Big D's Smokehouse

Big D's Smokehouse just recently opened in Eastwood. If you pass by Katipunan regularly you might have noticed or even dined in their original location, which was in the rundown two story building made famous by Countryside. Their new location in Eastwood is in the 2nd floor of Citywalk 2, just almost in between Razon's and the 7-Eleven.

Big D's serves mostly American comfort food. And their interiors are a well thought out ode to their American theme. There's just a whole lot of Americana in here! There's a bar, old diecasts, old books, old toys, old posters and a cool smoker fashioned out of an oil drum! They even had this cool alfresco dining area that looked like a homey porch. It just looks like a cool place to hang out with friends and family to spend time over food.

It was dinner time and there were a handful of guests already dining when we got there. But the service was still fast and efficient. We ordered the following:

I had the Ribs Duo (390php).

My order was half slab of their ribs, with garlic rice and choice of 1 side. I had corn and carrots as my side dish. The ribs was really really tender and flavorful, too! Just the right mix of spiciness, smokiness and sweetness. I found the garlic rice kind of weird to pair with it though since I mostly associate it with silog meals.

Kim had the Open-Faced Roastbeef (280php).

This looked really appetizing in the menu and even when it was served. The roastbeef was served on top of a couple of pieces of bread, and was topped with mushroom sauce with sides of veggies and mashed potatoes. The beef was soft and easy to cut through, but the sauce was quite salty. You had to take a big chunk of the mashed potatoes or bread just to counterbalance it's saltiness.

We feel that the location of Big D's might not be the best in Eastwood since people rarely walk across that area. But good food coupled with good service and nice ambiance, people are bout to get word of it. And when that happens, then Big D's will surely be a hit.

Big D's Smokehouse

https://www.facebook.com/bigdsmokehouse/
Eastwood Citywalk 2,

Eastwood City, Quezon City

(0915) 487-8153

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Outback Steakhouse

We haven't been back in Outback Steakhouse for a while, because eating there isn't exactly cheap. But with their Lunch Specials, you could save a few hundred bucks and have your steak at the same time. Their Lunch Specials isn't reallya new thing, and its menu has changed from the last we were here but not to worry, as it still has some great dishes for really great prices. It's only available on weekdays, from 11AM to 3PM.

Outback really hasn't changed all these years. It still has it's dark wooden interiors, and quirky Australian decor strewn around the place. There's still the bar, where you could enjoy your drinks and food while watching sports on the monitors, which is also located inside the Smoking Area. The service is sometimes kind of touch and go here, sometimes it's great, other times it's not. Luckily for this visit, it was great.

We ordered the following:

Kim had the Victoria's Filet.

The Victoria's Filet might seem like a modest sized steak to some. But this 6oz. packs some great flavor. And despite being smaller than most of the other steaks on the menu, it is also quite filling. Best to have it medium rare as to not lose the flavor. This plate comes with mashed potatoes and some veggies.

I had the Chicken Fried Chicken.

This is probably our favorite from the Lunch Specials, and we have had it a couple of times already. Just can't go wrong with perfectly deep fried chicken topped off with their very tasty gravy. This also comes with mashed potatoes on the side.

And for dessert, we shared a Chocolate Thunder from Down Under.

This might be described as a little too rich, and too sinful. But it's just right for me and Kim... Actually, more than right! It's one of the best desserts we like from everywhere we have eaten. It's the best that every spoonful you have has each of its components --  the warm brownie, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and shavings, and the whipped cream on top! It's sweet, it's warm, it's cold, it's nutty, it's chocolatey... It's just a confluence of flavors inside your mouth!

We love that Outback hasn't changed all that much through the years. After all, why fix something that isn't broken?

Outback Steakhouse
E. Rodriguez Jr Ave (C5),
Libis, Quezon City

The Clubhouse

We've been eying The Clubhouse for a while now. But every time we step foot in Robinson's Magnolia, we're immediately drawn to Yabu. Haha. So this time we made a beeline towards The Clubhouse as soon as I parked the car.

The Clubhouse is not easy to locate for first timers at this mall. You could always ask, of course. But for those who prefer to search for it on their own, it's located on the ground floor in one of the small alleyways which you would usually associate with restrooms. There's usually a menu board so it shouldn't be that hard to locate once you are in the general vicinity of it.

Once inside, it immediately reminded me of our house! There's a brick wall to the left, just like we have at home, only it's red. The tables are wooden just like in our dining room. And the other wall is covered in a bright colored flowered wallpaper, which we used to have in one of our rooms! Well, our house isn't this nice but The Clubhouse's interiors kind of look like our own and certainly has that homey vibe. We also liked the retro looking photographs hanging on the walls, the shelves with the plates and the counter which had cakes and other sweet pastries on display.

We were here for late lunch but as with most restaurants that serve breakfast food whole day long, we gravitated towards the breakfast portion of the menu. I was about to order the Vigan Longganisa Hash, but since I always order that almost anywhere, I tried to look for something else.

I ended up ordering the Lemon Caper Dory.

The Dory had a nice crispy deep fried outside, but I would've preferred for it to be a little less oily. The lemon caper butter sauce it came was really packed with flavor and went really well with the fish and the garlic rice. For those health conscious with their food, this might be a little too rich for you.

Kim got the Cheeseburger.

This had a quarter pound patty, topped with tomato, lettuce, caramelized onions and of course cheese. The edges of the burger were a little burnt, but the inside and middle part was fine and juicy. The same goes for the bun which was a little too toasted for our liking. This was served with potato wedges which were nicely fried.

Kim also had the Peach Iced Tea which peach lovers would definitely love, but it's a little too sweet though.

We'd definitely be back at The Clubhouse as we thoroughly enjoyed our first time here. And next time I won't hold back from ordering some breakfast grub!

The Clubhouse
G/F Robinson's Magnolia,
Aurora Blvd. Cor.  Doña M Hemady Ave.,
Quezon City
(02) 442 5571 
(02) 442 5571
https://www.facebook.com/theclubhousemagnolia

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Masuki

Kim and I go through phases where we'd get really addicted to a specific food or restaurant, that it'll be a constant in our diet for the next few weeks or so. In the past 2 years we've gone through a Nolita/ cheeseburger phase, BWNT/ buffalo wings phase, pizza phase, etc. And now we're sort of in the middle of a mami phase.. specifically mami from Masuki.

We've spent our weekend dates in Masuki for the past 3 weeks! I've always loved mami, but I never thought that Kim would also be quite addicted to it. We've been to both the Greenhills and Megamall branch, and would want to visit the original one in Binondo in the future.

Megamall branch

Megamall branch

I love how mami houses are a no frills kind of restaurant. You go there to enjoy their good food. The menu is always kept to the bare minimum of just different kinds of mami, siopao, different kinds of dimsum, drinks and that's it. And the smell! No mami house would be complete if it didn't smell and reek off the mami broth. Ma Mon Luk is the perfect and quintessential example of a mami house that has all of these characteristics. Just think of Masuki as its more modern brethren. For starters there's airconditioning and it's located in more accessible locations.

I ordered the Special Beef Wonton Chicken Asado. 230php.

This is basically their ultimate mami. It has everything in it! It's for people like me who can't decide which kind of mami to get, so why not just dump everything together. Works for me! Hehe. What I do before eating is to take about 2 spoonfuls of Masuki's special sauce and put it in my soup, then I'll put some ground black pepper in it and mix.

I tend to take a spoonful or chopstick-ful of each thing in my bowl then repeat the process. Usually its broth, noodles, chicken, asado, wonton then lastly beef. Rinse and repeat. This is just heaven in a bowl. Everything in it works together! But of course the most important part is the soup or broth of which its great taste actually ties everything together.

Special just means that it has more soup, more broth and more beef, wonton, chicken, or asado in it.

Kim had the Regular Beef Wonton. 180php.

Same broth, same noodles but this one only had Beef and Wonton in it. Kim seems to enjoy this as this has been her regular order.

We also had a Regular Asado Siopao, and a couple pieces of Siomai to share. 55php and 35php per piece respectively.

Masuki's special sauce works well with both the Siopao and Siomao, but it goes really well with hot sauce on the Siopao. We love how plump and siksik the siopao is, and who un- perfect its shape is compared to those fast food siopaos that just doesn't give off the same vibe.

Masuki's Siomai has got to be one of the biggest we have seen! And even with the size, it is still packed with flavor all the way inside.

So for those who we are friends with on Facebook, expect more Masuki picture posts from us in the coming weeks as we are sure to be back... and back again for more!

Megamall branch

Sekai Center branch (Kuya waiter is so cute! :D)

Masuki
Masuki Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Masuki/193897223966668
2nd Floor Sekai Center,
Ortigas Ave Cor. Madison Street,
Greenhills, San Juan
(02) 744 - 2720

Pazzo Rollio

When we are in Robinson's Magnolia, we only usually eat at Yabu. And by usually, I mean always. So today's entry will mark only the third time we have eaten somewhere else other than Yabu in Robinson's Magnolia (the other two was when we ate at Gaucho and at Max's).

We wanted to eat at somewhere we haven't tried before, and at the same time we were craving for pizza. Good thing we chanced upon Pazzo Rollio as that satisfies both something new and pizza. It's located near the cinemas and has predominantly red interiors. It also has a cool "2nd level" dining area which can be shared by 2 groups of 4.

The menu consists of rolled pizzas, pastas, salads and some desserts. Prices were also fairly reasonable. We ordered the following:

Yummy Carbonara. Solo 210php.

This was creamy and full of flavor. We just shared their solo order, which was a little big in serving size.

Big Bang Supreme. Family 400php.

Good thing we ordered the Family size for their rolled pizza as it looked really small! And true enough, we finished the whole pizza with space in our tummy to spare! The pizza's flavor was good along with the greens to roll it with but we felt that it was not cooked enough. The pizza dough was still a little sticky and it was quickly tearing into smaller pieces upon rolling.

Its good that we got to try something new at Robinson's Magnolia, so that we could suggest to people whenever they ask about restaurants in the area.

Pazzo Rollio
3rd Floor, Robinson's Magnolia, Quezon City

Snack Shack

If you're from Quezon City and you're a burger lover, then chances are you have heard of The Snack Shack. If you haven't, then you might as well be living under a rock.

The Snack Shack is a hole in the wall (almost literally) joint that serves some good great burgers! We dropped by their Sikatuna branch. If you're not in the know you'll probably miss it as it is just a small place with no airconditioning, that barely seats 10 people, and has that sort of grungy exterior to it. But a wiseman once told me, "Do not judge a burger by its restaurant's facade." LOL. Seriously, I'd say their burgers are comparable to more expensive burger places that serves premium burgers. And it's just not me, I've seen people choose to stand or eat on the sidewalk for their burgers!

Their burgers are always made from scratch, and as a result you would have to wait a good 10-20 minutes depending on how long the order queue is. This no fastfood where you get your burgers upon ordering, nor is this your usual sidewalk burger stand. The patties are freshly made upon you ordering, and the veggies on it are also fresh. They also do a good job of grilling your burgers. They seem to always cook it medium or medium rare, but I think you can specify it to your liking also. But if you want some well done patties, you're better off going to an Angel's Burger or Burger Machine.

We had a couple of their Half Pounders to go (so pardon if the pictures don't give them justice). 135php each.

Since we had the burgers to go, it got a little cold during the trip home. But it was still very juicy upon taking the first bite. The lettuce, tomato, and onion also had a nice crisp to them, meaning they were still very fresh. The cheese was nicely melted on top of the burger. At 135php, it's a little pricey for a roadside snack but I'd say it's worth it if just for the size and taste alone.

They also offer a smaller burger, the Quarter Pounder, along with some sausages. We haven't tried them yet during the couple of times we've ordered from here, but I'm sure they're just as good. You can also put some add-ons to your burger if you aren't satisfied with just having the standard one.

The Snack Shack
V. Luna Extension, Quezon City (V. Lune extension is the same street as Maginhawa St. But this is near Anonas Ext and almost right beside the SM Save More)
https://www.facebook.com/snackshackburgers
09265122257

Chopstop

November 16, 2013. Saturday.

There's this one peculiar spot in Eastwood Citywalk. In the past year alone, I think 3 establishments have occupied that same spot. It seems that no matter how packed the surrounding bars and restaurants around it are, it still doesn't manage to do brisk business. Just recently, it underwent renovations again and is now occupied by Chopstop.

Like most dining establishments in Citywalk, Chopstop is a restaurant/ bar, meaning they serve full meals there but they also serve alcoholic beverages. It has this street crossing or train track crossing/ station, with lots of faux road signage inside the restaurant. They even have a mini lamp post over by the counter! We went there for late lunch, so the place was really well lit. I don't know if it's the same case at night, but I think with the bright decor and amount of light inside the place it's safe to assume that it's the same at dinner time.

Chopstop has a simple menu consisting mainly of deep fried stuff. And as their name suggests, their specialize in porkchops -- different kinds of it. We ordered the following:

I had the Pork Tonkatsu.

We forgot to take down prices for all orders, but I remember that everything was affordable. For example, I'm sure my order of tonkatsu was less thatn 150php. It wasn't the biggest pork tonkatsu I've seen, but it was more than enough to satisfy. The pork was cut just right -- not too thin and not too thick. It was deep fried nicely, with a little crunch to the breading. It came with a side of veggies that had sauce on top of it which weirdly tasted like the fresh lumpia sauce from Goldilock's.

Kim had the Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Kim thought that the meatballs were burnt upon her plate being served, but it tasted great when she took a bite out of it despite the outside appearance. The spaghetti was a little sour, but it was just right and was perfectly complemented by the buttered toast it came with.

We also ordered Bacon and Eggs French Toast to share.

We ordered this thinking that the bacon and eggs would be on the side of the french toast, just like a normal breakfast plate would be. Were we surprised that it was like a sandwich upon serving, with the bacon and eggs inside the toast. Despite that, it was really good! With the toast having that perfect crunch to it. For those with a sweet tooth, it also comes with extra syrup.

I don't know if Chopstop will fall victim to the seemingly endless change of restaurants occupying its spot. But with an affordable menu and great food, I think they have a very good chance of sticking around. We might try to drop by here again at night and grab a drink and some finger foods, and see how service is during peak hours.

Chopstop
Eastwood Citywalk
Eastwood City, Quezon City
(0917) 5121212
https://www.facebook.com/WeLoveChops

Faburrito

October 31, 2013. Thursday.

Kim and I have been on a health trip lately. We've been generally trying to cut down on our food intake or at the very least trying to eat healthier. That gave us reason to try out Faburrito in Techno Plaza 2 in Eastwood which serves healthy and low- fat Mexican fare.

If you browse through Faburrito's website and head on over to the About section, you'll see that they promise to serve healthy low- fat meals with great service. You'll also be happy to know that a portion of their profits go to the FabFoundation which is a boarding school that provides opportunities for underprivileged children. You get a great healthy meal and you also get to help hard- up brothers.

Faburrito is located in one of the newer buildings in Eastwood, the Techno Plaza 2. It's the same building where the Robinson's Supermarket is. It's not that big, and probably only seats around 20-25 people max. It has that green and healthy vibe going on for it, with the predominant use of wood (faux) and green accents all around. There is also only a glass divider for their kitchen/ prep area, so you can see that the food is freshly made.

We ordered the following:

We had the Chicken Quesadilla to share.

This tasted a little bland, but nothing a few generous spoonfuls of the salsa and dressing can't fix. As expected this was very light. It's not that it was not filling, it just didn't leave you with that bloated feeling afterwards.

Kim ordered the Beef Salad (regular).

Same with the quesadilla this was a little bland. It was big and heavy for a regular order, but it also didn't leave you with a bloated feeling after finishing it off.

And I had a Steak Bowl (regular).

This was basically a Steak Burrito without the tortilla. At first glance I was disappointed that the serving looked small. But I was proven wrong after finishing the bowl, as it was just enough and substantial to satisfy one's hunger. It wasn't the tastiest burrito I've had even with the dressing, but I guess that's the price you pay for getting a healthy meal.

The common factor between all our orders was that the food was a little bland and light compared to most restaurants. But with the healthy theme of Faburrito, I guess that's to be expected. True to their company goals, service was great. It was quick, efficient and courteous. It's not the cheapest Mexican fast food we have tried, but since it offers a different take on it, we think it is acceptable. For those in the Libis area looking for a healthy fix, Faburrito is just right for you.

 

Faburrito

2/F Techno Plaza 2,
Eastwood City, Quezon City
http://www.faburrito.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Faburrito

Boon Tong Kee

October 5, 2013. Saturday.

We visited the newly opened UP Town Center in Katipunan recently. The place was packed since it's fairly new and has different restaurants, which most are making its mark in Quezon City for the first time. We were there at around 8:30 PM to get some late dinner with my family. Almost all establishments still had waiting lines. We settled for the restaurant with the shortest queue which was Boon Tong Kee.

*We apologize for forgetting to take a picture of the signage. We were very hungry then. :( 

Boon Tong Kee is a Singaporean export that specializes in -- you guessed it right, Hainanese Chicken. It has branches in Power Plant Mall, Mall of Asia and Tomas Morato. The UP Town branch was small, but it didn't feel cramped. But the small space could have played a part in the very poor acoustics of the place. And considering it was dinner time, they were undermanned. The waiters were courteous enough, though. They were still on soft opening so maybe they can still improve on the service and acoustics. More staff during peak hours and some acoustimats behind the wall perhaps?

We ordered the following:

Boiled Seaweed Soup with Bean curd. 195php.

This actually tasted better than it looked, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed it. The cloudy broth wasn't really all that special, but taken in together with the meat, seaweed and bean curd, it created a great mix of subtle flavors and textures in one's mouth.

Signature Boiled Chicken (Whole). 845php.

Almost everyone I know likes Hainanese Chicken which really puzzles me since I've always found it bland and tasteless. And this meal was no different, everyone in the table raved about the chicken while I still couldn't see what's so great about it (I still tasted it despite my aprehension about it). Since my family and Kim loved it, I'll take their word for it that it's a great dish. They loved putting copious amounts of the different condiments (crushed ginger, soy sauce, chili) at the table on it.

Crispy Roast Chicken (Half). 425php.

This is basically a roasted version of their Hainanese Chicken/ Signature Boiled Chicken, and it was ordered especially for me. LOL. Now this is more to my liking. I find this way more flavorful even without the crushed ginger, soy sauce and chili sauce.

Crispy Cereal Prawn (Large). 655php.

This certainly didn't look like anything we expected it to be. It actually resembled the floss breads from Break Talk and similar establishments. Despite how it looked, it actually tasted great and didn't feel oily at all despite it being obviously deep fried. The cereal outer was crispy and the prawn inside was moist enough.

Coffee Pork Ribs. 295php.

The Ribs had a nice aroma to it when it was served. You can certainly smell and taste the coffee in it. It was more sweet rather than being bitter which is how coffee more often tastes like. There weren't really a whole lot of meat on it since it was ribs, but it was flavorful.

Fish Fillet in Soya Bean Paste. 445php.

This really didn't stand out over any other fish fillets we've had before, but it was still cooked nicely and tasted good.

The food were a little pricey but considering we don't have a whole lot of Hainanese Chicken restaurants around, I'd say it's justified. The location of Boon Tong Kee, and UP Town Center as a whole, would certainly guarantee more than enough diners on any day of the week so it's best to arrive early or late during peak eating hours. We'll certainly consider eating here again, but probably after trying out the other different restaurants inside UP Town Center first.

Boon Tong Kee
2nd Floor, UP Town Center,
Katipunan Ave., Quezon City
https://www.facebook.com/BoonTongKeePH
http://www.boontongkee.com.sg/