Monte Cafe is located on the second floor of a building and I didn't think that it would have that…read moremany customers because it was quite out of the way. But by night time, it was full! It was filled with many people, mostly students (they looked like students because they were studying or working on group projects, that sort of thing), and a smattering of foreigners. For me, this was the nicest, best designed/decorated place that we visited that day. I loved the interiors! It even has this hip wall, like a Pinterest coffee infographic come to life. If I had a place like this nearby, I would hang out here, too, instead of at Starbucks. THE FOOD We had Seafood Pizza (P275) - I liked this. It is very cheesy and just delicious! We also tried their Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce (P190) - this was the dish that I liked best. The mozzarella stick was served hot - crispy outside, gooey inside. Just perfect with the marinara dip. For pasta, we had the Aglio Olio (it's only P100!) and it already comes with a 65-degree egg. That egg looks like it's made of plastic because it's so perfect, like one of those Japanese food displays, but it's real! This dish was okay, but not something I'd reorder. I had their Java Chip Frappe (P185) - it was nice and creamy, but P185 is kinda high... I smelled their coffee, and their coffee smells really good. I mean, it's coffee the way I like it - Fresh. Not over-roasted. If I find myself in the area, I would go back for their coffee because I can imagine it would be pretty good. IMPRESSIONS This seems like the most upscale place that we visited in Antipolo. Guess that's why everybody's hanging out here. The food is good but not something I'd make the effort to go to Antipolo for, but if I did find myself in the area, I would drop by Monte Cafe for the ambience and the coffee.

This place has been buzzing in my hometown for quite some time now, so I decided to try it out when…read moreI went home one weekend. The interior is very nice, lots of wood elements with bright coloured chairs and tables, polished cement flooring to match. I was thinking, this place is good! Unfortunately, that was the only good thing about this place. Their menu is simple, and it took me no time to order something. First up, their pumpkin soup. It was so watered down that you can barely taste anything, not a hint of pumpkin in it, even. Then there's the wings which was very disappointing. It has this odd taste to it, I can't even figure out what it taste like. Their pasta like the baked macaroni and cheese and the seafood marinara wasn't so special either. I didn't get to try any of the cakes they offer, but I know it's their saving grace because it's supplied by Chocolat, which is our go-to place for last minute desserts for parties.

Let me start right off the bat by saying expectations were kinda not met. Maybe Zark's and BRGR…read moreProject spoiled me. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing again but my first experience here wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I went with the Bacon Mozza Melt. Sounded like a good idea. Bacon bits, mozzarella, mayo... sounds like a winning combination to me. The size of the patty was pretty good too! I wasn't rubbery or dry at all nor was it tasteless. it was actually pretty good. The mozzarella? Definitely there. The bun was nicely toasted. The bacon though? I didnt't realize bits actually meant one or two tiny squares. There was just something missing about the entire experience. Sure, it was pretty filling but I left filling pretty "eh" about the whole experience. For 120php, it felt kind of... empty. Nothing to have my declaring "that's a good burger" because it was more of an okay burger if anything. Eh enough not to come back? Nah. "Eh" enough to warrant a second go. Maybe try something else.

Good Burgers is a huge lie. I should initiate a movement to have it renamed to Great Burgers! I…read moreswear, it's sooo good, I don't know why not a lot of people rave about it. I love that it's a humble looking hub that could easily be ignored, and when you discover it, you're in for an entirely new experience. It's interesting that it does not look like the type of place that could cater to vegans and vegetarians, and yet it actually does. I was with a couple of vegan friends when they brought me here, and I was surprised to find out that you can opt to have a veggie burger instead of the usual beef patty. They also offer a variety of unique combinations, and offer each in "Good," "Better," and "Best" sizes! My burger of choice is the Roasted Sesame Crunch, veggie patty, good size. It has roasted sesame dressing (ooh, the umami) and cucumbers. The fries are also so, so good with the burgers! Try it out for yourself. Maybe then you'd join me on my quest to demand a name change!

Not every dish worked, but the technique in this kitchen is impressive - and you can sense the…read moreyears of training at El Bulli (the historic Spanish restaurant that revolutionized fine dining and introduced molecular gastronomy to the world). Service was a bit haphazard (we had to ask for drinks twice, servers would sometimes confuse my partner and me when presenting dishes), especially considering its Michelin cred. But the food had some fantastic highs (the octopus, anything with coconut, and some of the starting dishes). Some dishes were not quite delicious, but innovation doesn't always mean "best-tasting." It's a fantastic experience, and while pricy for Philippines standards, it's a relatively affordable meal given the quality. And some of the artwork in the restaurant is fantastic, whimsical, and a wonderful reflection of the meal you'll enjoy.

Tasting menu 2 of 4…read more I spent 4 nights in Manila and had a nightly resy to do a tasting menu. This is where I was on day 2. Differences: Out of the 4 places I went to, this was the most put together. Let me explain. As soon as I walked in, I could tell they'd been around the longest. They had a much bigger space and even make their own kombucha. They also have their own parking garage which is a huge plus in that part of town. Traffic in Manila is something else so if you still have to look for a parking spot, I wish you luck. There was what' appeared to be a bar or more casual setup. All 3 of us opted for the 10 course menu along with the wine pairing. The pour was quite generous for each course. When I tell you, I was faded by the end of the night. Here are my personal highlights: The welcome bites- there were so many we were a little overwhelmed. Thoroughly surprised Citrus Lobster- delish Belly Inasal - interesting take on a dish that typically uses chicken. They use tuna here. The smokey kick was certainly there The rice dish was fuego Pineapple Sponge - so refreshing. It kicked off the remaining desserts The presentation was super thorough. Every person who explained the dish did a great job going over every ingredient and its origin. Ditto for the sommelier. Top notch service all around. I loved how eclectic the clientele was. There was a family, couples on dates and friends. A full house all night. Everyone looked to be having a fantastic time. I'm so excited to come back and see what new dishes they've come up with.

Nice Latin/Filipino fusion spot. Parking is very limited so ymmv but inside theres a good amount…read moreof tables. Nice and spacious and I really like the artwork on the walls. Our server was nice and was clear when we asked about ingredients for food allergies. They had a lot to choose from but I went with the Argentinian shrimp pasta and a San Mig Light. Wow the pasta was really delicious. It has some green chips on it which were flaky and added a nice semi crunch to the dish. The shrimp were well cooked and seasoned. There was a logo of fire on the menu item but I'm not sure if it was supposed to be spicy because I couldn't tell. Still a great dish I would order again. And for dessert we went with the ube churro. Wow! Soft, flaky and it comes with a chocolate dip. Good but not needed. The ube churro was already delicious on its own. Such a good dining experience. Well worth coming back! Thank you!

Ah yes the Filipino joint with an identity crisis. Food was not bad was pretty good, but had a hard…read moretime understanding their theme, or what they are going for. Has a Mexican theme, but food menu has latino style food, and spanish dishes which is nit Latino. To me its a fun Modern Latino food resto. Food looks amazing just confused with their take in the menu. Def coming back to try other dishes and another sweet frosty mug of San Mig

This is a restaurant that honors Filipino history and culture. If you look around the restaurant…read moreyou'll see art on the walls. If you're an international traveler who wants an intro to Filipino food, this restaurant would be a good pick. They actually highlight classic Filipino cuisine with informational signage. I appreciated how the food is presented at each station with different pots, platewear, and heating elements. It's a good use of space and design. The food was ok. I think Medley Buffet at Okada is better in selection and quality. It was still a nice experience though. Plus if you stay at Conrad Manila it's really convenient. Buffets are popular in the Philippines. I actually prefer buffets over à la carte restaurants while on vacation. This restaurant met that need.

Food service and ambiance are all great- I love their sections for Juice bar where I usually take…read morethe customized juice with basil, chia seeds pudding. The all around Filipino serving of breakfast- tapa on the house c/o Chefs - Cyril and Louie.

I always pass this restaurant whenever I go to the gym or bring the babies to the park but I've…read morenever dined there until now. It's always been packed with people, especially during lunch hour. We've been lucky today and was able to get a table outside (we had our fur babies) with us. The area is clean even if it is outside. The table was free of dust when they sat us down. The wait staff was friendly and was fast to give us recommendations and what they don't have on the menu for the day. That is much appreciated than having to go over the menu, order then find out it's not available. We started with the chicharong bulaklak that I have been craving. It was well seasoned and cooked crisp. Just the way I like it! I had the crispy pork belly binagoongan. I would say it was good but not the best that I have tasted. It was crispy. But I like my binagoongan a little bit more salty and with a little bite. The beef stroganoff was a little runny but the taste was good. The buttermilk chicken was also good. It was already deboned, adequately seasoned and cooked crisp. It came with a gravy but it can actually stand on it was already good without it. My companion liked the mashed potato that it came with. I would have preferred for it to have a little bit more butter. We were the only clients outside but we were well-attended to. The wait stuff stayed outside with us until we were done dining. The cost ... reasonable considering the area. The total was equivalent to $30, for 3 people with 3 entrees and an appetizer ... already including the service charge. Not bad!

Wandered in here while looking for somewhere with all day breakfast. Seated quickly and attended…read moreto, we ordered Longanisasilog with coffee and tapsilog and a side of pandesal. While all items were just fine, nothing but the beef tapa was tastier than just average.

On my birthday last year, my girlfriend didn't tell me where we were eating, and since she's never…read morefailed me in terms of food before, I let her kidnap me and take me to Maginhawa, where we had what is possible one of the best steak meals I have ever had. Via Antonella's hanger steak is so big it filled half the plate - and the plate itself was immense. The other half was shared by buttered vegetables sauteed to perfection, and mashed potatoes. I may have moaned in ecstacy while eating it, as evidenced by the look of outrage on my girlfriend's face that stayed there the whole meal. Sorry, hunny. It's steak.

It was my lobster's birthday and knowing his weakness for grilled animal carcass, particularly…read morebeef, I took him to Via Antonella. I was trying to prove to him that Maginhawa is awesome, and Quezon City is the best place in which to live. He was whining about how far it is the whole time, but he shut up immediately when they served him his steak. He had their signature Hanger Steak, while I had a more manageable-sized steak and mushroom meal. I don't know why they call it a hanger steak, but it may be because it's the size of an actual clothes hanger, and my lobster downed it with so much love on his face I actually felt a bit jealous. The place was also almost always empty, which meant the staff were very hands on. We were the only ones there at a time, and we felt very cared for.

Cutesy interiors and a charming menu that features some comfort food like beef tapa, nachos, and…read morepastries. You get a mug of salted popcorn, marshmallows and pretzels while waiting for your order-- only the first one is free though, as the next mug will cost you P25 even though, as a lone diner, you ordered more than one full entree and drinks. Cake slices and other desserts are generally P150- P200 per serving, while most entrees cost P230-P300. Fruit flavored Iced tea is P75, but can be upgraded to bottomless for an additional P15 but it was rather bland so you might as well just have water if you're trying to cut calories. Tables near the walls are thoughtfully provided with power outlets for your devices. They have a small play area with a tea set to keep little kids occupied as you have your coffee.

My friends from up north had long been buzzing about Stacy's, so when my mom asked me to pick out a…read morerestaurant for us to take our balikbayan relatives to last summer, I knew immediately where we were going. I called the place, made a reservation for a party of 20 (I know...), and off we went bound for the north. Wow. We weren't disappointed at all and I felt proud to have chosen Stacy's as our venue. I had the homemade chicken parmesan and when I revisited Stacy's later on, I also had a taste of their pancakes. Long story short, everyone was satisfied with their orders. Servers were very attentive, and I love the whimsical, innocent vibe of the place too. Kids in particular are sure to love this place - I know my niece and nephew did.