliss was CRU’s Chocolate Caramel Crunch Log (PhP 380). Sweetened by caramel, the rich chocolate flavor was beyond divine.

    Drink

    CRU Steakhouse’s bar serves wine by the glass and by the bottle. Selections range from champagne, sparkling wines, red wines, and white wines. Other beverages offered are local and imported beers, whiskey, rum, tequila, etc. We had Beringer’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley) that featured aromas of black plum, cherry, and enticing spice notes.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    For the price point, you don’t need to sell your car to eat here. However, you might have to break your bank account a bit to recover for a return visit. 😛 Ambiance, service, and the quality and taste of food were unquestionably impeccable, but prepare to pay “special-splurge” prices for the privilege. It will be good to reserve dining at CRU Steakhouse in Marriott Hotel Manila (Resorts World) for special occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, graduation, promotion, or sealing a good business deal.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.myclubmarriott.com/Participating-Hotels/?c=CRU-Steakhouse-Manila-Marriott-Hotel” name=”Cru Steakhouse” description=”No. 10 Newport Boulevard, Newport City Complex, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries/reservations, call (02) 988-9999 local 8109″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-03-19″ user_review=”18″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating hours:

    Sun – Thu: 6:00PM – 10:30PM
    Fri – Sat: 6:00PM – 11:30PM

  • Review of Tokyo Café Flagship Store (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Tokyo Café Flagship Store (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Last Saturday, my family and I celebrated Valentine’s Day in my favorite mall in the Philippines, and yes, that’s SM Mall of Asia. 😛 There were too many people everywhere. Queues to the mall entrances, restaurants, and cashier counters were way longer than I have ever imagined. We managed to grab dinner in Tokyo Café at 10PM, an hour before the mall closed. Still, we could not escape the streams of diners in line that seemed to just keep coming and coming. After the 20-minute waiting game, we were finally led to a table at the center of the buzzing atmosphere.

    Tokyo Café has been established in the country since 2006. It has been nine years! Taking into account Filipino’s innate penchant for food, this restaurant offers a full menu featuring Japanese-Western fusion dishes, complemented with an array of desserts, pastries, and drinks (must-try: charcoal-roasted coffee).

    Review of Tokyo Café Flagship Store (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Service: ★★★★☆

    Despite the packed place, we did not feel suffocated with the surroundings. The staffs were able to handle the customers well, by providing seats in the waiting area, handing out menus and allowing customers to make advanced orders, and serving food fast. Our server got one of our orders wrong and was quick to alter the food in the kitchen before serving. Apart from the small mistake, everything was well organized and ran like clock work. The waiters were knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    This was actually our third time dining at Tokyo Café in SM MOA. This time, we ordered the Kiddie Set Meals (each with a scoop of ice cream and a glass of iced tea), as they appealed most as a favorable light meal for our late dinner. We didn’t set the bar high for the taste and portion but enjoyed eating food supposedly for “kids” as adults. 😛

    My sister had the Hamburg Steak and Rice (PhP 160). It’s the familiar burger steak patty with a good char. It didn’t taste anything special, but we were positive that the patty was cooked well and the ingredients were blended nicely. Not too greasy, it didn’t have an alarmingly strong and persistent aftertaste that burger patties from fast food joints normally serve.

    My mom had 1 pc. Chicken and Rice (PhP 160), which must be an ultimate comfort food and go-to meal preferred by any kid. It wasn’t the best and there’s nothing unique, but it was okay.

    For myself, the Chicken and Cheese Roll and Rice (PhP 160) hit the spot and the cheese inside the chicken was pretty solid. It was salty, sweet, and comforting, all wrapped up into one.

    We also shared a plate of Garlic and Shrimp Pasta (PhP 290) with tomatoes, garlic, and shrimps seasoned with herbs and spices. The pasta was so flavorful and we appreciated the combined tastes of garlic and shrimp to the core.

    Dad had the Margherita (PhP 265) (vegetarian pizza), an elegant play of tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Topped with light sauce, the crust was soft and crispy, with mozzarella seriously elevating the flavor. We loved it.

    Tokyo Café was running a promotion and we were lucky to have chanced upon the great deal: “Get a free crepe of choice with a minimum single receipt purchase of PhP 1,000.” Out of the six options/flavors of crepe, we chose Very Berry (PhP 160)—blueberries and strawberry ice cream drizzled with strawberry syrup. The crepe had a silky crisp bite to the dough, a nice offset to the the sweetness of the ice cream and whipped cream that wasn’t too overpowering. This dessert was definitely a sweet ending. 🙂

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    All prices were affordable and reasonable, and there are enough choices for everyone. Tokyo Café dishes run on great value. This café is recommended for those who are in budget and who love to try Japanese food with a twist.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/tokyocafephilippines/” name=”Tokyo Café” description=”G/F SM Mall of Asia, Main Mall Bldg., South Wing, Seaside Drive Manila Bay Reclamation Area, Pasay” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 556-0517″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-02-19″ user_review=”12″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”15″ ]

  • Review of Clawdaddy’s Osteria Americana (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Clawdaddy’s Osteria Americana (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Last weekend, we joined many shoppers who went shopping at SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City and took advantage of the three-day sale. As mentioned in a number of my previous food reviews in MOA, this huge mall is a haven for food lovers because of the wide selection of restaurants. Come dinnertime, we didn’t have a problem choosing one that we’ve never tried before. Clawdaddy’s Osteria Americana was our choice for dinner. Upon inspection, this place has a variety of pasta and pizza options as well as seafood and meat. We gave it a shot and had a memorable experience, but with an asterisk.

    Review of Clawdaddy’s Osteria Americana (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★☆☆☆☆

    There was only one active table at the Clawdaddy Restaurant when we came. It was 7PM and it was pretty quiet still as compared to the busy ones beside it. Finding a restaurant with few customers at the usual peak dining time mean two things to me.

    It’s either that only those few customers know and realize that the restaurant offers quite amazing food, or that the restaurant does not just seem to appeal to more people heading its way. Maybe for the case of Clawdaddy Osteria Americana, it’s a cross between the two implications.

    The atmosphere was dark, with dated decorative pieces related about the sea on the wall. The scene was humble and subdued, in a world of green and red. I felt comfortable sitting on the couch—until I felt and saw a spider crawling up on my arm which totally freaked me out. 😯

    I stood up right away and shooed the spider to the floor. Doing that must have killed it but at that moment, I didn’t care. A spider web must be close by or it’s formed just where exactly I was sitting (by the counter). Oh no! 🙁 After that, I began to be concerned about the upkeep of the place. The management must do something to control pests in the restaurant.

    Service: ★☆☆☆☆

    Service was VERY slow. See, I ordered two kinds of pizza. One arrived after about 30 minutes; and the other, over an hour. Around 7:45PM, more customers came and filled the dining area. Their orders even came and served first than ours. Mom was irate and began to ask for a follow-up, and the servers expressed their apologies as they have a slow pizza oven.

    The lesson learned here is to expect long waiting time when ordering pizza at the Clawdaddy Restaurant; you might end up with an hour to kill. Note though that it wasn’t only the pizza that came later than expected but everything else as well. To compensate for our disappointment, one pizza was not charged to our bill. It was good that they’re kind and considerate to offer that.

    Another reason that caused Mom’s anger was that many food items she ordered from the menu were not available, namely: Buffalo Wings, Grilled Tuna Ribs, and Blackened Tuna Tails. The funny thing was that the server recommended the Blackened Tuna Tails after reporting that the two initial orders were out, and it was the same server who went back to us to say that apparently, her suggestion was also unavailable.

    I saw that the customer sitting next to ours got a Boston Clam Chowder which had clams, bacon, potatoes, herbs and cream served on a bread bowl. I thought that looked nice and ordered the same, with a smile. Alas, the server told me that they ran out of the bread bowl and asked me if I still wanted the clam chowder soup. I said no because I was primarily just looking on the good presentation of the food.

    She might have missed reporting my response back to the kitchen, because the kitchen staff came toward me and served the soup on a soup bowl and some sticks of bread on another plate. I refused to accept and said that I’ve already told the other server to cancel the order. Outrageous!

    Food: ★★★★☆

    We’re hard-pressed to find a pizza with crab meat starring on the course, and Clawdaddy’s Crab Meat Pizza (PhP 245) suited our desire for the night. It was great to eat while piping hot, but the pizza needed more crab meat for a more luscious taste. The whole egg, marinated crab meat, bechamel and mozzarella sat atop a charred, puffy and chewy cloud from heaven. So good.

    The Godfather’s Meatballs (PhP 285)—spaghetti with meatballs—accommodated our love for pasta. The sauce didn’t taste sweet like the Filipino-style spaghetti so this one’s up for my liking. A common addition to spaghetti, the meatballs in this entree were the real superstar that tasted great.

    The Eggplant Parmigiana (PhP 245) was made with baked eggplant in tomato sauce, mozzarella, and cream. With crispy and crunchy outside and a soft, moist and thick inside, the eggplant was a real hit. Its simplicity was underrated.

    Grilled eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, asparagus, pomodoro and mozzarella? My favorites. All on this plate of Grilled Veggie Pizza (PhP 285), working together in sweet harmony. The taste was definitely up there, and the crispiness of the pizza’s crust was sublime. A bite would convince meat-eaters that vegetarian pizzas are also okay. (This was the pizza that took sooo long to be served.)

    Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆

    What use is good food when service and ambiance are bad? When dining into a restaurant, we must be considering paying out for the overall dining experience and not only for the quality and taste of food. For the food alone, I could have added two more stars here. However, with all points considered, two stars may be apt for the price for value.

    Clawdaddy Osteria Americana at MOA has brought us a memorable dining experience, as mentioned in the intro. However, as how the things turned out, it’s not one that we’d like to repeat anytime soon—or ever again. It will be really great if they can improve on the shortcomings since food are likeable anyway.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/clawdaddyph” name=”Clawdaddy Osteria Americana” description=”2/F SM Mall of Asia, South Veranda, Ocean Dr Manila Bay Reclamation Area, Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 550-1440″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-09-22″ user_review=”8″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Ramen Nagi Manila (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Ramen Nagi Manila (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Hitting the spot in Tokyo as Ramen Nagi and in Hong Kong as Butao, Ramen Nagi Manila was opened in December 2013 by Ramen Master Ikuta Satoshi. Tasting different flavors of ramen is a great deal for ramen lovers in Manila today, and tomorrow could be better.

    Gone are the days when we are much satisfied with cheaply packaged noodles only. With more and more ramen joints, we learn to better appreciate noodles with spring and bounce, tender and luscious toppings and rich flavor of ramen broth. These are three elements that we had happily found in Ramen Nagi Manila, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, one of the best restaurants serving specialty ramen now in the Philippines.

    Review of Ramen Nagi Manila (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Since we came at the peak of lunch hour, it’s no surprise that the line started forming heavily from the outside. The ambiance of Ramen Nagi at SM MOA was busy and bustling; the setting, very casual. Cramped tables and chairs greeted us as we went in. There were no privacy booths to eat tonkotsu ramen and no other frills to look around except for the pictures of ramen and actual ramen bowls hanged up as accents on the wall behind.

    Service: ★★★★★

    We initially asked for a reservation, however the staff said that they don’t allow reservations when customers are not physically present. This is understandable since the seating capacity is limited. So I suggest you plan an early outing before the small place gets filled up.

    While waiting for two tables inside to be available (to accommodate seven of us), it was nice that they offered us to be seated outdoors and start deciding what to order. Fortunately, wait time didn’t take too long. Staffs were professional and efficient, with tables turning fairly quickly.

    Food: ★★★★★

    G, H and I wanted to sample more ramen flavors than what our stomach could handle and finish in one sitting. Hence, we brought along some members of the family to join in our taste test. Indeed, the more, the merrier! 😀 We finished five variants of Ramen Nagi ramen (distributed to seven small bowls) and shared one short order of gyoza.

    The Way to Order

    Customers are given a sheet of paper to mark for their orders. This is what’s called the Omotenashi style. As first-timers, we were advised to select and follow the Chef’s Recommendation but we didn’t. Instead, we thought about using our right to customize according to our liking. Following the written instruction on the paper, we had encircled varying items for every bowl of ramen to differentiate.

    Here are the choices:

    • Richness of Taste: Light, Normal or Rich
    • Special Sauce: None, Light, Normal, Heavy, Extra Heavy
    • Garlic: None, Light, Normal, Heavy, Extra Heavy
    • Pork: None, Pork Shoulder, Pork Loin or Pork Belly
    • Vegetable: None, Green Onion, or Cabbage
    • Butao Home Made Fire Sauce: Spiciness level 1-10
    • Noodles Texture: Extra Hard, Hard, Normal, Soft, Very Soft
    • Add Ons: Tamago, Pork Shoulder or Pork Belly, Nori (Seaweed), Extra Noodles, Green Onion, Cabbage, Kikurage

    Green King Ramen – Nagi’s fusion of gourmet cultures

    The Green King (Midorio) (PhP 410) could be put as Japanese ramen that’s infused and inspired with Italian cooking as it’s oozing with pesto flavor and topped with Parmesan cheese, basil and olive oil. Love trying fusion food or anything unique? This one’s for you. The broth mixed with pesto is so rich that it can coat your mouth and throat as you slurp on it. Mmmmm…yummy!

    Original King Ramen – Luscious signature tonkotsu pork-broth

    The Original King (Butao) (PhP 390) is probably the most basic and simple-tasting bowl of ramen in Ramen Nagi. If you just want to taste Ramen Nagi’s tonkotsu broth and hakata noodles to its original form, get this. Every element was so well executed—from the rich, savory tonkotsu broth to the bright, fresh toppings. I just wanted to dive in and demolish my share of this ramen variant at once.

    To give it some much needed pep, I suggest that you add on Aji Tamago (PhP 50) like we did. 😉 The soft-boiled eggs were soft on the outside and liquid-y yolk on the inside, just perfect.

    Red King Ramen – The ultimate in savory spiciness

    Next, I’m extraordinarily happy to report that the Red King (Akao) (PhP 410) was actually the best one we’ve tried! With that said, hot and spicy food lovers (myself included) must not skip this flavor when figuring out what to order in Ramen Nagi. With a fireball of miso-minced pork and the hottest cayenne pepper as toppings, the Red King Ramen Akao had a hot, assertive red broth that’s beautifully spiced. Oh, how I wish throat/cough medicine tasted like this! 🙂

    Black King Ramen – Sumptuous jet-black aroma and flavor

    My least favorite was the Black King (Kuroo) (PhP 410), which I’ve heard, is the crowd’s favorite. Nevertheless, I commend the creativity of incorportaing squid (calamari) ink and blackened garlic with tonkotsu broth. The soup’s texture did not suffer flatness but satisfied on that deep, visceral level that any superb ramen should. There was also a little mound of spicy chili mixture we could sense in the blend.

    The Ebi King Ramen (PhP 410) – Limited edition

    Ramen Nagi serves limited editions of ramen occasionally. We had the chance to order one of them: the Ebi King (Ebio). This ramen had a thick prawn bisque broth, nothing that you’d call traditional by any stretch of the imagination. The dried shrimp taste was really evident, with a right balance of saltiness! Was it worth a try? Definitely. This is one of the more unique and delicious things on the menu.

    Ramen Nagi’s sizzling Gyoza Dumplings (PhP 125) were well-steamed, with more vegetables than meat. The fillings were light and juicy. With golden brown bottoms, the crusty skin stayed crisp as it was served. The gyoza wasn’t so remarkable but quite respectable.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Much had been written about Ramen Nagi Manila’s sumptuous ramen, but knowing about it through blogs and word-of-mouth is never enough. You have to taste the ramen (at least one bowl/one flavor) and get the dining experience yourself.

    Final verdict: At PhP 400+ per bowl, ramen here isn’t cheap but the quality and taste of the ramen were so good, making us want to eat more. (Can you blame us?) 😛 Plus, the serving size is big so a bowl can easily be shared between two or three people. I award Ramen Nagi 4/5 stars for price for value.

    Aside from their branch in SM MOA, Ramen Nagi Manila also has branches in SM Aura, SM North EDSA and Robinsons Magnolia. If you’re far from these places, all I can say is… make the pilgrimage as it’s really worth it! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RamenNagiManila” name=”Ramen Nagi Manila” description=”Ground Floor, South Wing, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 5502394″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-07-24″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of David’s Tea House (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City) – Our Return!

    Review of David’s Tea House (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City) – Our Return!

    I hope you’re not on a diet, because you’ll want to check out David’s Tea House right after you see the end of this post. 😛 Why? Well…food porn!

    Following our “thanksgiving lunch” at David’s Tea House MOA Branch last March, we had a chance to try several dishes at this Chinese restaurant yesterday. At lunch time, I brought with me some members of my team and together we were satied once again by great food courses served courtesy of the house. A parade of interesting flavors ensues.

    Review of David’s Tea House (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City) – Our Return!

    Warming our stomachs first was an order of Polonchay (Spinach) with Seafood Soup (PhP 304), which was like fiesta in a bowl. Thinking aloud, I liked to pair it with crusty whole-grain bread and some sliced tomatoes on the side. Oh, but doing that may just transform this Chinese meal to something else? Anyway, the tastes of both the seafood (shrimps) and pureed spinach were obviously great.

    David’s Tea House’s Hot Prawn Salad (PhP 463) is difficult to ignore. As mentioned in my most recent review, it’s my favorite—nothing short of a nest of mayo-based juicy and crunchy hot prawns with fruits salad. The prawns helped make the salad a substantial course, and the fresh lettuce at the bottom cut the heaviness of the dressing. The leaves and the fruits could mercifully trick you to believe that you’re enjoying a light, refreshing dish. When food is this good, I wouldn’t mind taking the calories.

    Packed with vibrant toppings consisting of assorted meat, seafood and eggs, David’s Tea House Sauted Misua Guisado (PhP 185) was cooked just right. It rewards diners with chewy and slippery texture as the noodles had been softened and flavored well with the broth. I’m not a fan of noodles, so I don’t want to lie and say I like it. But my mom and everyone else who’s into eating noodles would surely love this.

    The Shanghai Spring Rolls (PhP 243) were made faultlessly with compact, stuffed ground meat. With crisp wrappers, they appeared almost grease-less—and that’s an indication that these spring rolls are a hit in a lineup of standouts. I mean it’s not often when you see a spring roll that’s more crisp than greasy and actually delicious. So rightfully, celebrate, put on a party hat and enjoy the food. Or that may be an exaggeration of happiness. 😛

    Look at that beautiful slabs of meat! The Fried Crispy Pata (PhP 485) encompasses a world’s worth of ingredients in a very distinctive manner. Topped with very colorful garnish, the fried crispy pata arrived at the table with an intense aroma that only picked up as we started to eat. It was really crispy to the bone and did not at all lack in flavor.

    Another approachable and no less interesting dish we conquered was the Beef Brocolli Flower (PhP 282). This dish is a good grade of meat cooked separately before being blended with the greens. I remember we ordered Beef with Ampalaya last time. The tenderness of the beef was indeed wonderful as it’s consistent throughout. Thank goodness, it didn’t feel like punishing me for chewing the small slices of meat. The sauce was thick and fairly flavored, good to be eaten with steaming plain white rice.

    Similarly, David’s Braised Pata Tim (PhP 463) was protein-focused. I punched a small portion of it and thought it’s good. Soft and savory. Popular as a specialty dish, this braised pork leg recipe may not be a groundbreaking or new idea in contemporary Chinese kitchens, but it’s worth noting that David’s Tea House’s version of it gets appreciated by diners almost all the time.

    At last, the Almond with Lychee (PhP 90) felt clean to the palate. It’s a fascinating combination that always puts a smile on my face. 🙂 Sweet, but not too sweet. Nice and certainly addicting.

    Wrap Up

    Since this was a return visit, my ratings for the ambiance, service and price for value remain the same. For the food, ah… I think the quality is still consistent. I give David’s Tea House another 4/5 stars for overall review rating. One thing is for sure: David’s Tea House, which now has 20 branches all over the Philippines, won’t make you look to stray from the beaten path. This is a recommended place to head for any meal.

    David’s Tea House in MOA has an ongoing promotion right now called “Dimsum Afternoon Weekday Promo.” From Monday to Friday, at 2:30PM to 5:30PM, diners get to enjoy each dimsum variety for PhP 58 only.  Choose from: Shrimp Siomai, Tausi Chicken Feet, Tausi Spareribs, Beef Ball, Fish Tofu, Glutinous Rice with Chicken (Machang), Steamed Chicken Wings with Mushroom, Bean Curd Roll, Shark’s Fin Dumpling, Kuchay Dumpling, Vegetable Meat Pao, Pork Asado Pao, Linyong Pao, Taro Puff, Raddish Cake, Fried Spring Rolls, Fried Cuapao, Steamed Cuapao, Sesame Buchi, Pork Asado Pao, and Bichu-bichu (all originally priced at PhP 95 each).

    [schema type=”review” url=”www.davidsteahouse.com” name=”David’s Tea House (SM Mall of Asia)” description=”1113-1115 Entertainment Mall, Seaside Boulevard, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 556-0204″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-29″ user_review=”4″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Last Monday, after dinner at Royal View Seafood Restaurant, I was craving for some dessert. Unfortunately, my top two selections for desserts on their menu were unavailable. That meant we had to exit and find another one that could be a perfect alternative. The good news is that having such wonderful restaurants in SM Mall of Asia (MOA) guarantees a fantastic meal that’s merely a few steps away.

    One of the cafes I have bookmarked as a priority for “snacks and desserts” way before is Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (マザーズクレープ). I have always wanted to try the Mazazu crepes, but because I know I could not finish one alone without feeling guilty, I had it planned to devour and share a plate with my family. This came in good timing!

    Mother’s Crepe and Cafe serves French-style crepes with fillings that range from fruits, seafood and meat to sweets and dairy. Below is a snapshot of their best offerings. The crepes are presented in either cone-like shape or plated down neatly, according to your preference. In both ways, these Japanese crepes would come out as an indulgent snack or dessert which you would love looking at as much as eating. 😀

    Review of Mother’s Crepe and Cafe (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    Mother’s Crepe and Cafe has limited space in SM Mall of Asia. Cramped for a dine-in hang-out spot, it’s a simple cafe where customers order based on what they see on display and the long menu near the cashier and across the “kitchen counter.”  The bottles and boxes of ingredients are arranged in an orderly fashion. Everything just looked dainty and colorful. Since air conditioning is reliant to the mall and dining tables and chairs are placed outside, customers have to endure the heat especially this summer. Anyway, chill food and drinks must be enough to do that part of providing a cool breeze and burst of delight.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Alone serving customers in the cafe, the staff was eloquent and fast in preparing food and drinks. This establishment is a one-woman team. She is in charge of taking orders, taking the bill, making food, serving orders, cleaning tables, fulfilling customer requests, and so on. Wow! I thought that’s very efficient, indeed. As you can see, she’s also friendly, welcoming our questions and smiling to the camera as asked.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    The Pinoy Halo-Halo Crepe (PhP 125) did not taste as sweet as I imagined. Made with bran (a healthy dietary fiber) and top quality ingredients, this crepe was filled with the combination of coconut, banana, leche flan, yam and nuts—all essential flavor elements that are mostly what Philippines is known for. The whipped cream and ube ice cream were soft and rich, bringing great complementary tastes, fruity notes and zero trace of bitterness.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Mother’s Crepe and Cafe is not just another crepe stall. Though similar in flavor and texture to regular crepes, theirs are technically a different beast. It all comes down to the ingredients used and the presentation. Aside from crepes, Mother’s Crepe and Cafe also serves key coffee from Japan, smoothies, float and a number of soda tapioca drinks. With fair prices to beat, I want to try them all only if I’m not too weight-conscious. :mrgreen:

    This dining experience was our extended celebration for Mother’s Day. My mom deserves the treat and all the love from us. Her birthday is coming up next month, and I wonder where we will head to pig out next. One thing I’m sure of is that we gotta buy her new shoes. Maybe it’s time for us to browse for Women’s Shoes Online via ZALORA Philippines. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/motherscrepePH” name=”Mother’s (Mazazu) Crepe and Cafe Philippines” description=”2/F Entertainment Mall Area (near Chatime), SM Mall of Asia” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 804-1910 or email alyns@digicom-ph.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-19″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Royal View Seafood Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Royal View Seafood Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    The last time we ate at Royal View Seafood Restaurant was on Valentine’s Day. I came straight from a date with Louie and spent dinner with my family. This time ’round, we had the opportunity to sample a featured set meal for four (bought by Mom from MetroDeal). We are well-acquainted with the food selection, so there was no great discovery. Still, this Chinese restaurant in SM Mall of Asia proved to excel in the authenticity of the delicacy; good tastes tingled in our tongues just the way we like it. 😉

    Review of Royal View Seafood Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    It’s hard to comprehend just how many people dine at Royal View Seafood Restaurant in MOA in any given day. The dining areas are massive, spread right across both “public” and “private” functional rooms. Chandeliers give a classy and grandiose touch to the overall modern, “imperial” vibe. Also providing a good visual impact is the wall opposite the entrance. If it were not for the poor air conditioning, this restaurant would be rated with complete five stars for ambiance.

    Service: ★★★★★

    The management must know that the restaurant would often be busy, hence the count of the staff dealing with guests here. At Royal View Seafood Restaurant, I have no complains about the efficient and quick delivery of service. Treatment was amiable and pleasant. Tea was served as I arrived as well with the menu when requested.

    Food: ★★★★★

    From the featured set meal, we got carbs, seafood and veggies in one go. As appetizer, the Combination of Soy Chicken and Tofu came out first. A maintstay of the Chinese table, these classic cold cuts remain to be a “good for the neighborhood” bite at best.

    The Steamed Shrimps were cooked well. Seasoned nicely, the shrimps were plump, not rubbery and just remarkable. We added ginger sauce to enhance the taste further. The result? Pretty good for something so simple.

    You can’t go wrong with the Vietnamese Spring Rolls either. These spring rolls had a hint of sweetness from the sweet-and-sour sauce. Each piece was fitted with savory textures from the tightly packed vermicelli inside and a crispy and slightly crunchy exterior.

    The Steamed Fish with Garlic consisted of soft fish fillet that demonstrated how carefully building subtle flavors can amount to more than the sum of its parts. It’s complemented well with thinly sliced garlic chives, spring onions and cellophane noodles that absorbed much of the light soy sauce taste.

    Royal View Seafood Restaurant’s Yang Chow Fried Rice can be noted as a treasure hunt in every spoonful. With small shrimps and veggies, this food would always be comforting, balanced, true to the ingredients and, perhaps perennially soul-satisfying. That’s why when you don’t know what to order based on the long menu, take Yang Chow Fried Rice. It’s the only one you need.

    Finally, the Mixed Vegetables with Seafood gave us quite a respite from the different flavors of the previous dishes. The giant squids and greens absolutely did not miss that vibrant summer punch. Light and fresh, this can be a good start in your attempt to eat healthier this season. 😛

    Price for Value: ★★★★★

    Chinese restaurants in the Philippines can be a hit or a miss. After all, isn’t hunting down good ones part of a foodie’s adventure? Royal View Seafood Restaurant in MOA is definitely recommendable! It’s is a good introduction for the Chinese food novitiate—clean, bright, and reasonably accommodating.

    For the most part though, eating here may not be for a casual affair because regular prices of food on the menu are expensive. It will take more planning than a typical lunch or dinner out. Preferably, since they have big servings, you should go and dine with a group of at least three to get the most variety of Chinese food.

    Thanks to the MetroDeal voucher, we had 66% discount (PhP 499 instead of PhP 1488) on our meal. Based on that, I give price for value a perfect rating; else, it still deserves at least 4/5.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RoyalViewSeafoodRestaurant” name=”Royal View Seafood Restaurant” description=”2nd Floor, South Wing, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 5569520″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-05-17″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Banzai prides itself as the “biggest teppanyaki buffet restaurant in the world.” Hearing a bold claim like this makes me both skeptical and excited. I knew I gotta check it out! Just in time, together with blogger friends, we had lunch here yesterday.

    Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater in Seaside Boulevard has a colossal area of 1200 square meters and a maximum seating capacity of 300 people. True enough, this place in the vicinity of SM Mall of Asia just beside Buffet 101 is huge! Bringing Little Tokyo in the heart of Metro Manila, Banzai started its course of business last February 2014 and opened two worlds in one go: freshly cooked a la carte and signature Japanese cooking on one hand and unlimited eating on the other. Let’s see how their food has fared on my taste test.

    Review of Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Banzai’s interior design is another one that reminded my sister and me of restaurants we used to design in Restaurant City (Facebook app). If you’re also familiar with the game, you may recall that there are plenty of Japanese-inspired items such as lanterns hanging down from the ceiling, the Japanese room dividers and zen-like plants and indoor decors. Those have great similarity with the items displayed and put together in Banzai Japanese Restaurant.

    Banzai features a modern setup with the following food stations: Teppanyaki, Sushi, Sashimi and Rolls, Pizza, Takoyaki and Kaniyaki, Gohan, Noodles and Ramen, Yakitori and Grill, Tempura and Tonkatsu, Salad, Desserts and Beverages. I liked how organized each is arranged. Each station exuded a unique appeal that separates from the rest. There are some spaces that are intended to be really blank to showcase minimalism.

    There are also functional areas such as the castle, sumo arena, restrooms, cashier, reception, Dotonbori, Nautilus and the trick art gallery where guests can borrow Japanese costumes and pose as a sumo wrestler and/or geisha against the fanciful and playful backdrops.

    Customers may choose where to be seated from the different kinds of seating available across the entire dining room. We preferred seats at the side of energetic walls (lights are turned on at night which give a livelier ambiance).

    Service: ★★★★★

    Banzai prepares food the Japanese way: food are cooked upon request and there’s no warming of dishes. This is not the typical buffet restaurant where food entrees are ready to be taken by the diner from the heated trays. Rather, customers are to select and order food from the selected stations. They may either watch how it’s cooked while engaging with the cooks as they prepare or wait at their table until food is ready to be served.

    If there are way too many people in queue though, I suggest going for the second option. In that case, a number card will be given to the customer, and the staff will deliver the plated food to the table. Cooking time is relatively quick, so there’s no need to worry about long waits.

    I commend the staffs in the stations for being very friendly and accommodating. I’m not speaking for myself alone; as I stood there in the middle of the buffet stations, I also observed how they treated other dining customers. Yup, they’re consistent in giving warm service all throughout.

    What’s even better is that there’s no additional service charge in Banzai. Thumbs up!

    Management Team

    Food: ★★★★★

    Banzai features quite a lot of Japanese food choices. Since I was not able to munch on everything given the time (I had to go back to work immediately for a scheduled meeting) and limited capacity of my digestive system :lol:, I’d just be sharing here a rundown of my favorites.

    First off the bat was the Spicy Tuna Salad. Admittedly, I’m not a salad freak but the combination of salad and tuna plus the mayonnaise in this starter dish tasted like heaven. It can be best compared with the version of Omakase. I declare that this is the Spicy Tuna Salad of my dreams, and maybe of yours as well when you get to try it.

    Next up: okonomiyaki, kaniyaki and takoyaki, which to me pretty much had the same taste, topped with a riot of condiments. Okonomiyaki is like “Japanese pizza,” a thick pancake filled with bits of seafood and vegetables. On the other hand, takoyaki and kaniyaki are made in the form of balls. Still hot from the pan, these balls had me reveling in the fried, battered goodness as they deflated into soft innards, with crabmeat and octopus at the core. The inside remained mostly gooey, while the outside had a little crisp.

    A Japanese restaurant will not be complete without the sushi platter. The sashimi-topped round of rice (tuna and salmon) is quite possibly my single favorite food item in the world, when it comes to Japanese cuisine. And oh yes, I like the tamago sushi as well. The varieties of Banzai’s sushis are nothing special but are also nothing short of savory.

    For teppanyaki, I had ebi, squid and salmon. The freshness and harmony of flavors left me deeply sated. I appreciated the food more as I became witness to the process of preparation. The seafoods’ tastes were amplified with the inclusion of the vinegary, pungent and citrus-flavored ponzu sauce and the chili sauce with sesame edamame. Super yummy!

    Soft drinks, iced tea, juices and iced Milo are available at the Beverages station. Since I dislike soda and synthetic fruit juices, I walked to the coffee machine located at the Desserts section instead and pressed Caramel Macchiato (hot) for a warm coffee boost and a layered taste of deliciousness. The drink was infused with cream, rich caramel and low sugar. I’d like to take this machine home any day. :mrgreen:

    Ah, desserts! Everything was a picture-perfect sight. ♥ The green tea flavor in the Mini Matcha Cake was not too deep or potent. With right amount of bitterness, it played off with the bitter and fruity flavor of the Chocolate Tart which felt light—a reason to follow it up with another…  Much like the green tea cake, the Red Velvet Cake was made with layers divided with lightly sweetened whipped cream. Fluffy and intensely intricate.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    You might not want this for lunch or dinner every day, but as a reasonably priced meal with lots of variety, Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater is one of the best-valued options you can have.

    Lunch rate on a weekday is at PHp 699; dinner rate on a weekday is at PHp 899; and lunch/dinner rate on weekends and public holidays is at PHp 1088. Banzai charges for leftover food though (PHp 1288), so be sure to finish everything you take. Children whose height is below 4.5 feet are charged with PHp 499 each, while those whose height fall below 3.5 feet can enter and eat for free. Birthday celebrants can eat for FREE during their birthday week (3 days before, day of birthday and 3 days after) as long as they’re accompanied by 3 full-paying adults.

    Now, I’m still excited and skeptical—but not anymore on how and why Banzai claims itself as the biggest teppanyaki buffet restaurant in the world, but on how all the food I’ve yet to try (like the various flavors of Japanese ramen and some more teppanyaki) could fit into my stomach in my next visit!

    With hefty, super-filling portion of quality and authentic Japanese food, I can just close my eyes, take a bite and suddenly imagine I’ve made it in Japan. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/BanzaiPH/” name=”Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater” description=”Bldg J, By The bay Leisure Park, Seaside Blvd., Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact 09177067328 or 5527368″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-04-01″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]