a bite of brownie

Following the popularity of its unique way of roast pig, Zubuchon recently built restaurant branches so that loyal customers can sample the rest of their special menu. We visited one of the branches located at mango avenue and was courteously seated near the counter area just beside the the spice rack with bottled condiments for sale. Pleasant spot, with just enough lighting and just enough cool air from the AC, not to mention a clear view of that mouth watering roast boar.

For starters, we had an order of sizzling squid stuffed with delicious lechon sisig, an order of Lechon liempo, Sizzling bangus with tampalen and different kinds of local Seaweed on a platter. I was deeply impressed by the speed of service as well as the quality of the food being served. We had refreshing gulps of kamias and grape shakes to complete the meal.

For our second visit, we had the opportunity to sample their super crispy deep fried pork leg, which serves up to four to five people! Talk about servings!

Zubuchon
One mango mall
Mango avenue

Verdict:
5/5

Excellent service meets excellent food! This place is a must visit for their food. Although many of their dishes are commonly done to left over lechon, they are still good.

>
>> Japengo
>> Agedashi tofu
>> California maki
>> Pork kakuni don
>> Sushi platter
>>
>> One fine Friday morning After What seemednlike 20 minutes of being stuck waiting in cebu's Friday traffic, we decided to eat at Japengo, a modern Japanese restaurant located at the ground floor robinsons cyber gate near osmena boulevard. After being seated down we immediately asked for the service atendants for a copy of their menu. It was considerably warm where we sat since the seats inside the restaurant were all booked by the time we came.
>>
>> Everything on their menu Were over priced, including cheap iced tea drinks you can get at the lOcal superstore for 20 pesos tops but are sold at 50 to 60 pesos each. The food was ok, and as a given bonus, they offer sea cucumber and fish roe sushi included in their special sushi platter.
>>
>> Japengo
>> Robinsons cybergate
>>
>> Verdict
>> 2/5
>>
>> Not a good place for your sushi cravings. Stay away as much as possible.
>>
>>
>> --

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.

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.

Less than an hour after the graduation ceremony, tired and curious as we were, we passed by this Japanese inspired Eatsumo restaurant and decided to try their food. The place was packed and there were still a lot of people on the line. I guess, there's not much of a choice now, right? It was either to grab a seat and eat here than get soaked while looking around for other establishments.

The restaurant had the pleasant cafeteria style one has grown to love over the years of eating at one's local college. They have a long list of dishes, all of which were affordable enough for individuals or small groups. The wait was short and the service was satisfying, we had no trouble requesting for a follow up of our order of steamed tilapia. The chicken teriyaki bento and the pork bento come with a free salad of vegetables and mayonnaise. Their sushi sampler was ok but serving size was disappointing. The gyudon was a mix of meat slices with vegetables with a thick sauce over it.


Eatsumo
College, Los Banyos Laguna


Verdict:
A: 2.5/5

It's a good enough restaurant, and it fitss the market of college students. Don't complain too much about the quality though. You get what you pay for.

Situated near the outskirts of ayala cebu's active zone, Pepper Steak is the Cebu equivalent of Pepper Lunch from Manila. We visited this diner for a meal one sunny afternoon, with hopes that we woulnt be ignored for the third time since we visited the place. Our hopes were answered once we entered the establishment and had been guided towards our seat. We had two orders of beef pepper steak and an order of beef curry steak with accompanying bottomless iced tea.

The ambiance was a bit off despite being in order, not to mention that several waitresses spent their idle time with gossip and chatter. The redeeming factor of this restaurant was that our brief stay there was never without having to request for a drink refill (the women behind the counter energetically filled our glasses non stop. Maybe because their manager was nearby?)

The food was satisfying enough, I had the lingering scent of curry on my finger tips for the next hour.

Pepper Steak
Ayala center Cebu

Verdict:
A: 3/5

I still haven't forgotten about the last two times they didn't attend to us. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

Pepper lunch is a popular Japanese sizzling place in glorietta 5. You can see a slightly long line outside the restaurant between 11 am until 1 pm for their food. Just at the entrance, anyone can take in the scrumptious smell of meat and fish and hear the sizzles of prepared dishes.

We had beef yakiniku with mixed pepper rice while our cousin had salmon teriyaki while brother had beef teriyaki. Each order can be upgraded so that it can include a complimentary drink as well as soup or a siding or a dessert. Our order came minutes later, and after one bite, we knew why pepper lunch have so many people lining up during break. The beef was soft and delicious, not to mention the sauce perfectly complimenting the dish itself. Eventually after the meal, we claimed our Ice cream from the counter. We shared scoops of caramel, black sesame and chocolate with nuts much to our satisfaction.


Pepper lunch
Glorietta 5, Makati

Verdict:
A: I was greatly amused by the presentation of step by step video instructions of how to cook some of the meals. The restaurant wasn't too hot either, and the air conditioning was well planned and maintained. Service time can be a bit long due to the restaurant's popularity, so the place is not recommended if you have work in 30 minutes.

4/5

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!

After pigging out yesterday at saisaki's all you can eat buffet in glorietta with four days left before my graduation, I was asked to pick from the short list of the best burgers in town. Interestingly, army navy ranked second in my list, and so our rendezvous was decided.

This small burger joint was located within minutes frm the vicinity of our hotel. I was a little surprised that they had a short menu list of burgers, burritos, tortillas and shakes as well as a few more sidings. Of course, I don't want to judge a restaurant by it's menu list since I know several eateries with a specialized menu of very few items for sale.

Army navy burger take pride in their quarter pound patties. Their burritos are top notch as well. Unlike popular choices like jollibee and Mickey d's, they have pure beef patties that will be remembered by anyone who tastes them. Each burger comes with tomato slices, lettuce, mayo and ketchup. Of course, hot sauce depends on the diner's discretion

Army navy
Glorietta 5

Verdict
A: 4/5