I love the way this chef thinks. While people tend to look outward for flavors, some tend to forget…read morethat we have a great palette of flavors to work with right here! Case in point, the way the Baker's Table takes candy from your childhood and uses it as the backdrop for pastry. Personally, I think it's brilliant. Candy's everywhere yet they've managed to take something so mundane and repackage it into something absolutely fitting. Three words, people: Butterball Caramel Cake. Predictable as I am, that was all it took to convince me of its brilliance. I love the fact that they never lose the essence of the candy. It's right there even if you're eating a piece of cake. They don't even commit the usual sins most bakeries do. The cake isn't dry and it isn't cloyingly sweet. Perfect with a cup of coffee (or tea, as my case was). I really can't say too much about this place. Candy has this sort of effect on people where no two experiences will ever be the same. It's really the kind of cake that's better experienced than read about.

This cake shop is a total childhood throwback, as they feature cakes made from local popular sweets…read morelike Hang, Potchi, and Haw Haw. Despite me living a few minutes away, I first saw them on TV, baking their bestseller: Haw Haw cake. I'd always loved that candy, and I still do. I buy some from sari-sari stores whenever I can, so I didn't waste time and headed straight to the bakery. That cake is such a hit. They didn't have any in stock during my visit so I had to drop by the next day. To my horror. I went back first thing in the morning and sure enough, a whole cake was there waiting for me. I think a single slice costs around Php 125, which isn't really bad. We're talking about premium cakes here. The Haw Haw cake reminded me of tres leches, for some reason. Light chiffon, a little moist. It has a thin cream filling and the frosting tasted exactly like the candy, only better.

Went here for a family breakfast and we liked the ambience of the place - cozy and good for groups…read more The wait ataff was quite attentive. They have several breakfast and dessert options and I was pleasantly surprised as they weren't pricey. We got bacon and pancakes, eggs, french toast and sausage, and longanisa and tapa meals. The serving time was long - maybe they were understaffed? Serving size of the pancakes and french toasts were big. The tapsilog and longsilog servings were petite. We had apple pie and blueberry cream cheese for dessert. My family really liked the richness and taste of the apple pie. My mom said it's the best apple pie she's had in the Philippines so far.

I used to have my laundry done on this place close to The Round Robin Café. I'd usually drop off my…read morestuff, buy something for lunch nearby, and head home. The café never really had my attention until this one time I dropped off my dirty clothes particularly early, and it was the only one open. So I bought one of their rice meals to go and had my first try. I'd like to say that was a moment of serendipity as I have found that I enjoy their food thoroughly. PROS: This barbeque chicken meal has this glaze that's sweet and savory and not too strong. It's one of my favorites; We call this place "Starbucks If You Want To Support Local" as their coffee tastes similar (a less syrupy version). And it's Toffee Nut the whole year round!; The Oreo cheesecake and super moist chocolate are so rich and decadent. Almost like the politicians of Manila. CONS: Not really the place I'd choose to stay for long as it tends to fill up quickly, with its limited space and all; Cake slices are big enough if you're in it for dessert after filling up on dinner. If not, it might be bitin. TL;DR: This is one of my go-to places for wallet-friendly, tasty food.

I love cake and I think people should give Cake2Go the recognition it deserves. Sure, the idea of a…read morechain solely based on cake delivery might not be so attractive, considering the proliferation of cake shops and pattiseries all over the metro. The idea of unique, homemade, artisan cakes might appeal more to the culturati in us, but Cake2Go makes undeniably lovely cakes which shouldn't be ignored. I admit I was a skeptic to, at first. I had to get a cake for this one mother's day and I needed to have it delivered. I didn't want to settle for the regular chains so with the Cake2Go at Timog being so close to my jeepney route, I decided to give it a try. I had a pleasant exchange with the staff there while deciding what to get, though I was pretty tired (I know you don't want us to stay too long, but you could use some seating guys) and settled on the most non-offensive cake I found, a quattro leches. My mom likes chocolate, but my brother can't have it, so I thought this would be an okay, nice cake to have, which I'd compensate for with an exceptional bouquet of flowers. But lo and behold, that quattro leches is golden stuff! Color me impressed. Their dulce de leche cheesecake and Bugs' carrot cake are delightful, as are their cookies, which were quite the surprise. They're pretty big, soft, sweet, and quite cheap as well. Their prices in general may be just a tad more expensive than the others, but I'm sure to be trying more from them.

This is perhaps my favorite nook in the entire city…read more I imagine that this is how Marie Antoinette would want her wine cellar to look like, with the bottles lined along the walls all the way to the curvature of the domed ceiling. The lighting is soft, and dramatic, and has the power to invoke both glamor and chill. Everybody just looks good. Now, imagine suddenly being in it, sipping that nice tall glass of bubbly while conversing with your favorite people. This in fact was how I had celebrated my birthday recently and I wouldn't have had it any other way. It is actually a small place with only around 6 tables inside. Their wine selection is extensive enough and of course mostly French, except for the sparkling wines because according to the sommelier, those usually come from Italy. Their prices range from the frighteningly cheap to the threateningly steep, so it's really up to you if you feel like playing el cheapo or mister spender. Also, the deli serves an assortment of baguettes, patés cold cuts and cheeses, albeit limited. You are welcome to put something together to have with your wine, which is exciting for me, but if that's not your thing, there is also a menu of sandwiches and small plates. Also, the pastries and macaroons are something worth sinking your teeth into. It is open 'til the wee hours of the morning which makes me fall in love even more.

La Vie Parisienne is a popular deli, wine library and French bakery in Cebu. The one I went to was…read moretheir branch here in Manila. They serve as Hotel Rembrandt's bakery and café if I'm not mistaken. Unlike in Cebu, they don't have the alfresco area here in Manila. La Vie Parisienne here is smaller and in an enclosed area. They have nooks surrounded by wine shelves. It's not a bad thing. It feels quite cozy and it is COLD. I almost froze because I came in wearing a short dress. I came here to try their wine. I was expecting a broader selection. I was looking for malbecs or more varieties of merlot and cabernet. I was quite disappointed. They don't really have a lot of choices for the in betweens - it was either really cheap or really expensive. I can't complain though. The prices are really reasonable. My friend and I spent only PHP 1000 for a bottle of wine and two slices of dessert. Good place to bring a date - when you feel like having something fancy but don't want to spend too much. Great value for money. It's worth trying.

This place is awesome. I needed a custom made cake 5 days before the event and she made it happen…read more What made my situation more difficult was that I was out of town while this was taking place and therefore had to do everything via text till I got back. I ordered for a chocolate cake and it was delish...not overly sweet with dark chocolate flavour. The cake was dense but was needed since it was a custom cake it has a thick fondant that the cake can support. Thank u chef u completed the theme with the beautiful made cake!

From the owner: We are a commissary for Breads, Cakes, Pastries. We also…read moreaccept Wedding and specialty cakes for all occasions.

I'm a sucker for pastries! I fell in love with Salt Bakery because "you had me at cookies". Their…read morelava cookies are a must-try and they are best eaten when warm and topped with vanilla ice cream. They have a sit-down place with Go salads (another great option for healthy eats), but can accommodate a few customers only. The staff is very friendly and they can give you the most fresh batch of cookies / pastries when chanced upon. ;) I'll be more than happy to drop by again to try out their cakes with fun names (one is Garth Vader lol)!

I was killing time alone along Katipunan Avenue one Saturday afternoon, and I stumbled upon one of…read morethe west kids on the De la Rosa side street block, Salt Bakery. I needed an air-conditioned and quiet place where I can just chill, away from the crowded coffee shops. I also needed a bite or two of something, but nothing too heavy as I had dinner planned later that night. Salt seemed like the perfect place. Upon entering, I noticed that the place was pretty narrow and tight (a deterrent for a semi-claustrophobe like myself), but there luckily weren't many people inside at the time, so I proceeded. I decided to order a slice of the "Garth Vader," which was pretty much a peanut butter and chocolate cake. It was very rich, but my taste is actually biased towards such desserts, so it was all good. There were other seemingly interesting flavors on display, but I already was full after one slice. I guess it would only be a matter of time until I return and give the other stuff a try.

Upon venturing into the streets of Maginhawa to look for new and undiscovered restaurants, my…read morefriends and I decided to look for a place where we could just stay away from the sun. The Sweet Spot, a cozy-looking and rustic café, is just what we have been looking for. The whole shop is well-lit making it a suitable place for school or work-related tasks and it has two-floors that could easily accommodate more than fifty customers. While waiting for your order, you can even borrow books or newly-published magazines that may pique your interest. They also offer a variety of food; unlike most coffee shops, they serve entrees. Ordering took less than a minute. My friends and I ordered a piece of Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salsa and Pineapple and Bell Pepper Pilaf. The hint of spiciness from the Bell Pepper Pilaf and the tang from the Fruit Salsa with chunks of Pineapples gave the whole dish a balanced flavor; everything was just heavenly. Even after you finish your meal, you can't just help but stay there for a while and appreciate the warm and cozy atmosphere that you wouldn't feel anywhere else in Maginhawa.

Ever dreamt of your own trendy loft in a beautiful city? I do. A lot. And while that dream is yet…read moreto become a reality, maybe you could make do with The Sweet Spot in 189 Maginhawa, at least for the loft part anyway. PROS: Beautifully wonderful interiors with high ceilings, expansive floor space, and cute decors. I could settle down there, really; Book nooks are always a good point for any establishment, and this one has a nice selection; This is the perfect lounging space for friends to meet and catch up, or for winding down date night with a SO; They occasionally hold calligraphy lessons there. CONS: Food-wise, there has been more than one time where they don't seem to have particular menu items available; The green tea latte seemed to have a mysterious aftertaste; I had their turtle pie, and it was a sticky disappointment. TL;DR: Ambiance can take you a long way even if you have mediocre food and The Sweet Spot gets that.

So, Carlo and I saw that this just newly opened at UP Town Center. I heard about this bakery and we…read moreboth decided to try out some of their cheesecakes. Well, we actually wanted to grab one of those Signature Cheese Tarts! But, the staff said they were still waiting for an ingredient to make it. So, we decided to try the other available items! We ordered the Hanjuku Cheese (Php48 each) and their Krone (Php49 each). I got the original Hanjuku Cheese. It was so delicate and I almost crushed it (Huhu). On my first bite, all I could think about was "fluffy". It was like a souffle! Also, it wasn't too sweet, just right. The Krones though were divine! The custard filling was just so delicious! The pastry was also very flaky and buttery. Love, love, love those things! Also, I tried the Japanese Sweet Corn Shake. Dare I say it, it was legit corny. hehe! Will try the Matcha next time! I'm actually happy that a Krone was priced that way. It means I can buy 2-3 and just eat without guilt... maybe. :) Will definitely go back to try the other pastries!

Baked creamy cheesy penne was tasty. It was the same taste as before cant go wrong with it…read more Service was prompt as there was not much people. Great ambience. By the way don't forget to try the hickory smoked bbq country ribs/ Of course the banoffe pie for dessert its a must here!

Whenever I pass by Banapple, I can't help but gaze longingly at the display cases that house their…read moredelectable desserts. I don't always get the chance to buy from them. Oh, but when I do, I instantly ask for the Banoffee pie and the Fudgymudgymud pie! Now, before you judge, they're not all for me. I share them with my family. Maybe. Shhhhh. I can't help it; these two are my absolute favorites! The Banoffee pie is a must try. From the sweet crust made with crumbled biscuits, to the center filled with lush toffee and thick banana slices, and finally to the soft whipped cream topped with chocolate shavings; the Banoffee pie surely doesn't disappoint. The Fudgymudgymud pie (It's so fun to say out loud. Say it! Say it again!), on the other hand, is a chocolate lover's dream! It has choco ganache, choco chips, choco syrup, the works! Come and join me as I gaze longingly at these two pies once again!