Due to some memories we had of Noriter, we chose a ‘no-return’ policy. Although, a year after we found ourselves in the playground again.

Coffee & Dream

Unique decors

It’s not the food nor the drinks that lured us in Noriter. If only for their food, I personally would call it quits. But there’s a magic in its walls full of vandals. We wanted to leave a mark again.

So before anything else, hellosheena was here:

It's eatsdelicious.blogspot.com now

The food, just like before, took ages to arrive. It didn’t much matter.  We had entertainment.

Cups of dreams

where we sat

I do

When it did, I was surprised. I never remembered it this artsy. So we pushed it further.

Carbonara at Php 160. Serving size was just a fistful. It’s not the best carbonara around. It’s meaty and saucy, though.

Creamy carbonara

Strawberry Shake at Php 135 (small). It wasn’t a shock that it was bland. Same as my drinks a few years back. It’s good to know, though, that it has real strawberries.

Now in mason jars

Food was so-so. Nevertheless, just like before, I enjoyed the ambiance. Perfect for great talks.

Menu:

Previous review here.

 
Rating: 2.5

Noriter is located at:

2F, Reyes Building,

Estrada Street, Taft Avenue, 

Malate, Manila

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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Mad yet honest i-screeeeaaaaams!

Mad servings!

Mad lineeeee on a Tuesday night!

Well, seems like people are mad-crazy about Mad Mark’s Creamery and Good Eats. And not surprisingly because they really serve generous servings of good eats at an affordable price. That even on a weeknight, there’s a mad line.

Ice cream on board

After about an hour of waiting and reading their black board menus, finally feasted on Johnnie Double Black Ribs at Php 305 with sides of smashed potato and bacon potato salad.

First of all, the serving was big. Maybe it was called “double” because of the two ribs in black sauce. The sauce has a sweet and more on the sour taste. But what I like best was the smashed potato! The bacon potato salad was alright but since it’s a salad, it’s cold.

Just a friendly advice though: don’t try two potatoes at once. They also have rice and corn & carrots.

Whoah!

Mad Mark’s is also famous for their Honest Ice Creams made from scratch every day. They only serve a number of flavors because it won’t last long. Of course, have to see how an honest ice cream tastes like. At Php 165 for double scoops, tried the ff flavors:

Honestly good

•  Chocolate on Chocolate- surprisingly unsweet. Bet it’s made from a mild dark chocolate
•  Motherlade- my favorite from the loot; it has a vanilla base with nuts I don’t know what to call. I only know that it’s yummy!
•  Banoreo- vanilla ice cream based also, this is a better version of cookies and cream.
•  Walnut Cinnamon- great for cinnamon lovers! Plus with walnut, perfect!

Here’s their sweet-o-meter for guide:

For its good price, cozy interiors and friendly staff (not to mean the cooking time, though), hands-up!

Menu:

  
Rating: 4

Mad Mark’s Creamery and Good Eats has a branch in:

2F, Glorietta 5,

Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex,

Makati City

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Saturday, April 25, 2015

When you’re hungry and all you want to do is devour at once, looking elsewhere is out of the question. That’s where the good ol’ trusted comes in. And in the small Robinson’s Place, Gerry’s Grill is one of those.

Hungry, right? So here's the review:

1. Garlic Adobo Shreds at Php 225

Looks nice but it’s weird. It’s like eating charred meat. Even when dipped with its sauce it didn’t get any better.  

2. Sizzling Sisig at Php 198

Who can get wrong with sisig? Though theirs is not something I’d die for, it was good enough.

3. Beef Kare-Kare at Php 335

At this point, my heart is still all out for Little Quiapo’s  kare-kare that I notched down a bit my standard. Happily, Gerry’s passed it. Just not so many beef and tripe, though.

4. Nilagang Bulalo at Php 315

Cheap compared to those in Tagaytay but with a reason. Too little serving and it was served ‘lukewarm’. But it’s not bad either.

It’s just like eating at the comforts of home.

 

Rating: 3

Gerry's Grill has a branch in:

2F, Robinson's Place Las Piñas,

Alabang-Zapote Road,

Talon Uno, Las Piñas City

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Saturday, April 18, 2015

New discovery for us! Pretty and not-so-sweet cakes by Icings in also a relatively new mall in Las Piñas, Robinson’s.

Pretty packaging, too

Because our beautiful celebrant had her best days eating the sweetest, we opted for a healthier version: Basket of Fruits (Php779). Intricately done, there were grapes, peaches, slice of pineapple, cherries and even kiwi on top!

Tadaaaaah! Our Basket of Fruits

When sliced, it offers chiffon and icing goodness with pineapple chunks, too. It’s best eaten from the fridge.

Here's their complete menu:

 

Rating: 3.5

Icings has a branch in:

GF, Robinson's Place Las Piñas,

Alabang-Zapote Road,

Talon Uno, Las Piñas City

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

I've tried Sophie's Mom years back. And though their cupcakes tasted fine, it didn't really made that lasting impression.

Sophie's Mom Menu

After about a year of hiatus, I was glad to be accidentally back. I always loved their girly interior full of lively pink. It was like playing inside a doll house.

Doll house interior

Once again, I tried their Red Velvet Cupcake (Php 65), same price as I can remember. The cream on top was good, not too sweet. But the cupcake itself was a bit hard, not moist anymore. Plus, I guess we were too late already only canned sodas were available.

The only cupcakes left before 9pm

Cupcake toppers

Not to say that I won't come back again but just hoping that it'll always be consistent.

 

Rating: 2.5

Sophie's Mom is located at:

8760 Santol Street, 

San Antonio Village, 

Makati City

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Saturday, April 11, 2015

BANZAI! Either a war cry or a cheer, it didn’t matter anymore. All at once, did both as I was excited to try this with my game-face on.

Banzai: The Great Teppankayi Theater evokes the feeling of being in the Land of the Rising Sun. Japanese lanterns, dancing geishas, samurai warriors roaming, sumo wrestlers in photos, Japanese greetings by the staff, it was a perfect setting.

Lights on for Banzai

What they offer

The cream of the crop, of course, was the authentic buffet. Everything Japanese was in Banzai!

Interestingly, the 1,200 m² area was sub-divided into several dining areas with different themes:

• Dotonbori Area
• Castle Area
• Old Japan Area
• Nautilus Area
• Sumo Arena

Japanese lanterns above

Japanese art

As seen in chairs, too

Not surprisingly, my friends and I were assigned in the Sumo Arena. And just like a sumo, I can just say in jest, “Bring it on!”

The great teppanyaki theater has the ff stations (the major and minor ones):

• Tempura and Tonkatsu Station
• Yakitori and Grill Station
• Gohan, Noodles and Ramen station
• Takoyaki and Kaniyaki station
• Pizza Station
• Roast Station
• Anti- pasti station
• Hot station
• Mongolian BBQ station
• Sushi, Sashimi and Rolls station
• Teppanyaki Station
• Beverage station
• Dessert station
• Salad station

As my general rule every buffet, I start with salad. They have several greens, toppings and dressings to choose from. Their mango dressing was good. If it was cold enough, I could’ve mistaken it for my favorite mango shake.

Salad station

Salad dressings

Then went for hot with ramen. Lately, there’s a thing with me and tonkotsu so I chose this as the base. Well, it didn’t taste like the top ramen raves but the toppings was worthy to mention (it has  Naruto)! The chasu serving was thick, too.

Ramen station

In the pizza station, I tried Chicken Teriyaki. First time here and it’s good. I love the added mango cubes. Crust was soft and chewy, too. Paired it with their kanikayi (crab meat inside) which was yummy I came back for another. I like it better than the bacon okonomikayki.

Pizza Station

Their tempura and tonkatsu were okay. Better with the sauces, actually as the tonkatsu was oily. The teppanyakis that I tried were flavorful especially the beef misono. But what can get wrong with a misono, anyway?

Tonkatsu

Teppanyaki station

Roast station

I also love their gyoza. More veggies, more fun.

Gyoza

Hands up to Wagyu Roast Beef in rare, plus its sauce.

Wagyu Beef

For their desserts, cakes were so-so but I enjoyed their mango crepe. Topped it with Nestle ice cream in strawberry, vanilla and mango flavors for a sweeter effect. They also had snow cones where flavors can be chosen and mixed, fruit salads and DIY halo-halo. Went back here several times. Favorite station. I just hope that soon they’d have Japanese desserts, too. 

Crepe with Nestle ice creams

Wood cake? 

This one is good

Fruit salad

Halo halo DIY

What I wasn’t able to try were the Filipino dishes, some yakitori in skewers and any sushi.

Sushi station

Mongolian BBQ station

Pasta station

Banzai has an entertainment value, too. Apart from the play of the geisha and samurai warriors along the ‘theater’, I had fun watching the chefs skillfully displaying the art of throwing knifes and etc.

Chefs' part in the entertainment

Then after there are went aflame for a few seconds. It’s an added fanfare together with the art gallery where Japanese’s love for the arts was showcased.

Art gallery

Costumes available :)

It’s almost as expensive as Vikings:The Luxury Buffet where the food variety’s great. But what I think the strengths of Banzai were:

• Focused theme. Again, I would’ve loved it better if the desserts were Japanese, too. Mochi ice cream, please.
• The ramen station! I didn’t expect it.
• Some foods cooked on the spot. Hot!
• The showcase of Japanese artistry.

Overall, it was a great experience. I truly felt that I was in Japan. And hopefully, so.

Banzai Rates:

• P699 for Monday to Friday lunch
• P899 for Monday to Friday dinner
• P1,088 for Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. 

 

Rating: 4.0


Banzai is located at:

Building J, SM by the Bay,
Seaside Blvd., MOA,
Pasay City

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Saturday, April 04, 2015