Lunch Buffet
4.0
Food 4
Ambiance 4
Service 5
Price 3
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/03/18/midas-cafe-hotel-buffet/
At every buffet, the first thing I always go for is the salmon sashimi and sushi from the Japanese Station but, this time, I was drawn to the raw kebabs, seafood and meats. After selecting a few pieces, I made a beeline for the Grilling Station. The Beef and Chicken Kebabs were pretty good, and the grilled salmon was fresh and tender. However, I can’t say I liked the quality of the Baked Mussels, especially the thick waxy cheese. (I’m sorry, but they tasted cheap, like Edam or Quickmelt cheese!)
The variety is limited to certain cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Italian and American). There’s a Noodle Station where you can customize your bowl of noodle soup, and a separate section where you can have pasta made. There’s also a Carving Station serving Roast Beef.
Some of the food didn’t seem enticing for me, but one dish that I liked was the Cauliflower Gratin for the creamy, cheesy goodness. The rest were only so-so for me, like the Bruschetta and the Shrimp Cocktail.
The Dessert Station compensates for the lack of variety. They have a huge assortment of bite-sized cakes, éclairé, panna cotta, etc. They also make crepes and halo-halo.
I think my favorite was the Steamed Egg Custard Bun, which was actually from the Noodle Station (Asian). Overall, I think I enjoyed the desserts the most.
At every buffet, the first thing I always go for is the salmon sashimi and sushi from the Japanese Station but, this time, I was drawn to the raw kebabs, seafood and meats. After selecting a few pieces, I made a beeline for the Grilling Station. The Beef and Chicken Kebabs were pretty good, and the grilled salmon was fresh and tender. However, I can’t say I liked the quality of the Baked Mussels, especially the thick waxy cheese. (I’m sorry, but they tasted cheap, like Edam or Quickmelt cheese!)
The variety is limited to certain cuisines (Chinese, Japanese, Italian and American). There’s a Noodle Station where you can customize your bowl of noodle soup, and a separate section where you can have pasta made. There’s also a Carving Station serving Roast Beef.
Some of the food didn’t seem enticing for me, but one dish that I liked was the Cauliflower Gratin for the creamy, cheesy goodness. The rest were only so-so for me, like the Bruschetta and the Shrimp Cocktail.
The Dessert Station compensates for the lack of variety. They have a huge assortment of bite-sized cakes, éclairé, panna cotta, etc. They also make crepes and halo-halo.
I think my favorite was the Steamed Egg Custard Bun, which was actually from the Noodle Station (Asian). Overall, I think I enjoyed the desserts the most.
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Service needs work but Cheesy Risotto for the win!
3.0
Food 3
Ambiance 4
Service 1
Price 3
It was a lazy Saturday evening and my SO was craving for ramen. (It’s his comfort food.) I indulged him, saying there was a new ramen shop in Greenhills. Tucked away in the quiet streets of San Juan is a new ramen shop called Oyasumi Ramen (“rest” or “sleep” in Japanese) serving Yokohama-style ramen. They had 5 flavors to pick from with Iekei as the original, but I was feeling a bit adventurous and my SO almost ALWAYS picks spicy miso ramen.
It was no mystery that he went for the Kara Miso Tonkotsu Ramen and maxed out the spiciness level. It was so spicy that each spoonful was inferno in our mouths, just the way my SO likes it. As for me, I liked how it had a slightly complex taste with a rich consistency. However, I can’t say that I liked the noodles. They were thicker than usual AND tough. You can’t really have both thickness and toughness together, because these are a recipe for one mean indigestion. Oyasumi is probably going for authenticity, but there should totally be a warning and/or an option about the toughness of the noodles, just like there’s an option for the spiciness. (Honestly, I felt the empacho kick in immediately.)
As for my order, I was intrigued by the Filipino-inspired La Paz Ramen, but ended up picking the Tomato Tonkotsu Ramen. I was disappointed that the “tomato” flavor just wasn’t there. The broth lacked the tang it promised. In fact, I felt that the only form of tomato in this ramen was the pureed tomato topping. The soup wasn’t interesting enough to finish so we decided to use it for something else.
That “something else” was what caught my attention: Cheesy Risotto. The server took the leftover “tomato” broth and came back with a steaming bowl of Cheesy Risotto made with the same soup. It’s pretty clever if you think about how nothing goes to waste (so Japanese!). The dish was surprisingly good! We played with the taste a bit more by adding some of the kara miso’s leftover as well.
In terms of service, there’s a lot to be improved upon. First of all, when we got there, none of the servers greeted or received us. No one took our names to put us in the wait list, and we had no idea how many others came before us. We were standing around like idiots blocking the entrance, waiting for someone to notice us. But NO, we felt like ghosts. The staff just saw right through us.
Secondly, there was only 1 server upstairs and no way to call her whenever she was downstairs. Also, she never really came to take our order. We had to yell it from across the room because she was pre-occupied with clearing the tables when she asked for it. As a result, she had to come back up minutes later to check if she got our order right.
Lastly, we were given tea cups but no tea or water. We had to ask for it. The server got us a tea pot. Halfway through the SPICY Kara Miso, we had to ask for water too, which should have been there before the food arrived. On top of that, we weren’t given any glasses for the water. We had to empty our tea cups just to be able to pour some water! Let me tell you, it was such a chore! Spicy Miso + Hot Tea = Extra Pain on the Tongue!
The food was alanganin, but I felt that the dining experience could have been salvaged somehow. Unfortunately, it was ruined by the lack of customer orientation in the service. The staff needs to be trained…severely.
It was no mystery that he went for the Kara Miso Tonkotsu Ramen and maxed out the spiciness level. It was so spicy that each spoonful was inferno in our mouths, just the way my SO likes it. As for me, I liked how it had a slightly complex taste with a rich consistency. However, I can’t say that I liked the noodles. They were thicker than usual AND tough. You can’t really have both thickness and toughness together, because these are a recipe for one mean indigestion. Oyasumi is probably going for authenticity, but there should totally be a warning and/or an option about the toughness of the noodles, just like there’s an option for the spiciness. (Honestly, I felt the empacho kick in immediately.)
As for my order, I was intrigued by the Filipino-inspired La Paz Ramen, but ended up picking the Tomato Tonkotsu Ramen. I was disappointed that the “tomato” flavor just wasn’t there. The broth lacked the tang it promised. In fact, I felt that the only form of tomato in this ramen was the pureed tomato topping. The soup wasn’t interesting enough to finish so we decided to use it for something else.
That “something else” was what caught my attention: Cheesy Risotto. The server took the leftover “tomato” broth and came back with a steaming bowl of Cheesy Risotto made with the same soup. It’s pretty clever if you think about how nothing goes to waste (so Japanese!). The dish was surprisingly good! We played with the taste a bit more by adding some of the kara miso’s leftover as well.
In terms of service, there’s a lot to be improved upon. First of all, when we got there, none of the servers greeted or received us. No one took our names to put us in the wait list, and we had no idea how many others came before us. We were standing around like idiots blocking the entrance, waiting for someone to notice us. But NO, we felt like ghosts. The staff just saw right through us.
Secondly, there was only 1 server upstairs and no way to call her whenever she was downstairs. Also, she never really came to take our order. We had to yell it from across the room because she was pre-occupied with clearing the tables when she asked for it. As a result, she had to come back up minutes later to check if she got our order right.
Lastly, we were given tea cups but no tea or water. We had to ask for it. The server got us a tea pot. Halfway through the SPICY Kara Miso, we had to ask for water too, which should have been there before the food arrived. On top of that, we weren’t given any glasses for the water. We had to empty our tea cups just to be able to pour some water! Let me tell you, it was such a chore! Spicy Miso + Hot Tea = Extra Pain on the Tongue!
The food was alanganin, but I felt that the dining experience could have been salvaged somehow. Unfortunately, it was ruined by the lack of customer orientation in the service. The staff needs to be trained…severely.
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Okonomiyaki House
4.0
Food 4
Ambiance 5
Service 5
Price 4
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/03/02/dohtonbori-okonomiyaki-house/
I love okonomiyaki, a rare commodity in the Philippines. When I heard that a new Japanese resto specializing in authentic Japanese okonomiyaki had set up shop in Manila, I instantly set my mind to visiting it. It’s refreshing to have a new Japanese restaurant that isn’t about ramen!
Dohtonbori is an okonomiyaki house straight out of Dōtonbori, a tourist destination in Osaka popular for the restaurants and the nightlife. Their mascot is a tanuki (raccoon dog) and, just like in Dōtonbori street, there are black tanuki footprints leading to the store. (In Japan, Osaka is known to specialize in okonomiyaki.)
It has come to Manila with 2 branches–Greenhills and SM North EDSA–but I visited the prior with my family. We had to wait a while since they don’t accept reservations, so be sure to come early!
Apart from okonomiyaki, Dohtonbori also serves other grilled dishes like yakisoba, yakiniku and monjayaki. The grilling is done on your table, so the dining here can either be a show or a DIY cooking experience. (We preferred the prior because we don’t know how to make okonomiyaki and might have undercooked it.) Here are what we had…
-Okonomiyaki: A classic okonomiyaki with seafood. It tasted authentic enough, and I was extremely relieved that the center wasn’t undercooked. I’d say the batter ratio was just right. Not too bready, not too thin.
-Hiroshima Yaki: A Hiroshima Yaki is basically okonomiyaki with yakisoba. It took the entire surface of the grill to make this, because it had to be prepared in parts. It also took the longest to prepare so we ordered some ready-to-eat dishes while waiting. Props to ate for the effort!
-Monjayaki: I didn’t really know about this until my cousin pointed it out. He has only ever seen it in an anime. It’s basically liquid okonomiyaki chopped into a pulp and eaten off the grill with a tiny spatula. Think of it as a Japanese fondue, except it’s usually eaten by kids. It’s really fun to do over a long conversation, because you have to continuously grill it bit by bit before eating. A lot of effort went into the chopping. There was even a rhythm in the way that ate chopped that it seemed like she was playing the drums!
-Yaki Onigiri: Grilled rice balls with cheese ans miso sauce? Looked really good because of all the melted cheese, but was quite simple in the afterthought. No regrets though!
-Tonkotsu Ramen: While waiting for some of the dishes to grill, we tried out their ramen, which tasted ordinarily good.
-Karaage: We also got a classic favorite from their ippin (small dish) selection. Dohtonbori’s Chicken Karaage is really tender!
Overall a fun dining experience. Extremely pleased by the selection. It’s good to know that there’s finally a place that makes okonomiyaki in Metro Manila!
I love okonomiyaki, a rare commodity in the Philippines. When I heard that a new Japanese resto specializing in authentic Japanese okonomiyaki had set up shop in Manila, I instantly set my mind to visiting it. It’s refreshing to have a new Japanese restaurant that isn’t about ramen!
Dohtonbori is an okonomiyaki house straight out of Dōtonbori, a tourist destination in Osaka popular for the restaurants and the nightlife. Their mascot is a tanuki (raccoon dog) and, just like in Dōtonbori street, there are black tanuki footprints leading to the store. (In Japan, Osaka is known to specialize in okonomiyaki.)
It has come to Manila with 2 branches–Greenhills and SM North EDSA–but I visited the prior with my family. We had to wait a while since they don’t accept reservations, so be sure to come early!
Apart from okonomiyaki, Dohtonbori also serves other grilled dishes like yakisoba, yakiniku and monjayaki. The grilling is done on your table, so the dining here can either be a show or a DIY cooking experience. (We preferred the prior because we don’t know how to make okonomiyaki and might have undercooked it.) Here are what we had…
-Okonomiyaki: A classic okonomiyaki with seafood. It tasted authentic enough, and I was extremely relieved that the center wasn’t undercooked. I’d say the batter ratio was just right. Not too bready, not too thin.
-Hiroshima Yaki: A Hiroshima Yaki is basically okonomiyaki with yakisoba. It took the entire surface of the grill to make this, because it had to be prepared in parts. It also took the longest to prepare so we ordered some ready-to-eat dishes while waiting. Props to ate for the effort!
-Monjayaki: I didn’t really know about this until my cousin pointed it out. He has only ever seen it in an anime. It’s basically liquid okonomiyaki chopped into a pulp and eaten off the grill with a tiny spatula. Think of it as a Japanese fondue, except it’s usually eaten by kids. It’s really fun to do over a long conversation, because you have to continuously grill it bit by bit before eating. A lot of effort went into the chopping. There was even a rhythm in the way that ate chopped that it seemed like she was playing the drums!
-Yaki Onigiri: Grilled rice balls with cheese ans miso sauce? Looked really good because of all the melted cheese, but was quite simple in the afterthought. No regrets though!
-Tonkotsu Ramen: While waiting for some of the dishes to grill, we tried out their ramen, which tasted ordinarily good.
-Karaage: We also got a classic favorite from their ippin (small dish) selection. Dohtonbori’s Chicken Karaage is really tender!
Overall a fun dining experience. Extremely pleased by the selection. It’s good to know that there’s finally a place that makes okonomiyaki in Metro Manila!
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Morganfield's Sticky Bones
4.0
Food 4
Ambiance 4
Service 3
Price 3
http://konyoqueen.com/2016/03/01/morganfields-sticky-bones/
For my birthday this year, I treated my family to some ribs at Morganfield’s, which is located at the new BGC Uptown Mall. There were 8 of us, so I thought it would be great to finally try Morganfield’s because of the huge ribs. Known for their “Sticky Bones“, the meat comes right off the ribs!
To start off, we had the Awesome Threesome (PHP 495), which contained samples of their 3 favorite appetizers: Crab and Spinach Dip, Spicy Chicken Wings and Russet Potato Skins. My favorite was the cheesy potato skins topped with bacon bits. The crab and spinach dip was also interesting.
Because we wanted to try all flavors of ribs, we got the Ribs Sampler (PHP 3,225) which allowed us to pick 3 out of 4 flavors of half slab ribs. The tray also came with 3 kinds of grilled sausages: Footlong Farmer’s Bratwurst, Spicy Devil sausage and Herby Hog sausage. We got an additional order of a half slab in order to try the last flavor. Our favorite was the Garlicky BBQ Ribs followed by the Smoked Peppercorn. Believe it or not, my favorite find of the evening was the Corn Bread Muffin . Crispy on top and moist inside! Good food but a bit pricey.
For my birthday this year, I treated my family to some ribs at Morganfield’s, which is located at the new BGC Uptown Mall. There were 8 of us, so I thought it would be great to finally try Morganfield’s because of the huge ribs. Known for their “Sticky Bones“, the meat comes right off the ribs!
To start off, we had the Awesome Threesome (PHP 495), which contained samples of their 3 favorite appetizers: Crab and Spinach Dip, Spicy Chicken Wings and Russet Potato Skins. My favorite was the cheesy potato skins topped with bacon bits. The crab and spinach dip was also interesting.
Because we wanted to try all flavors of ribs, we got the Ribs Sampler (PHP 3,225) which allowed us to pick 3 out of 4 flavors of half slab ribs. The tray also came with 3 kinds of grilled sausages: Footlong Farmer’s Bratwurst, Spicy Devil sausage and Herby Hog sausage. We got an additional order of a half slab in order to try the last flavor. Our favorite was the Garlicky BBQ Ribs followed by the Smoked Peppercorn. Believe it or not, my favorite find of the evening was the Corn Bread Muffin . Crispy on top and moist inside! Good food but a bit pricey.
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Bowl of Happiness
5.0
Food 5
Ambiance 5
Service 5
Price 5
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/02/29/hanamaruken/
My partner loves ramen. As a way to thank him for my planning my surprise birthday bash this week, I decided to take him to Hanamaruken at The Grove by Rockwell. I've heard so much about the place, and rightly so. There was something homey about their bowl of ramen. The soup was neither too watery nor too rich, and the flavors were clean, simple and straight to the point. The egg noodles were the slightly thicker, softer kind. Their ramen has a more authentic, less commercialized taste and was something one could eat on a daily basis.
We didn't get to try their signature Happiness Ramen (PHP 480), because we were fixated on the Spicy Tobanjan (PHP 300) and the Curry Tan Tan Mien (PHP 320), and we loved both of them.
My partner loves ramen. As a way to thank him for my planning my surprise birthday bash this week, I decided to take him to Hanamaruken at The Grove by Rockwell. I've heard so much about the place, and rightly so. There was something homey about their bowl of ramen. The soup was neither too watery nor too rich, and the flavors were clean, simple and straight to the point. The egg noodles were the slightly thicker, softer kind. Their ramen has a more authentic, less commercialized taste and was something one could eat on a daily basis.
We didn't get to try their signature Happiness Ramen (PHP 480), because we were fixated on the Spicy Tobanjan (PHP 300) and the Curry Tan Tan Mien (PHP 320), and we loved both of them.
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Good food but overrpriced
4.0
Food 5
Ambiance 3
Service 3
Price 2
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/02/22/va-bene-pasta-deli-petron/
I had heard so much about Va Bene Pasta Deli, but have only ever been to the newer branch in BGC. When I first walked in, I thought nothing much of the place. I had expected a romantic, tavern-like feel for an Italian restaurant, but what I saw was a casual establishment with simple furnishings. No one ever talked about the ambiance, and I immediately understood why when I took my first bite of the food. The food itself was amazing! I just HAD to come back and, this time, I visited the original branch in the Petron Gas Station along EDSA.
It looked exactly the same, except the original branch was well-decorated with awards for best restaurant of the year from 2012 onwards. The expectations rose…along with the prices. I might have had the best pasta dishes in Va Bene, but they have the exorbitant rates to match! Some people might have a problem with this, but you can’t always have both affordability and quality. I guess one feedback I could give is on the sanitation, which points at service operations. The plates were a bit dusty, and my partner’s plate had tomato sauce stain. Other than that, we enjoyed our meal.
We were first served with complimentary toast with an appetizing olive oil dip with chopped tomatoes, olives and grated Parmesan.
We were only able to order two dishes since there were only two of us. The first was the Double Ravioli, and there were only five pieces per serving. The braised veal was wonderful with the Marsala and Parmesan sauce. However, I missed the foie gras; I didn’t seem to taste it anywhere. It was good nonetheless. Pretty busy with a lot going on, but good.
The other pasta we got was the Nonna Gnocchi. I’m personally fascinated by gnocchi in general, so I had to try one. I absolutely loved it! It’s a classic baked cheese-and-mushroom gnocchi with Italian sausage and prawns. I might have preferred shrimp scampi to prawns for the prior’s “crunchy” texture as opposed to the prawn’s gritty, overcooked texture.
For dessert, we ordered the Strawberries a la Milena. It caught my eye because of the Balsamic vinegar with the vanilla ice cream. (Ice cream with vinegar?!) The tartness from the vinegar brings out the sweetness in the vanilla ice cream. I thought it was pretty adventurous–innovative even!–but simple when you think about it. Like the rest of the menu items, it was expensive for a fruit-in-ice cream.
It wasn’t a completely perfect meal, and the prices are a bit off-putting, but Va Bene is still worth commending for excellent pasta.
I had heard so much about Va Bene Pasta Deli, but have only ever been to the newer branch in BGC. When I first walked in, I thought nothing much of the place. I had expected a romantic, tavern-like feel for an Italian restaurant, but what I saw was a casual establishment with simple furnishings. No one ever talked about the ambiance, and I immediately understood why when I took my first bite of the food. The food itself was amazing! I just HAD to come back and, this time, I visited the original branch in the Petron Gas Station along EDSA.
It looked exactly the same, except the original branch was well-decorated with awards for best restaurant of the year from 2012 onwards. The expectations rose…along with the prices. I might have had the best pasta dishes in Va Bene, but they have the exorbitant rates to match! Some people might have a problem with this, but you can’t always have both affordability and quality. I guess one feedback I could give is on the sanitation, which points at service operations. The plates were a bit dusty, and my partner’s plate had tomato sauce stain. Other than that, we enjoyed our meal.
We were first served with complimentary toast with an appetizing olive oil dip with chopped tomatoes, olives and grated Parmesan.
We were only able to order two dishes since there were only two of us. The first was the Double Ravioli, and there were only five pieces per serving. The braised veal was wonderful with the Marsala and Parmesan sauce. However, I missed the foie gras; I didn’t seem to taste it anywhere. It was good nonetheless. Pretty busy with a lot going on, but good.
The other pasta we got was the Nonna Gnocchi. I’m personally fascinated by gnocchi in general, so I had to try one. I absolutely loved it! It’s a classic baked cheese-and-mushroom gnocchi with Italian sausage and prawns. I might have preferred shrimp scampi to prawns for the prior’s “crunchy” texture as opposed to the prawn’s gritty, overcooked texture.
For dessert, we ordered the Strawberries a la Milena. It caught my eye because of the Balsamic vinegar with the vanilla ice cream. (Ice cream with vinegar?!) The tartness from the vinegar brings out the sweetness in the vanilla ice cream. I thought it was pretty adventurous–innovative even!–but simple when you think about it. Like the rest of the menu items, it was expensive for a fruit-in-ice cream.
It wasn’t a completely perfect meal, and the prices are a bit off-putting, but Va Bene is still worth commending for excellent pasta.
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Mesclun at Linden Suites
3.0
Food 4
Ambiance 3
Service 4
Price 3
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/02/17/mesclun-at-linden-suites/
My family and I went to Mesclun Restaurant and Cafe for Sunday lunch, and it was my first time there. I had heard mixed reviews about the place, so I wanted to try it for myself. Believe it or not, my favorite dish was the complimentary bread with garlic butter. It was toasted just right and was really soft on the inside. Overall a good meal. It started off bad but ended well enough.
The Cream of Mushroom Soup was a bit malabnaw (watery) for me, but the subtle truffle taste was there. It wasn’t very enjoyable for me.
The Mesclun Salad was alright. I just wish it had more ham.
The Yakuza Chicken intrigued us because of the name, but it’s basically chicken karaage. I liked how the crisp breading was a thin layer and how the chicken meat was tender. The katsu sauce that came with it kept us guessing. It had the consistency of peanut butter but tasted a lot like sesame dressing. Still not sure until now.
The Sisig Spaghetti for me was awesome. It really had that sisig essence, but wasn’t fatty enough to make me feel sick. It had the right amount of spiciness and the chicharon sprinkle added a nice, crunchy texture.
I liked the House Cured Corned Beef for the tenderness of the flavorful beef. The tangy tartness offered by the mustard sauce was a nice touch.
Really tender ribs with a nice Hawaiian BBQ sauce. However, the grilled corn was too charred and dry.
A classic, well-executed Beer Battered Fish and Chips with a very light, fluffy breading. Loved the malt vinegar and the garlic sauce. Adding the fried jalapeno wasn’t a bad idea, but could’ve been better if stuffed.
The Chimichurri Chicken was nicely seasoned and very tender. I especially loved the mashed potatoes for the creamy consistency and the buttery taste.
The Chocolate Cake was terribly dry and crumbly. We hypothesized that it was left in the fridge for too long. We mentioned this to the server when she asked if we liked the dessert. The management was nice enough to offer us a different slice of cake to take home. We said it was unnecessary.
The Lemon Meringe Cake was too sweet for me because the meringe-to-sponge ratio was a bit too high. If the meringe layer had been thinner, the sweetness would have been balanced out by the sponge cake. It was still good though. I liked how they added marshmallow icing.
My family and I went to Mesclun Restaurant and Cafe for Sunday lunch, and it was my first time there. I had heard mixed reviews about the place, so I wanted to try it for myself. Believe it or not, my favorite dish was the complimentary bread with garlic butter. It was toasted just right and was really soft on the inside. Overall a good meal. It started off bad but ended well enough.
The Cream of Mushroom Soup was a bit malabnaw (watery) for me, but the subtle truffle taste was there. It wasn’t very enjoyable for me.
The Mesclun Salad was alright. I just wish it had more ham.
The Yakuza Chicken intrigued us because of the name, but it’s basically chicken karaage. I liked how the crisp breading was a thin layer and how the chicken meat was tender. The katsu sauce that came with it kept us guessing. It had the consistency of peanut butter but tasted a lot like sesame dressing. Still not sure until now.
The Sisig Spaghetti for me was awesome. It really had that sisig essence, but wasn’t fatty enough to make me feel sick. It had the right amount of spiciness and the chicharon sprinkle added a nice, crunchy texture.
I liked the House Cured Corned Beef for the tenderness of the flavorful beef. The tangy tartness offered by the mustard sauce was a nice touch.
Really tender ribs with a nice Hawaiian BBQ sauce. However, the grilled corn was too charred and dry.
A classic, well-executed Beer Battered Fish and Chips with a very light, fluffy breading. Loved the malt vinegar and the garlic sauce. Adding the fried jalapeno wasn’t a bad idea, but could’ve been better if stuffed.
The Chimichurri Chicken was nicely seasoned and very tender. I especially loved the mashed potatoes for the creamy consistency and the buttery taste.
The Chocolate Cake was terribly dry and crumbly. We hypothesized that it was left in the fridge for too long. We mentioned this to the server when she asked if we liked the dessert. The management was nice enough to offer us a different slice of cake to take home. We said it was unnecessary.
The Lemon Meringe Cake was too sweet for me because the meringe-to-sponge ratio was a bit too high. If the meringe layer had been thinner, the sweetness would have been balanced out by the sponge cake. It was still good though. I liked how they added marshmallow icing.
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Blackbird’s Valentine’s Dinner 2016
4.0
Food 4
Ambiance 5
Service 5
Price 4
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/02/16/blackbirds-valentines-dinner-2016/
Named after the world’s fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, Blackbird on Ayala Triangle used to be Nielson Tower, an American military airfield during WWII. After the war, it was converted for commercial flights, becoming Metro Manila’s first International Airport until the 70’s. Since then it has become a restaurant, a club and a library. Today, it’s an aviation-themed, fine dining restaurant by Chefs Colin Mackay and Kerwin Go, the same people behind People’s Palace. Blackbird serves contemporary European and Asian cuisines.
Every Valentine’s my significant surprises me with a blue rose, a fine dining resto reserved months in advance, and a serenade at the end of the evening. The fun part is guessing the destination before we arrive. Much to his dismay, I guessed Blackbird the moment we entered Makati. I was still pretty surprised because I wasn’t expecting to come here. He was careful not to give away clues the entire month.
These canapés represent different cuisines: fried prawn/shrimp dumpling for Taiwanese, sashimi on fried tofu for Japanese, and bleu cheese on a pastry puff for French. I’m really just guessing here.
The swimmer crab was a pretty sight, and the texture of the crab was nice. I didn’t really get to taste the green apple but I’m sure it was there. (I ordered a different dish.) The foie gras tart was good! I really liked the pear and the sweet onion combo. Also, I love foie gras.
I felt that the gnocchi was a bit bland and the truffle cream was a bit malabnaw (watery). It could have used more richness.
The tender Wagyu melted in my mouth! It had a clean, subdued taste, but was accentuated by the rest of the dish. The spice-crusted seabass had a simple but slightly more powerful savor, contrasted against the creamy potato puree and the sweet peperonata.
I liked how the strawberry sorbet was the beginning of the dessert phase, and not just a boring scoop of sorbet. It was a deconstructed parfait with strawberry halves, frozen yogurt and parfait crumbs.
The fudgey brownie was delish! And the caramelized popcorn had that subtle burnt taste that tasted remotely like coffee.
Named after the world’s fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, Blackbird on Ayala Triangle used to be Nielson Tower, an American military airfield during WWII. After the war, it was converted for commercial flights, becoming Metro Manila’s first International Airport until the 70’s. Since then it has become a restaurant, a club and a library. Today, it’s an aviation-themed, fine dining restaurant by Chefs Colin Mackay and Kerwin Go, the same people behind People’s Palace. Blackbird serves contemporary European and Asian cuisines.
Every Valentine’s my significant surprises me with a blue rose, a fine dining resto reserved months in advance, and a serenade at the end of the evening. The fun part is guessing the destination before we arrive. Much to his dismay, I guessed Blackbird the moment we entered Makati. I was still pretty surprised because I wasn’t expecting to come here. He was careful not to give away clues the entire month.
These canapés represent different cuisines: fried prawn/shrimp dumpling for Taiwanese, sashimi on fried tofu for Japanese, and bleu cheese on a pastry puff for French. I’m really just guessing here.
The swimmer crab was a pretty sight, and the texture of the crab was nice. I didn’t really get to taste the green apple but I’m sure it was there. (I ordered a different dish.) The foie gras tart was good! I really liked the pear and the sweet onion combo. Also, I love foie gras.
I felt that the gnocchi was a bit bland and the truffle cream was a bit malabnaw (watery). It could have used more richness.
The tender Wagyu melted in my mouth! It had a clean, subdued taste, but was accentuated by the rest of the dish. The spice-crusted seabass had a simple but slightly more powerful savor, contrasted against the creamy potato puree and the sweet peperonata.
I liked how the strawberry sorbet was the beginning of the dessert phase, and not just a boring scoop of sorbet. It was a deconstructed parfait with strawberry halves, frozen yogurt and parfait crumbs.
The fudgey brownie was delish! And the caramelized popcorn had that subtle burnt taste that tasted remotely like coffee.
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New Burgers!
4.0
Food 5
Ambiance 3
Service 4
Price 5
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/02/15/new-burgers-from-charlies-grind-grill/
When it comes to juicy burgers, Charlie’s Grind and Grill is top of mind. One of my favorite aspects about Charlie’s burgers is the brioche buns. Baked daily, these buns are warm and soft when served and have a subtle buttery taste. Another thing to love about their classic burger sandwiches is the lightly salted Black Angus or Wagyu patty. It has a very clean and simple taste, but well-executed enough to earn the title as the best burger in Metro Manila.
Charlie’s has launched three new burger flavors, the first of which is the Foie Gras Burger. The pieces of foie gras is in the patty, so each bite can be a surprise. It comes with caramelized onions, arugula, mozzarella and tomatoes.
The second on the new burger list is the Sloppy Wagyu Burger, their rendition of the Sloppy Joe. It has the chili con carne taste with jalapenos, melted cheese, runny fried egg and a generous drizzle of source cream. It can get REALLY sloppy.
Finally, we have the Five-Cheese Burger, which consists of mozzarella, gouda, cheddar, bleu cheese and cheese sauce. As a cheese-lover, this was my favorite.
We also had other stuff with our burgers. The fresh Igorota Idaho potatoes with truffle oil of the Black Truffle Fries comes with grilled chicken liver, a non-conventional pair yet good all the same. Even people who were typically averse to liver came to appreciate it. A wet version of it comes in the form of Dirty Fries. Apart from the grilled chicken liver, it also has bacon, bleu cheese, spring onions and tomatoes. Another interesting find was the Reversed Buffalo Wings, chicken wings coated in bleu cheese served with spicy or sweet buffalo sauce.
When it comes to juicy burgers, Charlie’s Grind and Grill is top of mind. One of my favorite aspects about Charlie’s burgers is the brioche buns. Baked daily, these buns are warm and soft when served and have a subtle buttery taste. Another thing to love about their classic burger sandwiches is the lightly salted Black Angus or Wagyu patty. It has a very clean and simple taste, but well-executed enough to earn the title as the best burger in Metro Manila.
Charlie’s has launched three new burger flavors, the first of which is the Foie Gras Burger. The pieces of foie gras is in the patty, so each bite can be a surprise. It comes with caramelized onions, arugula, mozzarella and tomatoes.
The second on the new burger list is the Sloppy Wagyu Burger, their rendition of the Sloppy Joe. It has the chili con carne taste with jalapenos, melted cheese, runny fried egg and a generous drizzle of source cream. It can get REALLY sloppy.
Finally, we have the Five-Cheese Burger, which consists of mozzarella, gouda, cheddar, bleu cheese and cheese sauce. As a cheese-lover, this was my favorite.
We also had other stuff with our burgers. The fresh Igorota Idaho potatoes with truffle oil of the Black Truffle Fries comes with grilled chicken liver, a non-conventional pair yet good all the same. Even people who were typically averse to liver came to appreciate it. A wet version of it comes in the form of Dirty Fries. Apart from the grilled chicken liver, it also has bacon, bleu cheese, spring onions and tomatoes. Another interesting find was the Reversed Buffalo Wings, chicken wings coated in bleu cheese served with spicy or sweet buffalo sauce.
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Andrew F.
Wow! I wanna try the Foie Gras Burger! Have you tried their beer burger? And yeesss Truffle Fries!!
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2 liked this.
Personal Favorite
5.0
Food 5
Ambiance 5
Service 5
Price 5
Source: https://wordpress.com/post/konyoqueen.com/5597
We must have been here over a dozen times. Ramen is my partner's comfort food, but not just any ramen. It had to be Ramen Nagi's Red King (PHP 410). The thing about Ramen Nagi is that you can customize everything, from the level of spiciness to the hardness of the noodle. They give you a form to fill out, which is a pretty efficient method. My partner always goes for the Red King with Spiciness Level 3. However, this time, he did Spiciness Level 10 without breaking a sweat. Achievement unlocked!
Another thing I like about Ramen Nagi is the unique soup flavors. My personal favorite is the Black King (PHP 410) because I love everything squid ink. However, that might just change. The Red King tasted a lot like lobster bisque, and like lobster bisque, it had that savory aftertaste.
For dessert, we had the Nagi Vanilla Ice Cream (PHP 150). It had two mini pipettes filled with white rum and probably Bailey's. Sprinkled atop the ice cream were cracker bits to add some texture, which tasted a lot like SkyFlakes. Even if it was SkyFlakes, it didn't matter, because it was surprisingly good. Who knew something so simple and mundane could create something totally new? It was a show of resourcefulness. All in all, amazing!
We must have been here over a dozen times. Ramen is my partner's comfort food, but not just any ramen. It had to be Ramen Nagi's Red King (PHP 410). The thing about Ramen Nagi is that you can customize everything, from the level of spiciness to the hardness of the noodle. They give you a form to fill out, which is a pretty efficient method. My partner always goes for the Red King with Spiciness Level 3. However, this time, he did Spiciness Level 10 without breaking a sweat. Achievement unlocked!
Another thing I like about Ramen Nagi is the unique soup flavors. My personal favorite is the Black King (PHP 410) because I love everything squid ink. However, that might just change. The Red King tasted a lot like lobster bisque, and like lobster bisque, it had that savory aftertaste.
For dessert, we had the Nagi Vanilla Ice Cream (PHP 150). It had two mini pipettes filled with white rum and probably Bailey's. Sprinkled atop the ice cream were cracker bits to add some texture, which tasted a lot like SkyFlakes. Even if it was SkyFlakes, it didn't matter, because it was surprisingly good. Who knew something so simple and mundane could create something totally new? It was a show of resourcefulness. All in all, amazing!
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But wait! There's s'mores!
3.0
Food 3
Ambiance 4
Service 4
Price 3
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/02/02/eleven-tables-wine-fondue-and-smores/
A hidden gem by its own right, Eleven Tables is one of the most underrated restaurants in Kapitolyo. It’s one of ’em niche establishment that caters to a certain lifestyle: wine and fondue. It’s most likely the only place where you can get legit D.I.Y. s’mores.
We’ve been here more times than I can count, and we’ve probably tried over half the menu items. It was where we first discovered our favorite bottle of wine for the “rich plum, black currant and raspberry” aroma: Yellowtail Shiraz Cabernet. We kept coming back until we realized it was available in S&R for half the price. So, yes, there is a downside to this place. The prices are exorbitant. To remedy this, they’ve turned Saturdays to “Bring Your Own Booze” (B.Y.O.B.) Day. No corkage fee.
What to Get
1. Cheese Fondue: We’ve tried all sorts, but our favorites are the Three Cheese and Fresh Shiitake (PHP 420 for 2 persons, PHP 700 for 4 persons) and the pungent Raclette (PHP 440).
2. Sausages, Tapas and Others: In the course of three years, the menu has grown, but the Sausage Platter (PHP 320) and the Nachos (PHP 300) with copious amounts of cheese have always been there. Some new additions to the appetizers are the Gambas in garlic sauce with aioli, and Crispy Squid with teriyaki sauce and sesame.
3. S’mores: You could say that the S’mores (PHP 300) was the incredible find of the evening. The marshmallows have already been slightly toasted on top of the Graham crackers, but you can toast it again over an open fire before dipping it in delicious chocolate sauce. The Dark Chocolate Fondue was also pretty good (PHP 350 for 2 persons, PHP 600 for 4 persons).
A hidden gem by its own right, Eleven Tables is one of the most underrated restaurants in Kapitolyo. It’s one of ’em niche establishment that caters to a certain lifestyle: wine and fondue. It’s most likely the only place where you can get legit D.I.Y. s’mores.
We’ve been here more times than I can count, and we’ve probably tried over half the menu items. It was where we first discovered our favorite bottle of wine for the “rich plum, black currant and raspberry” aroma: Yellowtail Shiraz Cabernet. We kept coming back until we realized it was available in S&R for half the price. So, yes, there is a downside to this place. The prices are exorbitant. To remedy this, they’ve turned Saturdays to “Bring Your Own Booze” (B.Y.O.B.) Day. No corkage fee.
What to Get
1. Cheese Fondue: We’ve tried all sorts, but our favorites are the Three Cheese and Fresh Shiitake (PHP 420 for 2 persons, PHP 700 for 4 persons) and the pungent Raclette (PHP 440).
2. Sausages, Tapas and Others: In the course of three years, the menu has grown, but the Sausage Platter (PHP 320) and the Nachos (PHP 300) with copious amounts of cheese have always been there. Some new additions to the appetizers are the Gambas in garlic sauce with aioli, and Crispy Squid with teriyaki sauce and sesame.
3. S’mores: You could say that the S’mores (PHP 300) was the incredible find of the evening. The marshmallows have already been slightly toasted on top of the Graham crackers, but you can toast it again over an open fire before dipping it in delicious chocolate sauce. The Dark Chocolate Fondue was also pretty good (PHP 350 for 2 persons, PHP 600 for 4 persons).
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Quality Food
4.0
Food 4
Ambiance 5
Service 5
Price 3
I loved the pork bbq steak! They were super tender. I also liked the truffle pasta, the schnitzel and the bruschetta. The pesto pasta was a bit bland. Good quality stuff.
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3 liked this.
Belle and Dragon
4.0
Food 3
Ambiance 5
Service 5
Price 3
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/01/28/the-belle-and-dragon/
The Belle and Dragon is a relatively new addition to Legaspi Village. Awesome service and ambiance, though the dishes can be a hit or a miss.
To start off, we had the Belle & Dragon Nachos which was oozing with sour cream and cheese. It was your standard nachos, but I wasn’t particularly happy about the quality of the tortilla chips.
I really liked the Thunder Thighs for the tenderness of the meat and the bone-deep tastiness. However, I can’t say the same for the Masala Mac & Cheese. While it was interesting, I felt that the flavor didn’t really seep into the macaroni. It’s also possible that I couldn’t taste it then because it was already cool by the time I got to try it.
I don’t have a picture here, but the Oven-baked Cauliflower Soup was my favorite that evening. It was really creamy and rich with a complex taste.
For the mains, we got two kinds of fish. I thought that the Fish N Chips was well-executed for the thin, crispy batter, and that the Mustard-Miso Crusted Salmon was a creative twist that totally works.
Finally, we got the Kare Vegetable Pie, made of Japanese curry. We were kind of disappointed by it, and eating it felt like a chore. It seemed like a regular pie with vegetables in it. The Japanese curry was barely there.
The Belle and Dragon is a relatively new addition to Legaspi Village. Awesome service and ambiance, though the dishes can be a hit or a miss.
To start off, we had the Belle & Dragon Nachos which was oozing with sour cream and cheese. It was your standard nachos, but I wasn’t particularly happy about the quality of the tortilla chips.
I really liked the Thunder Thighs for the tenderness of the meat and the bone-deep tastiness. However, I can’t say the same for the Masala Mac & Cheese. While it was interesting, I felt that the flavor didn’t really seep into the macaroni. It’s also possible that I couldn’t taste it then because it was already cool by the time I got to try it.
I don’t have a picture here, but the Oven-baked Cauliflower Soup was my favorite that evening. It was really creamy and rich with a complex taste.
For the mains, we got two kinds of fish. I thought that the Fish N Chips was well-executed for the thin, crispy batter, and that the Mustard-Miso Crusted Salmon was a creative twist that totally works.
Finally, we got the Kare Vegetable Pie, made of Japanese curry. We were kind of disappointed by it, and eating it felt like a chore. It seemed like a regular pie with vegetables in it. The Japanese curry was barely there.
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4 liked this.
Sandwiches with a Twist
4.0
Food 5
Ambiance 4
Service 3
Price 5
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/01/26/mr-grahams-sandwich-shop/
Nothing is cuter than these his-and-her restos! Right next to Mrs. Graham’s Parisian cafe is Mr. Graham’s Sandwich Shop, famed for The Cebuano–just like Mr. Graham–a local take on the Cubano sandwich. What distinguishes it are the slices of Cebu lechon amidst the the pickled onions, Emmental cheese and aioli, pressed between toasted sandwich buns. (Lechon is a roasted suckling pig. Cebu lechon is stuffed with herbs and spices before it is roasted to make the meat even tastier.)
Another favorite is the Four Cheese, Bacon Please, Mr. Graham’s interpretation of the grilled cheese sandwich containing mozzarella, cream cheese, cheddar with fried Parmesan-toasted bread. This savory sandwich is accentuated by the beer-n-onion-bacon jam. Yum!
Something else that caught our attention was the Sloppy G, a creamy version of the Sloppy Joe. Instead of tomato sauce, Mr. Graham uses mushroom gravy with the ground beef.
Just as we finished our sandwiches, a fourth one came along. It’s on the “secret menu”, but I think it’s too good that it HAS to be in the regular menu! The Elvis Press Me plays on Elvis Presley’s favorite sandwich (a.k.a. The Elvis), which consists of peanut butter, banana and bacon. The Elvis Press Me is an improved version in that it has candied bacon, real crushed peanuts to give a crunchy texture, and MELTED MARSHMALLOWS. Zomg! Another stroke of genius!
You can combo these sandwiches with a side and a drink, then the total price of the set becomes lower. They have a selection of sides like Taro-Camote-Potato Chips (PHP 100 solo, PHP 60 combo) and Tomato Soup (PHP 120 solo, PHP 100 combo). I doubt you’ll need it given the size of the sandwiches. Lol. For drinks, Mr. Graham has home-brewed Apple Pie Soda (PHP 115 solo, PHP 90 combo), which I really loved! Tastes legit, complete with a hint of cinnamon!
Overall a pleasant experience! Will definitely come back to try the other sandwiches!
Nothing is cuter than these his-and-her restos! Right next to Mrs. Graham’s Parisian cafe is Mr. Graham’s Sandwich Shop, famed for The Cebuano–just like Mr. Graham–a local take on the Cubano sandwich. What distinguishes it are the slices of Cebu lechon amidst the the pickled onions, Emmental cheese and aioli, pressed between toasted sandwich buns. (Lechon is a roasted suckling pig. Cebu lechon is stuffed with herbs and spices before it is roasted to make the meat even tastier.)
Another favorite is the Four Cheese, Bacon Please, Mr. Graham’s interpretation of the grilled cheese sandwich containing mozzarella, cream cheese, cheddar with fried Parmesan-toasted bread. This savory sandwich is accentuated by the beer-n-onion-bacon jam. Yum!
Something else that caught our attention was the Sloppy G, a creamy version of the Sloppy Joe. Instead of tomato sauce, Mr. Graham uses mushroom gravy with the ground beef.
Just as we finished our sandwiches, a fourth one came along. It’s on the “secret menu”, but I think it’s too good that it HAS to be in the regular menu! The Elvis Press Me plays on Elvis Presley’s favorite sandwich (a.k.a. The Elvis), which consists of peanut butter, banana and bacon. The Elvis Press Me is an improved version in that it has candied bacon, real crushed peanuts to give a crunchy texture, and MELTED MARSHMALLOWS. Zomg! Another stroke of genius!
You can combo these sandwiches with a side and a drink, then the total price of the set becomes lower. They have a selection of sides like Taro-Camote-Potato Chips (PHP 100 solo, PHP 60 combo) and Tomato Soup (PHP 120 solo, PHP 100 combo). I doubt you’ll need it given the size of the sandwiches. Lol. For drinks, Mr. Graham has home-brewed Apple Pie Soda (PHP 115 solo, PHP 90 combo), which I really loved! Tastes legit, complete with a hint of cinnamon!
Overall a pleasant experience! Will definitely come back to try the other sandwiches!
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5 liked this.
Snow Buns of TuanTuan
4.0
Food 5
Ambiance 4
Service 4
Price 4
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/01/22/snow-buns-of-tuantuan/
TuanTuan Chinese Brasserie is now on its 3rd branch in Metro Manila, the newest of which is in Promenade, Greenhills. It has a Chinese-French and Macanese menu serving noodle soup, Chinese curry, congee and other favorites.Their specialty is the TuanTuan Signature Crispy Snow Bun (PHP 128), and the first time my teeth sunk into it, I immediately understood why. It was baked to a golden crisp with a sweet, flaky crust and a pillow-soft bun. It just became my #1 favorite Char Siew Bao, with Tim Ho Wan‘s as my #2.
TuanTuan Chinese Brasserie is now on its 3rd branch in Metro Manila, the newest of which is in Promenade, Greenhills. It has a Chinese-French and Macanese menu serving noodle soup, Chinese curry, congee and other favorites.Their specialty is the TuanTuan Signature Crispy Snow Bun (PHP 128), and the first time my teeth sunk into it, I immediately understood why. It was baked to a golden crisp with a sweet, flaky crust and a pillow-soft bun. It just became my #1 favorite Char Siew Bao, with Tim Ho Wan‘s as my #2.
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53 Years of Dulcinea
3.0
Food 3
Ambiance 3
Service 3
Price 3
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/01/21/dulcinea-53-years-of-churros/
A really old Spanish food chain in Metro Manila, Dulcinea has been around for over 50 years. I come here for only one thing and, personally, I think Dulcinea would have closed down a long time ago without it: Churros con Chocolate (PHP 118). The golden, crispy churros dipped in rich, creamy chocolate are to DIE for! The classic recipe might be simple, but there’s something about its honesty that makes it truly delicious. We had it for appetizer, and had it again for dessert. LOL.
Apart from this heavenly snack, Dulcinea’s Paella Valenciana (PHP 585) is pretty decent as well. Love the tutong. My grandparents order it all the time, seeing as how this is their 2nd favorite dish after the churros. (No pictures because it was devoured before I got the chance to whip out my camera.)
During this visit, we also tried something different: the Albondigas (PHP 210). They’re basically fried meatballs in gravy. Not bad either.
Dining here again got me to re-consider my perception of Dulcinea. It may seem like a has-been resto in an old part of the metro, but in its own quiet, dignified way, Dulcinea justifies how it deserves to still be here.
A really old Spanish food chain in Metro Manila, Dulcinea has been around for over 50 years. I come here for only one thing and, personally, I think Dulcinea would have closed down a long time ago without it: Churros con Chocolate (PHP 118). The golden, crispy churros dipped in rich, creamy chocolate are to DIE for! The classic recipe might be simple, but there’s something about its honesty that makes it truly delicious. We had it for appetizer, and had it again for dessert. LOL.
Apart from this heavenly snack, Dulcinea’s Paella Valenciana (PHP 585) is pretty decent as well. Love the tutong. My grandparents order it all the time, seeing as how this is their 2nd favorite dish after the churros. (No pictures because it was devoured before I got the chance to whip out my camera.)
During this visit, we also tried something different: the Albondigas (PHP 210). They’re basically fried meatballs in gravy. Not bad either.
Dining here again got me to re-consider my perception of Dulcinea. It may seem like a has-been resto in an old part of the metro, but in its own quiet, dignified way, Dulcinea justifies how it deserves to still be here.
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The Deli at Shaw
4.0
Food 4
Ambiance 4
Service 4
Price 5
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/01/20/the-deli-at-shaw/
Along Shaw Boulevard lies a small, inconspicuous deli, one of the few food establishments in the area. Conveniently placed across the street from Wack Wack Golf Course & Country Club, The Deli at Shaw was born of the common interest between five friends who love to golf and to drink wine after. It’s the perfect hangout for people who want to enjoy good food and liquor with the company of others in a quiet setting.
Since we were in a deli, we had to order the Cheese and Meat Platter (PHP 500) and wine to go with it. You can customize the types of cheese and meats. We picked the Jamon Serrano, Salami, Gouda and Machego Cheese.
Our host got us to try grilling some Raclette Cheese. It melts in under a minute and gives off this pungent aroma. It went really well with toasted focaccia bread.
Some interesting finds were the Pork Shrimp Shao Mai (PHP 195) and the Squid Ink Shao Mai (PHP 160). These Taiwanese dumplings aren’t your typical dimsum. They’re covered in rice noodles rather than wrapper. Plus, squid ink?? Yum! These were the only Asian thing in the menu and may seem a bit off-theme, but the owners are Taiwanese/Chinese, so it makes perfect sense to have something unique like Shao Mai in a deli.
Apart from cheese and meats, The Deli’s bistro serves comfort foods like pasta, pizza and sandwiches. We tried one of each: the Carbonara (PHP 180), the Ham and Cheese Sandwich (PHP 195) and the Hawaiian Pizza (PHP 140).
Overall a good, low-key place to have a casual conversation with friends over good food and wine/beer.
Along Shaw Boulevard lies a small, inconspicuous deli, one of the few food establishments in the area. Conveniently placed across the street from Wack Wack Golf Course & Country Club, The Deli at Shaw was born of the common interest between five friends who love to golf and to drink wine after. It’s the perfect hangout for people who want to enjoy good food and liquor with the company of others in a quiet setting.
Since we were in a deli, we had to order the Cheese and Meat Platter (PHP 500) and wine to go with it. You can customize the types of cheese and meats. We picked the Jamon Serrano, Salami, Gouda and Machego Cheese.
Our host got us to try grilling some Raclette Cheese. It melts in under a minute and gives off this pungent aroma. It went really well with toasted focaccia bread.
Some interesting finds were the Pork Shrimp Shao Mai (PHP 195) and the Squid Ink Shao Mai (PHP 160). These Taiwanese dumplings aren’t your typical dimsum. They’re covered in rice noodles rather than wrapper. Plus, squid ink?? Yum! These were the only Asian thing in the menu and may seem a bit off-theme, but the owners are Taiwanese/Chinese, so it makes perfect sense to have something unique like Shao Mai in a deli.
Apart from cheese and meats, The Deli’s bistro serves comfort foods like pasta, pizza and sandwiches. We tried one of each: the Carbonara (PHP 180), the Ham and Cheese Sandwich (PHP 195) and the Hawaiian Pizza (PHP 140).
Overall a good, low-key place to have a casual conversation with friends over good food and wine/beer.
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Summer Palace
4.0
Food 5
Ambiance 5
Service 4
Price 4
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2016/01/18/summer-palace/
I had dinner with friends last week at Summer Palace, a fine-dining Chinese restaurant in EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. Such a resto usually has hefty servings and with the price to match, so it’s ideal to bring people to share with. We decided to go last week because their promo with BDO was ending soon. The deal got us a 50% discount off our bill (up to PHP 15,000 spending). If you missed it, don’t worry. They have it a lot.
There was a time when we used to come here almost every month for birthdays, death anniversaries, etc. That ended a couple of years ago when the clan–not just the family–found other restos to try. I was relieved that they finally moved on, because I was starting to dislike Chinese food. However, when I came back, I remembered the things that I liked about it.
A favorite from Summer Palace is the King Prawn Balls Coated with Corn Flakes (S – PHP 1,070; M – PHP 1,600; L – PHP 2,140). I love how the glazed corn flakes are crunchy in some parts and soggy in other parts from the mayo. So good!
Another thing we ordered was the Deep-Fried Duck in Mashed Taro (M – PHP 1,790; L – PHP 3,580). I have a fond memory of this dish. When I was around 12 years old, I had my braces adjusted on the same day that we had a dinner party at Summer Palace. Naturally, my gums hurt everywhere, and I had difficulty eating solid food. The only thing I could have that evening was the Fried Taro. That was also my first time to try taro. Since then, I’ve liked fried taro. With duck in each roll of fried taro? Even better!
We also got the Pan-Fried Codfish Fillet in Light Soy Sauce (S – PHP 2,020; M – PHP 3,020; L – PHP 4,030). (You gotta admire how the names of the dishes are the descriptions of the dish.) I liked how the well-executed breading was very thin and fluffy. Similar to sea bass, the cod’s white meat is tender with a subtle flavor on its own. Cod is supposed to be healthy; it’s a low-calorie source of protein containing omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins B12 and B6.…and, of course, we had to order the classic Sweet and Sour Pork (S – PHP 540; M – PHP 810; L – PHP 1,075).
For dessert, I don’t know what my friends ordered, but this mochi ball had peanut butter inside. It wasn’t the usual black sesame or peanut paste customary to mochi balls. It was really rich and sweet. Since most of us had already given up eating before that, this was our last hurrah. Whew!
Overall a pleasant dining experience. Good food tastes better when paired with good company.
I had dinner with friends last week at Summer Palace, a fine-dining Chinese restaurant in EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. Such a resto usually has hefty servings and with the price to match, so it’s ideal to bring people to share with. We decided to go last week because their promo with BDO was ending soon. The deal got us a 50% discount off our bill (up to PHP 15,000 spending). If you missed it, don’t worry. They have it a lot.
There was a time when we used to come here almost every month for birthdays, death anniversaries, etc. That ended a couple of years ago when the clan–not just the family–found other restos to try. I was relieved that they finally moved on, because I was starting to dislike Chinese food. However, when I came back, I remembered the things that I liked about it.
A favorite from Summer Palace is the King Prawn Balls Coated with Corn Flakes (S – PHP 1,070; M – PHP 1,600; L – PHP 2,140). I love how the glazed corn flakes are crunchy in some parts and soggy in other parts from the mayo. So good!
Another thing we ordered was the Deep-Fried Duck in Mashed Taro (M – PHP 1,790; L – PHP 3,580). I have a fond memory of this dish. When I was around 12 years old, I had my braces adjusted on the same day that we had a dinner party at Summer Palace. Naturally, my gums hurt everywhere, and I had difficulty eating solid food. The only thing I could have that evening was the Fried Taro. That was also my first time to try taro. Since then, I’ve liked fried taro. With duck in each roll of fried taro? Even better!
We also got the Pan-Fried Codfish Fillet in Light Soy Sauce (S – PHP 2,020; M – PHP 3,020; L – PHP 4,030). (You gotta admire how the names of the dishes are the descriptions of the dish.) I liked how the well-executed breading was very thin and fluffy. Similar to sea bass, the cod’s white meat is tender with a subtle flavor on its own. Cod is supposed to be healthy; it’s a low-calorie source of protein containing omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins B12 and B6.…and, of course, we had to order the classic Sweet and Sour Pork (S – PHP 540; M – PHP 810; L – PHP 1,075).
For dessert, I don’t know what my friends ordered, but this mochi ball had peanut butter inside. It wasn’t the usual black sesame or peanut paste customary to mochi balls. It was really rich and sweet. Since most of us had already given up eating before that, this was our last hurrah. Whew!
Overall a pleasant dining experience. Good food tastes better when paired with good company.
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Where's the Thai in Basil?
3.0
Food 2
Ambiance 5
Service 4
Price 3
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2015/12/27/wheres-the-thai-in-basil/
Tucked away in White Plains, its dim lighting, garden exterior and stone waterfall exude a relaxing, spa-like ambiance. Basically, it can pass off as a Thai resto, but does the food taste like it?
Basil has been around for a few years, and I somehow manage to stumble through its large spinning door each year. I recently joined my grandparents for lunch and there's only a limited number of cuisines aligned with their palate, Thai being one of them.
To start off, we had the Pomelo Salad which I found to have only one taste: SOUR. In fact, it was too sour. We also had the Tom Kai, which is a coconut milk-based soup with some chicken, as well as Thai Shrimp Cakes. Both were okay.
For the main course, we ordered the Thai Red Curry, which I felt lacked the fragrant spices characteristic to Thai cuisine. While the Chicken Cashew Nuts wasn't bad, there wasn't anything spectacular about it except that it's breaded chicken glazed with honey. If I had to describe it in a word, I'd say it's very flat. Finally, the Pineapple Fried Rice barely had any pineapple bits, and it didn't have the pineapple essence. It might have helped if they steamed the rice in a pineapple shell. Just saying.
For dessert, we got the Thai Halo Halo. I felt that the ice cream wasn't creamy enough, but I like how it's coconut-flavored. It could have also used more toppings apart from kaong. I'm talking about pandan at the very least.
The sad part is that the Thai Iced Tea was the only thing that made the dining experience pleasant for me. I think my grandparents didn't enjoy either and would rather have gone to their favorite Japanese resto. Overall, Basil seems weak in terms of authenticity and doesn't hold anything special worth returning to.
Tucked away in White Plains, its dim lighting, garden exterior and stone waterfall exude a relaxing, spa-like ambiance. Basically, it can pass off as a Thai resto, but does the food taste like it?
Basil has been around for a few years, and I somehow manage to stumble through its large spinning door each year. I recently joined my grandparents for lunch and there's only a limited number of cuisines aligned with their palate, Thai being one of them.
To start off, we had the Pomelo Salad which I found to have only one taste: SOUR. In fact, it was too sour. We also had the Tom Kai, which is a coconut milk-based soup with some chicken, as well as Thai Shrimp Cakes. Both were okay.
For the main course, we ordered the Thai Red Curry, which I felt lacked the fragrant spices characteristic to Thai cuisine. While the Chicken Cashew Nuts wasn't bad, there wasn't anything spectacular about it except that it's breaded chicken glazed with honey. If I had to describe it in a word, I'd say it's very flat. Finally, the Pineapple Fried Rice barely had any pineapple bits, and it didn't have the pineapple essence. It might have helped if they steamed the rice in a pineapple shell. Just saying.
For dessert, we got the Thai Halo Halo. I felt that the ice cream wasn't creamy enough, but I like how it's coconut-flavored. It could have also used more toppings apart from kaong. I'm talking about pandan at the very least.
The sad part is that the Thai Iced Tea was the only thing that made the dining experience pleasant for me. I think my grandparents didn't enjoy either and would rather have gone to their favorite Japanese resto. Overall, Basil seems weak in terms of authenticity and doesn't hold anything special worth returning to.
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New Heaven and Earth
4.0
Food 4
Ambiance 4
Service 5
Price 4
Source: http://konyoqueen.com/2015/12/26/xin-tian-di-crowne-plaza/
It’s usually difficult finding a place that’s open on Christmas morning. I admire and respect the people who sign up for work on Christmas Day. It’s people like them who we have to thank for sacrificing their time with the family just so other families can enjoy their holiday.
This year, my family decided to hold our Christmas lunch at Crowne Plaza (Ortigas). On the 3rd floor of the hotel, there’s a Chinese restaurant called Xin Tian Di (新天地) which means “New Heaven and Earth”. It’s probably named after the shopping and dining district in Shanghai known for its restored mid-19th architecture called shikumen, a blend between Chinese and Europen architecture unique to Shanghai.
My mom did all the ordering, and we were pretty happy with all the food that came out. The #1 dish that stood out for me was the Beef and Broccoli with Foie Gras. For people like my mom who don’t eat beef, this dish is a tricky one. It’s hard distinguishing the beef from the goose liver. However, for people like me, I simply love it! It’s a surprise with every bite. You don’t know if you’re going to get the foie gras or the really tender morsel of beef. (zomg it was super soft! A perfect 5/7!)
The 1st runner up is the Fried Vegetable Roll but not because of the roll. I liked the dish for the Fried Golden Mushrooms. Genius! It seemed like a healthier, better-tasting alternative to fries…and, of course, how could we NOT order Coffee Chicken? I just looove the bittersweet bite of the coffee sauce slathered over the fried chicken.
Okay, you’re probably thinking Sweet ‘n’ Sour Pork seems like a staple in every Chinese resto. This one was different. I’m pointing it out because I think they prepared it perfectly. The pork was crispy all around, and the sauce had an equal balance between sweet and sour with a citrus kick. The dish was well-executed and passed my quality standard.
We also got the Peking Duck Wrap with Mango, and I liked how there’s a slice of mango. It’s a good touch adding some fruit to a savory dish.
Finally, we had the Sizzling Fish Fillet which I didn’t particularly enjoy but was forced to finish because I was the youngest. Don’t get me wrong; the white fish was tender and tasty, but the dish wasn’t exceptional. I took the last piece anyway after much goading…and bribery. (It had to come to that. Lol.)
Overall, a good dining experience. Exceptional service! I like how the staff is always on their toes and have the initiative to be one step ahead of the customers’ needs.
Just a tip in ordering…Typical to a fine dining Chinese resto, Xin Tian Di has large servings. Everything we ordered was “medium”, and it was easily good for 10 persons. It’s always better to come with a large-sized group. Friends and family who eat together stay together. Merry Christmas! :)
It’s usually difficult finding a place that’s open on Christmas morning. I admire and respect the people who sign up for work on Christmas Day. It’s people like them who we have to thank for sacrificing their time with the family just so other families can enjoy their holiday.
This year, my family decided to hold our Christmas lunch at Crowne Plaza (Ortigas). On the 3rd floor of the hotel, there’s a Chinese restaurant called Xin Tian Di (新天地) which means “New Heaven and Earth”. It’s probably named after the shopping and dining district in Shanghai known for its restored mid-19th architecture called shikumen, a blend between Chinese and Europen architecture unique to Shanghai.
My mom did all the ordering, and we were pretty happy with all the food that came out. The #1 dish that stood out for me was the Beef and Broccoli with Foie Gras. For people like my mom who don’t eat beef, this dish is a tricky one. It’s hard distinguishing the beef from the goose liver. However, for people like me, I simply love it! It’s a surprise with every bite. You don’t know if you’re going to get the foie gras or the really tender morsel of beef. (zomg it was super soft! A perfect 5/7!)
The 1st runner up is the Fried Vegetable Roll but not because of the roll. I liked the dish for the Fried Golden Mushrooms. Genius! It seemed like a healthier, better-tasting alternative to fries…and, of course, how could we NOT order Coffee Chicken? I just looove the bittersweet bite of the coffee sauce slathered over the fried chicken.
Okay, you’re probably thinking Sweet ‘n’ Sour Pork seems like a staple in every Chinese resto. This one was different. I’m pointing it out because I think they prepared it perfectly. The pork was crispy all around, and the sauce had an equal balance between sweet and sour with a citrus kick. The dish was well-executed and passed my quality standard.
We also got the Peking Duck Wrap with Mango, and I liked how there’s a slice of mango. It’s a good touch adding some fruit to a savory dish.
Finally, we had the Sizzling Fish Fillet which I didn’t particularly enjoy but was forced to finish because I was the youngest. Don’t get me wrong; the white fish was tender and tasty, but the dish wasn’t exceptional. I took the last piece anyway after much goading…and bribery. (It had to come to that. Lol.)
Overall, a good dining experience. Exceptional service! I like how the staff is always on their toes and have the initiative to be one step ahead of the customers’ needs.
Just a tip in ordering…Typical to a fine dining Chinese resto, Xin Tian Di has large servings. Everything we ordered was “medium”, and it was easily good for 10 persons. It’s always better to come with a large-sized group. Friends and family who eat together stay together. Merry Christmas! :)
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