Mesa Restaurant - Mostly Satisfying

Mesa is one of my go-to places when I need a good Filipino food fix. I always leave with a full stomach and a not-so-empty wallet so that's always a plus. I'm glad that they opened a new(ish) branch in Eastwood - no need to go to far off places to eat some of their delectable dishes!

The Eastwood branch does not look as "fancy" as the other locations but they managed to make a small space look decent. I particularly like the pinoy-style dividers - they give a semblance of privacy to diners.

The place was surprisingly deserted when we arrived - a far cry from the usual crowd that greets us everytime we go there. As such, I was expecting great service. But NO, for some reason it was very challenging to look for a waiter. I suppose they were all ready to go home at that point.

And then there was the Baked Scallops (P225). For the first time ever, there were left overs - not something that happens to scallops. It was really bland and I was looking for a little more buttery taste. Very disappointing.

But I did say I liked the place, and the Baby Squid in Olive Oil (P310) is one of the many reasons for that. I know, eating baby squid sounds murderous (because baby), but this dish is worth compromising your morals so to speak. A must try.

The Sizzling Tofu is another good dish that's worth trying. It's a good side dish for all the meat and seafoods that you want to order. But you need to eat it sparingly - too much of it will make you feel satiated.

Finally, there's the Binagoongang Baboy ni Kaka (P225). It got mixed reviews from the gang mainly because of the shrimp paste that was used. It's on the sweet-salty side which I like, but Mami Ann prefers it straight up salty. 

It was a good meal overall, and I always like it when a restaurant serves bottomless iced tea. I had a hard time walking out of that place, and I think the bill was only a little over P1000.

Mesa is located at the 3rd Floor, Eastwood City Mall (new mall).

Smule Covers - August 29

This app is highly addictive. Can't stop myself from making more videos haha.

This first one is "Crazy for You," coz I'm obviously crazy.

Change outfit and location for this next video: A Thousand Years. For Twilight fans.

And it's back to my desk for this third cut - Bleeding Love. Because Blood.

What I learned today? Angles make a world of difference, and a selfie stick can help you achieve a more desirable angle. But then again, there's still the ngawit factor.

UCC Clockwork - Time For Some Drinks

I normally go to UCC for coffee, so it felt quite strange when friends asked me to come over for drinks. Then I remembered, some UCC branches serve cocktails and beer. UCC Clockwork in Estancia mall is one of them.

As always, parking was a bitch even for a Sunday night (I suppose it's because Monday is a holiday). It took me several rounds before a slot finally opened. Oh well, that's part of city living. The trip was worth it though, as I got the chance to catch up with some juicy rumors.

I just came from dinner so I wasn't really in the mood for more food. I also have an early day the next day so I couldn't indulge in too many drinks. I settled for a Lychee Mojito. Always a thirst quencher, forever a favorite.

UCC food has always been on the more expensive side but I usually end up with a satisfied tummy. I typically get the cakes (love the Halo Halo cake and the Salted Caramel cake) and the club house (though I could never finish one). I think I like the pasta with the bacon, and I definitely recommend the Kori Kohi (oops, not exactly food but lemme just throw that in there).

The Carbonara we ordered, however, was very disappointing. It looked the part, but we had to resort to adding a LOT of salt and pepper to make it taste like something. 

But nothing that a little Stella Artois couldn't fix.

Outback Restaurant - Picked All the Wrong Things

The "old" Outback at Libis used to be one of my go-to places when I wanted to get away from the usual "resto in the mall." It had a nice vibe and it felt like I was in the presence of other people who wanted to escape from the world. That Resto, I believe, has recently closed. So tonight, I tried the new one in Eastwood.

My first impression? The place was too bright. Not sure if it's the latest trend, but I noticed the same thing about Applebee's. It felt like I was in a diner or something, and it just didn't appeal to me at all. Or maybe there's just something wrong with my eyesight.

Outback is known for their steak, so I had to order one. I settled for the Outback Special (P1049) because the description sounded promising. It's signature sirloin seasoned in bold spices. Sadly, the "special" was not special at all and did not deliver. I had to resort to adding salt and pepper to make it taste a little better. I also had a hard time trying to slice pieces of meat off. I wanted to kick myself for not ordering the rib eye steak instead.

The Spinach Artichoke Dip (P349) was decent but could not compare to the one from Cyma. I think that it lacked cheese, and the artichokes were sliced too thickly. The nachos were also too bland for me.

The Kookaburra Wings (P299) saved the night for me. Sure, I can think of at least a couple other chicken wings that taste better. But I found myself wishing I ordered more of the wings and just did away with the steak.

I'll probably still go back to Outback, but will remember to be more picky when ordering. I'm pretty sure there are other things in the menu that are worth trying.

Outback Restaurant is located in Eastwood Citywalk 1, Libis, Quezon City.

Love This New App

Discovered this music app (Smule) and trying it out for the first time hahaha.

And I even tried it while driving. Don't worry, it was around our village at 2 in the morning (driving at 5kph) so there's 0 chance of me getting into an accident.

Why I Love Old Swiss Inn

Since I was already in the area, I didn't miss the chance to reminisce and go back to another "tambayan" from ages ago - Old Swiss Inn. It's literally just a few steps away from Manila Pen so I went straight over upon checking out.

There's really just one main reason to go to this place, at least for me: The Classic Toblerone Chocolate Fondue (P495). The menu describes it as "unparalleled because we use 100% Toblerone chocolate... A child's favorite. A grown up's indulgence." I describe it as pure bliss. It's amazing how chocolate can make a slice of banana or a piece of cake (the actual term evades me, sorry) taste heavenly. Once again, I was brought back to memories of my Makati days.

The place itself, however was a lot different from how I remembered it. They are currently undergoing renovations so everything is out of place. I overheard that everything should be in order around September, so it may be worthwhile to make another Makati trip then. 

Old Swiss in is located at the Ground Floor, Somerset Olympia, Makati Avenue Corner Santo Tomas Street, Urdaneta, Makati City.

The Peninsula Manila and the Mahiwagang Sponsor

I haven't been to the Peninsula Manila in the longest time (over 10 years I think?) and so it felt like I was waltzing the halls for the first time. There's really not a lot of reason for me to check in in a Makati hotel nowadays, so this visit was sort of a fluke. Thank you, mahiwagang sponsor.

The lobby still looked (and felt) familiar despite the fact that a tank broke through its walls (my story is probably a little exaggerated - don't take it as a fact please haha). We used to come over (pre-siege) to eat ice cream at the Lobby so this visit brought back a lot of law school memories.

The room was nice - worth the price tag I think. The bed was comfortable and the sheets were super clean. There was a workspace that catered to my needs (comfortable chair, good wifi connection, stationary) so I was happy. I wish I could say I had a good night sleep though - I had to wake up really early for a meeting (that got cancelled, much to my dismay).

My favorite part? The tub, of course. I spent a good hour soaked in bubbles and pretending to be in far off places. I think I even fell asleep for a while there. The tub was big enough for me to stretch my legs, so I didn't feel like sardine in a can.

My complaint? Well, we were watching the finale of Dolce Amore last night and the television set was frustrating to say the least. The color settings were all f'd up, and the actors ended up having red hair and red eyes. It was like watching an Irish version of Twilight. Not good at all.

It was a fun and relaxing day, nonetheless. I like the fact that I had the option to cross the street to have access to the mall (but I stayed in). Breakfast was also good - while there weren't a lot of selections, they did have my favorites.

Dining At The Peninsula Manila Lobby

Met a couple of Palawan friends at the Peninsula Manila today. Ang soshal, right? We thought about having dinner at Escolta, but they only had the dinner buffet. Since we weren't buffet ready, we decided to dine at the Lobby and just enjoy the good music (and the really serious crowd).

The entrees were obviously on the pricey side, but the portions were good enough for sharing so we opted to just order two dishes. While waiting for the food, we decided to play "name that tune" and tried to guess the songs that the orchestra was playing. We also munched on the complimentary bread. 

The downside of dining at expensive places is that it becomes directly proportionate with the expectations. The higher the price, the higher the expectation that the food is good. In turn, high expectations often end up with disappointing results.
  

First in line is the Kare Kare (P850). The presentation was good and the sauce decent. I really liked the alamang (the "heart" of Kare Kare) and the dish had a good balance of veggies and meat. I was disappointed when I didn't see any ox tripe though - the dish was mainly prepared with ox tail. Overall, I was happy with the dish but thought the price was not justified.

The Chicken Pork Adobo (P620), on the other hand, was nothing special. It tasted okay, but I definitely had better. The meat was tender, but I think it could have used some extra time for the sauce to seep through the meat.

And then there was the Banana Split (around P500). The ice cream was not sweet (I wish I remembered to specify that I didn't want chocolate ice cream) and the banana was just right. I was initially craving for the Pen Pals but I don't remember it being that expensive (P1500 or 1600) when I ordered it last. It's too big for me anyway.

Overall, I think the dinner buffet at Escolta would have given me more value for the money I paid. At least I would have had more choices. A bit on the expensive side (P1900++) but I guess that's the going rate for hotel buffers nowadays. 

Pasto - Loved the Marinara

I'm back in Manila and one of the first things I did was to get in the middle of a Pokemon Lure Party. Pasto in Eastwood was perfectly situated, though you will need to rely on your phone's data connection or Eastwood Mall's 1-hour free wifi.

The place itself looks great; lighting was a bit dim, tables/seats were comfortable, and the vibe was chill. They also have a smoking area outside. However, I must mention that the airconditioning needs to be improved. It was warm where we were seated, and I had to drink liters of iced tea just to keep my body temperature from rising. It was tolerable because it was raining outside, but I can't imagine how uncomfortable it would be if the weather was warmer AND if the resto was filled with people.

The pasta we ordered, however, was really good. I asked the waitress for their best seller and she recommended the Seafood Marinara (P295). I'm not particularly fond of seafoods in my pasta (unless it's shrimps/prawns), but this one got my attention. I guess I liked the bit of spice as well as the generous amount of ingredients. The downside? Serving was too small (just enough for one "not so hungry" person).

We also ordered the all meat Di Carne Pizza (P295). At first glance, it did not look like it had much to offer. It actually reminded me of 3M pizza. It tasted okay, however. I specially liked the crunchy crust and the rich taste of the meats added. Additional toppings would make it a lot better, IMO.

I remember liking some of the appetizers in this place, but we just didn't have enough space in our tummies (we just had coffee and pastries from Costa). Perhaps I'll get some of those dips next time.

Pasto is located in Eastwood Citywalk 1, Libis, Quezon City

Tiya Ising's Filipino Restaurant - An Interesting Find

Third time's the charm - I made a couple of versions of this entry earlier, but both got "accidentally deleted." I'm hoping that this one gets published without incident, otherwise I'm gonna move on to the next entry haha.

It was a really hot afternoon and the gang was looking for someplace cool to eat. It was a challenging task to get out of a comfortably air-conditioned room and drive around under the heat of the sun. Some recommendations were thrown in the air, but I wanted something that would motivate me to move. Then I remembered hearing whispers about this new (?) resto near my high school. Luckily, my brother also suggested the same restaurant ("you have to see what they did with their flooring!") and so we ended up in Tiya Ising's.

The place itself had a nice ambiance. They were aiming for the old fashioned/style look and were able to achieve it for the most part. There were portraits and even some old clothes from the "baul" of Lola Itang (not sure how she's related to Tiya Ising though). There's also an interesting spot where kids can post their artwork (paper and crayons provided). It's a very casual place and a good spot to enjoy a decent meal and great conversation. The flooring? It was plain, and I had no idea why my brother had to bring it up in the first place. I just chose to ignore it.

Now on to the food. I immediately had the hots for the Kaldereta (P258). It did not meet the usual standards that I have for one of my favourite stews (lots of cheese, somewhat spicy); the dish that was served was on the sweet and salty side. I still ended up liking it, however. I loved that they didn't scrimp on the ingredients, and I liked the way the dish was cooked (reminded me of old-style cooking I guess). "Sarsa pa lang, ulam na" as they would say. I would go back to this place if only for the Kaldereta.

The Ginger Baby Spareribs (P258), on the other hand, was too sweet for my liking. While the meat was tender enough to "melt on my mouth," I thought that the dish did not go well with the other items that we ordered. I suppose some people would like it as a standalone dish (with a side of rice). I would likely skip it the next time I eat here.

I didn't care much about the Tortang Talong (P155). It did come in a nice presentation but I personally found it too plain. I wish we didn't order it anymore. I probably would have liked the Spicy Chopsuey better.

When I asked about the restaurant's specialty, they told me it was the Kare-Kare (P258). It was unfortunately out of stock (I hate it when that happens) so I never got the chance to taste it. Oh well, I have a million more trips for Palawan coming, so I have no doubt that I will be able to try it out in the  near future. And yes, they have free wifi.

Tiya Ising's is located in Rizal Ave corner Roxas St., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines.

Best Western's Anibong Restaurant - Nothing Too Exciting

I was looking for a "new place" to dine in the city where I grew up, and Anibong Restaurant in Best Western Plus Hotel caught my attention. It was new, it looked posh, and I haven't heard a lot of reviews about it. Perfect for a family dinner, I thought.

The place itself is nice an spacious. The ambiance is perfect for a family event or perhaps even a romantic dinner - quiet, well lit and cozy. It looked expensive, but a look at the menu would reveal reasonable prices (with the exception of the steaks of course). I was ready to dig in on some really good food.

The first sign of bad tidings to come - the waiter told us that the Kare Kare (P300) had no ox tripe and the Beef Rendang (P390) was not available. While we ended up ordering the "Liempo Kare Kare," it didn't live up to the expectations. It lacked the "ooomph" that only tripe can bring to the dish. The alamang, however, was really good.

And then there was the Grilled King Prawns (P590). While they were indeed majestic, there were only three of them - which meant each one cost around P200. Nothing special about the prawns themselves, but the sauce really caught my attention. I made the mistake of putting a lot of it on my prawn before reading what it was - tamarind paste. Needless to say, it was too sour for my liking.

The Western Style Fried Cicken (P290) was okay - a bit on the bland side but with sauce sidings to compensate. Not a fried chicken fan, so I guess some people may like this one.

I personally think that nothing can beat my Dad's Tokwa't Baboy, so it hardly seems fair for me to comment about the Crispy Tofu and Pork Crackling (P220). I guess it tasted okay.

Once again, Baby's Choice won the night. When I asked around, almost everyone was in agreement that the best dish was the Mashed Potato. A close second would be the Pasta Carbonara (P220).

Overall, I suppose it was a "normal" dining experience - nothing too interesting, not much to talk about. I still had a great time though - the Baby was extra active and was even "flirting" with the waitress. Family time is the best.

Anibong Restaurant is located in Best Western Plus The Ivywall Hotel, Rizal Ave., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Painted Table (Canvas Hotel) - What Happened Last Night??

It was my first night back in Palawan, and I was looking forward to dinner. Will Dad cook something yummy? Will we dine out and try one of the newer restos in the city? But I guess the night was all planned out, because my brother knew exactly where he was driving towards - Painted Table Restaurant in Canvas Hotel.

It was a good choice, mind you. Good enough to make a prodigal son feel missed. We've dined here as a family before, and I remember raving about how good the food was. Friends have shared the same sentiments. I was ready to eat my heart out.

When the food arrived, one of the first questions that popped in our minds was "did they hire a new chef?" Taking it to the next level, my mom actually asked the waitress if they made any changes to the kitchen staff. She said no. The reason we asked? The food wasn't as good as it was the last time we were there. 

The Nilagang Baka (P270) would have been the perfect dish to warm up a person recovering from illness (that's me). I was looking forward to it. But the soup was mediocre at best. It did not have the "lasa" that can only be achieved by hours of slow cooking. The only one who enjoyed it was the baby - who is notorious for loving (as in really loving) bland soup. 

The Crispy Pork Binagoongan (P360) was a bit better, and I'm downplaying my comments about it only because we requested to have the bagoong separated from everything else. Never touch a chef's masterpiece, and don't take it against him/her if things don't work out after you do.

And then there was the Slow Stewed Beef Curry (P365). I personally thought the taste was ok despite the unbelievably thin sauce. But the deal breaker? The meat was tough. I think they forced cooked this batch just to meet a deadline.

The Buffalo Chicken Wings (210) was the dish that saved the day. It was a good as I remembered, and I loved every bite. I'm glad I ordered it on the last second - otherwise dinner would have been a complete disaster.

It was still a happy family dinner at the end of the day, and we only paid a little over a thousand pesos thanks to a certain someone's overused senior citizen card. A steal considering the ambiance, location and the quality of food. I'm still hoping that last night was a fluke - perhaps the chef was absent or maybe they just ran out of gasul. I don't want to give up on this place, and I hope my next visit will be a better one.

Insert: A pahabol comment from my ever discriminating brother - "it's the kind of food that only babies will like." And you thought I was harsh.

Painted Table Restaurant is located in Canvas Botique Hotel, Puerto Princesa North Road, Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines.