Non-Crazy Day at Krazy Garlik, Greenbelt 5, Makati

Been seeing people posting about this restaurant in my FB feed for weeks now. After doing errands at Greenbelt. we decided to try & see for ourselves what the buzz was all about.

Krazy Garlik, Greenbelt Makati

The name was a bit intimidating for us non-garlic lovers. But after browsing through their menu, Krazy Garlik offered other dishes that weren't garlic heavy. Game on!

Interiors

Hmmm.. with the blue tables, brown chairs, tiled walls and colorful mural; there didn't seem to be an ongoing theme whatsoever. 

Burnt Out Brunch at Dillinger's, Greenbelt 3 Makati

Dillinger's on a hot Saturday afternoon seemed like a good idea... until we had to walk dozens of steps with the sun on our backs. Hay... The walkway was scorching hot, especially at 2pm in the afternoon. Was having a major headache even before we reached the place. :( Note to self: Lunch may be a better idea.

Dillinger's, Greenbelt 3

The place looked promising. The facade was like an Old English pub complete with the vintage lamps on the brick-like walls. 

Bar

Just like in Bugsy's, Dillinger's also had a bar for those who just want to relax & unwind with a drink or two. Several alcoholic liqueurs were also on display but it was too early for those. Besides, we were here for the food. :)

Noodle-licious Dinner at Kanzhu, San Juan

We were supposed to be in QC by 7pm but EDSA was so clogged that by 7:30, we were still stuck in traffic. Hungry and with patience wearing thin, we drove to Greenhills for dinner. I've always wanted to try this place out. It seemed now was a good time as any.

Kanzhu, San Juan

I couldn't help but notice the cute caricature of the chef. With the be-dimpled smile and rosy red cheeks, this was a plus in the cuteness factor. Now how would their food fare?

VMS: Domino's Pizza, Pasong Tamo

While perusing around the net for new restaurants to try out, stumbled upon this flyer. Pizza for dinner seemed to be inevitable. :)

Domino's Pizza, Pasong Tamo

Talked to a certain Regina who was kinda helpful. The problem was that the Domino's website was not updated with the "new" prices. Yup, all prices posted had an increase of 50 pesos. Tsk tsk. You can hear in the background someone saying that "prices were subject to change".  Excuse me, that explanation is usually reserved for flyers & pamphlets that restaurants give away. The reason behind this is that they no longer have the option of updating or changing the printed prices. But in the case of prices posted on official websites wherein you are able to change it anytime you want, that reason is invalid. Hay... 

Disappointing start.

Night Time Gelato at Amici, Ayala Triangle Garden

After having our fill at Omakase, our sweet tooth began tingling...

With Amici just a few steps away, how could we resist? :)

Amici, Ayala Triangle Garden

A little backgrounder: The first time we heard of this place was back in 2010. We ate at their Tomas Morato branch and didn't exactly enjoy their wares; plus their cafeteria-like concept did not sit well with me. What we keep coming back for was their gelato.  Not before long, they decided to market their desserts separately from their regular menu. They named the other half of their restaurant Caramia (check out the bright green divider below). 

Interior

RR Part 2: Caffe Puccini, Global City Taguig

A long overdue RR of Caffe Puccini. This is the 2nd of 3 reviews. To be fair, we will be posting the 3rd & most recent visit soon.


Part One
Part Three


Date: Jan. 24, 2012
Time: 7:30pm

FS Note: Voucher-holders beware, the Puccini staff looks down on people who use coupons. Once you sit down, you'll experience firsthand that the servers are unfriendly & unhelpful. Also, they take their sweet time bringing service water. They made us feel so uncomfortable when they thought that we were only getting the pizza deal. It also took them forever to bring out the bread basket. Tsk tsk.

Lasagna Di Ragu (Php 385)

Being the beef lovers that we are, we took a chance and tried this dish out. Sadly, what came out was this small dish that looked unappetizing. After the first bite, it was enough to conclude that Puccini's version of Beef Lasagna had nothing special to offer. Sigh.

Black & White at Romulo Cafe, Jupiter Street Makati

For our weekly Saturday dinner out, it was decided that we were going to eat at Romulo's Cafe. Honestly, this was our first time to hear of this place. We soon learned that this was already their 2nd branch, the first was located in Quezon City. 

Romulo Cafe, Jupiter Street Makati

Because of wrong directions given, we got lost. After asking the guards at one of the restaurants at Jupiter Street, we soon found ourselves in front of a black & white house-like setting with a brightly lit patio and large windows with glass doors.  Hmmm... is this going to be like a homemade sort of food trip? Wasn't actually in a mood for that. So with fingers crossed, we walked thru the threshold... 

Body Aches and Pains at Bare Foot Day Spa, D. Tuazon Quezon City

Let's try something new!  

True to our name, FoodStars Plus (+) , we will now be posting something other than food. After a stressful afternoon of walking & talking, we wanted to get some foot relief. Upon suggestion of one of our friends, we headed to Bare Foot Spa.

Bare Foot Day Spa,  D. Tuazon Quezon City

First impression? Not very impressive. With the dark entrance and darker surroundings, the place actually gave me the creeps. The thought "Parang hindi spa" came into mind. But of course, I reserved judgments 'til later.

Zen (?)

It was much brighter inside. You walk up to the counter and browse through their services. The quaint zen-like structure in front made the place more spa-like. 

Couch with Pillows

They have a waiting area where you can sit and wait for your name to be called. Suggestion? Make reservations ahead of time especially if you're going as a group.

The Old & The New at Kimpo Teahouse, Banawe QC

Coming from the Warehouse Sale, we were all tired and hungry. Wanted to eat somewhere familiar and casual, nothing fussy. We drove to Han Pao but what welcomed us instead was something bigger and brighter.

Kim Po Teahouse, Banawe St Quezon City

The spacious parking was a cause for celebration. No more having to park at other nearby restaurants and to quickly run inside Han Pao, hoping that the guard did not see. Haha. But seriously, thumbs up for this.

Weekend Bonding at Summer Palace, Edsa Shangrila Hotel

One lazy Sunday morning, craving for something different (from the usual mall restaurants & take outs), we headed down to Edsa Shangri-la to our usual dim sum hotspot for lunch.

Summer Palace, Edsa Shangri-la Hotel

As you enter, you'll feel like you're transported to someplace far away from the noisy hustle & bustle of the city life... well almost.

Lights!

With elaborate fixtures such as their hanging lights, you know you're definitely in for a royal treat.  FS Tip: Ask to be seated in the "inner circle" to completely enjoy the Summer Palace experience :)


As the silver cart slowly made it's way to our table, the wonderful aroma of dim sum wafted in the air. What were the glorious wonders hidden under those wooden lids? 

Dinner Date at Mey Lin, Makati

Tired of our usual Jupiter Street eateries, we decided to go back to our old favorite, Mey Lin.

Mey Lin Bistro, Jupiter St. Makati

With ample parking spaces in the building's basement, you'll have no trouble parking your car. Ride the elevator up to the ground floor, get off, walk to the main entrance,  turn right and voila! 

P.S. don't forget to have your ticket validated!

R.I.P. :Tea Time Blues at Serenitea, North Greenhills

FS Update: Unfortunately, this Serenitea Branch is now closed. We are now placing this under the R.I.P. category. 
'Til our next Good Eat!
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While waiting for the rain to subside, we made a quick pit stop at Serenitea, North Greenhills. It seemed strange that it's located inside North Greenhills Village.

First impression? It's a hassle to get to especially if you bring a car. There's no parking space available plus the guards are unhelpful, to the point of being impolite already. Even after informing them that you're just going to be dropped off at Serenitea, they make such a big deal out of the time it takes you to make the U-turn and to get out of the car. 

Add to the fact that it was raining really hard and there were areas where there was no roof, these were enough reason for us to turn back. But decided at the last minute to at least give it a chance.

Heating Things Up at You Jie Xiao Chao, Makati

One of the hidden Chinese restaurants in Makati now comes to light. 

Nestled in a residential area in Camia Street with no signboard whatsoever, this restaurant is unnoticeable to the untrained eye. It seems like this is a food spot wherein people flock for good food and definitely not for the ambiance.

White simplicity

The interior was too simple, nothing in it suggests that this is a restaurant other than the wooden tables and chairs.  With the plain walls and dull atmosphere, the food better taste really good. 

A word of caution, almost all dishes here are spicy. Definitely not for the fainthearted.

Pizza Paradiso at Caffe Puccini, The Fort Strip BGC

This is the 1st of 3 reviews.

Part Two

Part Three

I'm going to be honest, I have never heard of this place before this was offered on an online coupon site. Being suckers for white cheese pizza, you had us at  Pizza Quattro Formaggio. :)

Caffe Puccini, The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City

Don't let the exterior fool you. I was expecting a quaint, old-fashioned style of pizzaria but upon entering, the place was buzzing with activity. We arrived at 8:30pm and the place was still filled to the brim. Another example why making reservations are so important.

With it's orange walls, yellow lights and brick-walled ovens, it seem like you've just entered into a slice of Italy. O Sole Mio... :)