With the COVID pandemic still on-going, it makes us think more about what we treasure most in our lives.  Definitely, one that tops our list is togetherness with the family.  Buenas means luck and blessings in Filipino language and that is exactly what we felt having during our family dinner at Casa Buenas.   Casa Buenas is located in the new "Newport Grand Wing" which was unfamiliar for most of us.  Even if you park at the nearest parking area which was the Newport Grand Wing, you have to take elevator and escalator  to reach this very spacious wing.  

 

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia's RM460 Burger Viral Drama

Just recently, we were discussing with foreign friends on how to spend money better.  The topic was incidentally brought about by the recent Kuala Lumpur birthday dinner drama over the RM460 burger that became viral over the net.  Based on such discussion, we discovered that some would actually spend more for travel, online games, KTV and bars rather than having a fancy dinner with some close friends and family.  Well, though we admit that we do spend for some of those but we give utmost importance to celebrating birthday family dinners more.

It's kind of interesting to learn about other cultures and customs.  All these years, the question "Who pays for the birthday dinner celebration?" never crossed my mind.  For me, it was always a given whether its with family, friends or even just office mates, whoever invites pay for everything.  This applies to all occasions... birthdays, graduations, winning something or even when someone just feels generous.  So yeah, you can all take this as a disclaimer too... We openly admit that not everything we post here is paid by us okay?  It depends on who "invites".

Well, apparently in the RM460 Burger scenario, the payment arrangement for the birthday dinner was to equally split the tab.  We also do the split tab payment arrangement when we casually meet up with close friends for dinners.  But, we've never encountered that kind of scheme when invited for a birthday dinner.  

 

One of my friends whose married to an Australian that her husband was surprised when the birthday celebrant had to pay for the dinner.  Friends take you out, they pay for their own meal (in Filipino slang its "KKB" - kanya kanyang bayad) but they pool money in to treat the birthday celebrant.

Well, perhaps its because my friends and family are very busy people (with so much going on with business, work or family) that we treasure time more than anything.  In fact, we're hardly ever complete.  Some would be on a leisure or business trip, have business commitments or other affairs.  Thus, its customary for the birthday celebrant to appreciate simply just the presence of someone being able to accommodate the invitation.  After the meal, we even thank each of our guests for coming before bidding our good byes.

Now that that's all settled, let's continue on with the food. 

 Food

This was actually the last family dinner we celebrated dining in a restaurant before the lock downs (In the Philippines, we term them "ECQ, MCQ, GCQ") so we were fortunate enough to order from its full menu.  As of the time of writing, it is only offering limited menu because of the pandemic.

Complimentary Bread

While we were waiting for our orders, we were given some Complimentary Bread with a variety of flavored butters.  

 

Soup

Salmon Yazu Dashi

From the Salmon Yazu Dashi, we were already hinted that the dishes served in Casa Buenas is international fusion.  The Salmon Yazu Dashi seemed like a Japanese soup dish with its own twist.

In addition to the warming comfort it brings before the heavy meal ahead, it is quite light and refreshing. 

Sandwiches

Buenas Burger (580 php)

To be honest, we were expecting the  Buenas Burger to be more extravagant.  Yet, it came out rather plain which made its special thick and juicy pork and beef belly patty stand out.  It was actually quite good and filling.  Yes, the price is justified in for this burger!

Mains

♥ Grilled US Angus Beef Tenderloin with Lychee Sauce (2,900 php)

If there's one dish that stood out among our orders, it would be the Grilled US Angus Beef Tenderloin with Lychee Sauce.  Usually, you'd feel overwhelmed from the savoriness of eating too much meat.  But for this dish, the intricate sweet, fragrant and refreshing lychee sauce counters the savoriness and oiliness from the tender roast beef making it quite pleasurable to eat. 

Off the Grill

Grilled Squid (900 php)

The menu offered a lot of grilled dishes but most of them are quite similar.  Guess, there isn't much twist to grilled dishes other than being precisely grilled to tenderness, appropriately seasoned and dipped in a variety of sauces.  The Grilled Squid was good but it just didn't show much creativity or personality that we'd expect from a famous Chef.   

 

Paella

Paella Seafood (1,000 php/good for 2-3 persons)

Paella is always the most expected order when dining at a Spanish restaurant.  When you order Paella at Casa Buenas, you will be asked if you would prefer the traditional with burnt bottom or not.  We chose the traditional.  Our side of the table ordered the Paella Seafood good for 2-3 person but the other side of the table ordered the Paella Negra good for 4-6 persons.  When our orders came, we realized that the it could cater to around twice as much people as stated.  We ended up having to take home most of this dish since it had bountiful amount of toppings.   Comparing the two, we liked the ♥ Paella Negra more.

 

Pizza

Truffle Pizza (490php)

We loved the Truffle Pizza which involves breaking the poach egg on top before the slicing and all.  The truffle essence for flavor and the chewiness of the dough for texture was just right.

 

Beverage

Cappuccino (190 php)

The coffee cup set is so pretty.  But, the Cappuccino is just okay.

Complimentary Chocolates

All of us appreciated the Complimentary Chocolates as an extended gesture.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
The grand Hispanic Filipino interior of Casa Buenas defines it as one of the best places in Metro Manila to impress guests with its luxurious dining atmosphere.  The food and service service is hotel standard.  But, not all the dishes would standard out to be impressively memorable. 

San Fernando, La Union is one of the most progressive urbanized city in North Luzon.  Hence, you can find modern restaurants all over the place.


Krabous is one of the low-key restaurants.  It is even located at the second floor of a building.  Thus, no visible store front.


 
It's quite impressive that we even found this place. 

Despite being far from the beach side, the decorations made us feel it was just nearby...


The place was really designed to entice our appetites for seafood and also to offer the convenience eat them with our hands as there was a washing area.

Food 

We availed of the Unlimited Crab & Shrimp buffet for 599 php.  To our surprise, it offered more than that. 


Aside from various types of crab and shrimp dishes, there are also other seafood.  For soup there was Sinigang na Salmon.


As you can see, the dishes are bountiful even though it was not packed with customers.


Since we're not crab experts, we couldn't identify which crab specie this is. 

But, it was so thin and you could hardly get some tasty crab meat. 


Perhaps, if we didn't see these bigger Mud Crab separately sold by the weight, we'd be content with what we had. 


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking to filling your hunger with seafood then you can try Krabous Seafood Restaurant.  But, if you're palette is more inclined to flavorful pleasures, there are a lot choices within the same price point. 

Prime Facie are Latin words which we usually encounter in law.  Who would have thought that it would be a name of a modern-day speakeasy bar? 



With it's hidden nature, comes exclusivity.  While Vitto's Wine Bar and Restaurant was packed, bright and loud during our night of visit, Prima Facie was barely occupied.  


Aside from our long table of 20 which our host reserved for a consumable amount (which he didn't reveal), there was only one couple by the bar.




Food
Prima Facie shares the same food menu as Vitto's.

Soups & Salad

Truffle Soup (230 php)

Who would have thought that we would encounter a Truffle Soup could be difficult to finish?  This Truffle Soup is based on a very thick cream such that would lump into the spoon.  With just a few lumps, you'll feel too overwhelmed to even continue.     


Main Course

Chicken in a Basket (550 php)

Seafood Paella (960 php)

The Seafood Paella was very flavorful.  The precision in the cooking time is evident and prima facie here.  Each ingredient was succulent.


Pizza

Scallop Pizza (520 php)

Everyone loved the Scallop Pizza.  The toppings worked harmoniously together.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Prima Facie is a great speakeasy bar with good food and tranquility for intimate conversations.  The price is quite reasonable too.  It also has a huge selection of wines and cocktails.

Specialty Side Dishes

Rice Ball, Tteok-Bokki, Jap-chae and assorted Ban Chan

Seafood Jeon

 
The key to a quality grilled meat is to make use of charcoal. 

Beef Belly and Doenjang Beef Belly

♥ Cream Cheese and Mozarella Dip

It even has the unlimited cheese dip.

♥ Cream Cheese and Mozarella Dip

♥ Charcoal Grilled Egg

When all the meat and cheesiness gets overbearing, this charcoal grilled egg will refresh your palate.  This is unlimited too.

Samgyupsal Wraps

 You can also ask for a refill of the fresh lettuce and sliced garlic.

Doenjang Beef Belly Cuts

We enjoyed grilling so much, we didn't even notice the grill plate being all burnt. 

Daepae Samgyupsal

But, the server noticed it and asked our permission to change it into a clean one.

♥ Samgyupsal

The servers are so attentive and well-trained.

They even have a grilling plate tray ready to replace burnt grilled plates anytime. 

Drinks
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
CCYG Chung Choon Yeon Ga (청춘연가) definitely has what it takes to be the leading Korean BBQ chain in South Korea and even here in Manila too.  We're eager to see how prominent it can go.