sizzlin pepper steak

sizzlin pepper steak

I’ve been to Sizzlin Pepper Steak for around 3 times already at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.

Upon seeing the resto, my first impression was it  looks like teriyaki boy. Maybe because of the fancy drawing of their logo and fonts, or maybe how the restaurant looks like in the inside. But yes, Sizzlin Pepper Steak is part of Teriyaki Boy Group Inc.

The restaurant space was a bit small specially with the volume of hungry people who wants to try out the resto. If you come a bit late during meal time you will find yourself waiting on queue outside the restaurant hungry and hot. 

All tables in the resto are equipped with smoke filters on top to suck out the smoke created from the sizzling plate. 

The food at sizzlin pepper steak ranges from the price of P170 to around P380. They serve the combination of western (burger and steaks) and japanese food as well as some pasta. But the highlight of the resto are the pepper steak and pepper rice  served in sizzling plates.

beef pepper rice

 The beef pepper rice was the first dish I ordered in sizzlin pepper steak. As the order arrive on your table, you have to pour the sauce on your plate right away while the sizzling plate is still hot. Then you have to mix the beef and the rice together to get the best results. There are also instructional video around the resto on how to prepare the meal. They also provide additional sauce upon request. At the price of P185, the beef pepper rice proved to be satisfying for me because of the distinct pepper taste. It could be a downside for those who hate too much pepper. The beef was sliced thin and the texture was a bit moist due to the sauce. Caution, the sizzling plate is very very hot!

We also ordered chicken pepper rice at P170, Tonkatsu which is a breaded porkchop at P180,Ebi fry tempura at P235 and Tori Karaage family pack (around 8pcs) fried chicken with gravy at P290. The chicken of the chicken pepper rice was a bit dry even with the sauce while the ebi fry tempura and tonkatsu is just like the typical ebi tempura and tonkatsu. But I really like the taste of their Tori karaage.

Over-all the taste of the food is 4/5 if you like fried food and pepper. But generally I’ll give it a 3/5 if pepper is not your favorite.  And the food was more of the greasy side.

For the unique concept and originality  4/5.  For the service 2/5 since it takes time to wait  to be seated and for the food to arrive on your table.

Sizzlin Pepper Steak Branches :

1. Level M1 Trinoma Mall, Edsa corner North Avenue Quezon City Tel No. 916-7040

2. Ground Level, Greenhills Promenade Ortigas Avenue Greenhills San Juan, Metro Manila Tel. No.  721-0973

3. 3rd Floor, Glorietta 5 Ayala Center Makati City Tel No. 856-3525 and 482-2479

Note: If you dine at Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com

coco asian bistro

coco asian bistro

Being a person who love to dine out, my mom invited me to try Coco Asian Bistro at banawe in quezon city. 

The restaurant is a bit hidden from the public as it is located at the back of starbucks banawe. The place is clean, quiet and is very well-lit. They have a  function room for special events as well.

For appetizers, i have already tried Baked Scallops. At the price of P195.00  the serving size for this dish is just right. I can say that the baked scallops are very tasty but was really oily. So eating too much of this dish will bloat you easily.  The scallops are baked with parmesan cheese on top, you can actually smell the baked cheese. It is presented in a round plate with fried cellophane noodles in the middle, though the fried cellophane noodles is edible, we did not dare to eat it. (not sure if this is for plating purposes or maybe a way to soak up the oil).  I give this dish a 4/5 for plating and 5/5 for the taste.

One main dish we ordered is Chicken Teriyaki. For the price of P235.00, the size was relatively ok. You can taste the sweetness of the teriyaki sauce and the softness of the chicken.

We also tried Pandan Chicken (Gai Hor Bai Tuey), again the serving size for the pandan chicken was ok for the price of P235.00, however, since the chicken part used was chicken breast and was wrapped in pandan leaves, you can feel the dryness of the chicken while eating it.  

We also ordered beef kare-kare. The peanut sauce of the beef kare kare was good with the taste of coconut milk. however there are only few pieces of beef for the price of P325.00

Another one is the Braised beef vietnamese style, at the price of P295.00, the beef pieces was just right and the beef was tender and juicy.

But the best among the main dishes that I have tried is the Tilapia Galore. At the price of P225.00, you’ll keep asking for more. The meat of the whole tilapia fish was filleted first, then was deep fried and they managed to form the tilapia head and spine into a basket and placed the fried tilapia meat on top. The tilapia was very crispy with vinegar and soysauce as dip.

Over-all, I give the resto location a 3/5 because its hidden, and 4/5 for the taste of the food.

Coco Asian Bistro Location :

989 Banawe Avenue, Barangay Manresa Quezon City (just at the back of starbucks coffee)

Tel No. 364-2281

Note: If you dine at Coco Asian Bistro, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com

conti’s pastry shop & restaurant

With eagerness and excitement, together with my family, we went to Conti’s Trinoma branch.  We have heard of its’ ever famous dishes and most especially their desserts.  Upon entering the restaurant,  we were greeted by their receptionist and was escorted to where should we be seated.  Actually, we were a bit stunned with the number of people dining there for a weeknight it’s almost full-house.  For our appetizer, we had Shanghai bits, true to its name it was in bite size pieces, sliced thinly and diagonally.  It was crispy,juicy and very tasty ground meat wrapped in lumpia wrapper, and for added cuteness they put it in toothpick served with just-right sweet chili sauce.   Price of P110.00

shanghai bits

And then for our main dish, since I have a feeling that they know their recipes well, I had Lengua Estofado.  It was cooked just right, soft, creamy, tasty and you can easily sliced the meat.  It was served with buttered corn,cubed  carrots, julienne chayote and baguio beans and a choice of plain steamed rice or garlic rice.  I had plain rice so I could enjoy and taste the creaminess of the sauce of Lengua Estofado and I made the right choice.   The plating is ok, not the fancy that one would expect.  Serving size is only good for one person. For the price of P270.00.

Lengua Estofado

And my hubby had Chicken Ballotine, marinated boneless chicken rolled and deep fried, then sliced thinly top with cream sauce.  Served with buttered corn, cubed carrots, cubed chayote and sliced baguio beans and garlic rice.  I find this dish a bit dry to my taste, it was not that juicy and the serving is a bit small for the price of P195.00.

chicken ballotine

And then mom had Chicken Roulade, now this is great!  Spinach and cream cheese wrapped in boneless marinated chicken, served with buttered vegetables and garlic rice.  We can all say this is chicken! compared with chicken ballotine this is more appetizing and more flavorful.  For the price of 225.00.

Chicken Roulade

For our beverages, we had Sago at Gulaman with crushed ice.  Mini sago with black gulaman sliced in cubes, poured some arnival or caramel syrup served with overflowing crushed ice…Perfect for a very hot day.  After my first sip? it was weeee fun fun fun….it was like the old times when we were young then…no worries if what you’re drinking is way too sweet to your taste as long as it is refreshing and very very cold!  Enjoy this drink for the price of P60.00

Sago at gulaman

Your visit to Conti’s will never be complete without tasting their delectable dessert.  Most especially their famous Mango Bravo.  We had it for the price of P110.00 per slice, we were all nodding while tasting the said cake.  You can say that it is dessert. A cake that is  crunchy sponge cake with cashew nuts filling, and ripe mango, coated with very thick vanilla icing.    A suggestion though, eat the inner part of the cake first if you want to finish the slice served to you otherwise you’ll never be able to finish your slice of cake.  I find the icing very sweet and heavy.  I can’t pinpoint what’s the ingredient they used to make it taste like that.  Aside from the oh-so-sweet vanilla icing, I enjoyed and loved the cake and the mango-cashew nuts filling.

mango bravo

And one thing that makes Conti’s famous is their super delicious Cheese Puff, I myself when introduced to such pie as they refer it to…I really can’t stop eating it myself.  Mini pie filled with queso de bola and baked to right temperature for perfection.  For P22.00 a piece, it was enjoyable!

Do visit them at the following branches:

1.  61 President Ave. BF Home, Commercial Paranaque City Tel. No. 8073388 / 7723041 /  8505852

2.  53 Connecticut St. Greenhills, San Juan Tel. No. 7444184 / 7444208 / 7276898

3.  IC-17 Serendra Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel. No. 8562352 / 53

4.  P1 Level, Trinoma Edsa cor. North Ave., Quezon City Tel. No. 9005013 / 15

NOTE:   If you dine at Conti’s Pastry & Restaurant, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com.

california pizza kitchen

california pizza kitchen

Being a fan of pizza and pasta, my family and I recently visited California Pizza Kitchen or CPK at Shang-rila Mall at Mandaluyong City. I’ve been to different branches of CPK already (Trinoma Mall Quezon City which came from Tomas Morato, Greenhills San Juan. and Glorietta in Makati) but i like the Shang-rila branch best because i find it very spacious. CPK has been around in the Philippines for some period of time already. The name speaks for itself, they serve Pizza’s and Pasta with appetizers like salads and spring rolls and pastries for dessert. Not much change was made to their menu except for some new added dishes with filipino twist. 

I find the restaurant very clean and spacious. Carpeted flooring with a very good lighting and cold aircon, the place is very suitable for a romantic date or a family dine out. Upon seeing the restaurant, it brings you a level of prestige and a feeling of fine dining.

california pizza kitchen kitchen ambiance

To start our meal, we had a Chinese Chicken Salad for appetizer. It is composed of chopped lettuce, carrots, chunks of chicken, sesame seeds, chopped onion grass and some chinese sauce. It is also mixed with some crunchy fried chopped noodle. Wow, this dish is really an appetizer, you can truly taste the sweetness of the sauce. The chopped vegetables are prepared in a way that is really crunchy and tasty, vegetables used are really fresh, however the chicken pieces are too thick, making it dry and hard for oldtimers to eat them.  Size Choices: Half - P265.00, Whole - P 395.00.

chinese chicken salad

For Soup, we had Clam Chowder. I like the texture of the soup being very creamy, with some potato cubes in it. By tasting the soup, you can say that real clams have been used for the broth as it leaves that distinct clam taste on your tongue. You’ll get the feeling that you want more after finishing a bowl.  Serving Choices of Bowl for the price of P295.00 or Cup for the price of P145.00.

clam chowder

For the main dish, we had a Fettucine in Garlic Cream Sauce with Chicken. Another variation for this dish is to include Shrimps instead of chicken. You can also get this dish in plain pasta with no chicken and shrimp. I really love this dish because of the taste of garlic. Pasta is cooked Al-dente and the size of the chicken chunk is just right. The dish is really creamy and tasty, best of all it is not too oily. The serving size is just right since taking too much of this dish will bloat you easily due to heavy cream.  Serving Choices:  Whole for the price of P365.00, Half for the price of P225.00.

 If you want it with chicken- whole P445.00, half - P265.00, with shrimp- whole  P675.00, half - P375.00, or with sauteed mushrooms - whole  P445.00, half - P275.00.

fettuccine with garlic cream sauce

Finally we had a Adobo Chicken Pizza.  Based on its name,  this dish is inspired by the filipino dish Chicken Adobo.  The taste of this pizza is overwhelming. It is indeed adobo in pizza format. You can taste the sweetness and sourrness of the adobo sauce just right to the taste replacing the typical tomato sauce for the ordinary pizza while retaining the mozarella cheese keeping the nature of a good pizza. You can also feel the crunchy onions and bell pepper and the good smell of whole black pepper with every taste. Making you want to order another one to take home.

adobo chicken pizza

For drinks, we had a bottomless ice tea, lemon and raspberry flavor. I’m telling you, the ice tea was so good especially the lemon flavor, you won’t stop filling yourself with it.

The crew was great and the Manager was very accomodating. Over-all, I give 5/5 for this restaurant specially for this branch, for the food, the service and the place. 2 Thumbs up for CPK Shang-rila.

California Pizza Kitchen (Philippines) branches:

1. 2/F  Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Edsa cor. Shaw Blvdo Mandaluyong City Tel. No. 6877841 / 42

2. 2/F  Alabang Town Center Activity Center, Alabang-Zapote Road Muntinlupa City  Tel. No. 8505771

3.  3rd Level Trinoma Mall Edsa cor. North Ave. Quezon City  Tel. No. 9013881

4.    G/F Promenade, Missouri st.  Greenhills Shopping Center San Juan, Metro Manila Tel. No. 7257377

5.  1/F Glorietta 3, Ayala Ave. cor. Pasay Road, Ayala Center Makati City  Tel. No. 8672116

6.  Greenbelt 5, Makati City Tel. No. 4017160

NOTE:   If you dine at California Pizza Kitchen, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com.

yakimix

Craving for Asia’s cuisine?   And couldn’t figure out what in particular dish you want to divulge in?  Try this newly opened in Hobbies of Asia, Pasay City across HK Sun Plaza, near SM Mall of Asia, called Yakimix, Sushi-Smokeless Grill-Restaurant.

yakimix

I find the ambiance spacious, you could comfortably sit on a couch.  And the restaurants’ set up for the grilling part is just right on the privacy of  your table.  What’s more it’s an eat-all-you-can buffet.

ambiance at yakimix

You can choose from cooked Chinese dishes, some of the choices are yang chow rice, sweet & sour pork, mushroom with broccolli flower,  beef strips with teriyaki sauce, seafood roll,  marinated and deep fried squid, chicken and corn soup, and bird’s nest soup, while Korean dishes have tons of choices as well which includes bulgogi, broiled beef tripe, cellphane noodles in chicken broth, beansprouts kimchi, chopped radish kimchi, summer green kimchi, white cabbage kimchi,  and stir-fried octopus and the bestseller of all cuisine is the raw Japanese dishes, with the makis’ and tuna sashimis.  Their choices of raw meat,  poultry, seafood, vegetables and other spices are all lined up on a buffet table.  We were ecstatic, we couldn’t figure out what to do first, should we focus on eating cooked food or go to the raw section where we could choose from their selections as to what food we want to grill… It was fun and exciting for us,  because we love grilled food.  Below are the pictures of  selection of raw food for grilling.

buffet of raw meat to grill

selection of chinese food

The Japanese food section is the best-seller of the night.  As you can see, it’s almost half-empty.  Some guests even waited for the Chef to prepare their makis just to be able to taste it.

selection of japanese food

How can a restaurant forget the dessert section? Of course they have one, and it’s full of sweet treats.  There are fruits,cakes, blueberry cheesecake, strawberry cheesecake, rainbow cake, chocolate cake, sansrival, chocolate mousse, raspberry mousse, cream puffs, macaroons, tarts, choco eclair, different flavors of ice cream with sprinkles or toppings according to your preference, popsicles, mango sago, fruit salad, and buko salad.  I have tasted all of their dessert treats.  It was all yummy!  I love cheesecakes, for me strawberry cheesecake is the best among others.  I have noticed that guests really enjoyed this kind of set-up of restaurant.   For the price of P580.00 per head, it was really worth it.  Drinks are not included with the price mentioned, if you want to avail their bottomless drinks just add P55.00.

fruits and ice cream toppings

baked sweet treats

cakes

Yakimix Branches :

1.  Hobbies of asia, Macapagal Blvd. Pasay city. Tel. No. 3878120 / 3878112 / 5566673.

2. G/F  SM Mall of Asia, Entertainment Mall, Paranaque City Tel. no. 8361535 / 8361536 / 8361537.

3.  270 Tomas Morato Ave., Forum Bldg. Quezon City Tel. No. 3857500 / 3939100 / 3521866 / 3328073.

4.  3/F, Greenbelt 3, Ayala, Makati City. Tel. No. 9988039 / 4755153

5.  4/F, Trinoma Mall, Quezon City. Tel. No. 4755154

Note:  If you dine at Yakimix, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com.

jack’s loft

I liked the interior look of this resto bar.  So, we decided to dine here at Jack’s Loft.  I liked the ambiance, the red paint on the wall and the music they play.

jack's loft entrance

For Starters, we had Jack Loft Cheese Fries - P150.00.  A good appetizer for a group of 4.  The french fries is crunchy, and it was truly an added perk to a typical fries, that it has cheese sauce, garlic sauce, chopped onion leaves and bacon to make it delectable.

jack's loft cheese fries

For our main dish we had Classic Carbonara - P180.00  Al dente Fettuccine pasta cooked with butter, cream,  milk,  bacon and parsley, it was truly amazing.  The combination of all the ingredients were incorporated well and it was really delicious.

classic carbonara

Another main dish, Chicken stir-fry - P145.00, mongolian style stir fry combination of chicken, rice, vegetable, nuts and their very own stir fry sauce.  I find this dish with a hint of sourness, maybe because of the stir fry sauce they used?  Apart from taste of sourness, the nuts is quite bitter, maybe they toasted it too long.  But the rest is ok.  After all, I enjoyed it.

Chicken stir-fry

Jack’s Frost Frapp - P110.00, this beverage tastes like sustagen.  After my first sip,  I couldn’t figure out what’s the familiar taste, and then I remembered the good old times when I was drinking sustagen.  It was the exact same taste, sweet and chocolatey with whipped cream on top.

jack frost frapp

For dessert, we had Fried Ice Cream - P150.00,  I was really curious with this dessert.  Vanilla ice cream coated with cinnamon apple, and caramel.  Served with shaved white and dark chocolate on the side and with whipped cream and cherry with stem on top.  It was unique and very very sweet.

fried ice cream

Jack’s Loft branches:

1.  Eastwood City Walk 1 Tel. No. 4212048

2.  Robinson’s Galleria Tel. No. 6372825

3.  Greenhills Tel. No. 7263582

4.  Trinoma Mall Tel. No. 9166300

5.  SM North - The Block Tel. No. 4420134

6.  Robinson’s Place Manila Tel. No. 5672023

7.  Il Terrazo Tel. No. 3321894

NOTE:   If you dine at Jack’s Loft, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com.  

recipes

We were intrigued by this restaurant with their RECIPES.  And found out they cater Asian Cuisine.  For starters we had Thai Spring Rolls, it was delectable!  Bean thread noodle or Glass Noodle (sotanghon in Filipino) wrap in rice starch.  At first i find it weird,  for i was expecting meat and was surprised to learn that it was bean thread noodle.  To my amazement I was satisfied with this dish inspite of it being oily, yes it is deep-fried spring rolls.  Inspite the bean thread noodle was wrapped in rice starch it is still very tasty! It was not salty nor bland but just right for a spring roll.  For the price of 135.00.

Thai Spring Rolls

Their version of Korean Beef Stew is ok.  What I mean by ok is that it was not that different.  It’s the typical recipe that they have used, a bit spicy.  The beef is chunky and chewy.  You can still taste the sweetness of the carrots used and the potatoes blend perfectly well with the spicy sauce.  Price P258.00.

Korean beef stew

General’s Chicken…this dish is bestseller the menu says. hmm..??? now i wonder why?  coz’ I find it very salty.  Even the eggplants used was spiced too much maybe they forgot to measure the soy sauce that has been used?  But despite of this dish’s saltiness the chicken is really crispy.   This dish costs P205.00.

General's Chicken

Gising-gising,  reinventing the typical recipe of baguio beans.  A dish with minced pork, coconut milk, baguio beans and other spices.  A remarkable recipe I can say.  For the price of P160.00

gising-gising (baguio beans w/ coconut milk)

Prawn Tempura with onions and cabbage that is also coated with tempura breading.  It was tasty, and crispy for the price of P290.00.

Prawn Tempura

Recipes branches are as follows:

1.  2/L Greenbelt 3  Ayala Center, Makati City Tel. No. 7280920

2.  2/L Trinoma Edsa cor. North Ave., Quezon City Tel. No. 9013686

3.  2/L Corte de Las Palmas Alabang Town Center Tel. No. 7722216

4.  2/L Robinson’s Place Manila - Midtown Ermita, Manila Tel. No. 5671912

5.  5/L Shangri-la Plaza Mall Mandaluyong City

NOTE:   If you dine at Recipes, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com.