One of the purveyors of Greek fare in the metro. Cyma has continually served quality Greek food…read morethrough the years. And with the cut throat restaurant business in Manila, their good food and service are a testament to why they are still around. Must-try: souvlakis; pastas; roka salata; flaming cheese dips I usually stick to these and am satisfied all the time.

The decoration and wooden chairs give a truly Mediterranean feel…read more They have all the Greek classics like Gyros, Tzatziki, Souvlaki and salads. I found that the traditional Greek salad (solo) was enough to share between the two, although it comes with one piece of bread only! The quality of the olive oil is great and I highly recommend the cuisine for anyone! You cannot NOT like it!

Okay, I held off reviewing Greek Kouzina for awhile because I wanted to try more of their menu and…read moretoday I got the chance. One thing I never fail to order is their stuffed zucchini because it's really good and feels really healthy... it's "greek rice with pine nuts, raisins and tomatoes stuffed in zucchini". However, today I found out that they modified their menu and there's no longer stuffed zucchini (sob!); instead, they changed it to stuffed red bell pepper! Badly needing my rice fix, I ordered it anyway, but very doubtfully. We also got the beef gyros (small pieces of beef, greens, and feta cheese in pita wrap) and the crispy calamares. The good news is, the stuffed red bell pepper was surprisingly even BETTER than the zucchini. It's the sweetest pepper I've ever tasted! Truthfully I'm not a fan of bell peppers because the green ones turn me off so I thought they all taste weird, but this red bell pepper was a game changer for me. TRY IT TRY IT! The other ones we ordered were pretty good as well. So far, I haven't tasted anything that I particularly disliked from Greek Kouzina. I also like their Lamb Meatballs. For dessert, their Greeka Yogurt is a must-try. The honey mixed with yogurt is amazing. If you run out of honey you can always ask for more.

With my job constantly taking me places and me having to find routes to get from one point to the…read moreother in the fastest way possible, I pass through random roads a lot. Whenever I take Little Baguio, I always see small restaurant with lots of cars parked outside it, even on the street. One day, a client of mine asked to meet at Greeka, though not the one in San Juan, but the then newly opened branch in SM Aura. Because I already have a major favorite from another restaurant, thought it would be "safe" for me to try Greeka's version, and maybe even compare to see which one I like better. So, I ordered the htipiti, which is basically a feta cheese dip. It was a bit coarse, with small bits of feta and not spicy like the one I have been accustomed to. Their pita is also a bit on the heavier side. Then I had their Roka Garides pasta, which I was unsure of at first, because I didn't think arugula would work well with shrimp and pasta. However, I was glad I tried it because it was good! Being able to enjoy pasta with vegetables is good, but with this, it's just wonderful. Overall, I found that it cannot be compared to my favorite Greek resto, as Greeka has a totally different approach and feel, not just to the eyes but to the palate as well.

Ambience: This was our first time dining in after the…read morerenovation, making the establishment look a bit wider. Since we were in the mood for a snack, we decided to check out their appetizers. As we looked at the prices for the variety of their hummus, we kept it simple and got our usual order. Lentil Soup: Pretty good! Just think monggo. If you like it, I'd recommend this. Hummus: One of the reasons why we love eating hummus (chickpea and sesame dip) at any branch is the bread coming in two pieces. Presentation was attractive and appetizing. Serving size was generous. Taste was simply perfect and I'll always love this dish, so much that I'd bring it to the movies instead of popcorn! Plain Lassi: I'm a fan of yogurt shakes! Sweet or salty, heck, I'll have it both ways! Service: They seemed pretty knowledgeable about their menu. We were asking for a simple soup recommendation and they suggested Lentil Soup, comparing it to monggo. That made our decision very easy! (for July 2018)

This place is located on the busiest mall of Makati (my opinion). Service and of course food are…read moregreat. Take me back home. So if you need a quick break on this holiday shopping stop by and relax.

I decided to try Fig for two basic reasons: 1) I love Mediterranean cuisine; 2) I've noticed people…read morestarted raving about this place in every expat online forum I take part. So there was no reason not to try it! Fig is located along Kalayaan Avenue. It's funny, because I always walk around that region when I go from Salcedo Village to Power Plant Mall and I had never noticed this restaurant before! Maybe that's because the visual pollution around P. Burgos Street and Kalayaan, too much information. I think got so used to the "neon lights" vibe and all the pubs that I never expected to find a tiny and quiet Mediterranean restaurant along the way. Now I've tried it, the feeling is that Fig is the perfect place to give yourself a breather. Even the façade makes you feel relaxed, because it brings immediately to memory the Mediterranean fresh architecture. Although it's a tiny place, the restaurant is very cozy. Ok, let's talk about the menu. In simple words: it's just the best food I had in Manila since I arrived here. Really. A true gourmet experience. Everything is so fresh and tasty! All the dishes I've ordered had an amazing explosion of flavors. The open kitchen allows you to see the French chef preparing the food. What impressed me is that he was alone all the time. He cooks EVERYTHING himself, while he listens to some nice music :) For me it was very interesting to see his "creative process" - cooking with passion is a true creative activity, I have no doubt! Fig works only with fresh ingredients. They're proud of sourcing all products from organic farmers. 90% of their ingredients are organic! Nice, isn't it? I highly recommend all the dishes I had there. Husband and I started with a Gazpacho Soup. It was very good, but it's spicy! Be prepared. We also had two starters: Torta de Patata (P-E-R-F-E-C-T!!!) and Spanakopita (a greek spinach pastry). Each dish comes with two units, so it's nice for sharing. For the main course I had their signature dish - the Tagine of Lamb, cooked with almonds, chermoula, figs, ginger, carrots, cinnamon, saffron and parsley. Just zesty! The meat was very tender. WARNING: Once it has lots of thermogenic ingredients, I started sweating! :P No problem though. I had a great time with this delicious dish. I suggest pairing your tagine with the Jeweled Couscous. Now I think I'll need a weekly visit so I can try all the menu! Go there. Really.

Amidst Poblacion's gritty realness is this so-chic, polished in white and wood hole-in-the-wall…read more The typography of its logo on the front porch is already a sign that this isn't your usual Poblacion fare. The tiles inside are enough to convince you that there is beauty to be savored. And the quality of the food, more than enough to make you list this as your new favorite restaurant. Mediterranean at its finest! Yup, nothing street food-y about this place, indeed. Instant favorites are the mushroom-goat cheese Turkish pizza, lamb tagine (oh so tender, that lamb!!!!!!) and their nicely flavored souvlaki. Shared with friends and paired with a good glass of red, expect the night to last until closing time. And the plates, all cleaned out -- by three petite girls, in our case! The menu is extensive enough that I cannot wait to go back and try everything else!

We've lived at the condos here for several months before trying this place. Why did we wait so…read morelong? It's really good. It's hard to find good Greek food I Manila and this place does the job well! Great menu with a whole lot of favorites! Love it!

Cyma has been around for quite some time now so I can't even say how many times I've eaten here…read more The first branch that I remember is the one in Shangri-La. I've eaten there, and in the Eastwood branch as well. To be quite honest, I have a slew of friends that sing Cyma's praises all day long but I find it to be quite average. With the exception of the salad which is always a delight to eat regardless of which one you order, but my personal favorite is the Horiatiki Salata (traditional Greek village salad). For the main, I've always preferred the shoulder loin lamb chops. It's somewhat on the bland side, but lamb is the love of my life so that's just fine. It's my personal experience that you can't go wrong with the gyros, if you're stumped on what to order.

Went into the restaurant not having eaten breakfast so I was pretty hungry. Meats were tender and…read moreflavorful. However, everything else was more on the bland side. Tabbouleh and hummus needed more flavor. Margherita pizza was pretty decent as well. What saves this place is the service and the time it took the food to get to the table.

The worst Mediterranean thing you will ever find if you're unlucky and you passed by that place …read more We ordered gyro pizza and it's the worst greasy saggy pizza that looks disgusting and tastes disgusting . We ordered falafel and the taste is also disgusting . The himnos was good . The bread is awful . We wanted to change the pizza order but we were informed once ordered we can't make any change . What a terrible experience. .will never even pass near this place again .

I appreciate what Sultan brings to the table (figuratively and literally). Really solid Middle…read moreEastern restaurants in Manila are few and far between, and those few restaurants that do qualify are often expensive. Otherwise, we'd have to settle for these persian restaurant chains that more often than not have just commercialized and gentrified the food too much that nothing stands out anymore. Sultan is different. Tucked in a quiet but hip corner of Salcedo Village, Sultan brings the flavor at a price range that's surprisingly affordable. The flavor of their food seems to be on point, as they've figured out that balance between authenticity and adjusting to the Filipino palette. And for the price, the portions and pretty generous. I'd love to go back and try out some of the other items on the menu, because there's only so much one person can eat before bursting. At any rate, good job, Sultan.

Oh my love, my dearest Sultan…read more This place has been my favorite go-to Persian place when I moved to Makati some two years back. (In college, I was known to have had a Persian alterego who only came out at night... especially when drinking. My name was Antonio. Don't ask.) I loved their cheap, but flavorful food. I love the very delicious lassi (yoghurt shake). I love the threadbare couches and even the weird smell that always permeates most middle-eastern restaurants. I was incredibly saddened to find that Sultan was closed for a couple of months, hoping that they were just undergoing renovations (instead of joining the multitude of small restaurants going under). And I was glad when I went down this street to find that Sultan was open again, with a shiny, new interior! Instead of the warm colors that I've come to associate with, it has a new blue and white tile style going on, along with sleek black couches. (It honestly reminded of Cafe Med!) While I do miss the worn, homey style of Sultan before, I am rather digging this new modern look! Their food hasn't change much (it's still very good), and I'm in love with their new, simple branding. Food you shouldn't miss at Sultan: their huge ass samosas, lassi, keema, kebab and shawarma! The classic staples at any mediterranean restaurant.

The döner sign was calling to me as I entered A. Venue Mall. "Ah! Another Vietnamese diner," I…read morethought to myself, knowing that döner kebabs are all over the streets of Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. I didn't know how wrong I was until the friendly attendant pulled the door open for me and said, "Come, sir, try our authentic sausages and German sandwiches. They're really good!" Looking at my wife's quizzical look, I responded with, "A table for two, please." Inside, I was introduced to the history of döner. Apparently, Germany's number one fastfood sandwich is Turkish in origin. In the 1960's it was brought to Berlin by immigrants. Bamm's beef döner is made of juicy meat cooked using Middle Eastern spices. It is served stuffed in a toasted pita bread pocket along with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. An order also includes potato chips on the side. The server wasn't lying. The sandwich was really delicious. It was huge too! It also comes in chicken or mixed (beef and chicken) varieties. My wife ordered the Smoked Cheese Krainer. It is a mild smoked Slovenian sausage with aged cheese. Meaty and cheesy are the two words that best describe this sausage. It was a bit overcooked, but nevertheless delectable. The platter includes toasted pita bread and sauerkraut. I also noticed a plaque proudly displayed near our table. It says there that during the 2013 National Hummus Day, an international event celebrating hummus as an Arabic and Middle Eastern delicacy, Bamm has been awarded the Certified True Hummus recognition. Upon reading the award, I immediately ordered hummus. True enough, it's the best-tasting hummus that I have ever had! That's coming from someone who always orders hummus at every Greek, Persian, or Mediterranean restaurant he visits. For our drinks, I tried the Dirty Beer or beer spiced up with other stuff that makes its color deep brown. My wife ordered Radler, which is a beer-based drink mixed with other beverages like lemonade or soda. Next time, I will definitely try the Currywurst. The only problem I have with Bamm is the presence of two tiny German cockroaches on the couch we were sitting on.

I remember BAMM's first branch from B-Side in Makati. Their beef doner is the best post Irie Sunday…read moremeal in town. I'm glad they've reopened in A Venue, though it competes with more post drinking venues there. Some of the things I like to order haven't changed though. Open faced sandwiches with the Turkish shawarma type meat plus their chips is a winner. I've chanced upon some other doner places since BAMM made the dish more familiar to Manila but BAMM still has the best version, in my opinion.

First class service. Great choices at their breakfast buffet. But we weren't very hungry so we…read moreordered ala carte. Their coffee was strong and rich. Tried their Sardines al Ajilllo and Garden Omelet. Both were delicious with their toast. The decor was beautiful and elegant. I definitely will return.

We stayed at Discovery Primea for two nights. We had breakfast at Tapenade twice. It was fine…read more Nothing special. If you order eggs to order, it may take awhile. Your companions might finish their buffet selections before you get your eggs. We dined here one time and ordered two dishes: Paella and Seafood Fritto Misto. Paella was too wet for me. Maybe this is how Paella is done in Philippines. Not really to my liking. Fritto Misto was good enough. The dining room is beautiful. But that's throughout the hotel. I just wish the breakfast buffet and dinner was better.