Four long years have passed since Louie and I last had dinner in a restaurant in Greenbelt together. We used to meet here during lunch break or after OJT (last term before graduating from college) frequently. So this place must mean a lot to us! 😀
One of the real catches where we had nice memories in Greenbelt is Bubba Gump. Sounds familiar? Of course, that is if you have seen the 1994 blockbuster movie Forrest Gump, one of Tom Hanks’ greatest films. Most customers say that the restaurant’s gimmicky ambiance, engaging staff, and food are the main prizes. That couldn’t be more agreeable, except for the last. Read on the rest of my review of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to discover why.
Review of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (Greenbelt 3, Makati City)
Ambiance: ★★★★★
Inside Bubba Gump are so many fun touches related to Forrest Gump, resembling what the restaurant would have looked like had Forrest run the scheme of things here himself. Quotes from the movie and memorabilia filled the walls, ceiling, tables and decorations. Note: If you have not seen the movie, go on and watch it first before dining here to have a greater appreciation of the way the restaurant was designed.
Interesting diversion: Near the entrance, Bubba Gump has a gift shop section where guests can take a good look at Bubba Gump-branded shirts, caps, keychain holders, mugs, tumblers, dolls and other souvenirs that are on sale.
After eating, I roamed around and was surprised to find that the restaurant is so spacious with a lot of different sets of tables and chairs positioned in the smoking and non-smoking areas. There’s the bar, the regular central dining, the balcony and a place I identify as a function room where a gathering for a decent-size crowd of 20-30 can be accommodated. Definitely, this place scores A+ in my books!
Service: ★★★★★
The coolest thing in service was having to call the wait staff’s attention by flipping the table sign from the default “Run Forrest Run” to “Stop Forrest Stop,” instead of the typical gestures like raising one’s hand or shouting “Miss” or “Mister” verbally that may just annoy other dining customers. (The same style is being implemented in Pepper Lunch.) I’d love to add another one: “Pay Forrest Pay” so immediately the waiters would know that customers are all ready to pay for the bill and they’d prepare for the check.
Staff were hospitable, extremely upbeat and entertaining. In one of our visits, the waitress even quizzed us a few trivia questions about Forrest Gump and gave us vanilla ice cream as prize for answering correctly.
Food: ★★★☆☆
Bubba Gump prides itself for using ingredients that are sourced internationally and only from premium local food suppliers. All over the world, they are known for best-tasting SHRIMPS, or as Bubba would call it – the fruit of the sea. So we were just excited to let our taste buds reminisce and remember how their “best ever” shrimps taste like.
The Popcorn Shrimp (PHp 295) may be filed under “Appetizer” on the menu, but this starter can be a meal by itself. However, the fried shrimps with roasted red bell peppers and three great dipping sauce were mediocre at best. They were not as fresh and the flavors were far from bold or exciting.
Going to the positive side of the spectrum, the Chicken Cordon Bleu (PHp 490) was awesome. This course was made with four pieces of breaded chicken breast stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, deep-fried and served in lobster butter sauce, mashed potatoes and asparagus spears. The quantity was wholesome and the mixed taste of the ingredients was quite unique.
The bread crumbs resulted to an unyielding crispy crust which belied an unbelievably soft chicken meat. The contrast consisted of the right amount of saltiness of the ham, a good choice of smooth cheese in between, with the mashed potatoes making for a mellow touch — genius on a plate!
Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆
Bubba Gump is not a bad restaurant but just is one that serves seriously overpriced food served up in the style of the Deep South. Word of advice is to not be blinded by their culinary illusion because you can get more affordable and more delicious food from other seafood restaurants in the Philippines but maybe without the same great setting.
As said in the movie, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” With that, you can order other spectacular dishes from the Bubba Gump menu, but be prepared to pay for the heavy price as well. 🙂
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
I haven’t been there for a long time now. Honestly, I think their food is too expensive. Ditto on what you said that you can get more delicious and more affordable food from other restos.
Having high prices is maybe part of their strategy to attract people in upper classes.
It has been a long time since I have eaten at that restaurant. I remembered the spacious set up of the restaurant. The food was ok nothing special.
Next time I would have to order more of their specialties and not stick with those of which with rather cheaper prices on menu to really appreciate their food.
I think it’s cozy and a fun place to have a snack. But If the prices are too much, I guess it can wait. 😀
Maybe wait for some special occasion or date with your loved one — or invite a bunch of friends to come with you for a meal very nice meal? 😀
Bubba Gump is also a common meeting place for us and I love the shrimps here and the Run Forrest Run and Stop Forrest Stop routine too.
Haha I can closely associate you with Forrest as you too both are fans of “running.” You must love every culinary variation on their shrimps here, as Bubba would demand: fried shrimp, steamed shrimp, sautéed shrimp, coconut shrimp…and then some more shrimp!
aside from eating something, it’s cool that they have a shirt store too. love the concept!
Not only does the souvenir store sell shirts but a variety of items as mentioned above.
The foods here are too costly. Aren’t they? I thought before that once you write a food review, you vouch for its goodness and benefits that a customer may get. Rather than mentioning a deterrent factor that may discourage other to dine or eat with that resto in review.
Nope, I mean reviews are meant to share personal experiences and encounters of people on the food, restaurant, etc. and whenever I write them, I write them with honesty in my heart. 😀 Food may cost a small fortune; otherwise, the mood is festive, the service is great and the food (depending on which you order) can be fantastic for your taste.
The place looks really interesting! Too bad I’m allergic to seafood! 🙁
Ohh hehe they also serve meaty endeavors so you can try them, too! 🙂
My friends have been telling me to try this place especially for its shrimps but still I haven’t gone around to doing it although I’m still hoping I can in the near future.
It had a branch in Trinoma before but closed so this branch in Greenbelt is the closest you can go to for now. Their shrimps in the bucket might be a good try. Desserts are mouth watering and equally expensive, including Mama’s Cinnamon Bread Pudding, a Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae and homemade key lime pie.
The “one that serves seriously overpriced food” got my attention too, and now i’m curious how overpriced their foods are.. would love to visit! 🙂
Yes, you read that right. But if you have the budget for it, go over the extensive menu featuring a no fuss selection of dishes with enticing names like “Boat Trash” which is a bucket of battered and fried shrimp, lobster, mahi mahi, and french fries dusted with Cajun spices. Another house special is the “I’m Stuffed” shrimp which is a platter of crab filled shrimp, brushed with warm butter and baked with spicy Monterey Jack cheese.
The food you ordered seems expensive but looks really good. It’s really nice to come back to places where you’ve had lots of memories together 🙂 The place looks really somewhere in latin america since I had a client before which really looks like this place.
The one with mashed potatoes was really yummy. It was like the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had. You should also try them soon. 😀
I don’t mind paying high as long as the food is great. Once in a while we have to treat ourselves into fancy restaurants.
You’re right. I actually really liked this place but its not the kind of restaurant one returns to too often and especially not with such sky-high prices!
oh!@ both my favourite! Bubba Gump and Chicken Cordon Bleu! teh pic akone is mouthwatering. too bad I’m far away! :'(
Chicken Cordon Bleu with oh-so-yummy mashed potatoes is a pleasure worth the guilt – consistently excellent American comfort food with a flair.
omg the Cordron Bleu made me drool! btw two of my business colleagues used to be waitresses at Bubba Gump Greenbelt. They left the job after getting into business now they’re self-made mommy millionaires. For sure the staff there knows Brenda and Tania. =)
Wow! 😀 Maybe they just got the experience of serving in a restaurant to know first-hand how efficient workers should be and how they are going to train their staff well? That is so inspiring!
I miss dining here and quite surprisingly its still there despite the overpriced menu they offer. They must have developed regular customers.
The place serves to higher classes so end of wonder as to how Bubba Gump manages to stay through the years in the venue. Tabs are enough for them to pay for the rent.
the food looks so yummy! and so is the place! it looks more of a fun side and its very inviting to those people who wants a fun way and fun looking restaurant to eat their foods!
Yup 🙂 The only question remains is how would choose to order between seafood (particularly, shrimps) and their meat (beef, pork, chicken) viands on the menu. Don’t – get both.
I was able to drop by here way back 2011, where I lost my appetite after checking the hefty price of their menu. I know I had missed a lot of not even tasting, at least the cheapo ones. I would love to visit it in the future when opportunity comes.
Haha good thing you lost your appetite after checking the bill – this means you’re already done with your meal anyway. So next time you eat here just beware: it’s hard to keep the bill down with so many tempting food offerings.
One thing I love about this place is its ambiance. It gives the guests a different kind of environment 🙂 Makes the dining experience even better.
Yeah ambiance is totally a win! If you have no interest in dining at a regular restaurant, you’re crazy hungry, and you don’t mind eating dinner at more expensive cost, this is really one of the biggest no-brainer in Greenbelt Makati.
Though mahal ang foods but siguro ma-offset ng price ng cap. I’m into kasi sa cap collection and it’s nice siguro if i can have one of those caps in display. Memorable din sa amin ni misis ang Greenbelt Park.
But you still have to buy the cap separately hehe I didn’t take note of the prices of souvenir items.. sayang!
I’ll check this out when we go to Greenbelt. I love the place, it’s like I’m in a different world. I hope the food will suit my taste too.
Yup hopefully you find the best choices for your taste buds. Read through their menu carefully and if in doubt, ask recommendations from the friendly staff.
My first and last time that I’ve been in Bubba Gump was 5 years ago and it was during our Team’s Christmas Party. The food was great and since I love seafood, this place is a heaven for me. However, the price was quite expensive that I would rather eat at Dampa. Though, I’m planning to eat one of these days, a sumptuous and cozy reward for all the hard works.
Food is a great reward but the more nurturing there is the experience.
Another great review from you, Tin! 😉 Bubba Gump is one of my (and my friend’s) favorite places where we mostly hang out everytime we woud need to grab a bite before watching a movie in Greenbelt. It has become a habit! haha
Thank you. 🙂 Wow edi natikman na ninyo halos lahat sa menu? Ikaw pala dapat tinatanong kung ano masarap dito hehe.
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What’s so great about this review? She just ordered 2 very common food. You call this review?
I don’t know what’s so great about it. I’m just sharing my experience and it’s up to the readers if they appreciate the content or just skip through it and go to another page.
Yes, I call this a review. According to Dictionary.com, a review is “a general survey of something, especially in words; a report or account of something.”
Thanks for your inquiry. Have a great day.
Great REVIEW, Roch!
Though thats my personal opinion and I don’t need to explain to anyone (especially some anonymous nobody) What makes it great for me is that I found you to be refreshingly unbiased when sharing your thoughts with us.
You were plain and simply sharing your honest experience of the two dishes, with no expectations, and to me that is be better than a sponsored post that featured a restaurant’s entire menu, but sang high praises for even the most mediocre dishes.
Whether you feature 1 dish or 100, I always look forward to your Reviews 🙂
P.S.
Dictionary.com rocks!
Thanks for your usual support, Richie! 🙂 I really appreciate it.