Just the day before, I had gone to a meeting at Amici Don Bosco. This time, I went with my…read moreboyfriend to Megamall. Our diet only allowed me and him 400 calories and 500 calories respectively, and so Tim Ho Wan's pork buns were not an option. We decided to go to Amici because it's been tried and tested, and at least the food was cheap. It was dinnertime on a Friday night, but the place, to our great relief, wasn't full at all. We ordered my favorite Ai Tesori Del Mare and the rosemary chicken. I'm glad that they now serve the latter in smaller servings; before, one didn't have a choice but to order half of a chicken and bring home leftovers (that is, if one was alone). The servers here aren't as cheerful and attentive as the ones in the Don Bosco branch, and just that human touch, I realized, is just so important. Our food didn't taste as the good as the Don Bosco branch's versions, though I suspect that I'm probably just imagining things. It's pretty noisy in there, as most mall restaurants are, but I like that Amici exists in that mall because there are very few places in SM that serve good, moderately priced salads and other food that isn't junk.

I came here for dinner a couple nights ago with my dad. Although it's located pretty conveniently…read morein the Atrium at Mega Mall, I'm not sure you'd know it were there if you weren't looking for it. The experience, while nice, wasn't anything to write home about. We came in at 8PM, and despite it being peak dinner time, a grand total of three tables were occupied. Also, although friendly, the staff was inattentive at times - which was inexcusable given the fact that the restaurant was empty and they were overstaffed. We ordered the three cheese and pepperoni pizza, which was great! We asked if we could get it on a flatbread base (which we'd heard rave reviews about), the staff said it wasn't possible. That was a bummer and seemed like something that they could easily accommodated. They have a Caramia (the dessert shop that specialises in ice cream cakes) located within the restaurant and a selection of their desserts on their menu. Pros: + Good food + Large, clean restaurant + Friendly service + Caramia within restaurant Cons: - Preoccupied servers - Very, very empty Bottom line: If you're looking for decent thin crust pizza while at Mega Mall, give Amici a try!

Consistently delicious! Every time I dine here, I discover a new favorite. The ingredients are…read morefresh and the dishes are incredibly well-balanced. A must-try restaurant.

Went here last weekend with my barkada after hearing so much about their famous panizza--finally…read moregot to try it and wow, it did not disappoint! We got the Original (rolled with alfalfa, super fresh and crunchy), the Tinlou with bacon and mushrooms, and one with Parma ham and artichokes. The crust was thin, crispy edges, perfect for rolling without falling apart, and the toppings tasted so fresh and balanced. Service was warm and quick even though it was packed, and the open kitchen vibe made it fun to watch everything being made. Dessert was the pistachio gelato--creamy, not overly sweet, just right. Pricey for a casual hang but worth every peso for the quality and the experience. Hidden gem in Paco talaga, will definitely drag more friends back soon!

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.

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.

With the sudden increase in food trends, restaurants nowadays just come and go. Every time I go to…read morea mall, there would always be new buffet restaurants, katsu houses, ice cream parlors, creperies, and many more. With so many new places popping up, sometimes I just want to stay away from it all and go back to my all-time favorite restaurants. Good thing Cibo is still standing strong amidst the boom of food establishments here in the Philippines. Cibo is a restaurant that serves authentic Italian food. One of my favorite dishes there is their Patatine Fritte, which is made up of thin potato slices served with their homemade mayonnaise. Despite being deep-friend, the potato slices are not at all greasy. For my main course, I usually order their Truffle Cream Pasta. The truffle oil from this very simple pasta dish will make you drool. Definitely one of the best Italian restaurant I have been to. Cibo has never left me disappointed. Whenever I am hungry and in need of good-tasting Italian comfort food, Cibo is definitely one of my go-to places.

This is a nice little place to get some real Italian food at a reasonable price. Lots of choices to…read morechoose from from light dishes to heavier meals to your hearts content. I was there for a lunch and was quite satisfied with the overall experience . I'm sure when I'm in the area, I will be back to try other dishes.

I arrived at 11:00 AM on to get lunch. I was seated and then forgotten about!…read more I waited over 30 minutes and was never served. I left for another restaurant.

A lovely little piece of Italy at the Fort. The food is great, authentic and reasonably priced. I…read morelove sitting out the front with a pizza and a beer watching the passing people. The only down side is the don't have a CR so you just need to get a ticket from the staff to use the CR down the hallway. It's only a minor thing. Definitely check this place out.

Having dinner here with family. We ordered pizza, chicken piccata and Sicilian salad. They're fresh…read moreand delicious. Serving staff are friendly and helpful. Nice and clean place to spend dining with your family and friends.

Growing-up, Italianni's was the Olive Garden to our family. Lots of locations, and reliably good…read moreItalian food that was sure to please a large family such as ours. Now that I'm older, I've come to realize that Italianni's is not so much of a corporate franchise as I believed it to be. The menu is expansive; they certainly have lots to offer by way of variety, and their food quality is on par. Every dish is carefully prepared, and you can taste the food quality in every bite. We ordered the mixed pizza (4 different types of pizzas in one), osso bucco pasta, truffle fries, calamari, chicken parm, mediterrean pasta, and much more for our Christmas Day dinner. Everything was exceptional! I've never had osso bucco before, and Italianni's version hit it out of the park. Our kids, just like many other kids, absolutely love pizza. Their quatro formaggio was insanely delicious thanks to their addition of gouda. My husband and I ordered the Italian Smash (gin, simple syrup, basil, lemon juice), and were so impressed by how tasty it was. Italianni's has proven their shift from a franchise Italian restaurant to finer casual dining. Their Shangrila Plaza location is situated perfectly in a row of restaurants and has both indoor and "outdoor" dining areas. Service is wonderful, as well. I highly recommend Italianni's for any family dinners or even dinners with friends or clients.

Shakey's is one of my favorite restaurant ever since I was a kid. I still remember their branch in…read moreSM Megamall that hosts band. while having sports on TV. It has been my memory of Shakey's. I visited their EDSA-caloocan branch. It was one of the busiest branch, even at 9pm, it was full. I was assisted and seated in the bar. Most of the time, I would order their 2-pc. chicken with rice, but sadly, they reformulated their menu. So I got the bunch of lunch instead. It includes a soup, salad, pizza, pasta, mojos, and chicken. The salad was plated clumsily. It was just literally dumped in my plate. I know it was a busy day, but atleast plate it nicely. It's not a rabbit who's going to eat the few leaves of romaine. to dump it like that. The soup was cream of corn and chicken. It tasted like it but some od the roux mixture wasn't melted properly that created lump.s Chicken was still as good as before, although dry, I still love the seasoning and pairing it with ketchup. The pizza was a fail. The crust was bland, so I left the edges on my plate. The servers was quick and attentive, but I didn't feel the Shakey's hospitality from their other branches. THat they would introduce themselves, that they would be our order taker, etc. etc. And asking us how was the food and the whole experience. I'm not sure if they don't do it anymore or its just late already. But that's one thing that make Shakeys standsout, more then the chicken and mojoes. #TheFoodCrawlers #OngsFoodprints #SplatMNL

My family recently visited Shakey's MCU to celebrate many milestones in our family. Our family…read moreloves Shakey's, so it is always one of our first choices for simple family gatherings. The food and environment is typical Shakey's: pizzas, pastas, mojos, fried chicken, among other popular choices which are delicious and satisfies appetites of all ages. Comfortable seats, wide spaces, and family-oriented decorations and motifs create a relaxing atmosphere fit for such occasions. The service of the staff from this branch is better than most Shakey's branches, which has a tendency to serve the bills or orders relatively slowly compared to other restaurants. The waiters, cashiers, and all other staff members are very cordial and polite, and they always smile. At one point, one of my companions left behind a gift I got from Istanbul and the Shakey's staff managed to save it and returned it when I picked it up a few minutes later. I commend Shakey's MCU as one of the best Shakey's branches I have ever visited.