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  • Review of Corner Tree Cafe Vegetarian Food (Bel-Air, Makati)

    Review of Corner Tree Cafe Vegetarian Food (Bel-Air, Makati)

    Taking vegetarian fare to amazing heights, Corner Tree Cafe along Jupiter Street in Bel-Air, Makati offers creative dishes with a refreshing change. Tastes set the standard with quality-sourced vegan and vegetarian food delivered in an intimate and relaxed setting. If you want to try all-natural, earthy digs and flee from meaty havens, this is the place to go. Tasting is believing. 😉

    Review of Corner Tree Cafe Vegetarian Food (Bel-Air, Makati)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Corner Tree Cafe’s ambiance felt homely and inviting. Despite the plain and sparsely furnished interior design, the atmosphere was calm, clean, and proper. It’s an absolutely ideal place for those who want to unwind or have an engaging chat, one where bookworms can also hang out and read books on a quiet corner.

    Service: ★★★☆☆

    The service attendant was quick and helpful when recommending dishes on the menu, but she wasn’t gracious and friendly as we could have hoped. Perhaps that’s understandable since all other staffs were too busy on their feet attending to requests of customers as well.  They were efficient however were so focused on efficiency that we felt hurried and not totally valued as individual customers. There was little eye contact.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    For our appetizer, the Corner Tree Starter Plate (PhP 295) came out as an interesting combination of dukka and dummus. Dukka is an Egyptian fragrant dry blend of seeds, pulses, and spices with warm chunks of whole wheat bread and extra virgin olive oil. The hummus was made of chickpeas, tahini, and black olives served with vegetable sticks. The fresh, distinct, and interesting array of mixed flavors and textures in one bite make it a good option but not a must-order.

    The Spinach Feta Croquettes (PhP 210, 3 pieces) had a nice comforting flavor and were light and crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle. These tasty croquettes were made with spinach, feta, cheese and red rice served with a mint organic yogurt sauce and Corner Tree Cafe’s very own harissa on the side (great for chili lovers). We definitely recommend.

    Made with spinach, roasted bell pepper, mushroom, and three different cheeses, the Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna (PhP 450) was very aromatic and it was an absolute hit. This vegetarian lasagna was about as fresh and summery as it’s ever going to get, creamy and packed with deliciousness altogether.

    A nirvana for a vegetarian’s taste buds, the Arroz a la Cubana (PhP 255) was cooked with flavorful minced tofu, tomatoes, green olives, raisins, and fried bananas with red rice. It was topped with fried egg but that’s optional for vegans. I loved that the plating was artfully prepared, and the combination of ingredients in this dish was both hearty and comforting.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Corner Tree Cafe in Makati showcases delectable vegan and vegetarian dishes, so guests can expect satisfaction when opting for their cuisine, especially for the most recommended dishes on the menu. It has received so many high praises and awards in recent years. Being named as the “Best Specialty Cuisine” restaurant by “Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets” (MBKRS) Awards says a lot about this cafe. Prices are on the higher end of the spectrum but dishes in general have good value.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://cornertreecafe.com/” name=”Corner Tree Cafe Vegetarian Food” description=”150 Jupiter Corner Saturn Street, Bel-Air, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 2469069 ext:147, +63 906 558-6177 or e-mail cornertreecafe@gmail.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-02-12″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating hours: Daily 11am to 10pm

  • Review of Tien Ma’s Taiwanese Cuisine (Libis, Quezon City)

    Review of Tien Ma’s Taiwanese Cuisine (Libis, Quezon City)

    Ever since having my first taste of xiao long bao at Din Tai Fung in Singapore, I have yearned to taste them at restaurants that really specialize in making the soup dumplings. My colleagues apparently have the same love for these juicy steamed buns. One day after work, we came to Tien Ma’s Taiwanese Cuisine in Libis, Quezon City with the main goal of trying out their XLB. Fortunately, this restaurant is just a couple of blocks away from our office.

    Review of Tien Ma’s Taiwanese Cuisine (Libis, Quezon City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Class, pattern, color—Tien Ma has it all. The interior design is quite focused on the modern Asian look, offering a funkier alternative to more traditional Chinese restaurants in the metro. Minimalist decor and bright spaces are most appreciated. Chairs are cozy and the arrangement of tables on the side create an essential volume of area at the center and the perfect ambiance of elegant celebration. Nothing was oddly out of proportion.

    Service: ★★★☆☆

    Service was efficient but not friendly.

    We have been eyeing on the steamed xiao long bao (R1) on the menu, but for some reason, I mistakenly ordered the fried xiao long bao (R2). Whoops! We couldn’t just have it exchanged since it was already served, and it would be bad to push the blame on the service attendant. Fault acknowledged. The thing that was not so pleasant was the way the order-taker motioned to our table confronting us on the issue in an “in-your-face” manner without subtlety. No regretful face, no smile. I felt somewhat attacked. 🙁

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    So it was Fried Xiao Long Bao (PhP 200) then. We were excited anyway since it was our first time to taste the fried version of XLB. Made with stretchy wheat dough, the bun had a juicy and tasty meat filling. The best part was the crispy, crunchy, fried bottom of each dumpling. We were surprised to find that it still had soup inside we could slurp. Despite that it was fried, it did not end up saturating the dumpling walls. Yummy!

    Hot Prawn Salad (PhP 200) is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Fried with a thin batter, the prawns were sweet, crunchy, and moist all at once. The creamy sauce accompanied with fruit cocktail was quite refreshing. The rainbow sprinkles on top were somewhat inappropriate though, as they reminded me of candies and desserts.

    Taiwan Style Fried Rice (PhP 200) was okay but not any better than the classic Yang Chow Fried Rice. If you absolutely prefer flavored rice than plain white rice, get this. If not, feel free to skip.

    Served on a hot pot, the Seafood Tofu Pot (PhP 199) was a nice bite but not the most memorable part of the meal. There was nothing fancy here; no schtick, no bells, no whistles, and no exotic sauces but just textbook execution. The squid was so chewy and rubbery that is was hard to eat. Palates that await superior seafood tofu pot won’t revel.

    Supposedly a Taiwanese home-style favorite, Tien Ma’s Three Cup Squid (PhP 200) was disappointing. Cooked with salty and sweet soy sauce, the squid was largely rubbery and uninteresting. Its awful texture surely was a telling sign that it was overcooked. While the distinctive flavor of squid failed to shine through, the leaves managed to ratchet up the savory quotient.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    With this experience, I thought dining at Tien Ma’s Taiwanese Cuisine can be a hit or a miss depending on what you order. I recommend getting the xiao long bao for sure. Prices of food on the menu average at PhP 200-PhP 250 and are pretty reasonable based on the serving portions.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/tienmastaiwanesecuisine/” name=”Tien Ma’s Taiwanese Cuisine” description=”184 D. E Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, Barangay Bagumbayan, Libis, Quezon City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 3723955″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-02-10″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of VIKINGS VENUE (SM Mall of Asia By the Bay, Pasay)

    Review of VIKINGS VENUE (SM Mall of Asia By the Bay, Pasay)

    Organizing big parties, weddings, and corporate events can be a daunting task. In these occasions, a large and attractive venue that can accommodate over a hundred guests is usually required. Hotels’ ballroom and banquet halls often come to mind, however booking for the space alone (without the food) already entails paying out a huge sum of money.

    For groups that are between 50 and 500 people, you may want to consider Vikings Venue in SM By the Bay, Pasay City. When dining at Vikings Venue, you only have to pay for the food (see buffet rates per head below). Usage of the venue is FREE! 🙂

    Vikings Venue is located just beside Vikings SM Mall of Asia By the Bay. We visited this newest branch of Vikings last Sunday at lunch time.

    Review of Vikings Venue (SM Mall of Asia By the Bay, Pasay)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Fitted with spacious seating, Vikings Venue goes bold with glamour. Overall ambiance looks as decadent and elegant as can be, with stunning chandeliers formed with layers of fabulous crystal balls adding some royal-like class to each room.

    Color motif is mostly muted and not too vibrant, and this simple directness sits comfortably with the ingenious, modern and minimalist bespoke practical elements. Walls between rooms can be “removed” or opened for greater capacity.

    The buffet tables are all on one side (except for the appetizers and bread sections), and the functions rooms are on the other side. This arrangement eases the flow of traffic of people getting food and those returning to their tables.

    Vikings Venue features five function rooms that can be combined into one big function hall depending on the headcount requirement:

    Function Room 1 120-150
    Function Room 2 50-70
    Function Room 3 50-70
    Function Room 4 50-70
    Function Room 5 120-150

    Reservations come on a first-come-first-served basis and must be made two weeks in advance with 50% down payment. To reserve an entire function room, a minimum number of 50 people is required. This is inclusive of the sound system and projector. Stage and platforms may be requested and this will be arranged with a third-party supplier. Tarps and other party decorations for the event will be shouldered by the customer.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Every service offering turned out as an opportunity to have a very personal dining experience. Confirmation of reservation in the reception area was efficient. Service attendants act proactively and friendly. A waiter handed us a crab cracker as soon as he saw my mom cracking a crab by hand. Requests are quickly and professionally accommodated as well. At Vikings Venue, luxury is hinged on providing great service and convenience in addition to serving opulent and decadent food.

    Food: ★★★★★

    The buffet stations looked very presentable. Good times meet giant portions at Vikings’ spectacular feast of scrumptious comfort food, fresh seafood, and tasty meat. Here you get to enjoy a delicious variety of satisfying dishes with extensive Asian and Western cuisines that provide plenty of territory for satisfaction.

    Trying to please a number of different tastes? You can’t go wrong with Vikings Venue. Per an insider, chefs make it possible to cook up certain dishes to guests according to preferences. For instance, if a large group of people who only eat halal food is reserved for the day, the kitchen will prepare a section of halal food to cater to the guests’ palate as part of the buffet setting.

    If you’re looking for the biggest possible selection of food in a large venue, don’t miss this popular luxury buffet restaurant. While you’re there, be sure to load up not only a plate or two. Go for a third round and more, and always save room for desserts. Too full? The gamble is whether to go back for another and risk being wheeled out of the dining room after slipping into a food coma. 😛

    In no particular order, my best bets were: Chinese dim sum (everything!), chuck eye, beef kimchi, roasted duck, roasted porkloin stuffed with fruit cauli mustard grain sauce, tanigue steak with coco cream and crab fat sauce, Malay lamb curry, chicken pastel royale with sausage and mushroom, and assorted seafood with cream and salted egg. 🙂 The Japanese station is my perennial favorite, of course. I loved the dynamite blend of flavors and textures.

    Appetizers

    Salad

    Bread

    Japanese

    Chinese

    Carving

    Western

    Italian

    Grill

    Desserts

    Drinks

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    At Vikings Venue, the tab is well worth if you’re looking for 5-star food and lovely ambiance for a big group. Expect a great dining experience matched with the elegance of an upscale restaurant coupled with the gluttony of an all-you-can eat buffet. 😉

    Reservation is a must even if you’re only a small group of two or less than 50 as it’s frequently crowded and you might have to stand in line for an hour to get in.

    Prices Weekday lunch Weekday dinner Weekend lunch and dinner
    Kids below 3 ft or 3 years old Free Free Free
    Kids (3ft. to 4ft. or 3 years to 7 years old) PhP 188 PhP 388 PhP 388
    Kids (4ft. to 4 ft 6” or 8 to 10 years old) PhP 388 PhP 588 PhP 688
    Adults PhP 688 PhP 688 PhP 1088
    75 years old and above 50% special discount 50% special discount 50% special discount

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/vikingsvenue/” name=”Vikings Venue” description=”By the Bay, Mall of Asia Complex, Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries / reservations, please call 824-3888, 824-4888, 0917-548-4888 or 0998-988-4888 or email reservations.vikingsvenue@gmail.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-02-04″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Café Travel (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Review of Café Travel (Taft Avenue, Manila)

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

    Review of Café Travel (Taft Avenue, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

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

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

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

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

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

    Service: ★★★★★

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

    Food: ★★★☆☆

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

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

    Travel Chocolate Cookie (PhP 180)

    Fresh Cream Strawberry (PhP 140)

    Travel Green Tea (PhP 180)

    Travel Mocha (PhP 180)

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

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

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

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

    Service: ★★★★☆

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

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

    Food: ★★★☆☆

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

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

    * Our Friends’ Picks *

    Flaky Adobo Rice Meal (PhP 125)

    Fried Liempo Rice Meal (PhP 125)

    Coffee

    Menu

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

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

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

    Operating hours: Mon-Sat 10AM-11PM

  • Review of King One Rotary Hotpot (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Review of King One Rotary Hotpot (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Buffet restaurants are a big hit nowadays and they’re almost always a full house in every location. My friends and I are among the many others who especially love celebrating events in such restaurants where we can eat all we can without consciously minding about the supply of food to keep conversations going. 😛 Last Christmas, we were quite late to make reservations for our barkada. We ended up dining in at King One Rotary Hotpot in Tomas Morato.

    Review of King One Rotary Hotpot (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Design and arrangement-wise, King One Rotary Hotpot is not really a stunner but nothing to sneeze at either. Its charm perhaps mostly roots at the lively family atmosphere and endearingly friendly staff. At the center, the rotary belt is pretty much the main attraction in the restaurant.

    Each table features a stove of hot and flavorful broth where vegetable, seafood, and meat options are dropped in and cooked. It only takes a couple of minutes before food is ready to be fished out with tongs or chopsticks.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    King One Rotary Hotpot has a hybrid of self-service and table service. From the moment we sat down, the staff handed out a checklist of items we want to get. Apparently, not all items on the list were placed on the rotary belt, so guests still have to request others from the waiter. Somehow, the ordering part was easy and convenient. Appetizers, drinks, and desserts were available on the buffet table, and we could grab them at our own pace, too.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    Food tastes were okay in general, and the variety of items for the buffet hotpot was satisfactory. Few short courses could be ordered as part of the buffet set but in no way they could be considered destination-worthy. Quality did not pack a punch and failed to incite quite the mania fans of Chinese food.

    Moving on, from the conveyor belt, the top two ones we got were the sliced marbled beef and the beef balls. I could not recall just how many plates of sliced marbled beef we shoveled down our greedy little gullets, but it was surely more than six. 🙂 The beef was sooo good!

    Vegetables like enoki mushrooms, tofu, and fresh greens and seafood like crab sticks, scallops, and oysters were also delightful. The real diet-detonator though was the utterly addictive balls oozing with cheese. Texture was soft like your pillow and taste was a cross between yellow sunshine and heaven.

    Desserts were meek (sigh), so we crossed the street to the new J.Co for some donuts and coffee.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Dining at King One Rotary Hotpot in Tomas Morato was fun, interactive, and enjoyable. At PhP 650/person, the price represents a fair value for money.  The vast dining room with burners at the center of each table is great and recommended for family-style dining and for big groups of friends like ours.  🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kingone-Rotary-Hot-Pot-Tomas-Morato/276381379232624″ name=”King One Rotary Hotpot” description=”270, Forum Building, Tomas Morato Ave, Quezon City, 1103 Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries or reservations, call (02) 332 8073″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-01-22″ user_review=”16″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of The Red Crab Alimango House (Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong)

    Review of The Red Crab Alimango House (Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong)

    After our Managing Director’s Report at the Isla Ballroom of EDSA Shangri-La hotel last week, our IT Director treated the team to lunch. It’s not every day that fate brings our team together for a lunch date, so we’re thankful we were given the “license” to venture beyond the confines of our office and into the dining proper. 🙂 Our first choice then was Cyma and the second was Tender Bob’s in Shangri-La Mall.

    Alas, both restaurants were full and could not accommodate 12 of us in a table at the peak of lunch hour. The Red Crab Alimango House was just adjacent and likewise offered large portions of food for group-sharing. We went in fast, hungry and eager to try their food.

    Review of The Red Crab Alimango House (Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Are those traditional Japanese windows? I’m not sure if Japanese is the theme here. As far as the food goes, these Japanese-inspired interior design does not match any of the restaurant’s menu. Although the overall concept was abstruse and quite doubtful, the atmosphere was nice. Dressed with rich chocolate brown furniture, wooden panel accents on the ceiling, and wooden lighting fixtures above each table, The Red Crab Alimango House in Shangri-La Plaza Mall looked refined and sophisticated. Somehow I hoped to see the dining room be punctuated with red and rainbow-bright decors just to emphasize on its “Red Crab” branding.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    When eating crabs, it’s a must to be careful as the legs of the crabs are quite thorny. The server brought us crab scissors and helped us initially with cracking. Otherwise, it would have been a messy affair. Service was quite fast and efficient except for the last part when we requested to pack the leftovers for us to take home.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    The Red Crab’s menu is all about seafood but there’s quite a bit of variety. We had Crispy Chicaron Bulaklak (PhP 245) and Baby Squid Sisig (PhP 195) for starters. The lovely crackle on the fried pork intestines made the crunchy chicharon bulaklak an amicable affair. We could not ask more from that golden brown crispy skin.

    Sautéed with liver, the baby squid sisig was just average and didn’t leave a good impression. The fact that I deserted the dish after the second mouthful was a clear testament. Perhaps removing the liver and putting in more onions and seasonings will make it more pleasant-tasting.

    Crab Adobo (PhP 195/100g) is one of the best signature dishes at The Red Crab. Comprising a blend of various salts and spices, the fresh crab’s meat tasted naturally sweet with fried garlic and aligue. Roe lovers may expect to rejoice as there’s more than enough to share. The sweet sauce that coated the crabs was also particularly addictive as it went well with plain rice, making a filling meal. How did I know it was fresh? The whole pincer was packed with solid meat—not the loose kind that falls apart easily.

    Lapu-Lapu with Sweet and Sour Sauce (PhP 185/100g)  reminded me fondly of my mom’s cooking as this was one of her star dishes that would make me cancel my dinner plans to head home for a homecooked meal. The tasty sauce dressed the fish equally and the fish was deep-fried for a succulent yet crispy bite.

    Lapu-Lapu with Chili Mango Sauce (PhP 185/100g) was as well a stunner. Mango sauce was tad weird for my liking though, so while the subtle sweetness of it did the lapu-lapu recipe justice, I have my preference with the more conventional technique.

    To compensate for our “seafood quota” on that meal, we had two plates of Sigarilyas Express (PhP 245) which was served with thinly sliced winged beans and kangkong stalks. Cooked in coconut milk and chili with crisp-fried pork belly, this vegetable entrée had the right level of spiciness and a slightly sweet tinge to it. It was fine but not really a “wow” kind of dish. I’ve had better.

    Lastly, the Manila Pork Ribs (PhP 325) came with a rich glaze of sweet pineapple-infused barbecue sauce and a texture that’s tender yet meaty. Earning compliments for its “well rendered fat,” the pork ribs tasted robust without being overzealous. It did not have a fall-of-the-bone softness; rather, the meat was released with just a gentle tug of the teeth, not a pain to eat.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    For finger-licking good crabs that are prepared to perfection, The Red Crab Alimango House is the place to be. Devotees give two “claws up” for the magnificent freshness and sweetness of the crabs. The rest of the food we tried were not as delightful but were decent in any case. Prices are expensive so for those who are short in budget, it will be best to save eating in this restaurant for big occasions.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/RedCrabAlimangoHouse/” name=”The Red Crab Alimango House” description=”Level 6, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 9104096″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-01-19″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Other branches:
    EASTWOOD MALL: G/F Eastwood Mall Brgy Bagumbayan Quezon City
    Tel. (02) 584-7433

    GREENBELT 3: 2/F greenbelt 3 Ayala Center Makati City
    Tel. (02) 757-4129, (02) 757-4716

    LUCKY CHINATOWN: 2/F Lucky Chinatown, Reina Regente St. Cor Dela Reina St. Binondo Manila
    Tel. (02) 708-9578, 0932-2415935, 0916-6532430

    MORATO: 104 JSB Building Cor. Sct Delgado Tomas Morato Quezon City
    Tel. (02) 374-8406

    RESORTS WORLD: 2nd Level F&B Resorts World Newport Mall, Villamor Pasay City
    Tel. (02) 856-0087

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

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

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

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

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

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

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

    Service: ★★☆☆☆

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

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

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

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

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

    Food: ★★★☆☆

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

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

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

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

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