Going Greek at Greeka Kouzina, SM Aura Taguig, Philippines

This place has been in our sights since our badminton days, we just hadn't had a chance to try them out. When they opened a branch in SM Aura, we took it as a sign. 

I'll admit, I'm not a fan of Greek cuisine. Ask me to name Greek dishes & all I'm able to come up with is Moussaka and that's thanks to Vilma Santos' funny pronunciation in In My Life. ;) So it's safe to say that Greeka Kouzina is my first foray to going Greek. 

Shall we see what they have to offer?

Pretty Lights 

Greek Ceasar Salad (Php 350) Add Fried Kalamari (Php 185)

This was HUGE! Definitely for sharing. The fresh romaines coupled with olives, calamari, bacon bits and slivers of cheese all topped with Greek yogurt; this served as a nice starter for our meal. 

Arni Lemonato / Roast Lamb (Php 610)

The in-laws were raving about this one so this had to be in our table. This was two pieces of 5-hour roasted lamb that simply falls off the bone & served with greek roasted potatoes and sauces (Gravy & Lemon-Mint). FS Verdict? This was absolute YUM! Tender, juciy lamb that slides off the bone? Who can say no to that?! Dip this in the gravy and you're really in for a treat. ;9

Lamb Ragu 

Greeka entrees comes with one choice of siding and we went with this. Tender lamb, olives & tomatoes mixed with red wine & pasta. FS Verdict? Not bad. 

Paidakia / Lamb Cutlets (Php 595)

Its starting to look like we were on an "all-lamb rampage" but that wasn't our intention. ;) This was pieces of lamb cut into portions for easier eating. Although this tasted good, serving size is disappointing. This would've been better as an appetizer instead. 

Greeka Patates Tiganites / Greek Poutine

This was fries topped with feta cheese & Greeka gravy. Sounds so simple yet tastes so good.. ;) 

FS Verdict? My first foray to Greek cuisine was a success thanks to Greeka Kouzina. You're now on our go-to list. ;9

'Til our next Good Eat!

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Greeka Kouzina, SM Aura

2F, SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway cor. 26th St., 

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

964-3354 ; 0917-5140157

Facebook: Greeka Kouzina

Instagram: @greekakouzina, #greekakouzina

Panizza Love at Uncle Cheffy, Robinsons Magnolia

Sis has been raving about this place since Christmas. When Mom suggested that we celebrate Mother's Day here, we were excited. Conveniently located in the newly built Robinsons Magnolia, parking was not going to be a problem. 

Uncle Cheffy, Robinsons Magnolia

Airy, bright and light were the first 3 words that come into mind. With the wicker-type seats and wooden tables, Uncle Cheffy gives off a laid back vibe perfect for group dining and relaxing.

Cheffy Salad Medium (Php 230)

Salad was fast becoming Mom's comfort food. It seemed that no dine out is complete without one. What makes Uncle Cheffy's version special was atop your leafy greens rested this yummy, succulent pork belly. Yup, they serve pork with their salad! That alone deserves a star in my book. :P

Anchors Away at Don Henrico's, Glorietta 1 Makati

Went exploring at the newly opened Glorietta 1 in Makati. With the old stores and new ones soon opening, this was definitely a place to watch out for. 

Dinnertime found us walking around the second floor and the choice was down to Sbarro and Don Henrico's. But with a large crowd and a long waiting list, it seems like Sbarro was set for another time.

Onward to Don Hen.

Their waiting area had this on display.

Starboard or Port?

After ordering looked around and took a picture of the fixtures. 

With the peepholes & metal lighting, it really felt like we were in a ship.

Here's the first dish that came out.

Don Henrico's Buffalo Wings 3 pcs (Php 380)

With it's delicious smoky aroma, you can't go wrong with Don Henrico's Buffalo Wings. These 3 pieces of chicken delight were well-coated with their very own BBQ sauce. My only worry before ordering was that the breast part might be hard to chew but the first bite was enough to soothe my apprehensions. Everything was juicy and tender! Definitely our favorite with or without the creamy ranch dressing. FS Verdict? Highly recommended.

Italian Dinner at Capricciosa, Greenbelt 3 Makati

There's no better way to start the week than some family bonding. Travelling from QC to Makati at rush hour is no easy feat. Thanks shobs! :p

Capricciosa, Greenbelt 3

Christmas was really in the air. From the outside to inside, Capricciosa was ready for 'Ol Saint Nick. 

Three's A Company at Torch, Greenhills

We were supposed to meet at 1pm for a late lunch... what happened was a "lunner" instead (it's a combination of lunch & dinner, sorta like "brunch").  After fetching Jo, we arrived at Torch Greenhills by 3:30pm, all hungry & harassed. 

Hmmm... I wonder what that piece of paper is hiding....

Welcome

Bar

Wall Ornaments

Seeing Red at Aveneto Pizzeria Ristorante, Glorietta 3 Makati

 Get ready for another FoodStars low-down this time for.....

 Aveneto Pizzeria Ristorante.

aVeneto Pizzaria Ristorante, Glorietta 3

By the colors alone, Aveneto was definitely invoking the Italian vibe. At 7:30pm on a Sunday, the place was packed to the rafters. Seems like business was booming.

Tables & Chairs

As you enter, you'll notice that no one will assist you to your seat. I'm thinking, is this like a fast food setup wherein you just sit anywhere you want? After several minutes of trying to get the waiter's attention, we finally got seated. First impression? Place was kinda cramped and the crowd was a bit noisy. Definitely not the place to unwind & relax.

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.

A Little Bit of Italy at Napoli Pizzeria Ristorante, Timog QC

After doing errands around QC, we decided to kick back and relax at one of our favorite white pizza haunts. The trouble with this restaurant is that they open at the oddest hours I've ever heard of. 

Napoli Pizzeria Ristorante, Timog

In line with our previous gangster review, Napoli takes us into the world of The Godfather. Yup, we're eating out, hoodlum style! :) Haha.

Snacking on Healthy at Gourmet To Go, Rustan's Makati

Tired from walking around all day, our tummies began rumbling. Wanted something new, fresh and light to eat (we had a b-match later that evening). After looking at the different selections scattered around Rustan's Supermarket Makati, we decided to try out Gourmet To Go.

With the glass-covered brightly lit display cases featuring salads, pastas, sandwiches & soups, it looked like a smorgasbord of gourmet deli goodies just waiting to be eaten. 

Gourmet To Go, Rustan's Makati

True to it's name, we had our food to go. They wrapped our sandwich, packed our pasta and placed everything in a brown paper bag.  Kudos for being eco-friendly. 


**We're giving a heads up to the staff who assembled our food. She forgot to take our lasagna out of the microwave oven after heating. She was beginning to assist the woman who was not even buying anything from their shop (She was just having her money changed into smaller bills).  We had to remind her that our order was not yet complete. Tsk tsk. **  

S-S-P-P at Chef d' Angelo, Glorietta 5

In the mood for an all-you-can-eat tummy adventure, we decided to head to our newly discovered food spot in Glorietta 5. 

Word to the wise: Best to get there early to avoid the dinner rush.

Promo

Chef d' Angelo, Glorietta 5

Theirs is a casual dining restaurant. It's a pay before you eat kind of thing. We head to the cashier and placed our order. For the eat-all-you-can buffet, we were each given a yellow paper bracelet for identification. We also availed their bottomless iced tea (just add 50 pesos).


CAUTION: Don't expect the same treatment with the high-class buffets. Here, everything is self service. And the staff are inattentive, slow and unhelpful. 


The buffet is laid on a long table and divided into 4 parts: 
Soup, Salad, Pizza & Pasta (S-S-P-P).

Pinoy Pizza at Sandy's, Makati

We were scared to try out a new online coupon site but when we saw this deal, being pizza lovers we had to try this out.

Trivia: This pizza place is apparently owned by Gabby Concepcion's sister. 

Hidden in the outskirts of Makati, we welcome you to Sandy's Pizza!

Order Counter

As you enter, you'll notice that the place is a bit cramped. The order counter is just a few steps away from the door. It was a bit hot & stuffy but the staff immediately opened the a/c. 

Wall photos

The only decor you'll see are the pictures of celebrities posted on the walls. Other than that, the restaurant strictly employs a minimalist look. The empty wooden tables and chairs at 6pm was a disappointing sight.