~ Reviews by DFatOne ~

Showing 1 - 10 of 61 reviews

  • Unusual but not great
    Extraordinary Philippines, SM North The Block
    Rating - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Food - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Service - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5
    Ambiance - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Value - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    "Extraordinary" connotes an unusual greatness or a remarkable excellence. X/O Philippines is not quite that.

    The best-selling kare-kareng crispy tadyang does have a great peanut sauce, but the tadyang would have been better had it been a little less tough. The chicharon liempo looked delicious, but even soaked with vinegar, turned out to be boring. Nevertheless, the place should get points for innovation and for embracing the unhealthy but flavorful food of our country.

    After a meal like that, it's appropriate that as you leave the restaurant you can walk in either of two directions: towards a Fitness First gym or a Healthway clinic.
    Was this review...?
  • 2 of 2 people found this helpful:
    Finally in Makati
    Lolo Dad's Brasserie, 6750 Bldg.
    Rating - 4.5 - 4.5 - 4.5 - 4.5 - 4.5
    Food - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5
    Service - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5
    Ambiance - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Value - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5
    Yes, this is the Makati version of the legendary Malate restaurant. Less formal, because I guess it's meant to cater to business people and busy people rather than couples on romantic dates. It doesn't have the complete menu, but what it does have is great.

    We had the duck, the fish, the chicken and, of course, the beef. Nothing came cheap, but everything was worth the money. After all, the duck was shredded in a wonderfully tasty clear soup; the fish was trout which is seldom found in restaurants hereabouts; the chicken meat was practically falling off the bones and came with foie gras; and the beef was perfectly grilled wagyu with mashed potatoes infused with white truffle oil on the side.

    The place could use some decor, but the service was impeccable.

    Try it before the formal opening and before it becomes impossible to get a table without a reservation.
    Was this review...?
  • 1 of 1 people found this helpful:
    They've Expanded!
    Omakase, Alabang Town Center
    Rating - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Food - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Service - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Ambiance - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
    Value - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    The previous reviewers all noted that it was difficult to get a table at this place especially on weekends. Well, that's no longer true. This Sunday Omakase was not full, and it wasn't because there wasn't a lot of people. There were a good number of big, noisy families as usual, but the restaurant has practically doubled its floor space.

    The food is the same--solid Japanese with a number of creative dishes. The spider maki is still a treat. The seafood dumpling remains interesting. The beef and seafood teppanyaki are better elsewhere, but they're not bad.

    The service staff could use some training. They get the job done, but they seem to have learned how to waitress at a carinderia.

    As for the prices, I can't be sure, but I think eating at Omakase has gotten a little more expensive like almost everything else over the past year.
    Was this review...?
  • 5 of 5 people found this helpful:
    High Expectations
    Mamou, Serendra
    Rating - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Food - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Service - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Ambiance - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Value - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
    I had very, very high expectations for Mamou because of the reviews here on MunchPunch; and as a result, my dining experience there was something of a letdown. The steak was literally swimming in a centimeter-deep pool of oil. I love drippings but this was just too much. (Of course, me being me, I ate absolutely everything on my plate.) The side dishes were not free, not even cheap and worst of all, not exciting. Considering that for P2,000 I could have flown to Osaka on Cebu Pacific (according to today's banner ad above), I guess I felt entitled to more from Mamou.
    Was this review...?
  • 4 of 4 people found this helpful:
    Arrive Before Noon!
    Lutong Macau, Jupiter St.
    Rating - 3.5 - 3.5 - 3.5 - 3.5 - 3.5
    Food - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Service - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Ambiance - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Value - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Don't be misled by the name. This restaurant serves the Chinese food that Filipinos know and love.

    Don't miss the shrimp and prawn dishes. Suahe, crystal prawns, hakaw, seafood lomi. Just go for it.

    Don't be scared of the pata tim. It looks unhealthy, but the taste is worth the risk.

    Don't arrive late. You won't get a table. This place fills up fast and stays filled through the lunch hours.
    Was this review...?
  • 7 of 7 people found this helpful:
    Surprisingly Inexpensive
    Mom & Tina's Bakery Cafe, Makati
    Rating - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Food - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Service - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Ambiance - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Value - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5
    The people having lunch there were bankers, top executives, ladies-who-lunch, Spanish mestizos and Chinoys. The place was comfortable, nicely set up and there were a lot of uniformed waiters and waitresses. I thought to myself: this is not going to be cheap. At the end of my steak meal, I only had to pay P300!

    The steak was not thick, of course, but it was tender and tasty enough. I got a generous serving of mashed potatoes on the side, plus the usual vegetables. Not bad at all.

    My lunch companions chose the shepherd's pie and the meat lasagna. I guess if they had any complaints it was that the servings were rather small, but--honestly--for around P100, what do you expect?

    I hear the desserts are also pretty good. I'll try them next time.
    Was this review...?
  • 1 of 1 people found this helpful:
    Say goodbye
    Pinoydon, The Podium
    Rating - 1.25 - 1.25 - 1.25 - 1.25 - 1.25
    Food - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
    Service - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
    Ambiance - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
    Value - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
    This place has seen better days. Five years ago, the concept was innovative and exciting, and the food was tasty and filling. Nowadays, well, my old favorite bellydon is all rice and practically no bangus belly. I decided to try the best-selling bistekdon, and it was all rice with tiny bits of stringy beef. I predict that Pinoydon will not be around for much longer.
    Was this review...?
  • 1 of 1 people found this helpful:
    I Agree With dieselgirl__77
    Azuthai, Makati
    Rating - 4.25 - 4.25 - 4.25 - 4.25 - 4.25
    Food - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4 - 4
    Service - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5
    Ambiance - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5 - 5
    Value - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Just in case you didn't know, the Japanese noodle house Azumaya has been reincarnated as a Thai restaurant called Azuthai.

    The interior design is a vast improvement over Azumaya's--much more classy and inviting. The waitresses have been retained and that's a very good thing because they are very competent and friendly.

    As for the food, I agree with dieselgirl_77 in almost all respects. The tom yum soup is perfect, and it has prawns, not tiny shrimps. The shrimp cakes are thick and hearty. We had the apahap in tamarind sauce, and even though we got the large size, we wanted more! My one complaint is that the green curry chicken at Jatujak seems to feature a greater variety of tastes.

    We also spent around P3000 for four people.
    Was this review...?
  • 1 of 1 people found this helpful:
    What to avoid
    La Regalade French Bistro, Makati
    Rating - 1.75 - 1.75 - 1.75 - 1.75 - 1.75
    Food - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
    Service - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
    Ambiance - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Value - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
    The place has a lot of potential, and I will probably give it another chance in future; but I will not be ordering the eggplant caviar and the tilapia fillet wrapped in banana leaves--for opposite reasons. The caviar was too strange; while the fish was boring.
    Was this review...?
  • 2 of 2 people found this helpful:
    I Eat Out Because I Don't Cook
    Thousand Cranes Shabu-Shabu, Greenbelt 3
    Rating - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
    Food - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
    Service - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3
    Ambiance - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2
    Value - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 1
    . . . which is why it doesn't make sense for me to eat at any shabu-shabu place. Somehow I keep getting roped into going to these restaurants where I have to boil my own food, and my meal invariably ends up being tasteless, soggy and a big mess. On top of that, I smell like shabu-shabu for the rest of the day!

    But as shabu shabu restaurants go, Thousand Cranes is pretty decent. The beef set at least looked good before I started cooking. There were a lot of waiters and waitresses around to help, and the stoves were easy to control. Maybe if I knew how to cook, this would be a place worth going to.
    Was this review...?

back to top ↑

Advertisement ↓