Cafe

Coffee

♥ Mocha (190 php)

Cold Drink (with Vanilla Ice Cream)


All Day Menu

Breakfast

♥ Classic French Toast (370 php)

Southbank's french toast isn't just savy with all the colorful dusts and edible flowers, it is also so delicious that all my companions preferred this over pancakes.  It was an interesting discovery for us that whipped ricotta adds a complementing creamy texture and wholesome flavor to the Classic French Toast.

♥ Croquettes (350 php)

We've always been a fan of croquettes.  We loved Southbank's version comes with  potato, cheese, sous-vide egg and roasted capsicum.

Southbank Pancakes (390 php)

The Southbank Pancakes comes with mixed berries jelly.   You'll love this if you enjoy berries with maple syrup.

Mains

♥ Ricotta Salad (390 php)

The Ricotta Salad is rich and fresh.  Thus, it delivers a perfect combination of  pleasure and healthy eating.

♥ Southbank Burger (580 php)

♥ Squid Ink Pasta (450 php)

The Squid Ink Pasta was another amazing dish to try.  There's a lot of things going on with this pasta dish like some tinge of spiciness, zesty cheese and tangy tomato sauce and they all worked wonderfully well with the squid ink capellini. 

♥ Tiger Prawn Risotto (580 php)

The Tiger Prawn Risotto is a medley of all our favorites: prawn thermidore, mushroom and sun-dried tomatoes so it was instant love upon first taste.  When it comes to risotto, another essential factor is the texture.  As you can see, it is creamy and the rice isn't too sticky, heavy or mushy so it was pleasurable to eat.

♥ Salmon Aburi Bowl (620 php)

Hickory BBQ Pork Belly Bowl (420 php)

The Hickory BBQ Pork Belly Bowl is so tender and deliciously smoky and sweet.  This is a great comforting meal. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

A few weeks ago, I was invited to try Little Owls new menu.  It was introduced as the latest addition to Lola Group of Companies.  Although I have not tried any of their restaurants, I have heard a lot of raves about them from my foodie friends so I decided it was worth the travel from south to north.


Unlike most establishments in the area, it had a huge parking space which can cater to around 9 cars. 

Unless you prefer al fresco, I don't see any reason why you would not want to enjoy its cozy indoor interiors.

The place looks so spacious, clean and refreshing. 

There is also a function room or extended dining area on the second floor where we had our brunch.

Food

Salmon Benedict

Eggs Benedict is actually one of my favorite choices for breakfast or brunch so I was glad that they offered a Salmon Benedict.  This version has definitely passed my standards in terms of presentation, quality ingredients and serving portion.

Soups, Salads & Sandwiches

Caesar Salad (285 php)

Another classic healthy option is the Caesar Salad.  If you're less adventurous and want some greens, then go for this.  It's best to eat it upon serving so you can enjoy the romaines natural crispiness.

All Day Brunch Plates

Thick Cut Bacon Steaks (365 php)

While it was mentioned in the menu that the All Day Brunch Plates are good for sharing, I am certain that I can finish a plateful of their Thick Cut Bacon Steaks on my own.  I bet the men would be wishing more than me for more meat cuts.  It is that delicious but short on portions.

Pancakes & Waffles

♥ Fluffy Banana Pancake (220 php)

If there is one item I'd come back for at Little Owl Cafe, it would be the Fluffy Banana Pancake.  The fluffy and bouncy pancakes reminded me of Japanese cheesecakes.  I fell in love with it upon first bite.  

Pasta

Bolognese

So we thought the Bolognese was their Wild Mushroom Pasta because it had mushrooms.  I liked the sweet and tangy blend the tomato sauce. 


Toasts

Mushroom Tartine

The Mushroom Tartine is a must try for mushroom lovers like me.  But, it would have been even better if the cuts where smaller and equally distributed.  Also, some parts didn't have pesto sauce on it.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich (220 php)

I do understand that they were still under soft opening phase during our visit but I can't help but feel disappointed still that the first Grilled Cheese Sandwich is so cheesy like the one on my photo while the second one is so thin that I can't barely recognize the 2 kinds of cheese.

Chicken Waffle Burger

The chicken is crunchy on the outside and so juicy on the inside.  However with the heavy and chewy waffle, the flavor of the chicken isn't as evident.  The coleslaw is a great complement for both the chicken and waffle but it wasn't enough.

Fish N' Chips

They use dory fish for their Fish N' Chips which I'm not a fan of.  My table mates seemed to enjoy this though.


Tarts
I wasn't able to take a photo of their ♥ Chocolate Tart (120 php) because it was gone in an instant.  I really loved how rich and bitter sweet it was.

Since I was invited and it was their soft opening phase, I will reserve my verdict for now.   To be honest, the 30 minute or so serving interval in between the dishes could have influenced my thoughts on the food and overall brunch experience.  To date, it was the longest brunch I have ever experienced (literally sat down from 11 am to past 3 pm).  For now, all I can say is the ambiance is superb but it comes with a steep price than if you would prefer having breakfast at the neighboring fast food restaurant.

When I was young, I was like any other kid, I loved the pinoy-style spaghetti.  There were only two places we'd frequently dine for it and that is Yum Yum Tree Coffee Shop and Pancake House.  I'd We frequented Pancake House more because it had more branches and it survived while Yum Yum Tree Coffee Shop closed down.

Pancake House used to have a really retro interior with orange and pink booths and huge movie posters of the latest movies and newspaper designed wallpaper.  Being big movie fans, my siblings and I, would always have fun counting the new movie posters that has been placed up since our last visit and quiz each other of their plots.  Dining there for gazillion of times, I can still vividly remember the place.


Over the years, Pancake House has toned down its interiors into a more common and casual look.  But, the food is still the same.  So let's get on with the food...

Food
In this post, I'll present all our classic favorites.  We've been ordering the same thing since forever!

Mom's Pancakes & Waffles: Pancakes

♥ Classic (169 php/3 pieces)

Pancake House' pancakes are still the best in my book!  (Other than my mom's of course).  It's moist, soft and fluffy.  We always order the Classic because we love their buttermilk.

Omeletts

♥ Mushroom Omelettes (147 php)

The Mushroom Omelettes is the first omelettes I've ever tried in my life.  It's still the best for me.  (Again, other than my mom's!)  What I love about it is the perfect combination of the mushroom and cheese.

Patio Pasta

♥ Crispy Bacon on Asparagus and Mushroom Tagliette (186 php)

The Crispy Bacon on Asparagus and Mushroom Tagliette is one of my latest discoveries at Pancake House.  It is topped with shitake mushrooms, asparagus, capers and bacon. 

♥ Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Regular (175 php)

The Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is hands down the best pinoy-style spaghetti for me.  (Again, other than my mom's =p)  I just love the bold meaty flavor with the right blend of sweetness.  I also like the the really buttery and garlicky tasted garlic bread that comes with it.

Hale and Hearty Mains: Main Course

♥ Classic Pan Fried Chicken (213 php/3 pieces)

I also love their Classic Pan Fried Chicken.  It has a perfect crunchy skin and juicy meat.  What makes it different from the rest is that the oil is not evident.

Special Sets

♥ House Special Set (257 php)

I sometimes crave for their Best Taco in Town too.  In that case, I order the House Special Set which has the Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Best Taco in Town, Classic Pan Fried Chicken and garlic bread. 
 

♥ Roast Beef Special (273 php)

My brother is loves their Roast Beef Special served with casaer salad and iced tea.

On some days, I also order their ♥ Club House and ♥ Vanilla Milk Shake.  Their Vanilla Milk Shake is the first milkshake I've ever tried.  It used to be my mom and I's dining tradition to order and share one.  As I grew up, I became conscious about sugar and calories so I skip it once in awhile then order it again whenever I miss it. =p


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Pancake House will always hold a special place in my foodie heart.  I'm glad I can always go back and revive old memories in every visit.  I'm very pleased with their consistency and I certainly hope they keep it that way.