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Category: Quezon City

  • Review of Alter Ego (New Manila, Quezon City)

    Review of Alter Ego (New Manila, Quezon City)

    Why the name Alter Ego? From their About page, it’s because the mélange of flavors comes from the east and the west. We were surprised to find that it’s located on a street a few steps away only from Robinsons Magnolia. It was almost like a revelation and I guess not many people have already figured this out.

    As with Kokoro Japanese Grindz, we booked a reservation here via Eatigo hence getting a good deal of discount from our bill. So, with “two personalities coexisting in a single self,” does their concept of having an alter ego actually work? This restaurant offers familiar and recognizable dishes catered to modern palates, but with new and exciting twists. There’s a different spin that could be put on with each dish, and the possibilities seem limitless!

    Review of Alter Ego (New Manila, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Alter Ego Fusion Restaurant has a calm and quiet ambiance. It’s the kind of place where you can kick back for hours, chat nonstop with friends, or work with your laptop on. It’s a laid-back place where you can enjoy your meal with no rush. Since it’s like “a hidden gem in New Manila,” we were the only customers when we came in so I had a great chance to take pictures of all parts of the restaurant.

    Overall, the theme and interior design looked elegant and decent. There’s a front part featuring Azucar products proudly displayed at a chiller, and the justify and right wings where customers are to be seated. Outside, there’s an al fresco area, complete with a colorful wall mural, for a youthful vibe.

    Food:

    The food at Alter Ego strikes a difficult sweet spot; there were both hits and misses.

    It was raining that day, so we thought soups would be a good start. We got Seafood Ravioli Laksa (PhP 220) and also shared a warm bowl of Pumpkin Soup Souffle (PhP 205). The presentations were simple, and the flavor profiles were so subtle. I didn’t like them as much as I expected from the descriptions on the menu.

    As compared to the traditional laksa I relish, this one with seafood coconut broth was bland for my liking. The ravioli in the soup didn’t come out fresh but rather frozen then heated, far from the kind that would create a good sensation.

    With a cheese souffle on top, the pumpkin soup wasn’t favored too much either. The egg white was fluffy like a cloud and just as light, but the soup itself had a weak stock with a little taste of seasoning and didn’t taste anything special.

    Okay, so we didn’t have a strong start at Alter Ego. Following the soup dishes was a comfort Filipino dish given a twist by preparing it sous vide for six hours. Nicely plated, the twice-cooked pork belly (PhP 340) was probably the best thing we had here. The grilled pork belly perfectly went together with the ratatouille and the buttered basil rice. It had a good amount of fat and meat, and the flavor was quite sweet. The veggies in the mix livened it up, and we liked it.

    Lastly, we got Devil’s Curry (PhP 230). It’s a fun course but not so much a “can’t-miss” entree. Cooked with Portuguese-Malay curry sauce, southeast Asian chili, herbs, and spices spiked with vinegar, the seared chicken dish was interesting and last meal-worthy. The bold spice and warm notes of curry brought depth and interest to an otherwise basic curry. I loved that the chicken was tender and the sauce was a little thick, which complemented the steamed white rice well.

    Price for Value:

    Alter Ego in Hemady, Quezon City provided us some enjoyable dishes and some not-so-impressive ones. Nevertheless, this casual restaurant featuring balanced Eastern-Western fusion dishes deserve some attention. Choose main courses well for a boss-impressing lunch or a lingering wine-fueled dinner. Since it’s quite empty at peak mealtime, there’s more opportunities to book the place for an event. It’s a nice neighborhood hot spot where diners can leave with a novel experience. Without the 30% discount from Eatigo though, prices would seem more expensive considering the value.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/iamalterego/” name=”Alter Ego European-Asian Fusion Bistro” description=”41 Dona Hemady Corner 1st Street, New Manila, Quezon City” rev_body=”For inquiries, call (02) 622 6109″ author=”Rochkirstin Sioco” pubdate=”2019-01-20″ user_review=”3.1″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Kokoro Japanese Grindz (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Review of Kokoro Japanese Grindz (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Kokoro Japanese Grindz offers Japanese-Hawaiian fusion food and specializes in sushi rolls, ramen, and takoyaki. We came here for lunch and enjoyed 30% discount off the bill thanks to Eatigo. Based on photos and reviews online, the ultimate showstopper has to be their sushi rolls.

    Review of Kokoro Japanese Grindz (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Kokoro Japanese Grindz seems like a neighborhood-y type of haunt. The setting is photogenic and lovely to behold. With light wooden fixtures, colorful backdrops, and ambient lighting, this restaurant on the ground floor of Creekside Square doesn’t lack in charm. The decors may be minimal, exuding a vibe of surf culture, but there’s no need to be fancy anyway.

    Food:

    Usually when a restaurant has many menu sections, it’s not a good sign, but here there’s much more good than bad. We tried getting one from each section and ended up with a bunch of pretty items that tasted as good as they looked.

    For our starter, the Gyoza (PhP 160) wasn’t the most memorable but it was okay. The ground pork filling was tasty and the wrappers were pan-fried to just the right consistency, providing a light, savory crunch to accentuate the meat. The dish was accompanied with soy ginger sauce. Although this condiment wasn’t even necessary, it complemented the gyoza well.

    Secondly, we opted to try their Takoyaki (PhP 140). I was craving for it for a long time now and was pleasantly satisfied with its overall taste and texture. With a good mouthfeel, the takoyaki was filled and topped with lots of precious goodies and a riot of condiments: negi, cabbage, aonori, katsu sauce, wasabi mayo, mashed egg, and katsuobushi (dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna). These battered octopus balls were seriously a delicious and gooey Japanese treat!

    Since Kokoro Japanese Grindz is also known for its ramen, we couldn’t get away not ordering at least one. We shared a bowl of Taboo (PhP 330). It’s ramen with tonkotsu broth base with triple garlic, served with fried garlic, mayo, garlic oil, kizami nori, pork belly chashu, negi, moyashi, and ajitama. It was creamy but not too thick. There’s a comforting profoundness to the broth that I enjoyed, all brightened up with a bit of seaweed which gave a hint of umami depth.

    Loco Moco (PhP 290) is their take on Hawaii’s comfort food. It looked appetizing on the plate, served with pork belly chashu, gravy, sunny side up egg, togarashi, negi, and kizami nori.

    As shared on my Instagram feed, Bathala (PhP 280) is the bomb! What more can I say? It’s a textural and tasty masterpiece, with sweet, salty, and spicy flavors in one bite. The preparation was flawless and this one really conveyed all the wonderful characteristics of its ingredients beautifully accented by just a kick of moderate heat. If we ever go back to this restaurant, I’d order this again with no hesitation. Yum!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Br7tMbnlUhy/

    El Diablo (PhP 250) was another standout. Made with tuna, crab meat, avocado, cream cheese, baked tempura shrimps, wasabi mayo, sweet sauce, aonori, habanero sauce, this deep-fried sushi roll had a balanced bite of sweet and savory I reveled in. There was much more going on here than in your typical roll. Loved. It!

    Their specialty sashimi, Abura Salmon (PhP 220) was served with their special blend soy sauce, ginger, cilantro, and sesame seeds. The course brought out no less than four cuts for us to enjoy. The salmon had a clean and mild taste and was great with a dab of soy.

    Finally, we opted for something with vegetables and quickly, the Veggie Spring Rolls (PhP 150) filled up that last remaining bit of space in our stomachs. Tightly wrapped with rice paper, the rolls were composed of cucumber, avocado, shredded carrots, and green leaf lettuce. The pieces had a satisfyingly crunch but were a little bland. Good thing, the Japanese sesame dressing was also provided for the rescue.

    Price for Value:

    Operating somewhat under the radar, Kokoro Japanese Grindz did not disappoint. Hardcore sushi roll purists may be put off by the liberal use of toppings, but I found that they largely added a new dimension to the dish. Many bites were great but there were also those that were okay to pass. Service was attentive, with excellent recommendations and a good cadence of dish delivery. Prices have good value; the range won’t burn a hole in your wallet.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Kokoro-Japanese-Grindz-186702658810184/” name=” Kokoro Japanese Grindz” description=”Ground Floor, Creekside Square, 74 Tomas Morato, Quezon City” author=”Rochkirstin Sioco” pubdate=”2018-01-19″ user_review=”4.5″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Fantastic Baka Korean Restaurant (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Review of Fantastic Baka Korean Restaurant (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    When you hear “Fantastic Baka,” it’s hard to imagine that this restaurant specializes in Korean grilled meat. It’s one of the newest and best recommended places to eat unlimited authentic Korean samgyupsal in Quezon City. “Baka” means “beef” in Filipino, and there’s no doubt Fantastic Baka serves fantastic, premium cuts of beef—and pork. Meat lovers will truly rejoice! What’s most intriguing is that its head chef is Chef Jang Jungyun, a Michelin awardee and one of Korea’s A-list chefs. She used to work at the 3-Michelin-starred Seoul restaurant, Gaon. We came in its soft opening weekend and thought this place is perfect for large groups.

    Review of Fantastic Baka Korean Restaurant (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    With its spacious and cozy interior, Fantastic Baka in a nondescript setting is ideal for large groups. Most tables are built for four or more, and it’s a big place full of friends and families having a meal together. Isn’t that nice? That’s exactly what Fantastic Baka was designed for. There’s a penalty charge of PhP 200 for leftovers, so the more people in your group, the better and the merrier; you can pretty much sample the entire menu if everyone orders something different. With a minimum of 8 persons, customers may dine in one of the VIP high class rooms to enjoy eating more comfortably with privacy.

    The combination of black and white elements and wooden finishes gives off an appealing, chic and sophisticated vibe. It bangs on trend and goes easy on the eyes. Love it!

    Service:

    At Fantastic Baka, a big part of the fun here is the cooking that you have to do yourself since the staff won’t grill the meat for you. That’s totally fine and all part of the experience. They do, however, willingly provide assistance in setting the fire of the grill and adjusting the height of the special smoke vacuum contraption over every table to stop you from smelling like a fire pit.

    Getting more food is simple and easy. Servers are attentive and quick on their feet in serving orders based on the set you’re subscribed to. To minimize the mess, they also collect empty and used plates and bowls quite timely as necessary. They also clean or change the grill in between different meats without the need for customers to ask.

    Food:

    When it comes to eating samgyupsal, everyone wants to enjoy more of the taste and the tenderness of the meat, and not the fat. Fantastic Baka features Korean barbecue with premium meat less of the unwanted fats. The selection of premium fantastic beef includes: seasoned bulgogi, spicy bulgogi, plate, seasoned plate, brisket point, prime chuck eye roll, seasoned prime chuck eye roll, and hanging tender. Fantastic pork selections include: belly, thin belly, neck, seasoned neck part, jowl, seasoned bulgogi, and spicy bulgogi.

    Side dishes (banchan) are absolutely free and also part of the “all-you-can-eat” deal: cheese, steamed egg, fresh salad, coleslaw, denjiang stew, japchae, deep-fried sweet potatoes, stir-fried fish cake, spicy mixed vegetables, kimchi, and fresh veggies. Rice and the four kinds of sauces are also unlimited. Drink-wise, you get your typical Korean beer, soju, soft drinks, water and juices at a la carte prices. For desserts, Korean ice cream is available.

    Overall, Fantastic Baka provided yet another enjoyable Korean BBQ experience for us. The food delivered in spades for the most part, with each cut of meat substantial to the bite and some good charring to go along with the potent beefy and porky flavors.

    Price for Value:

    Among the multitude of Korean restaurants in Metro Manila, Fantastic Baka shines, thanks to plentiful portions of amazing food. This Korean restaurant near ABS-CBN in Tomas Morato area is also competitive with the other nearby restaurants spots, so do check it out! Prices of sets on the menu range from PhP 599 to PhP 799 per person. The sets consist of pretty much the same items: unlimited meat and different kinds of side dishes. The main difference is that the “premium set” (PhP 799) includes premium cuts of beef and pork.

    with Chef Jang Jungyun

    Be ready to get smoked and dive into delicious flavorful meat. From high-quality beef and pork cuts to tasty banchan, its authentic offerings are worth the price. Fast and helpful service and great ambiance are further pluses.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Fantasticbakayes/” name=”Fantastic Baka Korean Restaurant” description=”143 Grandia Building, Mother Ignacia Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila” rev_body=”For inquiries/ reservations, call 09158455899 / 7592181″ author=”Roch Sioco” pubdate=”2018-09-26″ user_review=”4.7″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Blue Posts Boiling Crabs & Shrimps (Greenhills, San Juan)

    Review of Blue Posts Boiling Crabs & Shrimps (Greenhills, San Juan)

    A seafood lover’s haven, Blue Posts Boiling Crabs & Shrimps has you covered when you are in the mood for a solid spot serving freshly cooked seafood. We had dinner here last weekend and this restaurant has become one of our new favorites. Large shrimps and crabs are the specialty, but mussels and fish entrees are also appropriate moves. Don’t sleep on pork and chicken dishes either; these are a nice change of pace. Mixing some poultry or meat in with your seafood is never a bad idea.

    Review of Blue Posts Boiling Crabs & Shrimps (Greenhills, San Juan)

    Ambiance:

    As a casual seafood joint in Greenhills, Blue Posts has a low-key airy atmosphere and has certainly made use of its ample space. Suspended bright lighting, like jewelry for the interior, brings an illuminated, modern space. As an added touch, lifebuoys serve as seafaring decors to complete the “sea” scene. The dining room has a mix of both orange walls and wooden accents that look attractive, undeniably cheery and bold. The only thing that don’t look appropriate are the scribbles of writings randomly covering the nicely painted walls.

     

     

    Food:

    For our appetizer, we had Kinilaw (PhP 179)—chilled cubed fresh tuna mixed with native vinegar and calamansi. It’s tossed with green apple and spring onions which provided an offsetting zestiness and a great job rounding out the dish. In short, this starter was a mish-mash of straightforwardly satisfying flavors and textures in one. The tuna was so fresh! A must try. 🙂

    The Garlic Pork Riblets (PhP 499), too, were laudable with a gratifying meatiness to it. This consisted of pork riblets marinated in native vinegar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper sauteed in butter with lots of garlic. The description on the menu alone looked appetizing and tempting! I guess this will totally work when eaten with garlicky fried rice.

    Shrimp and butter have always been the ultimate combo, but the additions of garlic paired with zesty lemon pack this dish with more delicious flavor. Shrimps in Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce (PhP 1600) were superb, made with sweet and tangy shrimps that burst with a decisive snap in your mouth. The super tasty sauce begs to be mopped up with crusty bread. You won’t even need a plate for this one, just dig right in with bare hands (wear gloves for hygiene) or fork them up.

    The Crispy Fried Crablets (PhP 345) were crisp and hearty, accented by the aromatics of three types of vinegar as accompanying condiments. Can’t go wrong with this!

    Price for Value:

    We give two “claws up” to this seafood restaurant in Greenhills. The atmosphere was calm and the servers offered good service. Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps has a delightful menu with divine seafoods, so we’re sure that this relatively new branch will be filled with huge crowds pretty soon. Expect to cash out over P1000 for each shrimp or crab entree, which may be pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/BluePostsBoiling/” name=”Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps” description=”O Square Greenhills, Ortigas Avenue Corner Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (063) 221 8360 or email bluepost.boilingcrabs@gmail.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2018-07-26″ user_review=”4.2″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Chunky Sam’s Diner (Tandang Sora, Quezon City)

    Review of Chunky Sam’s Diner (Tandang Sora, Quezon City)

    Chunky Sam’s Diner has all of the right elements for a great group or solo meal: burgers (1/4-lb, 1/3-lb, 1/2-lb), steaks, and other delicious comfort food to share. It’s known as a “burger house” for a reason: it serves up excellent burgers made of freshly ground certified Angus beef, home-made buns and organic vegetables. This is where you go when you want to eat great food without having to dress up for an upscale space. Here you can expect premium, flavorsome cuts of meat that are cooked with care and attention.

    Review of Chunky Sam’s Diner (Tandang Sora, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Chunky Sam’s Diner crafted its interiors to evoke a casual and cozy atmosphere. Wood on wood created a harmonious and aesthetically eye-pleasing blend, accentuating minimalism and connecting the indoors to the peace-giving outdoors. Wooden fixtures and the blackboard wall where menu highlights were written also successfully exude an industrial cabin theme. The place looked quite small but can fit around 40 people. Outdoor seating is available for those who’d like to enjoy the quiet view or just feel the cool breeze.

    Service:

    Chunky Sam’s Diner could use more help with customer service. We were the only customers at the time, and instead of being spoiled completely, food took too long to be served, and we were slightly annoyed that there wasn’t anyone seriously manning the restaurant. Distractions can’t be blamed and being busy is no excuse for the lack of service. Given this scenario, I’m not sure how they work under pressure. Sigh.

    Attentiveness was also an issue. The waiter needed to be called out from the open kitchen or somewhere behind the counter not visible to the dining area. We had to ask for several followups especially for the first item we ordered (hot flaps supreme) which arrived at the very end of our meal. The result? As soon as one dish was placed on the table, we wolfed down the food entirely and finished everything under 2 minutes, not minding how much we chewed, and ate like five glutton monsters.

    Food:

    We started out not with any appetizer but with the lip-smacking good Baby Back Ribs (PhP 495). It’s barbecue-style spareribs served with rice. The fall-off-the-bone sticky ribs were moist, juicy, tender, and well-seasoned. The flavor was spot on and got everyone’s attention.

    Nothing beats a filling plate of good pasta! Caela’s Truffle Pasta (PhP 285) was tossed in an indulgent truffle mushroom sauce. The fragrance was a little musty, earthy with a slight pleasant perfume aroma. Dig in!

    Cooked medium, the Rib Eye Steak (PhP 1012) wasn’t truly one I can call a killer steak, but the marbling and sear were good and could satisfy your palate if you intend to indulge in succulent meat. Accompanied by Chunky Sam’s Signature Steak Sauce and Herbed Potatoes, the steak was nicely charred on the outside and meaty on the inside. To amp up the flavor, don’t skip the steak sauce.

    The Umami Burger (PhP 370, 1/3 lb.) trades messiness for precision. Made up of crispy double smoked bacon and sunny side up egg and rounded out by wasabi slaw, teriyaki sauce, and bonito flakes, it’s a haute burger for burger purists. The umami kick wasn’t quite evident but overall, this burger was yummy and didn’t skimp on meatiness.

    The Bacon and Shrooms Burger (PhP 490, half lb.) was another creative patty-on-bun creation. It’s an upgrade from the classic bacon burger, consisting of double smoked bacon, mushroom, and sharp cheddar cheese. Juice from the meat oozed out over the sides, so you’ve got to devour it before it gets soggy.

    We ended our meal with Hot Flaps Supreme (PhP 210), which arrived super late on the table. Deep-fried and tossed in sauce and served with blue cheese dip, these buffalo wings gave a crisp bite. It’s a fiery dish that can wake up your taste buds. Score!

    Price for Value:

    Chunky Sam’s Diner in Chimes Square isn’t exactly a budget restaurant but entrees are smartly priced (pretty standard). There’s something rave-worthy in their menu for every wallet. Burgers here are a serious business, and their other comfort food offerings are palatable, all warranting a return visit. But because of the long wait time, I recommend getting a weekday power lunch or weekend brunch here only if you have the patience.

    Whatever the scenario, even in restaurants that charge very affordable food prices, longer customer wait times translate into diminished customer experiences. It doesn’t only affect customer frustration and abandonment but also how much customers are willing to spend.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/chunkysams/” name=”Chunky Sam’s Diner” description=”3 Chimes Square, 77 Congressional Avenue Extension Corner T. M. Kalaw Street, Tandang Sora, Quezon City” rev_body=”For inquiries, call (02) 518 9120″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2018-07-18″ user_review=”3.7″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Nanka Japanese Latin Restaurant (Paligsahan, Quezon City)

    Review of Nanka Japanese Latin Restaurant (Paligsahan, Quezon City)

    Sometimes you want a restaurant that’s simply straightforward, a place that serves food you always want to eat. Nanka in Mother Ignacia Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City is one of them. It brings a “feel good” factor with its great ambiance and seriously delicious food that fuses together Japanese and Latin American cuisines. We discovered Nanka from a recent Poptalk episode which made us instantly fall in love with its dishes.

    In our case, it was truly love at first sight! My family and I tried their creative food for lunch last Saturday, and we were so delighted. If something new and exciting is what you’re looking for and “Japanese food with a twist” is what you’re craving for, consider adding Nanka Japanese Latin Restaurant to your go-to and must-visit restaurant list. 😉

    Review of Nanka Japanese Latin Restaurant (Paligsahan, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Nanka’s stylish interior design definitely makes up for the comfortable and posh ambiance. With large space, this restaurant can accommodate up to 150 people, making it an ideal venue to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, etc. Anywhere in the dining room is a cozy spot to relax and dine, but I think the best part is in the middle in front of the “stage” area.

    Food:

    We started with Shrimp Inari (PhP 335) which basically is a plate of sunshine. It’s a very nice crowd-pleaser, a sweet bean bag-looking morsel with a pocket of sweet deep-fried marinated tofu, filled with sushi rice and topped with shrimp and ikura.

    Another appetizer we tried was the Crispy Eggplant Salad (PhP 195), made with smokey roasted eggplant, Tozasu sauce, edamame, garlic chips, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes. Overall, it’s a great dish with interesting textures. The crispy eggplants soaked up the flavor of the spices like sponge. Vegetarians will love this salad served with a side of Japanese rice, while meatier folks might want to eat it with steak or pork chops for a hearty meal.

    We also ordered Tofu (220), which looked simple at first glance, but do not let the look fool you. These pieces of tofu may look plain but they’re as moreish as they come. The sweet and savory crispy tofu delivered in spades in flavor, cooked with teriyaki sauce and aromatic spices such as grated ginger scallions and garlic chips.

    Pollo a la Brasa (PhP 385) is one of the house specialties. Served with cilantro mayo and French fries, the charred Peruvian roast chicken was fragrant and well-marinated. It had slightly crispy, golden skin on the outside, while leaving the meat delicately tender and juicy. It deserves a two-thumbs-up rating, the type of food that you put in your mouth, and the clouds open up before your eyes and you see god.

    Tossed with lots of shiitake, shimejii, and king oyster mushrooms sauteed in garlic, butter and soy sauce, the Shiitake Pasta (PhP 295) gave us joy. I’m not usually a big fan of pasta but this one is an exception. It was love at first bite! It’s a filling pasta dish packed with earthy and delicate flavors and a soul-satisfying warmth. The secret must all be in the mushrooms.

    Price for Value:

    Nanka works well for a variety of situations—a classy date, catching up with friends, celebrating a birthday, or when you just need to want food to excite your senses. This can be your next big group extravaganza spot. Tastes and quality of food definitely didn’t disappoint. Prices considering value are decent and won’t light your wallet on fire, especially if you’re sharing the bill with friends. Prepare setting back a little over P500 per person for a full meal.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pg/NankaPH/” name=”Nanka Japanese Latin Restaurant” description=”1810 Mother Ignacia Corner Roces Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City” rev_name=”For bookings and reservations, call (02) 5179677 and (0977) 6218472.” author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2018-07-16″ user_review=”4.7″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of 13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining (Quezon City)

    Review of 13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining (Quezon City)

    It’s rare when we encounter restaurants that are named after the street it’s on. 13 Ubay St. is one of them, and it’s probably one of the last places I’d be interested in after hearing its name. It just doesn’t ring a bell! But upon reading several great reviews and seeing mouthwatering photos of its food online, this place got us drooling. 13 Ubay St. apparently is a fantastic casual restaurant in Sta. Mesa Heights, Banawe that serves Filipino comfort food that’s good for sharing with your family, loved ones, and friends.

    Review of 13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining (Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    While there are several reasons to visit a restaurant for the dishes alone, there are some restaurants that seduce diners with the ambiance and decors as well. 13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining is one of them. Historically, this Filipino restaurant in Banawe was revamped from a living space. It looked airy and massive, and the energy in the dining room was palpable.

    Various artwork acquired from the owner’s travels filled the surroundings, making the place feel special and more personal without being pretentious. With mounted colorful masks, the most memorable and eye-catching section has to be the staircase wall. Further back, the design highlight features hanging plants and lights which bring a pop of color. Overall, the wide areas, carefully curated antics, pieces of furniture, and playful, feisty colors set a celebratory mood for large gatherings and family dining.

    Set on the same floor as 13 Ubay St., Elias Wicked Ales and Spirits is as one of the newest craft breweries in Metro Manila. The bar counter presents an alluring sight with five huge stainless steel kegs for brewing beer. It’s a good thing that guests can also order cool refreshments and beverages such as local craft beer with interesting flavors from Elias while enjoying Filipino food from 13 Ubay St.’s menu.

    Food:

    To start off dinner, we had the Roasted Tomato Soup (PhP 100) which was rich and creamy with a mouth-coating texture. Its subtle sweetness mellowed the acidity of tomatoes, for a hearty soup that feels like a meal on its own. Cooked with cucumber salsa, sliced baguette, and herb oil, it can be a great accompaniment to any salad or grilled cheese.

    Who doesn’t love the combination of bacon and fried eggs for breakfast? Inspired by this classic combo, the Bacon Pizza (PhP 250) consisted of homemade thin crust pizza with Lolo Joe’s Bacon, tomato sauce, cheese, and fried egg. It tasted as good as it looked, bending the conception of what pizza can be. Pizza purists though may cast a skeptical eye and may not find it compelling. If you’re the type who prefer to stick to traditional pizza toppings and ingredients, skip this.

    Aligue Pasta (PhP 220) or crab fat-infused pasta came out as penne in aligue sauce and grilled shrimps. It’s not an evolved taste from palabok we’re familiar with, but sadly it lacked in the pronounced taste of aligue.

    It’s funny that among all those we ordered, I expected the least from the 3-Hour Belly (PhP 380). In fact, I didn’t want to get it in the first place. It was only my husband who insisted of adding it to our list. In the end, this slow roasted pork belly served with red vinegar turned out to be the star of our meal. 🙂 The pork belly yielded beautiful, succulent, moist and tender flesh with light crisp crackling, perfect with rice.

    When it comes to Filipino comfort food, rice bowls reign supreme. Instead of plain white rice, we opted for 13 Ubay Street’s Fried Rice (PhP 250, platter) that opened up to a pretty tasty situation. Sauteed with shimeji mushrooms, egg, ground pork, and green onions, this rice platter was fulfilling. Once you start diving into it, you’d want more.

    The Beef Pares (PhP 390) was served with homemade chili garlic oil. Stewed in pares sauce, the beef brisket had a good balance between fat and lean. The meat broke apart with ease but still showed off its chewiness. In terms of taste, it was not overwhelmingly salty with a touch of sweet.

    We’re no strangers to the joy of eating salted egg dishes (chips, pasta, pizza, rice, etc.), so when we found Salted Egg Ice Cream (PhP 80, 1 scoop) on the menu, we felt ecstatic to try it at once. And good god, the flavor was on point; it tasted really like salted egg and it wasn’t too weird. Rather, it was sweet, salty and creamy and would pass for a normal dessert.

    Another treat that’s easy to fall in love with was their Tablea Mousse (PhP 140) topped with whipped cream. It had a smooth, soft, and delicate texture that complements the mellow sweetness and the slightly bittersweet chocolate flavor. If I were to choose between the salted egg ice cream and this one though, I’d pick the former three times over. Yup, it was that good! 🙂

    Elias offers craft beers (on tap), Belgian beers, American beers, and UK cider. Since we can’t decide which among the ciders to try, we thought it was safe to get the Flight of 4 Tasters (PhP 280). The staff gave us the freedom to choose four flavors from those available, and we ended up with: hanep guyabano, astig mango, solid dalandan, and ridiculous amber. My husband described them all simply as “masarap.” 😛

    Price for Value:

    People seem to love 13 Ubay St. and I can say that I do as well. It’s a gem in an unassuming location, an excellent restaurant choice when you want to savor Filipino comfort food with the entire family or your big barkada without breaking the bank. Try and hit the local craft beer and a number of house recommended dishes while you’re there. Go for signatures if you’re coming in for the first time, or try other dishes that seem interesting on paper. Delicious and well-prepared meals await!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/13ubay/” name=”13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining” description=”13 Ubay Street, Santa Mesa Heights, Banawe, Quezon City” rev_name=”For inquiries or reservations, contact 0917 8577159 or (02) 5796484″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2018-07-13″ user_review=”4″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Zaan Japanese Tea House (Paligsahan, Quezon City)

    Review of Zaan Japanese Tea House (Paligsahan, Quezon City)

    Just how many Japanese restaurants are there in Metro Manila? Too many to count. While there are some that specialize only in a certain type of Japanese cuisine (ramen, yakitri, soba, izakaya, tonkatsu, sushi, etc.), there are also those that encompass a lot of traditional foods. Some focus on offering only authentic Japanese food, while others innovate to add twists to improve tastes and create new fusion of flavors.

    Zaan Japanese Tea House in Paligsahan, Quezon City falls under the “authentic Japanese food” category. While it doesn’t seem to have hit the mainstream radar, this small and quiet restaurant has several positive reviews online, which got us hooked. So we went and scoped it out ourselves. Yesterday, we dined here to experience what a true and hidden gem this place is all about.

    Review of Zaan Japanese Tea House (Paligsahan, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Zaan Japanese Tea House is surprisingly very serene, unlike the many other restaurants thriving in the same neighborhood. When we walked past the sliding door, we thought there was no one around. Apparently, we were just the first customers to arrive, and two other groups of families entered momentarily. The staff came out suddenly from the kitchen and greeted us.

    The theme is quite zen and sensual, and it’s ideal if you’re in the mood to spend a relaxing meal. Zaan Japanese Tea House is known to pay homage to the art of Japanese tea-drinking. And fittingly so, the backdrop gave us a vivid picture of how a real Japanese tea house is like. With warm wooden tables, bamboo fixtures, and shoji, this place has a cozy ambiance that made me feel like being transported instantly to Japan. Japanese teapots, plates and tea cups are displayed on the back wall, presenting an impression that Japanese tea is the star.

    Service:

    Unfortunately, at Zaan, service was not as gracious as we expected out of a traditional Japanese tea house. The space is small and it may be enough for one staff to run the operations. She was the only one serving customers, handling requests, taking out food, and processing the bill. The efficiency can be applauded, however there’s still a lot of opportunities to improve the level of customer service, especially in the areas of friendliness and hospitality.

    For instance, when we had to share food among us (as we normally do when eating out in a group of more than 3 people), we asked for extra bowls and utensils. Instead of explaining about their environmental cause and campaign about saving natural resource, the staff just said we’ll be charged an extra 10% to our bill for that request. She pointed to the menu and told us to read the details.

    So tell me, how can one person with a normal appetite finish this entire plate of okonomiyaki? I guess this is meant for sharing and can’t be fully enjoyed without having extra plates or bowls and utensils for other people to eat it with—unless you use your hands. We didn’t prefer sacrificing comfort so we asked for utensils for each person and ended up paying the extra 10%.

    I think the more appropriate way is to inform customers about it when we’re about to order or while taking orders so everyone will be on the same page and for everyone to appreciate the reason behind the extra costs. We were disappointed because she told us about it only when dishes were already on our table. Timeliness in communicating their message and explaining their intent in caring about the environment can really make a huge difference in making customers feel comfortable.

    Another good way to go about it is to mark up their prices to 10% on the menu and offer 10% discount to those who won’t be availing of the extra bowls, bags, plates and utensils. The staff would have to explain this too so guests would understand their thoughtfulness. The bottom line is that customers shouldn’t be shocked to find out about this later on.

    Food:

    We would have happily looked past the service if the food was great. It wasn’t and therefore we’re annoyed. Note that everything we ordered were recommended by the staff. The only satisfactory dish for our taste was the Zaan Okonomiyaki (PhP 290) which combined pork and squid to make a savory Japanese pancake. It had shredded cabbage, leeks, and topped with a variety of condiments.

    All succeeding dishes were completely out of the question, for those who plan to try. They surely looked interesting at first glance but turned out to be lame. You can do way better at the same price point in other Japanese restaurants in Paligsahan, Tomas Morato, Banawe, or nearby areas. In any case, here’s the food rundown and review.

    Topped with special rice crackers and salmon, Non’s Salmon Ochazuke (PhP 250) consisted of rice poured over with kombu-cha (kelp tea). Chazuke is one of the best remedies for hangover in Japan. It was being pushed as a house favorite too, which is sad as it’s easily the worst rice meal we’ve had in recent memory. Taste was bland and it can be skipped without feeling bad.

    Salmon Soboro (PhP 260) was another entree which proved that “looks can be deceiving.” It was presented with crushed seasoned salmon and scrambled egg over rice. Carbs overload might be the perfect way to describe it. The ratio of rice to salmon and eggs was our biggest gripe. The salmon was dry and leathery, and taste was off-putting. Sigh. It looked aesthetically pleasing, but taste was an absolute disaster.

    All Three Onigiri (PhP 200) will be a hit if you love biting into plain rice balls without anticipating any delicious or amply portioned filling inside. We ordered a plate of tuna, tamago, salmon onigiri but were saddened to learn that the fillings were way too small that it ended up destroying our excitement. It was like ordering just rice balls wrapped with nori seaweed!

    Tonkotsu Ramen (PhP 230) was mediocre, although it was suggested as the best ramen they have. The pork marrow broth was not as strong, rich and savory as other ramen places, and the Tamago (PhP 50) didn’t have that satisfying gooeyness that we’d hoped for. The add-on Chashu (PhP 80) also wasn’t tasty enough, not the melt-in-your-mouth type but dry and not soft as usual.

    Price for Value:

    Now’s a good time to remember that just because a restaurant is rated positively doesn’t mean it is actually great. We had high hopes. Zaan Japanese Tea House‘s interior is pretty cool, and the ratings posted on Zomato.com and TripAdvisor.com made it seem like something mind-blowing was going to happen. But then, we ate the food and experienced the service.

    We concluded that a visit here is ideal only when you ran out of choices or are simply bored. The nice space will keep you entertained but if you come looking for delicious food and quality service, there’s nothing to find at Zaan. Prices are affordable but not worthy of the unappetizing food. If you ended up here and can’t decide which to get, I recommend sticking to desserts. The pictures look lovely and appetizing on the menu. Also, please bring your own plates and utensils and save yourself extra 10% on the bill.

    Zaan Japanese Tea House Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/ZaanJapaneseTeaHouse/” name=”Zaan Japanese Tea House” description=”Ground Floor, Norfil Foundation Building, 16 Mother Ignacia Corner Roces Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City 1103″ rev_name=”Call (02) 412 8465″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2018-07-01″ user_review=”1.4″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]