Lunch at Uncle Moe's

I miss the old me who could drop by any restaurant...

and eat whatever my stomach so desired:

Moutabal (55php)

Beef Kebab (140php)

All Beef Shawarma (75php)

Queso Ice Cream (22php)

Sigh....

Uncle Moe's Shawarma is located at City Golf Arcade, Julia  Vargas, Pasig. For more information, call 4684787.

Lounge with a View: Bayleaf's Sky Deck

The Sky Deck is a cozy rooftop lounge bar at the Bayleaf Hotel located in the historic walls of Intramuros in Manila.

It offers spectacular views of Manila and the Makati skyline.

Full Moon

It's not all about the view at the Sky Deck however, as one can partake in a buffet meal for around 700php. Apologies for the grainy pictures.

Corn and Potatoes

Rice

Salad Bar

More Appetizers

Sausage

Yakitori

Ribs

Chicken

Brownies

Fruits

I was tempted to join the buffet fun but I'm proud to report that I had self-control and only ordered a salad:

Kanji Beef Salad (380php)

I was surprised how delicious my healthy selection turned out to be! Beef was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were fresh and tasty even without the dressing. Diet food, it almost was not.

The Sky Deck is a welcome addition to the Manila restaurant scene and I'm glad that we Manila folks no longer need to travel far to hangout and unwind in a place with a view.

Here's hoping for more places like the Sky Deck within Manila.

P.S. I heard the theme for the weekend (Fridays and Saturdays) buffets at the Sky Deck is now Tex Mex.

Sky Deck is located at the Bayleaf Hotel, Muralla Street, Intramuros Manila. For more information, call 3185000 or click here.

Century Never Gets Old

Most Fil-Chi families troop to Century Seafood Restaurant for a no fail Chinese lauriat experience.

Here's what we typically order during a Century outing:

Appetizers

Assorted Barbequed Meat (600php)

Prawn Salad (1,200php)

Vegetable with No Name

Braised Shark's Fin with Crab Meat Soup (2,250php for medium order)

Steamed Lapu-Lapu (depends on market price)

Fried Pigeon (350php per piece)

Steamed Crabs (depends on market price)

Braised Seafood with Assorted Ingredients (450php)

 Coconut Topped Balls

Buchi

Century never gets old and I always look forward to a meal at Century because it has managed to maintain excellent food quality over the years. 

No wonder it's packed every night!

The Century Seafood Restaurant is located at G/F Century Park Hotel, 599 Pablo Ocampo St. Malate, Manila.  For more information, call 5241821.

Legendary Lolo Dad's

When I was young, my idea of fine dining was based on stories my cousin told me about Lolo Dad's.  

He said that every time he wanted to impress a girl, he would bring her to Lolo Dad's even if it would cost him an arm and a leg because the revered Manila restaurant was in a class by itself, offering exquisite food, excellent service, and the perfect ambiance.

Open Kitchen

Since then, I've always wondered what it was like to have dinner at Lolo Dad's and it sadly took a million  years for me to know the answer.   

Complimentary Bread

and Butter

The bread was not even warm.

Double Espresso of Tomato and Mushroom Soup

We were given complimentary shots of  two of the most famous soups of Lolo Dad's. Both were flavorful and interesting, but I loved the tomato more.

Gratinated White Onion Soup (340php)

Not the best version I've tried. It was salty and didn't have the sweetness I was looking for.

Oyster with Foie Gras (145php)

The foie certainly made this a winning appetizer but I wished for a fresher oyster.

Raspberry Sorbet

Before the entree, this was served to cleanse the palate.

Halibut with Sauteed Prawns (990php)

The fish and shrimps were perfectly cooked and seasoned well. I also enjoyed the truffle flavored pasta and potato cake that accompanied the proteins. 

My very thoughtful friends surprised me with this chiffon cake since it was my birthday. This Lolo Dad's chiffon cake was fluffy with the right amount of sweetness. Delicious!

Here are the dishes my friends ordered: 

Degustation Plate 1 (2,800php)

Degustation Plate 2 

Degustation Dessert 1

Degustation Dessert 2

Pork Belly Cooked in Sage Fat, Apple Tart, Herb Jus (965php)

Grilled Halibut and Baby Lobster (1,190php)

Herb de Provence Crusted Rack of Lamb (1,340php)

Steamed Chilean Sea Bass (1,380php)

Roasted Beef Tenderloin (1,390php)

Sadly, we were all underwhelmed by the food at Lolo Dad's. The servers also lacked the finesse that one expects from a fine dining restaurant. 

I hate to say it but Lolo Dad's is past its prime.  

Lolo Dad's is located at 899 President Quirino Avenue, cor. Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila. For more information, call 2522294 or click here.