My college friends and I had a mini reunion on March 9, 2014Β for the opening of our time capsule. This time capsule was sealed five years ago in our last retreat program (LASARET) held in our final term as students of DLSU. It contained our letters to our future selves and to God and also our creative white paper of commitment as Lasallian achievers for God and country. It wasn’t as exciting for me because I still remembered what I had written. In contrast, my other friends had completely forgotten the messages they wrote. It was funny that some did not recognize their own handwriting!
The person who kept the time capsule for five years was Johann who’s now permanently residing in General Santos in Mindanao. Can you believe he flew back to Manila just for this activity? Hahaha. Anyway, we had a nice dinner at Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant, Robinsons Magnolia and also a good catch-up.
Since most of us had not tried dining here before, we all agreed to dining at Conti’s following Louie’s suggestion. I thought this joint only serves cakes and pastries, so I was a bit surprised that their menu as well comes with an array of culinary treasures served as a la carte dishes. To sum up quickly, Conti’s has “satisfied the most important of appetite”…ours! π Read on for the review.
Review of Conti’s (Robinsons Magnolia, Quezon City)
Ambiance:Β β β β β β
Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant literally has two sides: a bakeshop and a restaurant. Interior design was clean and consistent both from the outside and inside. On the bakeshop stood refrigerators, which contain their cakes, and shelves where bread, pies and other pastries are displayed. The restaurant side looked like a classy lodge where lights on the ceiling and on the sides did a good job at illuminating the area.
With blue accents that complemented with beige and wood tones, the ambiance felt like a typical scene from a movie. My only concern is that some tables and chairs were put so closely together that some seated customers need to stand up to make way for others who want to pass between the spaces. (You can’t see that from the picture because I’m referring to the side in far-right near the POS.)
Service:Β β β βββ
It was around 7-7:30PM when we came in. Conti’s was full house and we had to wait outside in queue until our names were called. Waiting time was almost half an hour, so booking a reservation here as early as possible is very much recommended. Once we were seated, the staff took our orders quickly but served food slowly. After almost an hour of waiting, we had to call the waitresses to follow up on food.
If we were in a game like “Diner Dash,” “Burger Rush,” “Pizza Frenzy” or “Betty’s Beer” which tests the staff’s ability to serve customers very fast, the game would have been over in like five minutes. The place was so busy at the peak of dinnertime, so maybe Conti’s can hire more employees to take care of customers or streamline their processes without compromising the quality of food.
Food:Β β β β β β
Louie and I shared two dishes. One was Conti’s Baked Salmon (Php 360) which consisted of Norwegian pink salmon baked with a delicious topping and served with buttered vegetables and rice with almonds. (Sorry, I forgotΒ to take an “autopsy shot” –Β picture of the salmon’s pinkish flesh.)
This is one of the food I would choose to eat every day for a year, if I was asked for only one choice. Definitely, the baked salmon tasted fresh and succulent, the best baked salmon I’ve had in my life! I may either have to kidnap the cook of Conti’s and make him my kitchen-slave, or go straight to this den for my fix every time I feel like it.
The other dish we split into half (in terms of portion) was Conti’s Chicken ala Kiev (PHp 240). I love the usual comfort food with an added twist. This Chicken ala Kiev was made with breaded dried fried boneless chicken filled with cheese and herbs topped with creamy sauce and served with buttered vegetables and garlic rice.
When I first wrapped my lips around the herbs and cheese inside the chicken, I knew I was hooked. Sure, the plating looked plain but the entire dish well deserves a good chance to get the world to take notice. It was lovely!
I didn’t bother to taste all food the rest of my friends got, as I was relishing ours. But then, Johann and G offered and it was hard not to accept the taste test even for a small smack. π
Johann ordered Linguine in Pesto Sauce (PHp 215)βrich green basil sauce served on delicious linguine. It didn’t have toppings and those little shrimps and squidΒ which did not much contribute to the flavor,Β but the pesto alone was appealing and the sauce was evenly distributed. I thought adding pine nuts will add a more interesting texture to each mouthful.
Gianne had Chicken Pastel (Php 200) which was a lot like chicken ala king. It was made with chicken chunks, carrots and potatoes with mushroom sauce eaten with flaky crust and served with garlic rice. The mushroom sauce was creamy and fragrant. A taste of its crust made me recall the crust of baked chicken pie my aunt used to order from Uno Seafood Wharf in Escolta, Manila. The flakes shattered slightly on the tooth, giving way toΒ fluffy-yet-dense satisfyingly chewy interior of chicken and button mushrooms.
Price for Value:Β β β β β β
It’s been some years since Conti’s first opened, and it’s still around. This means that they must be doing something right. The dishes were really good with reasonable prices to match.
The restaurant was cozy and it provided an authentic experience. The only thing that suffered some hiccups was service. So I repeat, if you’re planning to dine in at Conti’s, Robinsons Magnolia, book a table right away. In another case, if you’re waiting in line for a ready table, it’s good to order food so you’d get it sooner after getting in.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Haha last december, I was able to reunite with my 2 blockmates. One of them mentioned being a keeper for their group but wasn’t able to organize for the opening event. Funny cause we were teasing him about being seriously worrying about it when the 2 of us don’t even know who our group mates were and completely forgot about it. So I guess it should be taken seriously pala! =))
serious in worrying*
There’s an instruction inside asking what we have done in the past five years to honor the school and stuff like that. Answers are not required to be verbalized but members can individually contemplate about them. There’s also a suggestion (optional) for members to do the same activity all over again – write a letter, seal the time capsule and open it after another five years. We didn’t do it na haha.
I was just reminded by a groupmate about it, if not I also won’t be able to remember. π Some groups don’t meet up na because they are not really “friends friends” and only did the activity as part of the class requirement. In my case, I was grouped with members of my barkada talaga so we still keep in touch regularly.
ah yes! I remember now. I didn’t enroll with my block or anyone I know kaya I did it for compliance lang haha. I was a shy wallflower and total loner back then =))
Ah lol. Edi improving pala π Naks naman sociable ka na ngayon hehe.
Yeah! Something I had to learn because of blogging lol. Not only does it force me to write better to avoid criticisms, it pushes me to socialize as well haha
Gosh, the food looks real good! I’ll try next time I’m there, thanks for sharing!
Yes, they are really good! You’re welcome. π
whenever I reach your blog it’s always full of delicious food pictures,feel so nice to be here.
Haha thanks, Debarpan. π
Im hungry now because of all the food you posted! Haha! π
Yay! That’s exactly how I wanted my post to impact readers. Thanks for the comment, Qing. π
Wow I also thought that they only serve cakes and pastries. The food looks mouthwatering too bad there’s no branch near us in Cavite but if I happen to pass by in the metro I’ll remeber to try Contis. Great review btw π
Thanks, Jaja! π Conti’s cakes are just the best. They are great to give to people who are celebrating birthdays or some other events.
I love them! super sarap ng goods nila!! π favorite ko Pie nila. <3
I hope they open a branch in SM MOA para malapit sa akin. π
i haven’t had the chance to dine in yet at Contis, I only buy their Mango Bravo when we stop there, well I think I have to try their baked salmon hihi
The whole thing of the salmon dish was just perfect. I gotta try that Mango Bravo! β‘
I thought time capsule’s for movie only, but more and more people were doing this endeavor. The food looks classy and delicious.
Haha yeah. You can also exercise the “time capsule” activity by yourself. This writing could teach you something about yourself, whether it be dreams, obstacles or personal goals. Answering the some top-of-mind questions today might lead you on a different path for tomorrow. Happy writing! π Conti’s food are no doubt excellent!
feeling hungry now, that baked salmon! Sana may branch sila sa Alabang π
Actually, they have! π Visit: Alabang Town Center, Ayala Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa (Contis Bakery & Cafe). Address: 1107 G/F Corte delas Palmas, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Alabang City Of Muntinlupa. Call (+632) 556-7720, (+63923)713-4801: (+63917)554-2996; (+63921)414-0161.
You can never go wrong with Conti’s baked salmon. Whenever I need to arrange a lunch meeting for my bosses, I usually order for baked salmon and I always hear good words saying that the dish is delicious. You should try the Mango Brava soon
Is it Mango Brava or Mango Bravo? Whatever, it sounds delicious. π Their dishes are presentable so you can order anything for bosses or some VIP.
i am drooling over this food!
xo, Brikena
What’s best? Everything. These food we ordered are quite enough to represent this place well. Stop drooling and get here as soon as you can. π
kkkkk! maybe i should be one of those serving you coz my college friend who used to be the manager in Katipunan branch kept recommending me to Magnolia branch. but, you know, I just couldnt. haha. and anyway, what happened to your time capsule letterS? i think it would be funny to know what you had written to your old self. hehe (Starting Over Again lang ang peg)
Oh, I wonder why you could not.
We just kept the letters after opening the sealed time capsule. Ayy I didn’t get to watch that movie. Maybe if I did, I can relate to the idea. π
I love the food at Conti’s but I love their pastries even better.
I will be returning to try their pastries and get another one of those delicious creations on my next “fat day.” Or semi-fat day. π
The place looks really cozy and the food well prepared, the chicken looks great
Which chicken dish? Both the pastel and the ala kiev looked great. π
The restaurant looks good, they only need to upgrade their customer service a bit, or maybe take your order while you’re still standing in the queue, so when your table is finally ready you just sit down to eat. Ha-ha
Anyway, the Salmon dish looks delicious!
Yup, that’s exactly what I said – order before you even walk in while you’re waiting in line to be seated. π
I agree about the service. It takes forever to get a table at Contis.
This is what I imagined a good bakeshop to look like, super cozy If I lived closer to this place I would definitely frequent here on a weekly basis.
Until now, I haven’t tasted the Mango Bravo π That’s what I’m craving for the longest time now. Hope I can visit their nearest branch which is Trinoma this month. Your post made me crave for more!
Oh wow, they are opening in Trinoma? I’ll have to visit their store in that branch soon. π Thanks for the tip!
I’m usually at the Trinoma branch whenever I’m craving for cakes and the Viennese Mocha Torte is always a favorite. For mains, I suggest you give the Chicken Roulade a go when you find yourself back at this restaurant. π
Thanks, Jam. π
Conti’s has always been my go-to place for pastas and desserts but that’s just it. π
Ohh pastas and desserts sound yummy. π
I am a fan of Conti’s Mango Bravo but I haven’t tried eating there.
Oh, to-go lang ba na-try mo? It’s also nice to eat in the restaurant kasi maganda ambiance. π
I haven’t tried dining at Conti’s but I have tried their Mango bravo cake. It’s delicious and I love it!
Mango Bravo sounds like a really fabulous cake! It has layers of crunchy wafers filled with chocolate mousse, cream and mango cubes. Yummy. π
I love time capsules, when we were younger my BFFs and i would write letters to ourselves and to each other every year and read it on the next, it was really nice (and embarrassing to read how cheesie we were, just a year before!), i dunno why we stopped (since we’re still BFFs and all haha). This place looks nice and the food look great as well
It’s a fun activity but maybe you’ve just grown more mature to be doing that haha. Yeah, this place is amazing! π
Wow, I love their Chicken Ala Kiev and Chicken Pastel. After several months of not eating here, I remembered why I don’t eat here anymore. Their servings are just too “Conti” for me.
Ah hahaha what a play on the word! I really need that sense of humor be injected on me once in a while else life tends to be boring. π Thanks, Aldous!
Love dining here! I’m so addicted with their Mango Bravo and Pesto.
We love those two as well. The Mango Bravo is the best cake we’ve tasted in Conti’s.
I had worst dining experience. my orderd food was lately informed that it was not available and my colleagues are already halfway thru their lunch when my new orders arrived. Not only that I was frequently bumped off fromwhere I’m seating and has frequently requested to move to the other side becuase I’m in the way. I hope they would mind if ever they never noticed that I’m a food critic and their saving grace are the food. Their service is a disaster. I wonder what will happen if I told them also that I’m related to a former FDA deputy director?
Thanks for sharing your experience here. As mentioned in my post, service was poor. I’ve actually dined in the same branch for a second time with my dad and sister. We experienced the same slow service that took like forever. And yes, the dining area is cramped so there’s need to be a lot of patience in letting other people get in or out of the aisles.