Sbarro

Despite being always in Eastwood, Kim and I never had the chance to eat in Sbarro when it was still located in Citibank Square. We always made plans, but never got to it since it was quite cumbersome to walk all the way to Citibank. Then that Sbarro closed down. Luckily for us, Sbarro opened up shop again in Eastwood but this time inside Eastwood Mall. The new Sbarro is located on the top floor, near where the cinemas are.

 

Kim has been craving for a slice of the white Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, so we ordered a couple of slices of those along with a plate of Roasted Chicken with Rice.

Chicago Deep Dish. 172php.

The slice, as usual, was packed and filled with different toppings (wait, do you still call it toppings if its inside?) and served with white sauce over it. We loved how the cheese was just the right softness -- not too melted and just a little gooey. Despite it being a little big for a single slice of pizza, we certainly enjoyed finishing it to the last forkful as it was very flavorful. A slice of this can definitely be a whole meal on its own!

Roasted Chicken with Rice. 169php.

I never understood why Sbarro serves their chicken with red pasta sauce on the side and I've never bothered putting it on my chicken. I've always liked their chicken and rice, which is a perfect combination. The chicken is aromatic, herb-y, tender inside, and just crisp on the outside.

Since it has been around a long time, Sbarro tends to get overlooked by all these new food chains that has been popping up left and right. But Sbarro is still one of the best fast food chains around, especially if you're looking to satisfy your Italian food craving.

*Because we were very hungry, we forgot to take a picture of us. :(

Sbarro
4th Floor, Eastwood Mall,
Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City
http://www.sbarro.ph/
https://www.facebook.com/SbarroPhilippines

Pepper Lunch

Everyone might be familiar with Sizzling Pepper Steak but not everyone might be familiar with the franchise it copied from – Pepper Lunch. Pepper Lunch is a  Japanese original that has been around the Philippines for 5 years. It recently opened a new branch inside Eastwood Mall.

Pepper Lunch is famous for serving their meals on a hot plate/ pan. The customer then has to (finish) cooking the meal on the hot plate. It’s a novel idea that might not be for everyone. I, for example, tend to overcook one side and undercook the other. And since I paid good money for my food, I would want it cooked perfectly upon serving. Despite that, Kim and I still frequent Sizzling Pepper Steak because we like the food. So when Pepper Lunch opened a branch in Eastwood, we naturally had to give “the original” a try.

Pepper Lunch has a unique ordering system. You pick from their visual menu, line up and order. What’s unique with that, you ask? Well, you only get assigned a table after ordering. So don’t bother looking for an empty table to save before ordering.

Kim ordered the Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice with Egg.

Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice with Egg. 235php.

Kim likes that the teriyaki sauce came separately with the dish, so she had the chance to cook the beef to her liking. She liked that the beef was tender and seasoned well, and that the egg proved to be a nice complement to it.

I had the Beef Pepper Rice.

Beef Pepper Rice. 198php. +40 for upsize, +60 for a meal

 

First off, I had my Beef Pepper Rice as a meal, which came with a drink and mashed potato (you can choose also either the miso soup or ice cream. And I also had it upsized. My first impression when it was served was visually it looked really small as compared to Sizzling Pepper Steak’s serving. But it was very flavorful!

We also noticed that the beef didn’t burn that easily inside the pan as compared to Sizzling Pepper Steak. But since it was our first time there, we can’t definitively say that it was due to the pan or just sheer luck on our side.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Pepper Lunch. It’s not as expensive as we thought it would be compared to Sizzling Pepper Steak. We’ll surely come back and try their other meals.

Pepper Lunch

4th Floor, Eastwood Mall,
Eastwood City
http://www.pepperlunch.com.ph/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/pepperlunchphil

Chuck's Deli

January 2, 2013. Wednesday.

For our first date for 2013, we ate in Chuck's Deli in Eastwood. Coincidentally, we also had our first date in 2012 in Chuck's Deli.

Chuck's Deli serves freshly made sandwiches that range from the healthy vegetarian variety to the meat packed variety. When I say healthy there's an asterisk to it because the serving here is really heavy, so it really is a misconception that having sandwiches is just a light meal. Aside from sandwiches, the menu also has its fair share of salads, soups, shakes and sides (aptly called sidekicks).

Chuck's is located at the ground floor of Eastwood Mall, right in between Wagyu Stone Grill and The Old Vine. Almost all restaurants in this area of Eastwood is a little more upscale. It's not necessarily fine dining but you won't find any fastfood chains here either. So despite Chuck's Deli serving "just sandwiches," they are on the higher end of the price spectrum.

We ordered the following:

A bowl of Truffled Cream of Mushroom to share.

Truffled Cream of Mushroom. 195php.

It was a little unappetizing to look at first because it looked like a bowl of Bird's Nest gone bad because of the darker color. But we soon found out that it really tasted good, and the dark color was due to the Truffle oil it had. We loved how creamy (duh) and rich the soup was, and the truffle adds a little sweetness to it. Now I'm really wondering why doesn't everyone put Truffles (or at least Truffle flavor) in their Cream of Mushroom soup? Technically Truffle is also a mushroom, right?

Angus Sliders with a side of potato chips for Kim.

Angus Slider. 295php.

These cute, almost bite- sized sandwiches has US Angus Beef patties, lettuce, tomato, Chuck's sauce and mayo- mustard. They might be cute and small, but they certainly are huge and packed in flavor. And the patties are from the same cut as the ones used in Chuck's own Half Pounder, so they really are thicker than your average patty.

And a half Slabwich of French Kiss with side of onion rings for me.

Half Slabwich of French Kiss. 220php.

Let me start by saying that I really didn't expect the half sandwich, or Slabwich as they call it, to be really big. It is literally a slab! Based on their description, a half slab would be about 5- 6 inches long and weighs at about 3/4 lbs. But I'm guessing this one weighed more than that, and aside from being about half a foot long the slab was about 2 inches wide. A French Kiss Slabwich consists of corned lengua, sauerkraut and a horseradish spread. Lengua is beef tongue, and it is one of the fattiest beef parts. Since this was corned, it was really tender and really seasoned well. Sauerkraut is pickled cabbage, and it really adds a nice sour taste to the lengua which was a little onion-y. The horseradish spread was supposed to complement and provide a nice garlic flavor to the sandwich but I really didn't taste the garlic in it at all. In fact, I had to ask for garlic sauce just to have a different taste in my sandwich. Despite that, this one was a well prepared sandwich that was really filling for a whole meal. I couldn't imagine how big a full slabwich is, and how I would finish it.

If you're looking for a good meal but don't want the eat a conventional plate of rice and a viand, Chuck's Deli's sandwiches can surely satisfy you. With the great variety in their sandwiches, without a doubt there is something for everyone. The prices might not be cheap just because you're thinking it's just sandwiches, but these are nicely prepared with fresh meats and ingredients.

Chuck's Deli
G/F Eastwood Mall, Eastwood City,
Libis, Quezon City
http://www.chucksdeli.com.ph/
https://www.facebook.com/chucksdeli

Choi Palace Seafood and Shark's Fin Restaurant

December 23, 2012. Sunday.

Aside from being total meat lovers, we're also suckers for Chinese food. So we really enjoyed the first time we ate in Choi Palace when we were with my parents. So for this time, Kim decided to tag her parents along.

For those who aren't familiar with Choi Palace, it might seem intimidating with its classy setting which is all clad in gold, white and red. The place looks expensive but the prices here are actually very reasonable for a legit and authentic Chinese restaurant. Even some of the servers have that Chinese accent (don't know if trained or authentic though, HAHA).

We started off our orders with soup, dimsum and seafood roll.

Hot and sour soup. 350php.

This soup is not for everyone. Kim hated every part of it but the rest of us enjoyed it since it was served really hot which was great since it was cold that night. The tofu and mushfroom were still a little firm which was really nice since it meant that they haven't been stewing in the soup all day long.

Hakaw. 110php.

Pork Siomai (4pcs). 100php.

Both were good but we should've gotten the Shark's Fin instead since it was sort of the restaurant's specialty.

Seafood Roll. 140php.

I actually ordered the Spring Roll, but the waitress must've gotten it mixed up and we ended up getting a plate of Seafood Roll instead. It's all good though. The rolls were really good, especially when dipped in the black vinegar. The thin wrappers were just crispy enough that you can bite through it without the whole roll coming apart.

For the main course we ordered the folliowing:

Steamed Fish Fillet with Garlic. 450php.

This is sort of a staple for us when eating in a Chinese restaurant. And even when it's not in the menu, you can actually just describe it to the waiter and they'll make one up for you. It's a simple dish that never fails. The fish is steamed just right since it didn't turn into mush when putting your fork through it.

King Dao. 320php.

This sort of had a sweet and sour taste going for it, minus the sauciness of an actual sweet and sour dish. This is best served for those who don't mind having to sort of work for their food. Since the cut used here is spareribs, most of the meat are clinging to the bone.

Yang Chow Fried Rice. 320php.

If you're looking for authentic Chinese food in the area, there's really no better alternative than Choi Palace. You might have to shell out a little more, but then again the good food is worth it.

Choi Palace
3/F Eastwood Mall,
Libis, Quezon City
(02) 706- 7807

Mr. Kurosawa

December 19, 2012. Wednesday.

We don't really find the food in Mr. Kurosawa all that special, and to a certain extent we are actually weirded out by  some of the menu items (but then again, this is a fusion Euro- Japanese restaurant). But we are fond of the place just because we had our first date there. HAHA. So we have decided that we would only eat at Mr. Kurosawa once a year, just to commemorate our first date.

We've always liked the interiors of Mr. Kurosawa. From the faux brick walls, to the red curtain draped over the glass walls, and even the weird painting/ lights on the ceilings. It just makes the place that livelier and more fun to eat in.

 

We really weren't that hungry, so we just ordered the following:

Salmon Sashimi

Salmon Sashimi. 228php.

Kim is really not a fan of raw fish, so I ended up eating most of this plate. I'm no sashimi connoisseur, but I really like eating them. The sashimi was good together with the lemon and dipped in soy sauce. I just can't say it's really better than most sashimi's I've tried before.

Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Teriyaki. 298php.

We ordered safe since we really didn't want to be disappointed during that one time in the year that we would eat here. I don't think any self respecting Japanese restaurant can ruin a dish as common as chicken teriyaki. Safe order, but it was good nonetheless. The chicken was tender, and the teriyaki sauce was just sweet enough.

Ebi Tempura

Ebi Tempura. 368php.

Another safe order for us. The breading was fried perfectly. It was crispy and soft enough at the same time to hold the prawn inside, but not too crispy as it would be too hard to bite. The prawn was just the right size. You get a bit of the prawn and the breading with each bite. Perfect partner to steamed rice.

If you are looking for Japanese food, Mr. Kurosawa has you covered. It might not be that special Japanese meal you are looking for, but it is well prepared and well cooked food served on your table. We have never tried to order any of their fusion items, so I guess that's one thing we should take note off when we come back next year. Maybe the fusion items are what makes this place tick, until we try them out then we will never know.

Mr. Kurosawa

Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall,

Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City

(02) 901 - 0825

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Kurosawa-Euro-Japanese/177631448941095

Komrad - Mao's Hunan & Sichuan KItchen

November 20, 2012. Tuesday.

Chinese food has been a part of the Filipino diet for God knows how long. Chinese establishments are dime a dozen around the Metro. But we are only really familiar with the Cantonese side of Chinese cooking. That's where Komrad is different as it offers Filipinos a look into both the Hunan and Sichuan part of Chinese cooking.

Other than the difference in cooking styles from most Chinese restaurants, Komrad is also unique in its decor and them. There's nothing traditional about the place, and it is mostly a play on China's communism with a mural of Mao Zedong as a smiling chef its centerpiece. Majority of the place's color is red which is also the color of communism. Also, in line with the theme, red stars are can be seen all over the place.

We have been here before, so we know what to order and what not to order :)

We first ordered Komrad Steamed Siomai.

Steamed Siomai (4pcs). 120php.

Despite it being one of the priciest Siomai's I have ever ordered, I really don't feel ripped off. It's a little larger than your average siomai and definitely more packed. It's also more flavorful. I doubt everyone would feel comfortable shelling out this much for dimsum though.

We also had Kung Pao Chicken.

Kung Pao Chicken. 198php.

We have ordered this once before and really loved how it was sweet, spicy and crunchy at the same time. But for this time it tasted really different. It wasn't bad, but it didn't taste like the way we had ordered it before. It was sour more than it was sweet or spicy. Plus, it had more glaze/ sauce than it had before.

And Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs, all for sharing.

Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs. 265php.

This one's very basic but still a perfect partner for steamed rice. Pork seasoned in salt and pepper then deep fried to golden perfection. Some might complain about the cut of pork used in this since it is mostly boney. But I am perfectly fine with it as I have learned over time that usually the tastiest meat come from those on the bone.

If you are craving for Chinese but also want to try something different, Komrad is a good place to go. The place offers a relaxed atmosphere, excellent service and very good value for money. This definitely has been a go- to place of ours in Eastwood.

Komrad
2/f Eastwood Mall,
E. Rodriguez JR Ave., Libis, QC
(02) 921- 3440