The location was very convenient for me because it is right across where I did my laundry during my…read morestay in the Philippines. From the laundry shop, it looks closed that's why I didnt even bother going there the first time I did my laundry. But the second time, I did go coz I needed my coffee fix. It's a nice cozy place and what really got my attention is they have free wifi! For a person like me who is wifi hungry, this is really a great place, considering they have coffee too lol! I tried logging in the wifi, but for some reason, it didn't work. One of the reasons why I am giving them 4 stars. They serve coffee, cakes, pasta and even filipino breakfast. I was gonna try their version of tapsilog but I didnt have much time to stay there coz I need to get my laundry after I got my coffee. I got Caramel Macchiato. It was a good combination of sweetness and bitterness from the caramel and the coffee. I almost wished it's blended coz it kinda tastes like caramel frappe. By the time I get back here and this place is still open, I will definitely try their cakes and the other stuff in their menu!

Last March 28, I signed up for Anina Rubio's Brush x Watercolor Lettering workshop in Cab Cafe,…read moreKapitolyo. I've been a fan of her work since I started getting into calligraphy that in fact, I first signed up last January for her Modern Calligraphy workshop. Since I came from family lunch, I arrived 30 minutes late in Cab Cafe. Anina was nice enough to help me catch up with my fellow calligraphy enthusiasts. She pretty much taught us the trick of the trade. We started off with learning about using watercolour. The different shades it gives depending on how much water you mix your paint with. She also taught us a few tricks like how to make gradient colors, mixing your paint and what color matches with what. For the next part of the workshop, each student was provided with a worksheet and a Zig Brush Pen which practiced us to get used to holding a brush. We had a few drills in our worksheet was pretty difficult if you weren't used to what you were doing. At the back of the worksheet, we were to write a few words over and over again to really get used to what we were doing. For our break, we were given some sandwiches and being the hung over woman that I was, I had that and an iced latte. But that's not important. Finally, to end the class, we were told to think of our favorite movie and to write it using our Pentel Aquash Brush Pens and some watercolour. Of course I had to jot down "The Little Mermaid" and "The Phantom Menace" and made sure to mix colors for my font. We ended the class by showing off our creations and having little chit-chats with each other. And of course, what's a class without a photo? It was a short afternoon of fun with people who want to take up a new craft. You get to meet new people, learn something new, and to top it all off, you're fed delicious snacks! It can't get better than that! You can check out Anina's works on her Instagram:@aninarubio or sign up for her different awesome classes on her website: www.aninarubio.com.

Lydia's Lechon is a landmark - literally. Whenever I give someone directions to my house, I'd…read morealways tell them to take a right turn when they see the Lydia's Lechon along Roces Avenue. But more than being a landmark, Lydia's Lechon has brought joy to my tummy for many occasions. Recently, the restaurant renovated into a brighter and cleaner place making it a lot more inviting for passers-by. I've also noticed a change in their sarsa sauce being not as sweet as before. While I still do prefer another brand of lechon, Lydia's will always have a place in my tummy for being so close to where I live. 4 mins tops by foot! That means lechon cravings satisfied, no-ulam problems solved and 20% off lechon after 8pm for-the-win! I have always loved eating lechon. I'm sure Lydia's Lechon will always have a part in that.

Things to know. We went Saturday, 11/2/19 from about 10 PM…read moreto 12 MN. Entrance fee was P350.00 plus drinks range from P150 up. Food is just about the same price as the drinks. All in all, prepare to spend about P750 to P1000 minimum per person when you go to this place. It's been more than 17 yrs since since i visited this place. I've been abroad but I had fond memories of this place so visiting it was one of the things in my agenda when I came back home. Sadly I was disappointed. The jokes and side remarks have all been heard before as long as you are familiar with watching youtube videos from such places. No new material and so the jokes ended up being not too funny. FOOD IS A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT. The typical food bought here as far as I saw from the other tables was the Calamari (fried squid) so that is what we ordered. It was the worse I've tasted. The squid was rubbery and they were all sticking together. Now I understand why there's so much calamari from the other tables, no one wants to eat them. With the calarmari being a disaster, we didn't bother trying their other offerings. The tables and chairs are really squeezed together just like the other reviewer mentioned. Some find it as the charm of the comedy bars but really, it is just the bars squeezing all the people they can regardless of comfort. A few genuine laughs from the show bumped this review to 2 stars. Otherwise, there really is no reason to go to this club and pay that much money for it unless you want to be the butt of the jokes then you must definitely go and enjoy the humiliation. Otherwise, just watch youtube videos and you save yourself a chunk of dough in the process.

The entertainment provided by the talents are very funny. They had us holding on to dear life with…read morehow hard we were laughing. We even proceeded to talk about the show when we woke up the next day while having breakfast at home. The fee to get in to the establishment is separate from the cost of food when you decide to eat while being entertained. Cash only, they do not accept cards which is not very convenient for other patrons who don't like carrying around cash. The tables and chairs are so close to each other that the table next to you feels like a part of your party and I'm sure for them, vice versa. The entertainers were asking for tips while on stage if you ask them to sing a song for you. Actually, they ask the crowd what song requests they have in mind for them to sing and when you happen to name a song, they won't sing it until you give them a tip or tips. If the amount of the tip is not enough for them, in their own way, they squeeze you to give them more money. So what happens when you only have enough to pay for their entrance fee, pay for your food, just enough tip for them, and your fare to get home? If there is anything unclassy about this place, it's that plus the tables that are jam-packed next to one another. It is a place that will leave you laughing though. Enjoy!

Since this "neighborhood bar" was the only closest thing to being a decent watering hole near our…read morework, we would come by here at night for a beer..or two. The food is pretty good but often, a lot of their things found on their menu isn't available. Best part about this place is they make their own potato chips which are delicious! Good ambiance and is never too noisy which is rare in some bars these days. The staff could be better trained to pay attention to their customers rather than having to stand up all the time just to get their attention. Aside from that, they are all pretty polite and friendly. Beers are cheap and cold which to be honest, pretty much covers all bases of what you need in a bar.

For the longest time, Sawsawan was the go-to place for residents of Better Living Subdivision…read morelooking for a night out with the boys. In so many ways, it still is. For the non-Filipinos out there, sawsawan literally means dip. Filipinos like to dip their viands, whether it be ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce or patis (fish sauce). As a place to have a few beers, clients are expected to also order pulutan, mostly the kinds that need dips. It can be fish or any seafood, or chicken or pork, usually grilled. Although the outside of Sawsawan serves as an unofficial tricycle station, it usually clears by early evening. This is when the gents make their way there to meet friends for a few rounds of beer. Couples also go there on dates, by the way. It does not have the typical beer garden ambiance. There's ample parking for those who bring their cars, not only in front of the place but also at an empty lot a few yards away. Security guards make sure that the cars are kept safe. The place is neither too loud or too quiet, so friends can gather and exchange stories without too much of a hassle. As can be expected barbecued pork or chicken are the staples of the place. As for what dip goes with it, customers can mix and match their own. I like vinegar with a little soy sauce and crushed chili peppers. Sawsawan is located along Russia street, corner United Nations, very near the corner of Dona Soledad Avenue, Paranaque City. I don't need to say this but I will anyway. Don't drink and drive. Best to have a designated drive who has not had any alcoholic drinks. Better to be safe than sorry, no?

One of the BEST places to buy Pinoy desserts and merienda/snacks! They are known for their Frozen…read moreBuco Pandan. Honestly, it's the only thing I would wait in line for during the Christmas season. So so good! Not to sweet and full of that colored green jelly :) Apart from that I would also recommend their Pork Siomai, Pork Barbecue, and the Asado Pao. These snacks always hit the spot and are perfect for Merienda time. I also appreciate that they have serving sizes for all of the dishes they sell at the restaurant. This means you don't have to make reservations for pick-up. You just go to the shop and it's going to be prepared while you are in line. Love it!

Nathaniel's Bakeshop isn't large, and it isn't a fancy place, but what they do here, they do really…read morewell. What they do is make exemplary Filipino Pancit Palabok delights. Let's be specific: Their Buco Pandan Salad is good enough that you'll be tempted to bring home a gallon of it, and their Buco Pandan Ice Cream is something you'll want to enjoy again and again! In peak seasons, make sure to call ahead and pre-order - you don't want to miss out on any of this incredible goodness :-)

Gone were the days when you'd see Aracama as the "it" place for late night hang outs and partying…read more I think it's always going to be like that. The newest bar will be a big hit for a few years and then it will eventually die down because there will be a new club open. Unfortunately that is what happened to Aracama. I would usually frequent this place because the music and the drinks were good. But take note, it's not cheap at all. Groups of people usually get a table which is pricey I must say. I noticed though as I get older year after year, the crowd certainly gets younger. I would see teens partying late at night getting drunk. The place is usually filled with the younger generation! This place is definitely not a chill place at night. You have to expect some loud music and a lot of shoving when it's full.

This was the venue for a high school friend's debut, and when I heard that there wouldn't be…read moreaircon, I had one thought: whaaaaat. I mean, how can you survive a party without aircon? Seemingly impossible. Damn, okay, I was wrong. Since the party was on the open air balcony, it wasn't hot at all thanks to the constant breeze. I really liked Aracama's decor and the comfy couches on the balcony! It would probably be perfect for a chill night of drinking with friends. If you want a more tugs tugan vibe, you can head inside to the mini dance floor (with aircon, very important for dancing). The sound system is pretty good and, at least when I went, the playlist was solid.

I'm back in the states and I'm wishing I was in the Philippines eating that damn truffle burger. I…read morewanted to go back so many times but the schedule would not allow it. Probably the best burger I've ever eaten. Sometimes you order things with truffle and people skimp out but not Pound! The burger, pasta, and fries all had so much truffle. Even the freaking ketchup for the fries had truffle oil in it. Dude! If you're in the PI, just here already. It's a great home comfort food if you're missing the States. I miss you so much also Pound! You have my heart! Ps. And the meatballs were bomb.com. Also don't forget the side truffle sauce. It's so good on your burger!

Roaming around BGC observing the shops, people and evening events during the evening and decided to…read morewalk in. We were seated immediately. The menu was through a QR code, which was nice. It was nice until I made the order for us all, and encountered issues with finalizing the order with providing a phone number (visitor in the PI). After a bit of communicating with the servers and a duplicate order (that was resolved without a duplicate charge), we were able to enjoy the food. On a weeknight, it was very busy. Servers did their best to keep up with all the customers so I applaud the service they provided. The food itself we ordered was a tad lightly portioned but delicious. The establishment itself is located in a prime location within high street so the foot traffic I'm sure will keep this establishment going.

The bad thing about living just 5 minutes from the bustling Makati Ave. area is the traffic that…read morenever seems to disappear except during the wee hours of the morning on a Sunday. The great thing about it is the proximity to so many awesome places to eat; it's just perfect for a late-night craving, such as when my wife and I suddenly had a craving for shrimp dumplings at midnight a few weeks ago. Hap Chan is one of those Chinese restaurants where you know exactly what you're getting. They haven't changed a thing since forever, and that's precisely how I like it. What started as a craving for shrimp dumplings evolved once we sat down to order. Beef with broccoli, bird's nest soup, century egg, pork siomai, shark's fin (in case you're wondering, we actually had a proper dinner that night). Craving satisfied, a long, good sleep coming right up!

I walked over the bridge from Mandaluyong to Makati Ave hoping to work up an appetite so I searched…read morefor something new. It was on Neptune where I saw a decent looking establishment. It was busy but not full so I was seated right away. Ordered the beef brisket noodle soup and shrimp siomai for starters and if not enough, I'll order more dimsum. But it was just enough, I didn't want to overeat since I'm not running lately. The soup was satisfying enough but not the large bowls typically found in Vietnamese restaurants in the US but I'm not complaining...this is after all a Chinese restaurant in Makati. The siomai was good, four pieces in a steamer--not too small nor too big. The highlight of my dinner is really the dessert! When I asked the waiter what the most popular item is, he pointed at the almond jelly with lychee. It was served on a small dessert bowl. After a couple of spoonfuls did I notice that jelly sits on top of a layer of crushed ice which added a crunchy dimension. I'm glad I ordered it because at Hap Chan, happy ang tiyan ko (my tummy is happy)!