Restaurants in AC for those bored with the “standard”:[/
I am reposting the following from another sex forum as I find it useful in helping you guys refill your stomachs after all that booze and broads.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Normang
Restaurants in AC for those bored with the “standard”:
Yes, Kokomos, Margarita, Subdelicious, Salvatores, and the various restaurants/dining located inside the hotels in AC are readily available and nearby, but there reside many gems around town that deserve mention/recommendation. Several of them are very much “local” places, where you will be/feel like to only foreigner there, but that won’t matter, as they DO get a few “regular” residents-expats in there.
As many of these places are truly “local”, it is recommended if you are bringing along a female companion, that she isn’t openly dressed like a bargirl and you guys don’t fondle-her at the dining table. It helps if you are dressed decently as well. Nothing formal…only decent. Yes, I know we are in AC, and everyone knows what’s going on in Fields, but it’s not necessary to “flaunt” it in the locals faces.
Here is a small list:
HALLAH HOTEL: (on Friendship Hwy, past AC1 Gym)
Has simple terrific Korean food. Most Koreans in town hang out here (and at the Spa, at the rear of the building) not a large menu, but really good taste. Friendly staff, along woth the Korean lady that owns the place (and speaks Tagalog, which is a riot). Prices are a bit steep…nothing less than 200peso, and many of the imported items run 350 to 500peso. Service is quick and good. They also have a stocked Korean-Grocery beside the restaurant.
Naturally, you will be the only customer in there that isn’t Korean, aside from the Filipino staff, but that’s part of the fun. The owner is super-friendly, and that makes u for it.
HANAMI: (On the end of Don Juico/Perimeter Rd. just before reaching Friendship Gate/Hwy)
Simply the most authentic Japanese food in town. Terrific, and pricey….most in the 350 to 700peso range. It feels like you are the only customer in there, outside of the peak times, but they do have a regular gang that eats there. Beautiful, romantic, and a peaceful quiet place to eat. Service is a bit dull, but if you sit at the sushi-bar, the chef is quite attentive. Primarily Japanese, and higher HIGHER end Filipino clientele.
COTTAGE KITCHEN: (on Don Juico/Perimeter Rd. past the VFW when heading from Fields. Right beside Woddy’s Gift Shop)
Terrific southern and downright American cooking. Huge portions, prices are on the higher-end, but a tremendously fair price for the quantity of food you get, and the quality and taste of it. Service is terrific. A place both popular and famous. The also have Filipino food on the menu for your companion. Primarily foreign clientele, a few rare Filipinos.
C’ DINING: (On Don Juico/Perimeter Rd. between Bubbles and that little new plaza where the Blue Book office is located. If you are scooting up Don Juico from Fields, just go a little past the MASSAGE place/Good Times Bar about 100 meters)
It has a very small discreet frontage, but its quite large and spacious inside, complete with an “upscale” interior dining room, and a beautiful outside alfresco dining garden, with lush foliage, water fall, and large screen TV.
The food is fanatical Italian, cooked by a passionate Chris Locher, their European Chef. He is a truly nice guy that seems obsessed about cooking as some of are obsessed about Filipinas. The food, flavor and panache…truly exceed all expectations. It’s like being in a different country. The service is polite, professional and attentive. The food is divine. Prices reflect the quality ingredients of the food, and the skill of the kitchen staff. Items start at 350, average at around 420, and reach up to the 550-650 range. You can easily expect to spend 1000peso per person, including basic beverages, sans alcohol or wine, for a decent appetizer and main course, or main course and desert. Portions are generous. They have a respectable small wine cellar of unusual imports you don’t usually see on the wine racks at the new Robinsons Mall Supermarket . Forget about taking that “special BF” over there, as she probably wont like nor appreciate the food. Just go with a buddy/s or even go alone. You deserve it. It will be the best $18 USD meal you ever had in AC.
Quite a few foreigner clientele, but predominately higher-class Filipinos, many “big-shots” in the city and surrounding areas. Definitely dress accordingly.
IKABOD: (on Malabanias Street, past formerly Silver Bullet Bar, towards Hidden Vale, left turn at Hensonville Homes, down Malabanias Street…past that garden supply place on the left…..its an outside restaurant…with countless Nipa-Huts on the right side of the road, across the street from a new small Apartelle complex)
This is a truly LOCAL place, although a few rare long-time resident expats go there with their wives/families. The dining is completely outdoors. You sit on a bench in a Nipa-Hut, with lighting and good fan overhead. The fan is powerful enough to deter the heat and the mosquitoes, but if your legs are “attractive”, you might get a few “nibbles”.
The food is terrific. Put aside all your misconceptions of Filipino food when you eat at Ikabod. The taste is terrific; hence the place fills up easily. The waiters are pretty good and quick on the service, and there are buzzers mounted on each booth, should you require attention. The only drawback on the place is that there is active karaoke being played at several of the tables, sometimes frequently, sometimes rarely…it depends on the crowd. They only open at 5:00pn, so if you grab a dinner then, it should still be peaceful.
They have a large BBQ pit, and do terrific work thereof. The girls love it, and so do most other Pinoys, making it a very popular place. You’ll look like a hero, even knowing of the place, to bring a girl there. The prices are insanely modest. You can eat there for 100 peso per person, to a max of 250peso. Menu items run from 40 peso to 120 peso.
BLUE BOAR INN: (entrance is just off the turn from Don Juico/Perimeter Rd to the VFW..opposite the trike station. You can see the sign off the street. Walk down the pathway about 20 meters, and you are there)
Now, this is a real hidden gem. The place is ultra-simple in décor, with a pool table and a few super-friendly GROs there. Don’t be fooled by the sublime homey atmosphere. The food is terrific. Prices are fair…much for less than 120 peso. The food is brown, hot, and tasty. If you ever wanted an “at-home” feeling with both the food and décor, you gotta visit the Blue boar Inn. Hell! For a 80peso LD, you could have one of the GRO’s feed you, even bang you in one of the “guest rooms” for 700 peso. Primarily foreigner clientele.
MISTER FROSTY: (on Fields, at the corner of Teodoro St. where Norma’s Money Changer is. Another location on the small street across McArthur Hwy from Savers Mall, and another one off the parking lot of the Pure Gold Store in Dau. Many other locations)
Now you are going to laugh at me, but this is one fast-food enterprise that is tremendously underrated. The food is simple and delicious, with terrific quick service. It seems like an accident for the place to be that good. If you girl likes Shrimp Sinigang, then you gotta get her to try theirs. Its delicious, fresh, and ridiculously cheap. You both can eat there for less than 100 peso. Its beats the “canteen” hands down. They got a generous menu, with burgers, sandwiches, even ribs and skinny steaks. All for bottom-barrel prices. Even their thin-crust pizza is completely edible. When a girl cons you to taking three of her friends out to eat, head for Mister Frostys. They all like it, its clean, the aircon is good, the staff friendly, the service quick, the price cheap…a winning combination. A decent small burger is a measly 40 peso.
Don’t believe me. Try it for yourself. You will be utterly surprised. The patrons are primarily Filipino, but the Fields location gets quite a few foreigner customers who are pleasingly surprised at the quality of the place.
CHICK N’ RIBS: (almost at the end of Fields, beside Blue Nile Bar, right beside the stairs leading up to Blue Nile Executive.)
Good food, terrific ribs, both pork and ribs. Moderate pricing. Lousy….at times slow service. Aircon, clean place. Predominately Filipino patrons, a little surprising considering the location, with a smattering of foreigner diners.
BURGER MACHINE: (in that little plaza parking lot at the foot of Fields…where the two Western Union joint are. Ask any bargirl…they will know)
Again, you are bound to laugh at this one, but think of it like this….there are tons of these kinda-like outside-dinettes in the USA. The burgers are actually very tasty, the buns generously large. The only thing you oughta be warned about is their “style” of putting the coleslaw ON TOP of the burger patty before they place the bun on top. STOP THEM!! (actually, I once forgot to stop them, and I ate it anyways…it wasn’t at bad as it sounds) for 34peso for that generous size of burger, made fresh in your view…you cant really go wrong.
Sitting out there in the heat, enjoying a decent burger, watching the girls troop by to pick up their “luv-money” at Western Union, is a sight to see. Simply the best pick-up joint in town. You will never see a foreigner eat there. They don’t know what they're missing.
to be continued.........
__________________
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Unofficial Chairman of Melons ( . ) ( . ) Club
Restaurants in AC for those bored with the “standard”:
.........continuation
Quote:
Originally Posted by Normang
RUMPA: (on A. Surla Street, otherwise known as “Hygiene Street”. Runs between McArthur and the foot of A.Santos “Blow Row” street)
Food is good, décor is semi-50’s Diner-style with booths lining the place, plus tables in the center, and in a side-room. Service is ok, but a tad inattentive. Don’t expect to be spoiled here. Any alteration/editing of your order other than what is on the menu, is often misunderstood and utterly confused, so its best to merely “go with the flow” and merely order by pointing to the item. Don’t ask for any info about what you are ordering, as often the response will be merely a blank look…perhaps a shrug and a forwarding your question to two or even three more employees. Call it free dining entertainment.
Again, the food and overall atmosphere is very good. This place is one of the rare “local-style” ones….from those that I have mentioned here, where you will see frequent foreigners.
RIB EYE: (on McArthur Ave. right before the Casino Filipino, on the same side of the street)
It’s a small place (used to be larger next-door, but they relocated) with as an outside bar/dinette and some cute outside seating. The inside is small and simple with metal furniture. Service is so-so at best, but they DO have excellent-tasting tender steaks. Smaller portions are in the 250 peso range, while the standard steaks run from 600 to 850/950 peso. They eliminate the common perception of steaks in AC being tough and chewy. Their steaks are tender, tasty and juicy. If you love steaks, then this is your place to go. Primarily Filipino patrons, rare foreigners. The place might appear a little bit intimidating from passersby.
SPENCERS: (in Savers Mall, where the former BPI used to be)
Terrific food with huge menu and excellent attentive service. This place has become a popular eatery since they opened. Good sushi and other Asian cuisine also available. The menu has so much variety on it, it never gets boring. Medium price range, although they have regular assortment of specials daily. Surprisingly rare for foreigner patrons, perhaps due to the place/décor/menu looking far too “trendy”, this is the exact motive of the place.
ANGELES FRIED CHICKEN: (across McArthur from Savers Mall, down that street with the empty guard booth in the center, past a Mr. Frosty location)
Good menu, good food, good price, hence they have been around since the Marcos times, and the décor attests to that. Décor is a bit dark and bleak, but a peaceful place to eat.
Their chicken is terrific IMHO. Primarily Filipino patrons, although you sometimes see a foreigner expat there.
FORTUNE HONG KONG: (opposite the Casino Filipino on McArthur)
Considered the best and most popular Chinese food place in town. Terrific Peking Duck, fried rice, and other dishes to many to mention. Attentive service, and ultra-bright décor. If you want to see how your BF really looks in bright light…bring her here. Prices are fair and portions large. Taste is good. Dress appropriately, as you might get funny “looks” by the other customers if you dress like a slob. If you are into Chinese food, this s the place to go. Occasional foreigner patronage.
DIDDI’S PIZZA:
A quaint, simple little hangout. Food is much like the style of Mr. Frostys. Good size, decent taste, with low price. A lot of bang for your buck here. A lot of regular locals eat there, so keep your “respect” in both demeanor and dress. The pizza tastes like something kids would like, but the thin crust is terrific. Rare foreigners seen there.
DAINTY LOAF: (downtown AC, right beside Nepo Mall’s main entrance)
A cafeteria-style diner, with ultra-bright/clean interior. You grab a tray, choose food/baked goods from the display, slide down to the cashier, pay and be seated.
Nice view of Nepo and surrounds. Food is very good in taste and the prices are fair. Dress and behave accordingly, as a lot of the “higher-classed” Filipinos eat here, and you don’t want to embarrass yourself. Leave your “Python Jacket” and tattoos at home. Few foreigners eat there, albeit the few that live downtown, primarily in Villa Theresa.
TOLL HOUSE: (downtown on Rosario Street, same street running in front of Jenra Mall, past Holy Angel University, past PNP Station 1, right across the street from UnionBank)
It looks like a small single-level building out front, but is huge and multi-level inside. They have lots of parties and events there. The service is perhaps the worst in AC, with completely ignorant and attention less wait staff. You might as well just approach the counter and order/pay for the food yourself, although the food comes relatively quick.
The star of the place is the food. It is terrific and at a ridiculously low price…sort of like an “Ikabod”, but indoors and with terrific aircon.
Busy at lunchtime and dinner, but occupied the rest of the day as well. A busy place, with many business people eating there, along with groups of bank-tellers and Holy Angel students (with a higher meal budget than eating at Jolibee)
Naturally, dress and behave accordingly. Few….very few foreigners ever eat there, sometimes only long-time residents of AC with their wives/families.
So, that’s the scoop. I am sure there are others out there that I have either not discovered, or have, but decided were unworthy to mention, like Max’s Restaurant (one on the Dau expressway, opposite the Victory Liner Terminal, the other on the road out of Mountainview) or City Lunch (a few hundred metes from Fortune Hong Kong), Molly Malones (at the base of the former Tropicana Hotel, now Blue Nile Executive Hotel, opposite Neros) which still maintains consistent great food, or the new Wild Orchid’s Dining Area, which has surprisingly better food than the Orchid Inn, or Shinbi (a new large Chinese joint, on Friendship Highway, who’s food doesn’t impress me in the least, or Restaurant Verona, which has very decent food or the Southern Star Hotel, which has good food but ever-shitty service or the good ol’ Swaggy, good food, but service sometimes slow, and irregular……I was trying to share the “unknown” kinda places…when you get tired and bored with the rest.
Feel free to add any more you have discovered.
And here’s my additional two pesos’ worth:
Quote:
Originally Posted by phenom
A fine listing you've got there.
I would like to add a few quickie snack places to supplement your largely full meal eateries:
CUEVAS BAKERY & HOT PANDESA: Pandesas are bite sized nuggets of Filipino bread. Best eaten fresh and hot from the oven. Delicious. A good filler with the charcoal-roasted whole chicken and slabs of spareribs from the many roadside stalls along fields. The little corner shop is located near the checkpoint at where Fields Ave joins Perimeter Road, a short distance after Chow King and just before the row of shops selling wet market produce. 10 pesos for 10 pieces. May the luck be with you as they are usually sold out seven times out of ten that I tried to purchase.
for takeaway only
SHAWARMA: I never noticed the actual name of this place but its on Fields Ave, near to and along the same side as Hotel Royal Amsterdam. They serve Branyani rice besides the chicken and beef shawarma that I usually go for in between meals. 45 pesos for the standard and a little more (10 pesos?) for the cheese adder. The spicy chilly sauce is a delight for those with a fiery tongue.
for both takeaway & dine-in
El SOMBRERO: A hat maker for a long time, they had a couple of years ago converted the front portion of the shop into a local eatery very popular with the local denizens from the bars. Good and cheap Filipino food; either pre-cooked or on order from the kitchen. And they serve burgers too. My favourite is a piping hot bowl of chicken (sometimes alternating with beef) mami. Great as a in-between-beers snack. And I love the fried minced garlic that I sprinkled on in very generous amounts. Only 20 pesos (23 for takeaways) a bowl...and the iced water is free.
for both takeaway & dine-in
LECHON BABOY: Whole roasted pig. I usually buy back to my hotel a quarter kilo (70 pesos) chopped in tiny pieces in the morning. Beautiful with the pandesa from Cuevas Bakery. Best time is between 9 and 10 am when the skin is still very crispy and crunchy. Very sinfully loaded with cholesterols but I ignored the thick chunks of fat and concentrate on the heavenly skin and to a lesser extend, the meat. Its at the make-shift shop on the right along MacArthur Highway after the right turn from Fields Ave. Run by a friendly couple. There's another one across the road but the quality is not as good as this one.
for takeaway only
__________________
R.I.P.
Unofficial Chairman of Melons ( . ) ( . ) Club
Haha, this time we won't co-incide as I'll probably be there after you; from the 19th to 27th.
My next trip following that is likely to be in the second week of January.
Then I'm confirmed for 8th to 15th February and again from 21st February to 23rd February (both trips tickets already booked).
How are you for those dates? Or early December for Jkt?
Meanwhile any diversion to our local hunting ground for LBFMs?
__________________
R.I.P.
Unofficial Chairman of Melons ( . ) ( . ) Club
I will be back in Balibago for some raping a pillaging Jan 28 - Feb 6. Any Samsters who want to meet up just drop me a PM.
Is this a baton-relay or what, my friend?
I arrived in sextown on Monday.
Currently in Manila and will be back there again next monday.
I will then leave for home on the 28th (Lunar New Year Eve lah).
And in Februay I will again hit AC; but two days after you leave, on the 8th.
Will stay till 15/2 but will leave for Shanghai from there and then be back there yet again from 21/2 to 23/2. My fourth trip of the year landing on BB terra-firma will be from 21/4 to 29/4.
And "school-fee payer"; how about you?
__________________
R.I.P.
Unofficial Chairman of Melons ( . ) ( . ) Club
Martini - Cool we will definitely knock back some drinks and do some bar hopping. For this trip I have purged myself of my previous regulars and plan to hit town as reborn AC bachelor. Although I am sure I will get "sucked" into visiting some old friends of mine on the Perimeter. Which reminds me we will have to get our schedules straight on when we will have Rhea come around for the good morning Blow Job. mmmmmmmmmm, I can't wait I will be staying at the Hana Hotel and I have the same HP# as before.
Phenom -- damn wew really are just missing each other. It's been too long since we visited the melon patch together.
BTW I will be in Jakarta starting tonight and staying until the 25th, in case you are around.
08-11-2005, 01:21 AM
