Apartment 1B

I found a slice of heaven out of the unexpected places in Makati. This Apartment is surely a place I would love to go back to over and over again if i needed to go somewhere just to simply enjoy good food. The restaurant presents itself like an apartment (hence the name) thus adds to its homey touch. Just imagine, take away the bed, the sofa and add a lot of dining tables, the kitchen and side bar transformed to the serving area and cashier, which I wonder how to the employees there can cramp themselves in there. Even the washroom there is like of an apartment. I’d like to ask the manager one day why they make up such a place.

As for the food i ordered you can check out the pictures under below in this entry. I have discovered here what could be my comfort food. The Corn Chowder and the Frozen Pie (Vanilla Ice Cream Cake with Oreo Crust). The Chowder is comforting for the heart and the ice cream is something i bet you’d fight over with your GF/BF for the last chunk of oreos. I was able to experience a variety of main courses such as the Grilled Porkchops with Potato Gratin (not sure) and applesauce, The Apt1B Meatloaf and Lasagna. The serving is definitely BIG!, enough for any big guy to be satisfied and I guess enough for a couple to share.

Now for the price, well… it is indeed pricey. Not something you can afford having Lunch or Dinner everyday if your just the average middle class guy. But it’s something worth going for if you want to treat yourself or someone for something special. So your planning to go here and splurge, i’d say start saving up, I’d estimate it could go an average of 1k per person, or can go as high as 2.5k if your after just steaks, lambs and lobsters.

The place is open from 7am - 12mn from Mondays - Saturdays. They are close on Sundays (aww..shucks) expect a lot of people when going there since majority of the guest are expats and corporate workers and some couples who most like are working in the corporate world of Makati.  This is a restaurant that I never get tired coming back over and over again thus, the restaurant deserves the whole 5 Stars in my book.

Porkchops with Potato Gratin and Applesauce.

This baby is actually 2 slabs and though in this picture it may seem like one. Despite that it’s a pork dish, but the meat is absolutely tender and juicy. I enjoy eating this without any condiments or sauce.

My Comfort Soup Cream Corn Chowder

Cheesy Lasagna

Apartment 1B Signature Meatloaf dish with Mash Potatoes and Grilled vegetables

Greek Salad

The very famous Frozen Pie (Vanilla Ice Cream Cake with Oreo Crust drizzled with Caramel and Chocolate Syrup with Crushed Walnut). This is definitely a treat and worth fighting for the last bite. I assure anyone who is out on a date that this dessert can certainly end the day right.

Note: If you dine at Apartment 1B, please let them know that you saw the review from MetroRestoReview.com

Okonomiyaki Restaurant

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning “what you like” or “what you want”, and yaki meaning “grilled” or “cooked”

If you are a big fan of the Japanese Anime “Ranma 1/2″ it’s the type of food Ranma loves to eat with his/her childhood friend Ukyo (the femme fatale who run around the school carrying a giant okonomiyaki spade) hehe..

This restaurant’s location is pretty hidden from many people’s eyes, for this restaurant is located inside the vicinity of Little Tokyo Makati. For those who don’t know where Little Tokyo is, it’s somewhere behind Makati Cinema Square. Believe me, a lot of people I know who claims to be well verse inside the streets of Makati are very surprised to discover such restaurants exist.

To talk about the food, the ingredients is quite unique and depends on your preference. It can be just the simple pancake with sauce, or add some meat, veggies, seafood and noodle (yes noodle!) toppings. I personally prefer mine with meat (see pictures).

Meat Lover’s Okonomiyaki

The pancake actually taste like a barbecue with a nice crispiness at the bottom if you ask the chef to cook it a little well done. You can give it a little kick in your palate if you add a little Japanese pepper on top. I cannot say it’s like eating pizza because the starch in the pancake is not like bread in nature. The experience was very unique for I have no words or food to compare it to, but for sure it will definitely satisfy your palate and your hunger.Don’t be fooled by the size because this pancake is definitely BIG. Big enough for 2 or 3 people to eat in one serving.

My experience in this restaurant is very fun and enlightening, and I cannot wait to get another chance to re-visit this restaurant to get more experience of authentic Japanese cooking. This restaurant is very well deserve of my 4 stars amd a recommendation to visit it again.

Let me know what you think guys, I hope you get to feel my eye opening experience. Check out more pictures below about the Chef and the Place.

Master Okonomiyaki Chef (who’s a big fan of Baseball)

“I told you there were noodles involved”

My Baconny Okonomiyaki

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

The Peking Garden

I have eaten a lot of Chinese restaurants in my life here in the Philippines and my experience with Peking Garden is the best so far i have this year. The restaurant is well deserved of my 4 stars for what is worth

Chef Starting to Carve the Peking Duck

Wonderful Table-Side Plating

The highlight of this restaurant is definitely the Peking Duck which is cooked very very well and well carved by it’s expert chefs in perfection.Not only it is palatable to the tongue, but in the eyes as well. I was personally amazed by how well the chef or store manager expertly carved the duck and presents it in the plate table-side.

Peking Duck with Onion Stalk Garnish

Peking Duck Skin and Meat

To those who barely eat duck, the major problem for the health conscious out there is that duck has a high fatty content in comparison to chicken. The fat is something to watch out for especially to those who have a heart condition. Other Chinese restaurants who serve duck says that it is important to add the fat because it is the source of flavor in the duck. But the Peking Garden restaurant somehow manages to maintains that great taste in duck skin and meat, but meticulously carves the fat away which is a very cool thing considering i am health conscious guy myself. That Peking Duck alone is well deserve of high praises.

Aside from Duck, the restaurant also offers a lot of other different Chinese cuisine and I get the privileged to try their Hot Shrimp Salad (another favorite eat at any Chinese restaurant which never disappointed me), Birthday Noodles (Your Typical noodles with Quail eggs for long life), Eggplant Stew, Sizzling Beef tenderloin and Sweet and Sour Lapu-Lapu. All cuisine I mentioned in this entry are all worth to try out for any first time eaters out there.

For those who are curious as to what the dishes looked like, take the time to check out more of the photos below. And for those who are going to give this restaurant a try, I hope you get to enjoy as much as I enjoyed the place.

Sweet and Sour Lapu Lapu Fillets

Sizzling Beef Tenderloins

Eggplant Stew

Hot Shrimp Salad

Peking Garden Birthday Noodles

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

chefs quarter

chefs quarter

Chef’s Quarter homey ambiance with fine-dining outlook.  We thought this would cost us big bucks based on the exterior of the resto, but when we looked into their menu we salivated with what they offer.  Their courteous and polite crew assisted us to our seats.  This resto also offers an eat-all-you-can buffet at the price of P550.00 per head.  But since we tagged our kid along we opted to have their ala carte instead.

cream of chicken and mushroom soup

Cream of chicken and mushroom soup, a fine, creamy and comforting chicken soup served with 2pcs. bread and butter.  One wouldn’t believed such taste can be possible for the price of P95.00.  The quality of the soup was like dining at a fine dining resto at a cheaper cost.  I remembered I have tasted this kind of soup at an expensive resto.  A rating of 5/5 for this dish.

Penne Carbonara, al dente pasta with creamy white sauce, parmesan and parsley.  The taste of the white sauce wrapped the pasta which is difficult to achieved most especially if the pasta used is penne.  You will never go wrong with this dish.  A the price of P195.00 for single serve, and P375.00 for family serving.  A rating of 4/5 for this dish.

stir fried paella seafood

Stir fried paella seafood, it was full of toppings!  I was expecting they would scrimp on the toppings and they will served me paella full of rice instead but, i was wrong!  It was truly worth it! At the price of P220.00 for single serving, and P395.00 for family serving.  Though i find the fish, seemed like bangus dry, while their shrimp were sumptous.  A rating of 4/5 for this dish.

apple banana shake

Apple banana shake, it was not that sweet and perfect for my taste!  The combination of apple and banana makes it more interesting to sip.  For the price of P110.00.  A rating of 5/5 for this drink.

We weren’t able to capture their ice tea.  It was refreshing! not just your ordinary powdered ice tea but it was brewed tea a perfect blend that you’ll surely can’t get enough only if you’re a tea drinker.  It has a distinct taste of brewed tea even if it has ice.  A rating of 5/5 for this drink.  At the price of P60.00 you can have it bottomless already.

Overall I give Chef’s Quarter a rating of 4/5 for their service, presentation and food.

Chef’s Quarter branches:

1.  Robinson’s Place Manila, Pedro Gil cor. Adriatico St., Ermita Manila.  Tel. No. 381-7716

2.  3/F SM Megamall Atrium, EDSA cor. Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center Mandaluyong City.  Tel. No. 401-3658

3.  G/F Eastwood Mall Veranda, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Bagumbayan, Libis Quezon City.  Tel. No. 706-5573

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

secret recipe

secret recipe exterior

A serene, quiet and peace atmosphere that’s what we were looking for when we chanced upon Secret Recipe at Robinson’s Place Manila branch.  They have  comfortable stool type couch which you can sit individally, and some of their dining tables can be rotated.  Cool for hip type diners but disaster for those who brought their kids along.  With just one button your round dining table will rotate downwards and if you keep on turn it around it will go upward.  Their dining area were exceptionally clean and their servers were courteous and polite.  But noticed they only have 2 servers that’s why if their resto has a lot of diners service is slow.

black pepper chicken

Black pepper chicken, price at P230.00.  True to its name, chicken full of black pepper that’s why it’s a bit spicy due to black pepper used .  But one should taste this dish for the chicken was really juicy, and taste of the sauce was a combination of sweet, salty and spicy.  It was a different kind of recipe to my taste pallette and truly intensifies my craving for chicken.  Served with side salad and your choice of steamed rice or garlic rice.  A rating of 5/5 for this dish.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken Cordon Bleu, i have tasted different approach of recipes for this dish but Secret Recipe’s version is a sure winner for me!  Crunchy outside and really juicy within, with a right amount of cheese that intensifies the juiciness of the chicken.  Served with side salad and french fries.  You may pair this up with steamed rice as how i devoured this dish.   At the  price at P230.00.  A rating of 4/5.

iced mocha espresso

Iced Mocha Espresso, truly refreshing!  They’ve got a right blend of coffee, malt/chocolate, sugar and cream and with a sprinkles of chocolate on top.  It was not that sweet, it’s as if you’re drinking a cold version of coffee with whipped cream on top.  Price at P125.00.   A rating of 5/5.

Overall I gave Secret Recipe a rating of 4/5 for the ambiance, food serving, presentation, taste and quality.

Secret Recipe branches:

1.  4/F Midtown Wing Robinsons, Ermita Manila. Tel. No. 567-2042

2.  G/Level 32nd St. cor. 5th Ave., Fort Bonifacio Taguig City.  Tel. No. 856-2953

3.  5/F Shangri-La Mall, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd. Mandaluyong City.  Tel. No. 637-0367

4.  2/F SM Megamall Expansion Wing, EDSA cor. Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center Mandaluyong City.  Tel. No.  706-5246

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

french baker

french baker

french baker exterior

French Baker at Landmark Supermarket in Trinoma Mall.  Who wouldn’t be attracted with the ambiance this branch has to offer,  cozy ambiance, comfortable couch seats, and with dim-orange lighting.  Imagining the notion of dining there with my family makes me smile.  Good thing hubby is in the mood to dine at French Baker then, and so the experienced began.  We were seated on a very comfortable couch, and then waited for the server to came to get our order.  After choosing the only available dish they has to offer then, we chose the fourth dish before the server told us that that is the only available for rice meal for that night.  We were disappointed, it was only 6pm on a Monday night and they don’t have any choices to offer.

soup on a bread bowl

Soup on a bread bowl (soup of the day: chicken and corn) served in hollowed-out crusty bread.   This is the comfort food i can say for that night.  The taste of the soup is just right not salty nor bland and the bread used is really freshly baked, it was soft and moist.  At the price of P105.00.  A rating of 4/5.

cheezee mac

Cheezee Mac is a cheesy macaroni tossed in Mornay sauce, served with your choice of grilled foccacia or garlic bread.   I find their serving very small for the price of P158.00, but it was good.  The macaroni and cheese blends with the ham topping.  But find the garlic bread not freshly baked for it was hard for me to chew, and it was too oily for my taste.  A rating of 3/5 for this dish.

beef burgundy in casserole

bread and sidedish of buttered corn and carrots

The French Baker’s version of boeuf bourgignon, a robust beef stew cooked in red wine sauce.  In my opinion,  What’s a beef stew without rice?  We originally ordered this dish with rice, but after paying our orders we were informed that they don’t have any available rice to served, and since we have paid for this dish  already we don’t have any choice but to accept the alternative they offer, to serve it with roll/bread instead.  It was hard for me to enjoy this dish without rice, for the sauce of the beef stew is quite salty if with roll/bread.  You can instantly distinguished the taste of the wine used in this dish for it’s kinda sour to my taste.  The beef used was juicy and soft.  At the price at P230.00.  A rating of 2/5 for this dish.

Iced mocca, intended with ice as the name implies.  Unfortunately for us, there’s no ice available.  Having ice mocca without ice was no fun! It was too sweet and it’s as if you’re drinking an instant malt drink that you can easily prepare at home.  At the price of P47.00.  A rating of 2/5 for this drink.

coffee

Brewed coffee, it was not hot when served, milk given as a creamer was truly creamy at the price of P62.00.   A rating of 1/5 for this drink.

Based on my experienced at this particular branch, after our dining experience my Overall rating for French Baker, Landmark Trinoma Mall branch is 2/5.   Some of their branches may be worth a visit, surely not all of them has the same situation.

French Baker branches:

1.  g/f  South Supermarket, Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa.  Tel. No. 771-2255

2.  g/f  SM Bacoor, Aguinaldo cor. Tirona Hi-way, Bacoor, Cavite. Tel. No. 046-417-1314

3.  ug/f  SM City Dasmarinas, Governor’s Drive, Pala-Pala, Dasmarinas, Cavite.  Tel. No. 046-423-3051

4.  SM Supermarket, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.  Tel. No. 032-231-9050

5.  ug/f  The SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.  Tel. No. 032-232-1637

6.  ug/f  SM Southmall, Zapote Road, Las Pinas City.  Tel. No. 806-9217

7.  Landmark Foodcenter, Makati City.  Tel. No.812-3751

8.  Cash and Carry Supermarket, South Super Highway, Makati City.  Tel. No. 844-7032

9.  2/f  The Landmark Bridgeway, Makati City.  Tel. No. 813-4905

10.  g/f Bldg. B SM Megamall, J. Vargas St. Mandaluyong City.  Tel. No. 633-5084

11.  3/f  SM Megamall, J. Vargas St. Mandaluyong City.  Tel. No. 632-0735

12.  MS-108 Major Shops Bldg. EDSA Central, Mandaluyong City.  Tel. No. 632-0228

13.  ug/f  SM City Concepcion cor. San Marcelino, Manila.  Tel. No. 528-1624

14.  Robinson Otis - Robinsons Supermarket Otis P.M. Guazon Street, Paco, Manila.  Tel. No.559-07-31

15.  2/F SM Marikina Marcos Hi-way Calumpang Marikina.  Tel. No. 477-1815

16.  g/f  SM Mall of Asia, SMOA102-105 SM MALL OF ASIA, SM Central Business Park Bay City, Pasay City.  Tel. No. 5560162

17.  138 UGF SM City Clark, M Roxas St. Clark Special Economic Zone Angeles City, Pampanga.  Tel. No.(045) 499-0096

18.  ug/f  SM City Pampanga, San Fernando, Pampanga.  Tel. No.045-963-7698

19.  g/f  SM Super Center Sucat, BO. San Dionisio, Dr. A Santos Ave., Paranaque City.  Tel. No. 825-6947

20.  ug/f  SM City Bicutan, Dona Soledad Ave. cor. West Service Rd., Bicutan, Paranaque City.  Tel. No.776-0313

21.  Pioneer Center Supermarket, 8006 Pioneer St., cor. United St., Pasig City.  Tel. No. 687-2684

22.  Trinoma, The French Baker G/f Landmark Supermarket Trinoma Edsa cor. North Ave Quezon City

23.  Robinsons Supermarket, Galleria EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City

24.  AX 132-133 The SM City Annex, North Edsa, Quezon City.  Tel. No. 441-1406

25.  The SM City Main Mall North Edsa, Quezon City.  Tel. No. 920-3144

26.  g/f  SM City Fairview, Regalado cor. Quirino Highway, Quezon City.  Tel. No.935-0728

27.  ug/f  Cherry Foodarama Bldg. Congressional Ave., Quezon City.  Tel. No. 926-3832

28.  French Baker SM Taytay, Manila East Road Brgy Dolores Taytay Rizal

29.  g/f  Sta. Lucia East Grandmall, Phase 3 Marcos Hi-way, Cainta, Rizal.  Tel. No.681-5134

30.  Greenhills Shopping Center Unimart Greenhills, San Juan.  Tel. No. 721-1729

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