a bite of brownie

SM Southmall is a 7km drive from our house, you might think that it’s just a more or less 10min drive, but no, due to traffic congestion, and the recent ASEAN meetings being held here, it became a 1hr drive. Yes, for 7km. So when I arrived, I quickly went on with what I had set out to do. Baking supplies store for kitchen stuff, grocery for pasalubong, and department store for clothes. After those, I went on to the food strip at the back. Almost all of the restaurants, we’ve been to already, save this one: Eduardo’s Peri Peri Chicken.

It was a little late for lunch so there were not a lot of diners and I was able to get a seat right away. They had wooden chairs and tables that went up to the back, opening to the al fresco side of the restaurant. It looked like a low key fast food chain whose best sellers were their burger and of course, chicken. I ordered the combo meal of a quarter peri peri chicken, rice (which I asked not to serve), side of corn and carrots, and iced tea.

The chicken was so-so, the rub on the chicken was not too spicy and needing that oomph. They did have 2 bottles of sauces on the table, one is bbq and the other is spicy. The spicy sauce didn’t do the trick no matter how much I smothered it on my chicken. The meat was not fall off the bone, but at least it wasn’t too dry as well. For the price, I guess it was good enough. My total bill was 160Php. 

Verdict: 2/5 
The meal was a little plain and could be improved. They could develop their sauces more to bring the chicken on a different level. The crew was attentive and catered to all your needs even if you didn’t ask for it, which I think is a sign of goof customer service.

During ReiMart’s visit to Manila, we went to Century Mall (which reminds me, he should have written restaurant reviews from there!), we passed by this upscale food court, Hole in the Wall. Inside, we saw a variety of chef-owned fast food joints and it’s quite refreshing to not see the usual fast food chains (but I don’t hate any of them, really) like that one with a red, life sized bee for a mascot, or that one with a creepy clown who have oversized red shoes, or even where fried chicken, I have to agree, is finger lickin’ good. One of the joints there, Bad Bird, offered umami fried chicken that might just click.

And I guess they are making a name for their own because that very fast food joint is now at the 3F of SM Megamall’s new wing, the Fashion Hall. Looking at the menu, they offer umami fried chicken in 3 spiciness level: Safe, Spicy, and Chemical. I got the Corn and Coleslaw Plate because I just wanted fried chicken in all its goodness, no rice or other carbs to make the flavor any lesser. That came with two umami fried chicken and they let you choose two different flavors, too! I looked the server in the eye and asked about their chemical and there was warning in her eyes that told me not to take it (or maybe I was just a little chicken LOL). So I asked for the safe and spicy.

When I got the plate, I was pleased with the serving size. Two umami fried chicken (safe was the lighter colored one), a bowl of steamed and buttered corn removed from the cob and topped with bonito flakes, and a bowl of kimchi coleslaw. I started to eating the spicy fried chicken so I’ll have the safe fried chicken on standby in case my tongue gets fired. However, the spiciness for me was just ok, not really that spicy to blow me away so by then I kept wondering how spicy was their chemical one. It’s also reminiscent of another fast food joint’s fried chicken which sadly until now, I can’t remember. Anyway, as I moved on to the safe fried chicken, it was more lackluster than I expected and somehow reminded me of Pritos Ring chips (anyone remember how that tastes like?). The corn was under seasoned and the coleslaw was ok.


Verdict: 2/5
Definitely overrated by the reviews online. They have a nice wall art and interiors in the restaurant but the food is just so-so. Oh and I want to note their serving plate/paper, it was oil resistant! Haha! Anyway, apart from that, this meal is something I would switch for the fried chicken from Kentucky any time of the day. It’s just way overpriced for something so ordinary. Proceed with caution, or I guess to just try the chemical fried chicken.

After a grueling sale day at Mandaue Foam with my mom, her friend, and my sister, we were invited to eat at this far flung restaurant in Mandaue City.

In a sense, it was a simplified version of Larsian.

There were several tables, with only one where you could get their BBQ. The ambiance was just as you'd expect from an outdoorsy restaurant, Noisy, blaring with music and teeming with people.

Their reputation is well deserved, I guess, because they know how to grill their meat. It was well seasoned and was still juicy inside.

The only negative points for this restaurant might actually be the location itself. It is situated in a busy highway that it is almost hard to pass through the traffic on the main road. The parking lot is very narrow, and because of their popularity, they are always full.

It is advisable to come here early, at around 530-6pm to get your group the perfect spot that you wish to sit comfortably, preferably not near the parking lot where several tables are directly joined to it.

In short, our visit to this place is very eventful. I enjoyed the food they served and the company I shared it with.

I'd definitely invite people to eat here again.




Matthias BBQ
Gov. M. Cuenco Ave.
Mandaue City



Verdict:

A: 3.75/5

Aside from the points I raised, the place isn't actually bad. You just have to come here early. We were told that the place is so popular that they run out of food to sell by the time the clock reaches 8pm. Cleanliness might be an issue for some.

Known to Cebuanos as one of the best places where you can get fried chicken, Sunburst continues to thrive through the years as a fast food shack and retreat for the hungry souls looking for a delicious bite of chicken to soothe the rumblings of their tummies.

We came by to sample once again the famous chicken of Cebu and found ourselves sated by the assortment of food offered to us by the courteous staff of Sunburst Ayala. We ordered old favorites such as sotanghon guisado, sizzling bangus, calamares, crispy pata and their famous recipe of chicken. The place was packed, but the orders came on time and piping hot and delicious. We had to deal with insufficient space and cramped walkways as proof of its still strong popularity.

I had no complaints about the food, though the price tag that comes with each of them is note worthy. Chicken sold here are served using their secret recipe that is uniquely theirs. I have yet to find a restaurant that copies their taste exactly as it is



. It wasn't spectacular nor was it very good. Just ok. Their bangus and the crispy pata is a winner, though. ^^


Sunburst
Ayala Terraces

Verdict:
A: 3/5
Not for the price conscious. Some dishes are heavy on the pocket.

The menu had a complete upgrade, increasing the number of items you could order in addition to their staple of chicken wings and drumsticks and kimchi coleslaw. Years from our first visit, they now had jap chae, fish taco, galbi jjim and a number of other chicken cuts available for sale. We had galbi jjim, combo meal with 6 wing parts and 3 drumsticks and drinks.

The taste was still the same from when I remember it, although this time, the soy garlic flavor wins thanks to its more complex taste as opposed to the mild spice the other flavor offered. The galbi's meat was a little too sweet for my taste too. The kimchi coleslaw was too watery and had a more dominant mayo over the kimchi feel.

The new Max's Fried Chicken has a refreshing feel to it after its renovation as well as relocation. It seems to me that it has undergone an image change to attract customers, young and old alike. Of course, after 30 or so years in operation here in the Philippines, they haven't changed a lot.

Chicken bonchon

Chicken Bonchon
Ayala Triangle Makati



Verdict:
A: 2.5/5

Price is definitely outrageous. If it werent for the sidings I wouldn't be thrilled at all. There are other local and cheaper priced chicken stores out there (in Cebu and makati) and this store isnt one of them. The clerks promised steak cut fries but was given thin ones. Kudos for the kimchi coleslaws and fermented radish though!

when you're searching for restaurants that serves chicago deep dish pizza, UNO will come up in the list along with Giordano's, Lou Malnati's and Gino's East. last friday, we were craving for some deep dish so we picked UNO.






we had muchos nachos and wings in 3 ways: buffalo style, honey barbeque and wowza sauce. the nachos was very satisfactory. i enjoyed its melted cheese and jalapeno. the wings were not bad but not that significant.




we chose numero uno deep dish for our entree. it's like the super supreme pizzas of other pizza chains. the crust was crunchy and tasty. it was too meaty for me though but i enjoyed it's cheezy tomato sauce. i'm glad the filling wasn't that deep like the deep dishes in Giordano's.

UNO Chicago Grill
1160 Plaza Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Verdict:
4.5/5 (-0.5 for the wings)

During Ayala's Midnight sale, we enjoyed our evening meal together at Don Henrico's, located at the Ayala Terraces, Cebu. The restaurant offers an affordable buffet table with a few but delectable choices. I spied the table and saw two pizza dishes, two pasta choices (white or red), a few appetizers, honey glazed chicken and dessert.
For groups on a budget, they can avail of packaged meals composed of pizza, a tower of iced tea, pasta and a plate of deep fried calamari. Of course, aside from those, diners can choose to order from their ala carte menu.



We had three pieces of their signature crunchy chicken paired with their heavenly gravy, seafood pesto and a 10-inch Rustic Italian Pizza peppered with meat, pepperoni, cheese and onions. The service was mediocre but the food is great. Since there were three of us, we were at first tempted to opt for the buffet table, but got discouraged by the lack of choices.



Pizza is outstanding, one of the best pizzas I've ever tasted (considering that this restaurant pioneers in making one of the great pizzas here in the Philippines). It's got a crispy crust that is baked just right to complement the pizza flavor's special blend. The toppings aren't too strong, and neither do they add up to make something salty. It goes well with the Caramba Hot sauce they have on the table. The calamari plate is a great choice of appetizer. Sadly, the tomato salsa doesn't match too well with it.

Their pasta is so-so, though their shrimp and squid serving size on top of the pesto is generous. You can't even taste the basil with too much flavor and toppings on the noodles. Their chicken is salty, so the skin should be avoided at all costs for those on a diet. The gravy is good, but deadly. I imagine they put a lot of butter in it to make it that delicious.


Don Henrico's
Ayala Center Cebu
Ayala Center Cebu
Cebu, Cebu, Philippines


Verdict:
A: 3.8/5
Service was so-so. Takes a while to get noticed. Trainees should be trained more. The trainee server picked up the fallen chicken off the table with his hand, a no-no when it comes to food serving.

when we went to watch the ice sculpture at lake geneva, we had lunch at "popeye's". it's a casual dining family restaurant. i've eaten there a number of times because everytime i eat there, i always have a good time.


i ordered fresh tossed salad with bleu cheese dressing for starter. french bread with butter was also served.


for my main entree, i ordered roasted chicken with mashed potato. the chicken was very tasty. i wanted a second serving after i finished it!

Verdict: 5/5

Popeye's on Lake Geneva
811 Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, WI 53147

i had an interesting experience of dining in a castle while watching knights jousting. no knives and forks were served with the food. we had to eat with our bare hands.

the dinner started with tomato soup and a piece of garlic bread as starter. the soup was literally tomato sauce with a lot of water. it's a shame they include it in the menu. i wanted another serving of garlic bread but it's limited to one per person only.





after the starter, the maids served one whole leg of roasted barbeque chicken, grilled barbeque ribs and two slices of baked potatoes. i was only able to eat a little of the chicken and potatoes because i was so engrossed watching the joust. the chicken and potatoes tasted good enough to satisfy me. our (red) knight won! before entering the stadium, everyone is given a colored(red, yellow, green, etc) crown to cheer for the knight with the same color.





the dessert was pastry with pineapple filling. it was just fine.





Verdict: 3.5/5 [-1 for the tomato soup and -0.5 for the limited rounds of drinks]

Medieval Times
2001 North Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60195

as a disclaimer, i think my review for this restaurant would not be very reliable because i was very hungry when i ate dinner here with my friends. nevertheless, i'm still sharing the experience i had at "famous dave's".

we ordered right away "not’cho ordinary nachos (grande) " for appetizer and "dave's famous feast" for entree when the waiter got our orders for drinks. that's how hungry we were!

the nachos consist of "Tri-colored tortilla chips topped with Wilbur Beans, Famous Chili, shredded lettuce, tomato, jalapeño, Cheddar, seasoned sour cream, Rich & Sassy® and your choice of barbequed meat: Texas beef brisket, Georgia chopped pork, or pulled BBQ chicken."

the appetizer delicious! we almost finished it all up.

the "dave's famous feast" consists of "A full slab of St. Louis-style spareribs, a whole chicken, 1/2 lb. of either Texas beef brisket or Georgia chopped pork, coleslaw, Famous Fries, Wilbur Beans, four corn-on-the-cob, and four corn bread muffins." we chose the beef brisket. i like spareribs, roasted chicken and corn bread muffins the most in this feast. i can do without the beef brisket. i would recommend this feast for a hungry group of 5 or 6 craving for ribs and roasted chicken. aside from the savory spareribs and chicken, "famous dave's" is also known for its tasty sauces: "Texas Pit" and 'Devil's Spit" to name a few of them.

Verdict: 5/5

Famous Dave's Barbeque
99 Town Line Rd
Vernon Hills, IL 60061