I made clear to fam that I didn't wanna eat at ANY franchise eateries during my last visit. I much prefer local mom-and-pop spots.
That said, cousin-in-law, Idol (not his real name, that's just what we call him) suggested we try this place. "You gotta try their apple salad, it's soooo good!"
No doubt we're gonna get that, "so let's go!"
Party of 4, we walked in and Idol immediately asked if we could be seated upstairs. "It's nice up there."
Luckily, a big party (who occupied the entire floor) just got done, so we were seated right away. The apple salad was a must, but after looking through their menu, I had my eye on some other stuff I've never had before.
We put in our orders and waited patiently for grub.
It's a really beautifully laid out place. The decor wasn't overwhelming, just right for the space.
Then the food started rolling over.
CALAMANSI JUICE: Sweet and sour tang - more sweet than sour - and it was refreshing especially on a hot, humid (albeit rainy) day. Good start.
SIDE SOUP: Also a good starter to get the appetite going. Man, how did they make this?! It had some depth and flavor, the bowl was still warm by the time I got through it! I wanted to ask for more, but kept in mind to keep room for grub!
APPLE CHICKEN WALDORF SALAD: The same Idol recommended. Apple was crispy fresh, the walnuts added texture, and the romaine lettuce was a good cleanse to the semi-sweet dressing. We were a party of 4, but I think I ate more than my share. He's right: it's really good! Get this!
SIZZLING BULALO: Okay, I ordered this because I was curious. I really just wanted to see what this looks like since I've only had it as a soup. Instead of broth, they doused it with with bulalo flavored gravy with a side of veggies. The meat was cooked tender and flavored so perfectly. The entire dish maintained its "bulalo" profile. Delish! Curious no more: I loved it!
GUISADONG KANGKONG: It came with seafood?!? Even better! Veggies were so fresh, it tasted like it just got plucked minutes before cooking. Then mixing it with the well-prepped and cooked seafood! Wow! Two thumbs up for sure!
PASTA BOLOGNESE: Idol's main dish. Of course he let me try it. So... most pastas in the Philippines are prepped with some level of sweetness to it. This was done RIGHT. There was only a teenee hint of sweet to this one, otherwise, nearly perfect. And the garlic bread was done right, a good cleanser, if need be.
My nephew and niece ordered bento boxes I didn't get to try, but their empty plates says a lot.
FOOD: 5. There was nothing I tried and didn't like.
SERVICE: 5. Our server was attentive and friendly. Service with a smile is always a plus.
VALUE: 4.5. I felt it was more than fair, but might be a bit pricey for locals.
PARKING: Challenging in this area. No private lots and street parking is packed. Plan accordingly.
OVERALL: 4.75. And that's rounding down. Nearly perfect.
So many other things I wanna try on their menu. I shall return - even just to have that salad again! read more