Cajun Red Rock Mega Mall ~ Restaurant Review

We were out malling at SM Megamall and found ourselves starving ~ our tired and weary feet and oh so hungry bodies led us to Cajun Red Rock .

I am not very familiar with Cajun cuisine, but judge on the restaurants theming and setting, we were all in agreement that it was an all American restaurant.

We ordered a family set meal (I forgot how much exactly, but I remember it was under P1000) for four persons, inclusive of chicken, rice, pasta, salad and drinks. 

VERDICT:

• There are plenty of food options available to suit everyone's palate. We would love to order the house specialties, but ended up getting a set meal which we figured was worth our money (as we did save a bit).
• Food is flavorsome.   
• Price is affordable (price range per order is P300-400), with huge family size servings.
• Service is good; The crew were especially attentive and friendly.

MamaSpeaks would definitely be back soon!

The CAJUN RED ROCK we visited is located at

Megastrip B, SM Megamall 

For inquiries you may email /call them at:

inquiry@cajunredrock.com / 415 26 05

fb page: CajunRedRockPH

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Post note: Per Wikipedia Cajun cuisine, French in origin. It is a style of cooking named for the French-speaking Acadian people deported by the British to Louisiana USA. This cuisine is rustic using locally available ingredients using simple cooking preparation techniques.

Restaurant Review: Highland Steakhouse

My ex-bf was playing sweetie invited me for lunch at the Highlands Prime Steakhouse at SM MOA.

The restaurant has a rustic countryside ambiance ~ real cozy and homey. It was spacious  and can comfortably seat 150-200 guests.

 

We ordered:

Sweet Chili Beans (P350)

 Roast beef pasta (P400)

Cowboy Buffalo Wings (P400)

Mixed Vegetable Pizza (P400)

VERDICT:

• Location is great with a great view of Manila Bay.  Perfect place for a romantic dinner with your special someone.
• Service is A+ and on personal level.  Our attendant really made us feel important.
• All our orders were spot on delicious ~ fresh and flavorful. We were not able to try their specialty steaks, as we were not really hungry for one.  Steak cost an average P2000 per 15oz. Would definitely try this though on our next visit.   
• Pricing though is on the high side, but given the plentiful serving, top notched presentation and fancy set up ~ price was worth it.

Highlands Prime Steakhouse-SM MOA is located at the

2F North Wing ~ SM MOA

Restaurant Hours:

Sunday to Thursday: 10AM to 10PM

Friday and Saturday: 10AM to 11PM 

Contact Number (02) 556-0768, (02) 556-0769, (02) 901-3243 and 0905-269-6513.

For inquiries check out their webpage www.primesteaks.com

A Taste of Marison's ~ Restaurant Review

 

I was out gallivanting with my husband at Robinson's Mall in Antipolo when hunger striked.   We saw this fairly new restaurant,

Marison's at the malls Al Fresco area and decided to give it a try.

  

 They offer traditional Filipino Cuisine with a twist. They have reinvented our all too common Filipino dishes and made them special.

  

 

We ordered

 

Pinakbet using bagoong balayan (P220). 

I thought I ordered healthy, until I saw the lechon kawali (lol).

 

 Deep fried "kesong puti" with pineapple sambal dip (P295)

 
 
Empanada with papaya and pork fillings (P255)

 

VERDICT:

• I love the modern twist Marison did to their menu. The changes were not over the top, so the original flavor is still there, but better.
• An order is good for 2-3 pax, not bad for an average P300 per dish.
• Staff were fine, but would really need to be more attentive, we were there on a busy day, so that is forgiven, 
• It was just me and hubby that day, so we were not able to order to much.  I would love to return with my family and order their house specialties balut tempura, tuna shanghai, chicken binakol and pasta Chinoy.

 

The Marison's branch we have visited is located at UG Robinson's Mall Antipolo, Sumulong Higway Antipolo City.

 

For more information about Marison's Restaurant please visit their website at www.marisonsph.com.

Ace Lunch Buffet Review

I am not a real fan of buffet restaurants,  I am quickly overwhelmed by the so many selections, I end up with  just 2-3 viands on my plate... in short "lugi".

Ace Water Spa Buffet, at the Ace Coffee Lounge, however is an exception!  Lunch buffet at the Ace Coffee Lounge is a perfect way to end your day after a 4 hours hydro-massage at the famed spa.

Rates:

Lunch (11am-2pm)

Weekdays: Adults P699++ / Kids P325nett

Weekends: Adults P799++ / Kids P325nett 

Late lunch (230pm - 530pm)

Adults P599++ / Kids P325nett

(During our three times visit, guests of the Ace Water Spa gets discounted rates, please be sure to inquire).

Our last visit was with relatives from the US,  

we were so famished from the water spa and got to try everything :P

I was busy eating, I lost track of the dishes' names (One thing I am certain of, they all tasted great)

The Salad Bar...

Grilled squid and chicken barbeque.

Here is the ramen spread...

Paella

Chicken pot pie is another one of my favoritessss.

Waiting for my tempura.

Roast pork was really flavorful.

Must try fish fillet (I think I came back for this a couple of times).

Shabu-shabu

The Pasta Bar... my mom had her fill of both red and white sauced pasta dishes (I had to tell her 3x to move on)...

Maki galore :P

Make your own "halo-halo (here is a tip: put plenty of ube and leche flan on your halo-halo

There are also cakes and ice cream; Or if you want to wash of your guilt fruit plates to finish your meal.

Drinks, coffee and tea are also included in bill.

MamaSpeaks gives Ace Coffee Lounge Lunch Buffet

A HUGE Thumbs Up (*burp*)

For inquiries visit their website at

www.acewaterspa.com

Interested in a staycation at Ace Water Spa Hotel, check out also my review of the Ace Water Spa Hotel here:

Ace Water Spa Spa-riffic Staycation

Welcome to Pagsanjan ~ More than rapids: Calle Arco Restaurant Review

There is more to Pagsanjan Laguna than the Pagsanjan falls and shooting rapids... there is of course Pagsanjan's delectable cuisine.

Located just a few meters away Pagsanjan town's century old arch gate is Calle Arco restaurant.  I was first drawn to this restaurant from recommendations from TripAdvisor ~ me and my foodie family wanted a taste of their menu. 

 The Pagsanjan Arch is difficult to miss. 

Calle Arco is an old house turned restaurant. 

An old piano sits by the main entrance. A lady was playing wonderful music the night we dined in ~ setting the perfect ambience (you easily forget that the restaurant sits on a busy road  and traffic can be a bit hellish as times.

There were numerous seating options,  we decided on a inside seating in the comfort of an air-conditioning.

We were ushered into a pink room decorated differently from the main seating area.  The pink room is styled like a European café as compared to an antique mansion feel outside. 

We ordered Tortang Talong (P180)

Crispy Chicken Garlic (P250)

Pancit Habhab (P150)

Halo-halo with ice cream (P95)

VERDICT

• All our orders are spot on. We could have ordered more, but were too full to try all of the house specialties.  If you are not hungry and just passing by, I suggest a serving of their special halo-halo!  It is topped with the tastiest leche flan ever.... 
• Price is really affordable, with huge servings meant for sharing.
• Service is fast and crew are accommodating.
• Recommended for travelling families and barkadas who are really hungry :P. 

A clear thumbs up for Calle Arco from MamaSpeaks!

Calle Arco Restaurant is located

57 J.P. Rizal Street, Pagsanjan Laguna

Tel. No. (049) 501-4584 / 0917-4281325 

For more information check out Calle Arco's facebook page www.facebook.com/Calle-Arco-Restaurant

Check also our related visit to Villa Socorro Farm Resort if agri-eco interests you: A Fun Stay at Villa Socorro

Burgoo: Restaurant Review

 

Burgoo is a Mexican-American casual dining restaurant. It has been in the country for a few years now, but we never had the opportunity to try it out until today.

 

 

The boys were famished ~ and Burgoo Restaurant was right smacked infront of us.

 

(Cool we got to toy with table paper mats, while waiting for our orders to arrive.)

 

Please excuse our large order, we were really hungry:

 

 

We got the Supreme Sampler for appetizers ~ which was a good call for first timers to try out everything in one plate. The Supreme Sampler includes: Buffalo wings, cheddar cheese fries, mozzarella sticks and fried calamari (regular P420 and large P600).  

 

 

 

Here is a closer view...

 

 

 

My youngest loved the fries, while my hubby had his moments with the tangy Buffalo wings.

 

 

 

 My favorite, meanwhile is the Chicken Quesadilla (P300). It is a flour tortilla filled with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, onions and cubed chicken.  

 

 

Another favorite is the Chicken Fajitas (P500)  ~ charcoal-grilled chicken served with chunky tomato salsa, shredded cheddar cheese an tortilla wrapper. My boys had fun wrapping their own fajitas. 

 

 

 

Chicken Diane (P400) ~ garlic spaghetti in Diane sauce, topped with grilled chicken fillet ~  pasta has a garlicky taste that I like even without the sauce.  

 

 

 A yummy Banana Split for dessert ~ was a wonderful end to our food galore! 

 

 

 

VERDICT:

1. Although on the more expensive scale, servings are huge and perfect for really hungry families or barkada.

2. Food taste great.

3. Ambience is homey and laid-back.

4. Staff are cordial and warm.

 

 

We would definitely come back!

 

The Burgoo Restaurant we visited is located at

Starmall Prima Taguig

 

 

 

Kuya J at SM San Mateo ~ Exceptional Filipino Dishes

 Good food, classy ambiance and good old friends spells the difference between fine dining and a memorable one.

After attending a Rizal Blogger and Media event at SM San Mateo, my hubby met with a dear friend, who lives just across SM San Mateo. 

I have read a lot about "Kuya J" a restaurant originating from Cebu.  Kuya J serves native Filipino dishes. I love Filipino cooking, so decided to meet here.

I was initially taken aback, the restaurant looked rather costly.  I was surprise to see that menu options are actually quiet affordable.

 

(Kuya J's SM San Mateo has elegant and well lighted interiors)

Grilled scallop with cheesy butter topping (P230)

Fritos Dinamitas (P170)

It is a pastry wrap, deep fried jalapeno with Cebu chorizo with cheddar cheese, dipped in garlic mayo.

 Lumpia Presko (P95)

Made of sauteed crabmeat and bamboo shoots using malungay infused lumpia wrapper. Something healthy before the sinfully delicious  crispy pata.

The famous Kuya J's Crispy Pata (Regular P490 / Family P695)

This is by far one of the best Crispy Pata, I have tasted, real tender and juicy.   The meat literally fall off from the bone ~ perfect dipped in vinegar and soy sauce.

Relyenong Talong (P120)

It is a pan-fried talong omelet with ground pork. I am not a real fan of this one, its a little too much pork "giniling" for me. I prefer my torta ~ plain.

  

Tablea coffee flan (P85) a Batangas tablea flavored flan, topped with coconut sprinkles.

Creamy Mango Pandan (P80)

Look at that wonderful sugar art. Ingenious way to add sugar to a creamy mango pandan.

VERDICT

• Kuya Jay's offers a complete dining experience. I think it is perfect for celebrating special family occasions and welcoming Balikbayans.
• Though they serve known Filipino dishes, Kuya J's version is special and nowhere near ordinary. And food presentation was fancy served on fine plates with heavy utensils.
• Price is  reasonable with servings enough for 2-3 hungry pax.
• Service is fast and efficient;  Staff are very personable and amiable.  

Thumbs Up for Kuya J! 

For additional information check their facebook page: Kuya J (SM San Mateo)