For those in the know, there's a hidden gem inside Pinks--a speakeasy tucked within the hotel bar…read morewhere you can sip on expertly crafted cocktails while nibbling through Pinks' full menu. And I'll give them credit: they've nailed that 1920s NYC speakeasy vibe, dimly lit with just the right amount of mystery. It's all there--the velvet charm, the intimacy, the flickering lights--but there's one glaring issue. The music. Oh, the music. It's so loud I can barely hear myself think. Look, I get it: bars need a pulse, but when the sound is so deafening that it destroys the entire atmosphere, you've got a problem. A speakeasy is meant to be a place where conversation flows easily, but this... this is more of a nightclub masquerading as a quiet hideaway. It's a missed opportunity, because this place could be something truly special. Now, let's talk about the good stuff. The bartenders? Skilled. Polite. You can tell they know their craft--these drinks are top-notch, embodying the art of mixology. I went in not expecting to drop 500 PHP on a cocktail (because, Manila, right?), but that's exactly what I did. And while this would be standard + more in New York (a lot more), in the Philippines? It felt like a bit of a rip-off. Still, I can't deny the quality of the drinks--smooth, balanced, the kind that makes you stop and appreciate the craftsmanship. Then there's the food. The hotdogs were solid, though not the absolute highlight Pinks is known for. But they're the kind of comfort food that hits just right when you need it, each bite bringing that warm, nostalgic feeling--like a hug from your hometown. The real star, though, was the Salted Egg Pancetta Popcorn. This little creation? Genius. The salty, savory crunch was addictive, and honestly, I'm stealing that recipe and bringing it home with me. It's the kind of dish that makes you sit up and say, "Okay, you've got my attention." Pinks is a great spot--if you can look past the noise and the overpriced drinks. The vibe is there, even if the locals aren't, and while the foreigners around you might seem more interested in their own chatter than mingling, it's still a place with potential. It has the bones of something really special, it just needs a little fine-tuning. If they can fix the sound issue and adjust the pricing a bit, this could be the kind of place you want to return to. Until then, I'll be back for that popcorn and a cocktail... just with earplugs.

What happened!?!…read more Went back to pinks after craving it for so long. We ordered and literally less than a minute the chili cheese dog was brought to our table. Food being served that fast is not a good thing! Especially when you're paying 300 pesos for just the hot dog. The Quality has gone down. When I first went here it took a 10 minutes after we ordered. The bread was heavenly now it tastes stale :( I hope someone tells the manager or owners soon. Hot dogs were undercooked. The bun was just grabbed off the rack.We got the bratwurst and all beef. If you expect a customer to pay that much for hot dog please cook it before you serve it. The only good thing we had was the chili cheese fries which took longer to cook. The first time trying this place the quality was amazing. But now SNR hot dogs have better taste Customer service was GReat, very friendly, the only reason for the 2 stars. If they change the quality back to the way when I first tried it this could've been my go to spot. Now it's just like chuckeecheese fun when I first went there.

I may be biased, but Don Henrico's is my favorite pizza place ever. Maybe it was also because of…read morethe timing. At a time when I was so used to Pizza Hut, Shakey's, Greenwich, and Domino's, then came Don Henrico's, and my first time was in Baguio, at their first ever branch, no less! There, they even place generous amounts of lettuce on the pizza as an extra topping. There's just something "extra" about Don Henrico's that I can't find anywhere else. Maybe it's because it's a very Filipino brand - though the food is Italian, it's very much adjusted to the Filipino taste. I love the blend of savoriness, sourness, and sweetness in the pizza sauce and toppings. And of course, the softness of the pizza dough. The ingredients are also quite used generously. The vegetable delight pizza is truly a delight in any branch I have tried, including MOA. They don't scrimp on the ingredients at all. Of course they serve pastas and rice meals as well, but it's really the pizza that's the star for me. The MOA branch is particularly nice as you can see the sea from there. You can walk to the balcony and look out while waiting for your order.

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!

What a fantastic dining experience at Gino's. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt…read morecozy and welcoming--the perfect spot for a casual dinner. The staff were attentive and friendly throughout our meal. Everything we ordered was delicious, fresh, and served hot. A true neighborhood gem!

To some Filipinos, Switzerland is the place where an infamous dictator once stashed his ill-gotten…read morewealth but to some its decadent skiing, yodeling and cheese fondues. What I know about this country is quite little as I have never tried skiing before, yodeling is and will always be an enigma and a meal based on cheese and potatoes is something that I still have to work on as my palette truly is very Asian. There are days however, when I think I've had too much rice and this is when you will find me at the Swill Deli Restaurant. I usually have Cheese fondue here with my family as it is a great meal to share with them. Small cubes of bread dipped into a bowl of hot cheese is perfect for those nights when you just want something different. And since I come from a family of big eaters, we usually pair the fondue with raclette, sausages and a couple of European beers with names we can never pronounce correctly. Eating here won't punch a hole in your wallet, it'll leave you a little heavy, maybe a bit light-headed from all the dairy products you have consumed. But tomorrow you know it'll be rice again, so it's okay. You know you'll wake up with a happy stomach full from all that Swiss goodness you've let yourself enjoy.

We ordered the shrimp Alfredo and a meat lovers pizza and were so glad that we did. Tasty, generous…read moreportions, and super cost effective. Granted we had a buy one get one deal on our entrees and also took part in a daily happy hour of buy one get one cocktail. We came out like bandits. Full and tipsy. Still, even though we definitely got our money's worth visiting Motorino, that doesn't mean the food was subpar. In fact, it was the tastiest Italian we've had since moving here. It definitely made me feel like I was eating at a New York style establishment. We're definitely coming back here and at happy hour. You'd be wasting money if you didn't.

Don't get it confused, there is a Motorino in NYC. However, they also have a Motorino (same owners)…read morein Makati, Philippines! Motorino is located in the Greenbelt Mall and I definitely get lost trying to find it. This mall is huge! Since I was feeding 5 people, I got to pick an array of pizzas! We started with the Classic Marghertia! Look at the joy in my uncle's face! The pizza was quiet good. I wish it had more sauce and cheese, but the crust was on point. The sauce is a bit sweeter, but I honestly think everything is sweeter in the Philippines. We also ordered the Soppressata Piccante (personal favorite!) which had Fior Di Latte, soppressata, chilies and topped with oregano. My cousin ordered the 4 cheese with Fior Di Latte, Pecorino, Gorgonzola and Provolone. It was so cheese-y. My brother also ordered the calzone which was the table favorite. Inside they stuffed it with Ricotta, American Bacon and spinach. It wasn't as cheese gooey as I was expecting though, but ricotta will do that for you. You can hear my disappointment. Haha but it was still pretty good. At roughly 600 pesos a pie which is about $12 a pie, it's not bad. $12 a pie is the US is a steal, but for the Philippines, it's quiet expensive. Thank God I'm American!

This pizza was so good! We came here 2x on our vacation in Manila. I highly recommend this place…read more Fast, fresh and clean. Probably the best pizza In the entire country. They were kind of limited on drinks. The ice cream was ok.

Yellow Cab has always been at the top of my list when it comes to pizza. Although a bit pricey…read morecompared to other pizza chains, they are reliable and consistent when it comes to taste and you're always getting your money's worth. As a personal reward last month, I treated myself to a pizza at Yellow Cab, SM San Lazaro. The place was not full at around lunchtime, so I was happy that I could eat my pizza in peace. Yes, I was alone. Don't judge me. I was surprised at how helpful the staff was, especially their manager. He went out of his way to hand me magazines while I was waiting for my order. He also asked me how my pizza was once I started on it but didn't hover and left me to enjoy my food. I also saw him rush to help another customer with opening her drink without her even asking. I was pleasantly surprised with my experience at this particular branch and will definitely go back.

After reading all the reviews about this place, I was a bit hesitant to visit because I might just…read morewaste my time and money for it. Curiosity got the best of me so I went anyway. Well, there is nothing fancy on the ambiance since you get to sit on chairs on the sidewalk, and it's as al fresco as you can get, not really suitable for our summer heat. Nevertheless, I was surprised when the eating began. Bobo's or Best in Brick Oven Pizzeria serves affordable and delicious Italian dishes but do not scrimp on quality. Their dishes are authentic in taste. The menu is basically divided into three: pizza, pasta, and risotto. During this visit, we tasted virtually everything on the menu. Premium Pizza: Bobo's Pizza, All-Meat, Four Cheese: my favorite would be the Bobo's Pizza because it is a mix of everything. The toppings are generous and everything can be tasted. That is how fresh it is. Classic Pizza: Margherita, Hawaiian, Pepperoni: an uncle once told me that the best way to test the skill of a chef is to try their most basic dish, if they can make it well, then the more difficult dishes would not be a problem. And this is how I felt with their Margarita. One bite, and the cheese, tomato, and basil can be tasted, and fresh too. I was so happy with this pizza, I bought one for take out and gave it to my wife, which she consumed everything before we got home. Generally, I like their pizza crust because it is crispy and crunchy, like eating a biscuit with texture. It is something I would want to finish and come back too. Dessert: they also offer dessert pizzas: Choco-Nut and Apple Cinnamon. I prefer the Apple Cinnamon because of its fragrance and flavor. The crust for the dessert is thinner and crispier. Pasta: Bolognese, Carbonara, Puttanesca, Aglio Olio. For a non-beef eater like me, I love that their bolognese is made with pork, but my favorite would be their Puttanesca, just enough saltiness and sourness that makes you crave for more. The carbonara did not work well for me because I find it too liquid instead of creamy. The bacon was also thick and difficult to chew. The Tuna Aglio Olio was spicy, I was surprised when I ate it. I hope that they would note on the menu that it is spicy so that customers will be warned. They serve tomato-based and cream-based sauces on linguine and oil-based sauces on spaghetti - I like the technicality of it. Risotto: Meatball, FIsh Pesto, Osso Buco, Chicken and Tomato, Sausage: Risotto is a very difficult dish to make, if you watch Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, it is the dish that always sends a chef home. I like Bobo's risottos because they are perfectly cooked and creamy. My favorite would be their chicken and tomato. The chicken is very tender for a breast part, and the tomato blended with the risotto well. The only downside for this restaurant is well, it's hot eating outside, with disposable utensils, and no toilet. With a few seats, I would suggest they invest in plastic utensils instead. I can recommend Bobo's if you want something legit yet affordable. In my opinion, it can be compared with Greenwich Pizza in terms of taste. I would be willing to travel from Binondo for a taste of their pizza again.

In my experience in Teacher's Village, never judge a restaurant by its exterior. Bobo's Pizzaria…read moredoesn't look bad per se but the pizza's really good and well, you won't know that they serve good pizzas from the looks of it and from the price too I might add. While the pizzas are not five star material, it can certainly hold its own and I for one, like it a lot. Like seriously. The restaurant only has an outdoor seating so it's fresh air for everyone but don't worry, it's still comfortable. My first time there was actually my birthday, we were driving around and it was early in the morning and I wanted to try it since neither the bf nor I had breakfast yet. I had trouble picking from the menu but ate was kind enough to help me out and we ended up getting the All Meat Pizza which was around 200php. Like I said, I was happy with my pizza and if you're a pizza lover just like me, you'll love it too!

You really can't go wrong with something that's called a "Monster Pizza", a fact my lobster and I…read morelearned for ourselves when we ordered from Jugno's and got pizza so big, we had to tip it on its side just to get it through the door. What's new with Jugno's, compared to other places selling their own version of gigantic pizzas, is the fact that you can mix and match their pizza flavors. You have a choice between classic and signature flavors, and I think the most that you can have is 8 flavors in one pizza. They're segregated, of course - no worries there. Another cool thing: they're the only pizza place that serves their pizza with dip. Yeah, you heard me, their pizza comes with dip. My favorite is their garlic sour cream, but they also have sweet and spicy sauce.