Cerchio: When Ambiance Isn't Enough

I got a message from Romulo Café that they are launching a new restaurant called Cerchio in the same Tomas Morato neighborhood. My friends and I tried it one random night.

Similar to Romulo Café, Cerchio looks stylish and hip. Nice place for cocktails and drinks. There were a lot of families and oldies when we dined there though.

On with the food...

Pumpkin Malunggay Soup (90php)

Tasted more of the malunggay than pumpkin. A very healthy soup!

Crispy Squid Head (180php) 

Not close to being delicious but I found myself munching on this the entire dinner. Must be because it was so crispy!

Bourbon Ribs (590php)

My friends’ favorite dish at Cerchio but I was apathetic to this since I also ate ribs for lunch that day. Ribs overload much?

Crispy Beef Tadyang (490php)

Dry and bland when eaten on its own. Once dipped in sauce, this tadyang becomes awesome.

Margarita Pizza (220php)

Regret of the night: Not noticing that sisig pizza was on the menu since our pizza was oh-so-bland. The sisig pizza for sure at least would have been interesting.

Since we visited Cerchio during its soft opening, I'm willing to give this restaurant the benefit of the doubt. Their food should get better as their chefs gain more experience. Otherwise, what a waste of time!

Cerchio is located at 76 Sct. Limbaga, Tomas Morato, Quezon City. For more details, call 3550998 or 3515279.

Cheap Fix: Turk's Shawarma

Aside from Osama’s, Turk’s Shawarma is my go-to-place whenever a shawarma craving hits.

There's always a long line which goes to show how popular it is.

What I like most about Turk’s version is its uniquely sweet pita bread. It’s so delicious that I wouldn't mind eating the pita on its own.

The sweet pita bread complements the strong salty flavors of the beef and the garlicky goodness of the white sauce.

Turk's Shawarma is a real pleaser. Not only is it cheap, but it also hits the right spot.

Turk's Shawarma is found in most SM Food Courts in Metro Manila.

No Place Like Omakase

Omakase for me is comfort food! Whenever I’m having a lousy experience trying out a new restaurant, I long for nothing but to be transported to Omakase where I can indulge in simple but good food. I recently got my wish and ordered some old favorites.

American Dream (195php)

The dish that made me love Omakase. It’s so good that I never fail to order it on every visit. Words really can’t describe how much I love this crunchy delight which has two of my favourite food ingredients: cream cheese and salmon. Best to try it yourself and don’t forget to dip the roll in Omakase’s addictive secret sauce.

Everything Tastes Better with This

Spicy Tuna Salad (220php)

The tuna is usually fresh with just the right amount of spiciness to keep this dish interesting. Unfortunately, I found the salad served this time lacking the usual kick it had. An off-night maybe?

Chicken Bento (335php)

This was Nina’s order and she had trouble finishing it as the bento was carbo heavy with servings of fried rice, California maki, & breaded shrimps. She was also disappointed with the tiny portion of Teriyaki chicken. A scoop of ice cream comes with the bento by the way.

Gyudon(240php)

Murtle was generous enough to let me have a taste and this was better than other gyudons I’ve tried. It was flavorful, tender, and not dry at all. A good dish to recommend to rice lovers.

As always, Omakase didn’t fail in delivering a comforting dining experience. Other dishes in Omakase that I recommend are Jurassic Maki, Oyster Butteryaki, and Aspara Beef Roll.

If you have been living under a rock and have yet to visit Omakase, do yourself a favor and head to the nearest branch right now.

Omakase is located at Upper Ground Floor Il Terazzo Sct. Madrinan Corner Tomas Morato Quezon City 3324115. It has other branches in Libis, Alabang, and Greenhills.