Restuarant Review ~ Pablo at Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences

PABLO is Picasso Boutique Residences in house restaurant. 

PABLO is a Bistro-Bar offering a multi-cultural assortment of dishes inspired by classic European Bistro cuisine.  Unfortunate, we were only able to their breakfast menu as part of our Picasso Boutique Residences stay.

 

Pablo’s interiors exudes a contemporary feel with modern fixtures and furnishings.   The place looks upscale, but relaxed.

Breakfast comes with open bread, salad, fruits, juices and coffee bar. 

Breakfast was good and filling, which left me wondering about their  lunch and dinner offerings ~ Yes, definitely a next time!

For inquiries and booking, you may visit

Picasso Boutique Residences website:

www.picassomakati.com

 

Location: 

119 L.P. Leviste St.

Salcedo Village, Makati City

Philippines 1227

T: +63 2 828.4774

F: +63 2 828.9141

E: reservations@picassomakati.com

Project Pie: Review

 Traffic out of the Makati Business District was hellish and considering it was almost dinner time, we were left with very little choice but to fuel up (almost hungry tummies) before braving the C5 traffic.

 

 My husband has been wanting to try out Project Pie Pizza, a build your own (BYO) pizza restaurant, which was just a short distance from where I work. 

 

The place has ample seating, with additional tables located in a mezzanine floor.  Decoration is minimalist and clean.    

 

Project Pie only serves salad and PIZZA,  but when I said their menu is limited to pizza... their list of  pizza toppings is quite overwhelming.  

 

Making your only pizza was supposed to be easy, as advertised in three simple steps:

 

 

We had a hard time deciding what to get and ended ordering Signature Master Pizzas (SMP). These are Project Pie's tried and tested flavors.  You can never go wrong with an SMP. 

 

We ordered Richie and Woody.

 

Richie is an all meat pizza. Richie Pizza uses red sauce and is topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage with crumbled meatballs, mozzarella, garlic.  

 

Woody meanwhile is topped with chicken, cilantro, gorgonzola, mozzarella, sliced red onions and barbeque sauce.  Really flavorful and slightly spicy. 

 

 

 

My date for the night :P

 

VERDICT

• Project Pie is a cool concept.  I love that you get to choose what toppings go to your pizza. 
• I find prices somewhat expensive at P300 for a personal pizza. But the pizzas we had were nicely done ~ the artisan way and ingredients used were fresh.     
• There were not much choices in the menu. Though my husband and my kiddos are head over heels pizza lovers, I am not.  I would love to see at least one to two pasta on the menu.
• Service was fast and efficient. 

 

The Project Pie branch we visited is located at the

Upper Ground Floor, Frasers Place, Valero Street, Makati

Contact # 551-3274

 

Yehey for RUB ribs & bbq

I was introduced to Rub's Ribs and BBQ by officemates as a treat  for our unit's monthly birthday celebrants.

I was never a fan of grilled anything, so the invitation came as a must attend rather than a wanna go.

The branch we visited is located at

Baler St., cor. Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air Makati.

The place is a bit cramped and small, with just enough sitting for about 50-60 pax.  I strongly suggest you call to reserve a table if you intend to come for lunch or dinner.  

I ordered Chicken Cajun pasta while the rest of my officemates had family brunch servings of ribs with side dishes.

Serving was hefty. My team of 4 boys shared a platter and looked full...(or kinda full)...

My order was spot on. The chicken was tender and delicious. I was not really hungry, but was able to clean my plate easy. 

(Sorry not much pictures here, I was busy munching and babbling with office mates I forgot to take photos)


The guys who ordered the BBQ ribs said they will be back for more and requested for the restaurant's flyers. So I guess that means the ribs were delicious.

VERDICT
RUB's is a delicious affordable alternative to otherwise expensive all American grilled restaurant. I am not yet a grilled/BBQ convert, but getting there!

Highly recommended for families.

Rub's has branches in Kapitolyo Pasig (near Ace Water Spa), South Rallos and Quezon City.  

For reservations and take home you may call 625-2939

Restaurant Alert: BRASAS Gostoso

In search of good food, one work day ~ my lunch buddies and myself found ourselves seated at a Latin American Restaurant located at the recently opened SM Jazz Residence  :BRASAS (literal translation glowing piece of coal).

 

Our group of three ordered the house specialty Patacones as appetizer and Chivito al Plato as main dish.

 

Patacones are fried plantain fruit, which tastes a lot like baked banana chips only chewy like toasted potato fries.  It was topped with mixed salsa and shredded meat. 

 

For our main course we had Chivito al Plato for sharing, which was a combination of grilled pork, chicken and beef.    

 

We found both meals very gostoso (delicious) and filling.

 

The experience was an authentic Latin American one, with popular salsa and raggae rhythm as background.  I was really loving the place - brick-wooden walls, with hardwood chairs and tables. 

 

 If not for the poor ventilation (that leaves you and your coat smelling like "tapa") and the rather slow attendants (who took their time: a good 15 minutes to bill us and another 15 to punch our order, considering we paid cash),

I would have given Brasas an 8 out of 10.

 

If you are not in a hurry and this is your last stop for the day, 

I recommend this place a try, however,

if you have an afternoon meeting I would suggest you head straight to another restaurant next door.

 

 

 

 

 

This Brasas branch is located at SM Jazz Residences in Nicanor Garcia Makati.

 

Café France - lunch dates

Lunch at Café France is a default option, whenever, me and my lunch-buddy husband can't seem to decide on where or what to eat. 

 

The Café France branch we frequently visit is the Valero branch in Makati. It is conveniently located just a few meters away from where we work. 

 

Ambience is relaxed and food is delectable. 

 

Our favorites Adele and Pierre lunch trays - pasta, half sandwich (bread of your choice), soup, fruit juice and chocolate for dessert!

They also have promo set meals at discounted prices.  Equally as good!

For complete, delicious and healthy meals - I suggest you give Café France a try...


The "Momo Cafe" Experience

What was a supposedly Banapple lunch, turned out to be an unexpected trip to Momo Café.  Banapple was as always full house and the Momo Café's half empty seating and inviting ambiance lured me and my lunch buddy-husband to Momo.

 

The restaurant is classy and hip, with prices a little upscale for most Juans, although for the serving sizes and food quality, I think pricing is just right. 

 

Momo serves international dishes ~ which all seems delicious based on the menu...

 

 

We were served garlic bread with special pimiento dip while we wait for our orders.

 

We ordered, melted crab and spinach 3 cheese dips for starters, followed by slow roasted herbs US roast beef fingers.  Love them both!  Writing this blog, makes me want to go back!!!

 



The crab, spinach and cheese dip was simply divine. I can't believe it has spinach in it (even my boys will love this concoction) .  Their roast beef fingers melts in my mouth - just heavenly. 

 

We finished with a dessert called "Milo and Mamon MMMmmmm Good", for obvious reasons.  Never knew before that your regular mamon, topped with whipped cream, condensada and Milo could taste this good. 

VERDICT:  Thumbs up!  Good place for a date with your special someone (buti nalang full house and Banapple  :P)!!!

Calda's "Big Pizza"

 

For an impromptu office birthday "merienda" for hubby - I got him this huge 36" pizza from Calda's Pizza.   This humongous pizza is just perfect for a group of 20 hungry men (and women :P).   It comes in various flavors to choose from.  To make choosing easier, Calda allows mixing of variants.  I got him Granchi and Filipiniana.

 

I am not a huge pizza fan, but the size of this pizza was just amazing - it makes me smile and so I just had to give this one a try. 

 

VERDICT - taste is nothing to rave for. It was Italian inspired, thin crust with mozzarella cheese with regular pizza toppings, unlike most pizzas , however, this one was not oily...  with its size making it extra especial.

 

P.S. Yup, while I munched on my first piece of Calda's, I can't help but wonder, how they deliver such huge pizzas (it must have been difficult not to mention dangerous to navigate Manila traffic..) and managed to fit it inside the building elevator!  Hmmnnn... that I got to see...

 

CALDA PIZZA MAKATI BRANCH

is located at # 7274 Malugay St. Collective Bldg. Makati City.
with tel. no. 478-5127

Cerveseria's tasty Paella

 

I was craving for a decent meal, after a week of fast food galore and was so happy I bumped into, a group buy online offer on Cerveseria's tasty Paella...

 

The voucher says good for four,  I think they forgot to mention "provided not so hungry".

 

 

I guess we were just famished,  my husband and I literally devoured everything.

Wish come true... good food!!! - My son wasn't interested though.

 

 

The Paella comes with free fruit shakes, that were just divine. 

 

Very good ambiance - just perfect for an enjoyable family meal.

 

The restaurant has floor to ceiling bookcase which serves as a divider to a more private seating. Furniture and lighting(courtesy of chandeliers which kind of resembles melted candle), gives the place a Goth theme.  Really unique. 

 

The place has limited seating though and if you intend to come on a weekend, I would suggest you call in advance for reservations.

 

Truly one of the best paella I have tasted.  Will be back!

 

Cerveseria is located at Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center Makati.

Contact Numbers: 7574791 / 09178944325.

Krispy Kreme Donut

Krispy Kremes (KK) had a special series of donuts for the holiday. My favorite is the Snowflake doughnut. It has smooth custard filling and is topped with premium chocolate and sprinkled powdered sugar shaped like a snowflake.

It is a perfect pair to your KK brewed smooth coffee... this donut literally melts with every sip of your perfectly brewed coffee.

I am just sad to see it go and leave KK shelves last December 31! I wish they would bring it back.

So going to miss my Snowflakes :C

My favorite KK shop is located at Valero 2 Carpark Building, Valero St., Brgy. Bel-Air 1209.