It's my first foodie meet-up for 2018! I had a serious craving for lengua, and it seems…read moreserendipitous that the @TheFoodCrawlers were rerouted to this colorful and whimsical cafe along Panay Avenue in QC (because Alvin Ong speaks highly of its lengua dish). Artsy Cafe is known for its delicious bangus dishes, all-day breakfast menu, and heavenly desserts. Its Alice in Wonderland inspired decor lends a young, vibrant, casual, and inviting vibe, minus the sensory overload. Ample parking space is another good reason to try Artsy Cafe at its Panay Avenue location, and it has two other locations along Maginhawa Street and Batasan Hills. The meal started with Fish and Chips, but this is not your run-of-the-mill fish and chips. Artsy's is made with bangus and a light batter, which makes for a more flavorful and substantial appetizer. It is served with potato chips (not french fries) sprinkled with parmesan cheese, and two dips. I would have enjoyed this more if it were served with french fries, and if the thousand-island-dressing type dip were replaced with sweet chili sauce. My choice of entree is Lengua with steamed rice and sauteed vegetables. The portion size may seem small for the price, but I think this dish overall was really good. The ox tongue is very tender, and the gravy was creamy and well-seasoned. The flavors of garlic and black pepper are more dominant in the gravy--a heads up to diners expecting mushroom gravy. Craving satisfied! We simply could not resist sampling the Bacon-wrapped Grilled Cheese Sandwich. A thick layer of warm and gooey mozarella cheese between lightly toasted slices of bread, and wrapped in four large slices of bacon. Portion size to price point is an issue as well, so fair warning to diners who think they can split one order. However, Artsy Cafe nailed the bread-to-cheese ratio on this sandwich, so I would definitely come back for more of this. The sweet ending to our meal is a serving each of its popular Layered Heaven Cake and the Cheesecake Crumble. The chocolate mousse on the Layered Heaven Cake is made with the same stuff that dreams are made of. Leave room for dessert!

Ambiance is a big factor for themed cafes such as Artsy Cafe. I believe most people dine out the be…read moreimpressed or feel rewarded, depending on the person it could be for great food, an amazing ambiance, or the kind of service that makes you feel special. Artsy Cafe manages to balance all 3 with ease. FOOD 4.5 Pure foodies focus on this aspect more than most and to be transparent, I have omitted dishes that don't make the cut, it's not bias just a positive perspective. Herb & Spice Bangus Belly (260 PHP) I have to admit their Bangus supplier is really good, which makes a huge difference in their dish quality. A creamy and soothing taste is to be expected and not the usually muddy flavour of inferior Bangus that's all too common in the market. The freshness of the fish can also be tasted also from the fish juice that surrounds the bangus, it's delectable as a soup, it made me wish for rice. Artsy Burger (260 PHP) It's the kind of burger that I had during my childhood (90's), a simple burger that's well composed from bun to patty without the masking extravagance that plagues the market. Everyone has a gimmick, but one shouldn't forget the fundamentals, for a burger it's the bun that makes or breaks a burger, after all it's the first part your mouth feels. Fillet Mignon Steak (290 PHP) That's not a typo, it's really just 290! Honestly it's not the most amazing cut of beef, but for the price it's hard to beat. This the first time in my foodie career that I'd recommend steaks at a cafe. It's simple and well packaged, just for meat this a dish to eat. Lemon Basil (80 PHP) Coffee is their stronghold on their drink list. My drink felt underwhelming, it may not have been infused properly. AMBIANCE 5.0 I came here during a late afternoon, which means I experienced their day and evening setup in one go. During the afternoons it has a pastel feel to the place, but when night falls and the lights glow, this place illuminates with a vivid hue, that's oh so colourful. Despite the change in mood, place remains cozy for a good brew or a heart chew. SERVICE 4.0 The waiters here are better trained since they are under the same management as Komedor and Mandarin Sky, which are full-size restaurants. A note worthy factor, as some cafes slack on service and have the basic serve the food and you're done philosophy. Here waiters are concerned with your comfort and overall dining experience, the way most restaurants should operate.

Comfiest cafe I've ever been!! Couldn't contain my excitement when I was about to enter the cafe…read more Printed photos greeted me, they even have a tree full of pictures of their customers who were having a good time in the cafe. The place was comfy not because there were couches everywhere but because you've-got-the-entire-floor-to-yourselves-with-comfy-pillows type of comfy. The place is not a typical tables and chairs cafe, what you'll see are sort of cabins with throw pillows that's enough for you and your friends to fit in. The place is also perfect if you have gadgets (wifi availability!), you can easily plug it on the wall socket if you ran out of battery. And every cabin has one. How generous, right? The place is great and cozy, the concept was superb. However, if you're planning for a quiet Me Time in the cafe, you might get distracted with other customers, they tend to get really noisy. The Main Event Travel Caramel Frappe Caramel Macchiato Blueberry Cheesecake I was told that Blueberry cheesecake was their best-seller so I've tried it, although it was great, it didn't stand out from other blueberry cheesecake I've tried. The coffees were just right, too. One thing that I love about this place? It's very Instagram-friendly!! We were billed less than P600 for 2. Inclusive of service charge.

Lasallian old-timers will remember Cafe Noriter above the Tapa King at the corner of Taft Avenue…read moreand Estrada St. Even older-timers might remember the pool hall there too where people used to sit and watch the Oblation Run offshoot when the Bar Exams were still held in DLSU. Or was that just me? Getting back on track and away from bouncing balls, the owner of Cafe Noriter opened a new place in the building right beside in, in Archer's Nook Dormitory. Lasallians, this is the building with the Yellow Cab and Army Navy. Take the stairs to the second floor and you'll see a very Korean coffee place, with a very Korean owner greeting you at the door, and very Korean pop music playing on low in the background. The restaurant itself is THE dream for students with extra-long breaks between classes. Like the old Noriter, it features double-deck loft-type nooks filled with the most comfortable marshmallow pillows you can imagine. I've fallen asleep on these pillows and I'm proud of it. Oh wait, I'm not. Remember that very Korean owner by the door? He's also very gorgeous and he carries a camera with him, and he takes a photo of every guest after they've settled in, which he posts on Facebook and on the main wall. Ladies (and men, I don't know) take note and prepare accordingly. The prices are a bit steep, but let's face it, you'll probably only order one slice of cake (if you do, try the blueberry cheesecake -- it's heavenly) and stay there for hours on end. Can't blame you. I've done that countless times.

Very cosy and nice place, you can have a sit on a "normal table" or choose the pillows on the wood…read morefloor We had the Frap Cappuccino, was huge! And very good! Didn't had food but saw some plates passing by, it did look good as well! The place is perfect for a chill break

Update: Honey Bread…read moreis still love! Since the day we knew about this place, we looked for it 90% of the time. I was finally able to order one because it wasn't available during my last 3 visits. The bread itself appeared to be wheat. Edges were slightly crunchy and fluffy inside. The overall flavor was still super. The only downside was that the cream topping was a lot less; it used to be an ample amount years ago. The place itself was still simply beautiful. It looks quirky, good for Instagram or prenup photography, artsy-fartsy, homey, cozy, and good for any crowd size. Laptop work can be done here though I dislike their Wi-Fi connection. Water and condiments are self-service. I still enjoy looking at the paper cups and vintage furniture. (updated Aug. 3, 2017) - Their layout and quirky choice of furniture is really interesting to look at especially when seen for the first time. It's a good place to do laptop work or projects as if you were at home. A small selection of different seats are available if you need to consider your mood or posture. Shoes are removed before entering their nooks. Honey Bread is love but there are times when it's not available.

Skipping breakfast is a common occurrence for a student like me. Whether I'm late or just not in…read morethe mood to eat so early in the morning, it's really the least of my concerns. But once I've settled into the classroom, the first stirrings of hunger start until it's a full blown distraction. So, after my second class (I was able to endure it for so long! Be proud of me!), I dragged a friend of mine with me to look for a suitable place to eat. This is how we discovered Jeepney Bistro. Jeepney Bistro is a Cafeteria-style restaurant that serves very affordable and hearty All Day Filipino Breakfast items along with other staples such as sisig, menudo, and pansit among many others. The food is good! They have well-balanced flavors and the servings are just right. The place has a comfortable and relaxing feel to it, and the staff are pleasant and accommodating. Aside from the main area, they also have a cafe and bar area so you can choose which one you're up for upon entering the place.

A friend of mine actually owns this restaurant and I've seen this when it wasn't that popular yet…read more To me, this place is actually one of the most unique concept restaurants in the Katipunan area. The restaurant is divided into two main sections. One part is like a dine-in cafeteria-style serving you homemade Pinoy dishes. Another part is like a hang-out chill spot cafe. That friend of mine actually studied how to make craft coffee so expect it to be really legit and try out their drink selections! I also especially like this place because it really is skewed towards those students studying in Ateneo and Miriam College. The prices are budget friendly and a perfect place to hang out after school as well as a place to go to where you can just sit down for hours, do work and study. Will definitely come back and visit again when I happen to be in the area!

After a good meal at 12/10, you will want something light and sweet. Restock is a good palate…read morecleanser. Literally just a hop away from the trendy izakaya, Restock is a true breath of fresh air aka a true non-mainstream spot (aka, a true hipster haven). From their location to their DIY Kinfolk-y decor to their indie merchandise to the publications they offer (Cereal, Kinfolk - of course) to - you guessed it - artisanal coffee, this place is, in all honesty, a good respite from the usual hustle and bustle (and stress!) of the city. Almost feels like hanging out at a friend's artsy flat. Order a cup, get a chocolate chip cookie, find your spot, own a copy of their latest issue of Cereal and get ready to stay in your bubble of calm (time to let the 12/10 food digest!).

When the hipster gods descended from their grand (but sustainable) kingdom (Otherwise known as QC),…read morethey set their sights on Makati. The gods decreed that this city of glass and steel needs a coffee shop, where people can have coffee they can't understand while marveling at artwork they don't understand. In true hipster fashion, they decided that they will put up this coffee shop in a location that is slightly inconvenient for mere mortals to visit (Which makes it perfect for the hipster legion). This coffee shop is now known as Restock. Okay, kidding aside, Restock is a fun, lively, cozy coffee shop located in Guijo street in San Antonio, Makati. The place is, without a doubt, flying the hipster aesthetic to the nth level as it's decidedly third wave, and by the fact that they sell artwork and limited stock items. It is a fun place to get some writing done, to hang out with friends, and just to marvel at all the Instagram-worthy spots in the coffee shop. The fact it's right beside 12/10 just ups Restock's hipster cred. The coffee's fantastic, too. Don't worry, the very well-educated, painfully cool staff will help you should their coffee menu confuse you. Either that or just order a Long White. Never fails.

Caffe La Tea is a pretty cool place to hang out with colleagues or catch up on friends. It's kind…read moreof dim and noisy in there so I suppose it's really not for work plus the wifi's not fast enough. The place was a bit hot too, maybe our spot was just hot. The staff were very accomodating. The service was fast except for my colleague's dish. I liked how they had a lot of variety when it comes to food. There are pastas, burgers, and rice meals both for kids and for adults. For drinks, they also have a lot of variety too! They have teas, milk teas, coffee, and chocolate drinks. The menu for the desserts were misleading since all of it were cupcakes but what was written were just the flavors themselves (for example, NY cheesecake - thought it was a slice of cake, but it was just a cupcake). I had shared the Hungarian Sausage Pesto pasta with one of my colleagues and I loved it! Also had tried the Chamomile tea which is kind of just hot water with a little tea scent (thanks to honey it tasted better). The Berry Tea (I forgot what it was called) was better than the Chamomile tea even without the honey. The only thing I didn't like was their coffee. I had the latte. It wasn't very good, well not as good as what I have had in other cafes. I had the Banoffee pie for the dessert. It was good, wasn't too sweet, just right. The cupcakes looked all fancy. I think the prices were all reasonable. I'd say it's really a 2.5 for coffee, 4 for tea, and 3.5 for food, 2.5 for desserts. I can probably go back sometimes when I'm within the area and definitely not alone. It's just not for going solo.

I went to go meet up some family and needed to get some work done all in the same afternoon and my…read morecousin suggested this place on his side of town. Tucked away on Anonas about a block from bustling Aurora Blvd., it's a lot more quiet inside than the area around it. The store inside is inviting, with a lot of dark woods, comfy chairs and baked goods on display. The second floor also offers a lot more seating and is pretty good for larger groups. The food definitely isn't bad, either, well worth the prices on the menu. I got a large size bubble tea for 79 pesos and they were more than willing to customize it for me by adding something a little out of the ordinary--espresso! Customer service here is really good, actually. They knew their menu well and brought out the food quite quickly. There is a LOT of different food on the menu from bubble tea and coffee drinks to Filipino rice topping meals and pastry-type desserts. From what I've tried though, it's done pretty well. I had the grilled liempo with salted egg tomato salad and rice (₱89) and it was fresh, satisfying and plated really nicely. The place does get pretty busy though but the free Wi-Fi kept up and it didn't get too stuffy either. Overall super solid place to either eat, chill, or even get work done.

As a former barista, I always chat up staff in coffee shops to gauge their knowledge of their…read morecoffee. I wouldn't go back to a coffee shop where the baristas don't have a clue about what they are doing, or if they don't have the slightest inkling of where their beans come from or what not. Though the coffee might be good, I always like that interaction between myself the baristas, because, though I don't pretend like I know a lot about coffee, I like it when the baristas are knowledgeable enough to impress me with their skills. Caffera's baristas are well-trained like that. This compact coffee shop in the second floor of a building on my street corner may be small, but what I love about it is their dedication to the camera and photography concept, and its marriage to the coffee that they are serving. Merging the owners' love for coffee and food, the place was conceptualized as the country's first ever photography-themed cafe. To one corner is a mini-gallery of the owner's photos. I love their cute cupcakes and desserts which are topped with adorable little fondant cameras. The espresso here is strong, and I love their espresso-based drinks because they give me that caffeine boost that I need to keep me going. Sometimes, I have the entire cafe to myself, and it is conducive to studying and reading. And it doesn't hurt that it's only a few meters away from my gate.

It's a rather small space that could probably only seat 6 people at a time, but I guess that's what…read moremakes it a great place to study in peace. The camera theme is also pretty cool, especially their drinks served in camera lens glasses. I remember the first time I went here, there was a couple having a conversation with one of the baristas and I couldn't help but listen in. They were asking about the shop, and it's amazing how well-knowledgeable the barista was as if it was his own establishment. He talked about the owner, where they get their beans, everything. There's always something magical about finding out the origin of something. I haven't been back here since because the shop's always full. I can only hope they open up a bigger branch somewhere else.

Philippines review #36…read more Located on the 5th floor of the Century City Mall in Makati, Hole in the wall has got to be one of THE BEST food courts I've been in! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=mocXQLUJFGLa-v9nW-wNqw The best because the style / décor is very cool, modern and sophisticated. It's casual and comfortable with a variety of different seating areas. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=2wby6b6vGb-RopzYpYkuNA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=NlsB3_lcW_K52uwCZ2XCdg You'll find a variety of different food items to choose from at more than a dozen restaurants with fun names like: Bad Bird, Pho Bobo, Smokey Bastard, Serious Dough, The Beef, Scouts Honor, etc. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=TmvhJCz7Z6pARaszQFKWkg Of course there are a number of more formal, sit-down restaurants located in the mall. But this is a fun, casual spot, with a variety of food served quickly and at reasonable prices!

The high-end food court has been a huge thing across the globe since the early 2010's, except in…read morethe Philippines. Back then, if you've been living in Manila for most of your life, the words "food" and "court" in the same sentence never really sounded appetizing. Enter Hole in the Wall. I've been here a few times already, but stepping inside its huge hip maze of interiors never ceases to excite me. I'm not sure if it's the thrill of choosing what meal to try next or just the nice aesthetic of literally everything, that excites me more. On my first visit, I made sure to first try the super popular fried chicken from Bad Bird. As a big fan Southern-style fried chicken, I wasn't disappointed. The crispy skin had a yummy seasoning that's new to the palette, very different compared to my other favorites, such as the Chickenjoy from Jollibee and the Pan Fried Chicken from Pancake House. And there's something about their side dishes that just completes the whole meal. The corn on the cob with bonito flakes, sweet and umami flavors melting in your mouth, was to die for. The coleslaw provided a nice acidic break from the saltiness of the chicken. The meal was a fun experience itself. Just the other day, I tried the Pastrami on Rye from Mr. Delicious and it was monstrous--just plain impressive in terms of size. I didn't even attempt to bite on the entire stack, using my fork and knife like a pretentious chick on a first date instead. Each bite off the monster-wich was packed with so many different flavors, though the pastrami still easily emerges as the hero of the dish. And let's not get started on the sweet potato chips. I'm not a big sweet potato-lover, but damn, the portion was more than satisfying. If there's anything I'd like modified, I just wish there was a bit more of the veggie pickles to cut through all the meat and fat. For now, I'll end this review right here. If it isn't yet so obvious, I'll probably be back here in no time to try a different food stall or two.