While hanging out in the mall, the SO and I unexpectedly bumped into his mom, sister, and two…read morenephews. We asked them to join us for dinner, but we were kind of on a budget, so we thought of the best place to bring them. We ended up in A Veneto. PROS: Around P1,000.00 could feed six people, that includes two adolescent boys - and you know how their appetite is, with two platters of pasta and a large pizza; Seafood pesto pasta was a favorite, even for SO's mom who cooks a lot of good food herself and is quite picky; Serving sizes were more than expected and we were quite impressed. CONS: They have a limited number of staff on duty, which makes it kind of difficult to ask for assistance even on a nearly empty restaurant; Long wait time for the food. TL;DR: Freshly-made Italian fare that's friendly on the budget and lovely on the taste buds. The Friuli Trattoria of the Malls.

I've seen A Veneto Napoli a few years ago in their branch in Quezon City and finally got to try…read moretheir Italian dishes. Since Quezon City was too far away I'm glad that they opened one nearby in the Ortigas area. My experience with A Veneto Napoli is just okay as how I would like to describe compared to other Italian restaurants I've tried over the years. Maybe I expected too much also since I've been waiting to try it and just by name it itself it sounded like an authentic Italian place. We ordered their All Meat Pizza and just the Classic Carbonara since these are basic Italian dishes but of course each place can make it more delicious. The taste was not so bad but I won't say it's that great either. I can recommend this place if you're big group since the servings are generous and the price is cheaper compared to other more known Italian restaurants.

I do not know anyone who has anything negative to say about Cibo. They've opened quite a lot of…read morebranches in the city and I haven't tried one that disappointed. Cibo's pastas are all crave worthy, I've tried a bunch of their entrees and none so far has let me down so far. I like alternating among three pastas--Linguine Alla Ghiotta, Rigatoni All Alfonso and the Penne Al Telefono, these three have been battle tested in various branches and are constantly on the top of my cravings list. Together with my chosen main dish for the day I have to order their potato chips, the Spinaci Zola, and their iced-tea that I dub the best iced-tea (in the entire world maybe). Of course, I can't be this trigger happy when it comes to ordering if I were paying for myself and eating alone, but Cibo is really a place you'd return to for a nice quiet dinner with family.

Right after Madrid Fusion, a client had asked to meet Cibo Fresco basically because she wanted to…read moretry the dishes Chef Margarita Fores made for the affair. We ordered the Pizza Burrata and the creamy Rigatoni. The Pizza Burrata was really good and filling,with it's tomato base, and slices of heavenly burrata cheese and arugula on top. The rigatoni on the other hand, had a cream sauce infused with the flavor of the Spanish chorizo, and to make it even better, it has fresh shavings of manchego cheese from Spain. It was so good and tasty! We were offered a glass of wine, which apparently comes with the rigatoni. Because I was facilitating the meeting, I passed the glass onto the client and just ordered their ever-reliable and ever-refreshing lemon iced tea. I seriously do not know anyone who doesn't like Cibo's iced tea. I feel like Cibo was one of the restaurants that first started having their own brew for iced tea and I am grateful to them for that. It turned out to be a fine working afternoon for my client and I, filled with Italian-Spanish fare that delighted our tummies.

Was meeting one of my childhood friends here. She recommended me this place because it's a UP…read moreclassic. So i had to try it. We got the carbonara, the pepperoni pizza and their fried stuffed ravioli. Hahanap-hanapin ko yung lasa ng Carbonara kasi ang creamy! Everything was so flavorful and yummy. Service is great! The vibes were very cozy! Pagbalik ko sa Pilipinas this Will be on my list.

The food is really good. We ordered Bistecca, Salsiccia, Aligue Pasta (crab paste pasta),…read morefantastico pizzq, salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, and table wine (red). I can't say how genuine italian the food was but was really savory. Serving size is typical asian/ filipino size so if you ate a big eater, don't shy away from ordering more. They have a 3 car parking slot or you can park at the curve side. Ambiance: they have plastic chairs and tables. Not very fancy. I came here for lunch. It was not very busy but not very empty either. There were several of us here in this tiny place. We stayed here for a good 2 hours Service: the lady was very kind, prompt and very helpful.

Great service. My server was named Jobs, he did a great job…read more Steak was cooked correctly. My only gripe is the serving sizes of the sides. Could be better. The ambiance doesn't match the price or quality of the food either. Overall it was good tho.

It's always a toss up when dining in mall establishments, so I was a bit skeptical when we came…read morehere to Mamou Prime. Friends wanted to take us out to try some Prime steak in Manila so why not! A bit of a surprise for the food here. We came with a big group of friends so ordered a variety of plates to share. The Dry-aged bone in steak was decent quality for APAC, but the star here was the truffle cream pasta dish! Like a lot of recommendations from others, the cream pasta is packed full of umami flavors and done just right. The purple rice here was also notably good. Overall a decent mall dining experience. I think I've come to the conclusion that in SEA/APAC a lot of good restaurants and dining experiences are mall centric.

If you're in a hurry, but still want to eat something great, and a plus if you're a chicken-lover,…read moreWorld Chicken could be your next favorite. They offer grilled chicken with different flavors of pasta or rice, with side dishes that include mashed potatoes, veggies, etc. For a very reasonable price, you can achieve the combination of great food and a happy budget for lunch or dinner. Or merienda, like I do. I recommend the Bacon Rice (you wouldn't be disappointed), the Pesto pasta, and for the sauce, you can go with classic gravy or level it up to ranch dressing and cheese.

"You can never really go wrong with chicken," is what I have been told many times before. When in…read moredoubt, order the chicken. I'm happy to see that World of Chicken caters to a whole market of chicken lovers who like their chicken as simple as it can be. Every piece if filled with the most amazing mixture herbs and spices that bring out the best flavors. Pair the chicken with a serving of pasta or rice and you're sure to have a filling and fulfilling meal that is worth the price tag. A little tip though, ask the server to add an extra heaping of sauce to your chicken instead of asking sauce on the side. You won't be charged for the extra sauce as long as you politely ask to do so.

Back in the Philippines after 9 years...you can imagine my cravings and appetite…read more Here's what I tried: - Spicy Crispy Dilis: they offered to put the chili pineapple glaze on the side. I'm glad I decide to get it mixed in with the fish. It was still crispy and had just the right amount of heat and sweetness. Eat immediately! - Kare Kare: I LOVED that the tripe was grilled yet still so tender. This added another layer of flavor to the whole dish. The sauce was a smidge too sweet but that didn't stop me from devouring this. The vegetables were nicely cooked as well. Ask for an extra serving of bagoong. - Crispy Kansi: Life changing. The marrow had a slight citrus flavor that cuts through the unctuousness. Spoon some on top of some rice, and top with some gravy = the perfect bite! - Pinakbet: The vegetables were cooked just right. Somehow, the okra was not slimy! I could not really taste the aligue in this though. - Tortang Talong: I had high hopes for this because I love tortang talong. But it was a bit dry, and the kesong puti was so sparse that you don't taste it. - Piaya ice cream sandwich: they had run out of ube and quezo ice cream so I had no choice but to go with vanilla. The caramel drizzle was delicious and almost chewy! But the piaya layers became a bit difficult to eat after being pressed up against the ice cream. I'd like to go back and try the quezo version of this. I think the flavor combination would be more unique. - Crispy Buko Pie: You can really taste the Pandian in this, and you get a generous amount of buko. This should be consumed immediately as well! Bottom line: I would love to keep coming back to this restaurant! The food was delicious and I was impressed by how they made Filipino food "pretty" and not just "brown!"

My friend and I had been wanting to try Sarsa for the longest time! He is from Negros and really…read morewanted to eat food from home. We arrived at the restaurant at around 8PM on a Wednesday. We were expecting the long line but, we didn't expect to be 8th in line when we arrived. After about 35 minutes (and about 8 servings of free peanuts), we finally got a table. Once seated, we immediately ordered the sizzling kansi, tortang talong with crispy sardines and kesong puti, grilled sticks of isol (chicken tail), inasal na paa, and thin cut liempo. Yes, we were HANGRY! ALL the dishes must be eaten with rice. The dishes are rich and fatty and you really need the rice to soak up the sauce of each dish. The dishes are simple but the flavors were the right amount of salty, sweet and sour. My favorite dish, hands down, is the Sizzling Kansi. It is seerved with bone marrow and the tangy sauce is perfect with the tender meat. For rice, you have to try their ginamos fried rice. Definitely a place to visit, this restaurant serves no frills Negranese style food. Great place for casual dining with friends and family. :)

We were craving pizza and decided to take a Grab ride to Gino's Brick Oven Pizza from our…read morehotel--about a 15-minute drive, and it was absolutely worth it! As soon as we arrived, a friendly staff member opened the door for us, greeted us warmly, and let us choose where we'd like to sit. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but it's cozy, inviting, and has a great atmosphere. We ordered the Salami Pizza and Meatball Spaghetti. I remembered to take a photo of the pizza, but completely forgot to snap a picture of the spaghetti because we were so hungry and excited to dig in--LOL! The food was absolutely delicious. The highlight for me was their special Gino's Spicy Honey that they recommend drizzling over the pizza. I had never heard of or tried spicy honey on pizza before, but wow--it was amazing! The sweet and spicy flavor paired perfectly with the pizza and created a combination I'll definitely be craving again. Great food, friendly service, and a wonderful dining experience. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Makati!

Just swung by Gino's Brick Oven Pizza on a whim last weekend and man, it did not disappoint! The…read moreMargherita with fresh burrata was straight fire--creamy, melty cheese, that perfect char on the edges, and the crust had this great chew without being too doughy. We also got the prosciutto and homemade sausage pie, which was loaded with quality toppings and had that smoky brick-oven flavor that makes you close your eyes for a second. Paired it with a pitcher of calamansi juice--super refreshing and the ideal balance to the richness. The spot's small and cozy, tucked away but worth finding, and the staff was genuinely warm and quick. Already plotting my next visit to try more combos. Easily 5 stars--best brick oven in the area hands down!

A foodie friend referred me to this place a few years back. He said that they have the BEST pasta…read morein Manila--perhaps in the Philippines--perhaps one of the best you will have in your lifetime. I've always wanted to go but never found the time or opportunity, until last night. The rumors were true. Despite the peculiar choice for the location--a gas station in the middle of EDSA, for crying out loud, Va Bene served us some of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. We were greeted by their friendly, very accommodating staff, and it turned out to be a deliciously beautiful evening from there. The interiors, in my opinion, were nothing extravagant: glass-top tables overlooking paintings underneath, dark-painted chairs with tacky glossy varnish, and on one side a floor-to-ceiling shelf with their wines, cookbooks, and pasta-making paraphernalia for sale. I wouldn't say this was the work of a professional interior designer, but I felt the heart and the unassuming authentic Italian taste. Then came our food. I ordered the Lasagna a la Michele--lasagna with Italian sausage, bolognese, and parmesan cheese sauce. Presentation-wise, it looked like your typical lasagna served on a large hot plate instead, but it tasted far from the ordinary. Each forkful of the pasta layers was rich and heavenly. All I could think was, "I wouldn't want to gobble this up so quickly, it's too good!" The only thing missing was a piece of bread on the side or a glass of wine, so you wouldn't feel so "umay" if it was the only thing you ordered. But I have no complaints at all about the flavors and portion size. With this plate alone, I'm one more happy customer. I tried my friend's Black Ink Tagliolini--mixed seafood, marinara sauce, light tomato cream sauce, and it was nothing short of flavorful too. The sweetness from the seafood was the best partner for the very "malinamnam" black ink pasta. I wouldn't change a single thing about the dish. Va Bene also offers other main dishes if you want more than just pasta. We also ordered their Ciao Burger--chicken breast bruger served with homemade mayonnaise, semi-dried tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, buffalo mozzarella, arugula leaves, and crispy potatoes. And my for an Italian restaurant, it's one burger I truly enjoyed. The ingredients, especially the arugula, were so fresh and green and it just made me feel happy stuffing them in my mouth. So when all the food was gone and we were happily paying for the above-average price of our bill while complimenting our server for the amazing food, he offered us some Lemon Drop shots--some lemon syrup with vodka that tasted good but was actually pretty strong. Will Va Bene ever run out of surprises? Overall, after just my first time here, Va Bene has become one of my favorite restaurants in Manila. (I'm eyeing that Parpadelle for my next visit.)

OH MY GOD THE HYPE IS REAL. Va Bene is the best, THE BEST Italian Restaurant I have had the…read morepleasure of dining at. Why this place is located in a gas station in EDSA is beyond me, but my god what an incredible restaurant. There was nothing put on or artificial about the whole experience, and you do get the sense that the staff knows what they're doing. The restaurant itself is bright and inviting, and while it had none of the lines we so associate with headliner restos, Va Bene always had customers in the two hours we stayed in there. Yes, two hours. As for the food, the names escape me right now but I had a pasta dish with lamb, and my friend had a mushroom/truffle pasta. I still have dreams over both dishes, ESPECIALLY the mushroom/truffle pasta. Incredible.