I found about Biker's Cafe back when I started riding mountain bike in 2013. A couple of biker…read morefriends brought me to what they call "The Mountain Biking Capital of the Philippines" in San Mateo, Rizal (about 10 biking minutes away from Sandigang Bayan in Commonwealth), where a bamboo structured eatery with mountain bikes parked all over, lies on the mountain side. Pedaling uphill through the mountains of San Mateo is no joke. I was dead tired and exhausted the first time I biked there that's why seeing a local eatery along the way was just a relief. Biker's Cafe (one of the four eateries in that mountain) is located at the lower part and is actually an indication that a biker has reached the first stage of the mountain. No wonder a lot of cyclist can be found eating, having coffee or just hanging out there. It has a great mountain view, fresh air and good home-cooked affordable breakfast meals (because cyclist usually hit the road in the morning). There's actually nothing special about the food, only that the cook is commendable for serving really tasty meals. A perfect combination in their menu is Beef Mami and Suman Latik. I don't normally order Mami neither pick kakanin for a snack nor dessert but these two just complements well with the cool morning breeze in the mountain plus the exhausted body's thirst for hot soup and energy booster carbs. Another best seller is the Tapsilog (Beef Tapa, Fried Rice, Egg), which I also highly recommend for the "silog" lovers for breakfast. Biker's Cafe is one of those stop-over eateries that's really made for bikers/cyclist, to eat there is more of an experience especially for beginners in biking. As their tagline says, "This is where bikers meet."

I heard their halo-halo was good. So I picked this place for lunch and made sure I ordered…read morehalo-halo for dessert. It was good and different. With only 3 fillings compared to most halo-halos with at least 6 different fillings. Theirs had sweet plantains, coconut, and flan. I wish California had Razon's halo-halo amidst their California burritos and frozen yogurt. I also heard they were known for their palabok so I ordered their palabok listed as "Pancit Plus" but it wasn't as "plus" as the name suggested. It was saucey and good for being fast food palabok but it didn't have many toppings except chicharron, calamansi, and boiled egg. Palabok is usually topped with crispy fried crushed garlic, shrimp, and green onions too. They seem to have a common theme with their food having simplicity. It seems to work for the halo-halo but good palabok is far from being simple.

Eh. Too overrated. But the Dinuguan and Halo-halo are really good, I bet the secret for their halo…read moreis how they crushed the ice. Good but too pricey. There are other Filipino cuisine restaurants or even karinderyas that serve better. Service is good, no complaints or whatnot. Ambiance is your typical restaurant-inside-a-mall kind of thing, not too fancy. Overall, they are okay.

Padre Pio, thank you for inspiring the Catholic community to build a church in Libis. Because of…read moreyou, thousands of Catholics get to feed their soul in the yummiest ways possible. From confession to healing to being in the presence of your relic to awakening their foodie spirit with custaroons from The Custaroonery! Thank you for allowing this demure, tiny, Ladurée-colored spot to spread the sweet word from one of your Parish's unassuming corners. I am sure this is where your barkada of angels go for dessert in between masses. I may have been one of those angles (or, to be more humble, angel-looking beings), Padre Pio. Because after a meal that was the Eucharist, I stumbled upon this corner, got myself a piece of custaroon (custaroonS to be more specific - because I got the cheese-flavored one too) for dessert and bit into an other-worldly combination of divinely packed CUStard and perfectly chewy coconut macarOON (hence, custaroon). A glimpse of heaven. Thank you, Padre Pio!

Custard and Macaroon all in one? Hell yes!! Seriously, who would say no? C'mon over here and fight…read moreme! Nah, I'm just messing with ya. I'd rather sit you down and talk some sense into you than fight. We need more peace in the world, so hear me out. These little sweets are so gooooood! The somewhat chunky texture of macaroons is the perfect contrast to the smooth custard, and they work so well together. The custaroons aren't overly sweet. They're more on the subtle side of sweetness, so if that's the type of dessert you're looking for, then The Custaroonery is for you! Now are you convinced? You better be.

Something that stands out amongst the many restaurants along Katipunan (or behind it on Esteban…read moreAbada) is definitely La Creperie Provencåle. Most of the restaurants there are targeted towards the student population, so a quaint, quiet French restaurant is not something you would typically expect to be there. When my friends and I are in the mood to have a relaxed and yummy meal (before our study sessions or meetings at Craft next door), La Creperie Provencåle is often on the top of our list. The moment you step inside, it feels as though you've been transported directly to Nice or another one of those quaint French provinces; the ambiance is perfect for good conversations and kwentuhan and is a pretty nice date place as well! You can probably guess from its name, but La Creperie Provencåle has a great selection of delectable crepes just waiting to be explored. If you've got a sweet tooth, choose from their gourmet Crepe Sucrées; whether you want fruits, chocolate drizzle, nutella or oreos on your crepe, they've got it! If you're into more of the savory variety, their Galettes de Sarrasin are worth trying as well. I've also ordered their Greek Eggplant Moussaka (something I will always order if I see it on a menu), and it was oozing with cheese and bechamel sauce. This is the perfect place to sip on some coffee or tea; they offer TWG teas and a number of coffee variations, which is perfect for a caffeine addict such as myself. If you're sick of the hustle and bustle of Katipunan, pay La Creperie Provencåle a visit.

I stumbled upon La Creperie one evening in Katipunan. I wasn't sure if it was the same La Creperie…read moreI had tried years ago at Eastwood, but I gave it a try. It wasn't until I saw the menu that I had realized it was the same restaurant I previously tried, so I thought, "OK, this should be good." Although I found it rather strange that they'd put up a branch there as I have a notion that La Creperie can be a bit pricey especially for students. First of all, the ambiance. It's not really conducive for studying, but more for an intimate dinner with your significant other or a best friend with its cozy lighting and interiors that scream "tea party!" Kidding aside, while the interior's all girly-girly, I think it helps set the mood for the food you are about to enjoy. As for me, I had the Le JJ - a tomato, ham, emmental and gruyere cheese crepe served with a side of greens. Let me tell you though, the plate was lovely! The food was okay for me I guess, it's not too filling and I think it's a great option if you're looking for something light (plus nice to look at). On the side, I had a steaming hot pot of TWG Silver Moon Tea. The teacup itself is super pretty!!! I felt really dainty while drinking my tea and enjoying my crepe. One of the biggest things though about La Creperie is that they already had TWG tea on their menu even before the TWG restaurant came to Philippine shores, and on my very first La Creperie experience, Silver Moon was really, love at first taste so this is what I ordered when I stumbled upon this branch. Overall, I think La Creperie would make for a good date place (guys, please take note!) It has everything a girl will probably want to make the date picture perfect (and Instagrammable): pretty plates, pretty teacups, light food, pretty ambiance. Hey, even if you really enjoy your date's company, you can continue the fun right next door with a cup of coffee at Craft.