The COVID Pandemic has made us realize how we can be consciously or subconsciously affected by everything around us.  The months of confinement made us yearn for the psychological comfort of once again being able to go out.  Fortunately, we can now (with safety measures) go out once again and chill at our favorite cafes like Cafe Mary Grace.

Well-known for its Ensaymadas and Cheese Rolls, Mary Grace has become one of the fastest growing local food brands.  Even during the pandemic, it has continued to open more kiosks and cafes. All of its kiosks and cafes have the same interior which we love.  It just charms us to coziness each time.  The yellow lighting, floral and ceramic decors and the homey furniture and fixtures harmoniously makes it one of the most beautiful and cutsie cafe in the Philippines.

Food

The cafe menu covers all types of meals from breakfast to after-dinner snacks. 

Crispy Cassava Chips with Onion Dip (205 php)

Since we wanted to take our time and enjoy our meals slowly, we first ordered the Crispy Cassava Chips with Onion Dip for starters.  This is our first time to try this and it was surprisingly good!  So good that we dare say that the Onion Dip is as addictive as the more famous Spinach Dips or Artichoke Dips.

Hearty Soups

Seafood Chowder (190 php)

The Seafood Chowder has the right blend of creaminess, richness and chunkiness to make it the appropriate warm and comforting soup that prepares the belly for a heavier meal.

Salads

Fresh Kesong Puti & Calamansi Vinaigrette (288 php)

The Fresh Kesong Puti & Calamansi Vinaigrette is a refreshing salad to try as it incorporates local ingredients.  The kesong puti is fried and breaded but not oily at all.  It was so much fun to eat.

Mary Grace Caesar Salad (360 php)

 The Mary Grace Caesar Salad is the classic Caesar Salad done right.

Tomato- Based Pasta

Pasta Amatriciana with Meatballs (320 php)

This is the first time for us to encounter a pasta with Amatriciana sauce.  Based on our research, the Amatriciana sauce is a sauce named after the town of Amatrice and is actually one of the most famous pasta sauces in Italian cuisine today.  While we couldn't verify how near it is to that one you can find in such town, we enjoyed this Pasta Amatriciana with Meatballs as the red sauce was rich in spices with a tinge of savoriness and tanginess.

Cream-Based Pastas

Classic Carbonara (315  php)

The Classic Carbonara is one of Cafe Mary Grace best sellers.  Everyone who has tried this has loved this.  We're sure you would too!  Enough said!

Pizzas

Margherita (498  php)

Cafe Mary Grace pizzas are thin and chewy dough crusted topped with fresh and premium ingredients such as its home-made tomato.  We opted for the classic Margherita which was a great compliment to our other orders.

Freshers

Homemade Iced Tea

Apple, Cinnamon Tea and Honey (95 php)

Premium Coffee & Teas

Peppermint Iced Mocha (185 php)

After our meal, we stayed for coffee.  The Peppermint Iced Mocha was a hit among us.

Cappuccino Regular (120 php)

If you're the plain-type of tito or tita, you can go for the hot Cappuccino.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cafe Mary Grace is one of the best cafes in terms of ambiance and food quality in the Metro Manila.  We can see this cafe chain as one that would expand with more branches in the future. 

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.

And, we're going to give you our Top 7 Reasons to Go For the Meat All You Can for 399 php.


1. No Lines


2. Ready to Eat 

Chinito (chicken na prinito?)

Chicken Fillet

3. Smokeless
Although the dishes here are served hot on a sizzling plate, it does not involve cooking the food on the table so its smokeless.  Thus, you won;t have smoke sticking into your clothing.  You can eat here on a lunch break and not worry about taking the smell of smokiness back to your office.  You can take clients here for meeting too.

Beef

4. 5 Premium Meats

Pork Belly

There are 5 types of premium meat dishes:
1.) Beef
2.) Pork Belly
3.) Chicken Fillet
4.) Chicken Chinitos 
5.) Fish Fingers
 

Fish Fillet

You see, others are limited to just pork and beef so you couldn't really eat that much.  But, here they offer four kinds of meats so you can bring along even your non-meat loving friends because they can still be satisfied with the chicken, fish and side dishes.

Fish Fillet

5. 5 Flavorful Sauces
Don't we love to eat our rice dishes with sauces?  Holy Cow knows this so well that it offers 5
signature sauces:
1.) White Sauce (for the Fish Fillet)
2.) Soy Garlic (for the the Pork Belly)
3.) Spicy Barbecue (for the Beef, Pork Belly or Chicken Fillet)
4.) Peppercorn Gravy (for the Beef, Pork Belly or Chicken Fillet)
5.) Trio Mushroom Gravy (for the Beef, Pork Belly or Chicken Fillet)

Garlic Rice

6. 10 Side Dishes
1.) Garlic Rice
You can simultaneously order any premium meats and side dishes that you want.  I'm sure those who cannot eat a meal without rice will order the Garlic Rice first.

Mashed Potato (the signature sauce works for the side dishes too)

2.) Mashed Potato
Who could resist Mashed Potatoes? 

Macaroni Salad

3.) Macaroni Salad

French Fries

4.) French Fries
The French Fries were thick cut and mushy just the way we wanted it.

Mojos

5.) Mojos
If you want potato in crisp and crunchy form then the Mojos is for you.

Sweet Potato

6.) Sweet Potato
The Sweet Potato is an addictive choice for those with sweet tooth.
 

Cheese Croquettes

7.) Cheese Croquettes
If we were to order just one side dish, hands down it would be the Cheese Croquettes.  This is our first time to have this item for eat all you can.  In fact, croquettes are usually offered in a Spanish restaurant for an expensive price.  Take Terry Bistro's cheese croquetas for example, an order of 6 pcs. is already 480 php (as of the time we wrote this).
 

Corn & Carrots

8.) Corn & Carrots

Coleslaw

9.) Coleslaw

Buttered Vegetables

10.) Buttered Vegetables


7. 399 PHP All Inclusive Price

Unlimited Iced Tea (70 php)

Bonus Tip: The Unlimited Iced Tea here is also affordable as it is offered for only 70 php.



Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies                              

Food

Soup
Since we love classics, we'll start of with items in the regular menu. 

Mushroom (160 php)

Salads

Classic Caesar (250 php)

Pasta

Agli e Olio (200 php)

The serving size is also quite generous. 

Carbonara (250 php)

Both pasta dishes we've tried:Agli e Olio and Carbonara had a comforting blend.

Holiday Set Meals
For this Christmas, Press by Fully Booked has prepared a Holiday Group Meal Set inspired by our Filipino Nocha Buena tradition.

Arroz Valenciana

Set A (999 php) is the budget meal choice with Arroz Valenciana, Homestyle Fried Chicken and Press Iced Tea.  Because the  Arroz Valenciana had bountiful toppings (which you can see!) and the rice was so sticky and heavy, we found Set A to be an already fulfilling choice.

Homestyle Fried Chicken

The Homestyle Fried Chicken is not breaded like the fast-food ones.  Instead, it was adequately spiced and goes well with the gravy.

Lechon Belly

The perks with Set B (Php1,499) is the addition of the Lechon Belly.  For many, a Filipino celebration is not complete without this. 

Cakes & Pastries

Chocolate Cake (1250 php/whole)

Chocolate cakes are one of the most popular cake variant available in the Metro.  Till the time we've encountered Press' Chocolate Cake, we thought we've tasted all the best ones.  We've read all sorts of top lists or best chocolate cake in Manila list and none of them has mentioned Press by Fully Booked.  What a wild card!  What a hidden gem!  This Chocolate Cake is rich, bitter sweet and oh so soft and moist.  Although huge and thick, you won't hesitate to take each and every bite. 


Holiday Pastries
Like the meals, Press also has holiday pastries.

Ube Custard (650 php)

Raise your hand if you're a ube and leche flan lover!  This Ube Custard is for us!  Compared to the Chocolate Cake, the Ube cake layer is a bit dry.  Hence, the smooth and creamy leche flan give it the nice fine finish in every forkful. 

Four Seasons Cheesecake (Php1,350)

Cookie Sampler (Php440)

Bar Sampler (550 php)

and the Bar Sampler with Food for the Gods and Butterscotch.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict