a bite of brownie

While we were driving around looking for a place to hangout one night, we accidentally came across this restaurant one evening. This quaint coffee/dessert place is located in a semi quiet environment that shies away from the busier parts of the city. At first glance it looks like a mid range establishment where people visit to find some peace and solace so they can read and study.

 Finally on our first visit here at Maya, my sister and I decided to be one of the earliest patrons to come to the place. This restaurant, it seems, is a drinking/hangout place for local and foreigners alike.


No wonder they only open at dusk.


We were well received and was led to a comfortable place on the second floor near the corner couch opposite to the bar. The area was huge and there were several couches that fitted to their customers' needs.


The menu has several pica-pica that goes well with the wide array of liquor that they sell, from wine to hard drinks and authentic Tequila made in Mexico that you won't compare to those cheap American made bottles.


 What I liked about this restaurant is that the ambiance is very enchanting, with Mexican music keeps playing in the background.


We had seafood ceviche, a bowl of guacamole, a serving of soft taco, and a very filling plate of crispy tijuana burrito.


Most of the dips here come with complementary chips and crackers, and these are quite delicious because they are light and crispy. I couldn't ask for more, to be honest.


The soft tacos were a disappointment, though, because there was too little meat in it that it isn't worth calories (especially if you're on a strict diet.)  The burrito was very heavy, with rice beans cheese and other greens Not recommended if you still want to move or you wouldn't want to fart in public.


To end the meal, my sister decided to get a plate  of Leche Flan, which is some sort of egg custard that the Spanish loved. I also sampled a shot of their tequila, two bottles of beer and a margarita.




Maya Restaurant
Crossroads Banilad




Verdict:
A: 3.75/5. Not a dining place, but a drinking place where you get to socialize with friends. Probably a nice place for a "Boy's night out."

Just as we were looking around for a quick bite before the movie, we managed to pass by Postrio, one of my favorite pastry place in Ayala. The customers of this establishment can enjoy relative peace and quiet while they hold small meetings and appointments. Our stay here in the restaurant was only for a short while now, and extra special indeed since it was our first time to actually consume meals there.

What I had was a Bacon and Egg Sandwich with complementary fries while my mom got the hungarian sausage meal with sauerkraut. I figured that many pastry shops serve lousy meals and just focused on the pastry and the drinks, so I didn't have high expectations from it. But lo and behold, much to my surprise, everything was delicious. The fries had a different taste than the ones you can get from food chains. The french baguette slices fresh, the bacon and eggs fried to perfection, the Hungarian sausage oozing with juices, I had the sudden change of opinion!

Postrio
Ayala Terraces




Verdict:
A: 4/5

I'll vouch for the food you eat here. Not only that they have wonderful baked goods, they also have good meals.

Postrio is the best place to hang out on a lazy Saturday afternoon, especially when you're fed up with the usually coffee shop crowd. They serve freshly baked bread and pastries plus they have wifi and electric outlets so it's common to see people with their laptops and books piled up on their table, typing and enjoying their baked goodies.

We usually go here to buy whole wheat pandesal and sliced bread but today we decided to add lemon square and their best seller apple pie on our list. It was great that they have a couch just outside the premises that looks out to the fountain of The Terraces. That's where we whiled away the time till dinner at Red Kimono.

Verdict:

N: 4/5 I have yet to try their drinks but I love their pastries, their lemon square rivals Leona's. Now if they only have friendlier cashiers then it would be perfect. The one who attended me wouldn't give up the wifi password, what a grinch!

One Sunday morning, sister and I decided to go to a popular venue for a car wash in Panagdait, Cebu to test how good their service is. Due to the time of our arrival, we had to be stuck there for a number of hours to get the job done. And under the blistering heat of the sun, no less! We had to rush to the shelter of a homey coffee shop for some shade and cool air (we didn't think of the nearby Jollibee branch, for fear that the establishment does not have any Wi-Fi). While at it, both of us had a glass of iced caramel and mocha frappe.

Just as we were heading home from a mall after the car wash, some annoying birds just had to hold their annual poo slinging event on top of our windshield and on the driver's door. Our fears escalated into despair and finally to teary sobs as we drove back to Off Roads. I can't even begin to describe how shocked the attendant was when he saw the poo-riddled windshield, to think they they washed the car less than two hours ago!

So again, we passed by the coffee shop and had blueberry cheesecake and a piece of brownie this time to drown our sorrows. The coffee earlier was good and cheap unlike certain places where you pay for the name and not for the cup of joe. The cheesecake was rich and good, even up to the icing (I swear, it tasted a teensy bit of cherry). The brownie, albeit having extremely well made with chocolate toppings and a piece of walnut, didn't have much of a kick that gets one munching for more.

Offroads
Panagdait, Cebu near SYKES ASIA Building

Verdict:
A: 4/5 Blueberry Cheesecake is a must have when you visit here. If not, enjoy other cakes while taking advantage of their free WiFi. You can bring your laptop and plug it in, for no charge!

As we were walking along SM Northwing during a lunch break from the May 1 job fair at the SM City Trade Hall, sis noticed that there was a Leona's branch up on the second floor. We noted the wide array of mouthwatering breads, pastries and cakes displayed on racks while some were stowed in the freezer. Aside from the relaxing ambiance the shop offered, their excellently made baked products contain just the right balance of sweetness and taste for the picky eater.