The family is not usually excited when it comes to Chinese restaurants since my mom is a pretty good Chinese cuisine cook herself.  But when they were quite eager to try Modern Shanghai because we could use my The Bistro Premiere Card for it.


The SM Mall of Asia branch didn't have much long seats so we had to wait for our turn on a weekend dinner. 

I observed on my second visit, this time on the Glorietta 2 branch, that the interiors were similar but this afforded more privacy to the diners by having booths by the sides and a function room which is ideal for meetings.

Food
Despite the entire area being occupied, the food we ordered were all served completely at the same time.  We didn't even wait that long.  I'm quite impressed with the service especially the SM Mall of Asia branch. 


Buns & Dumplings

♥ Our Signature Xiao Long Bao (198 php)

Everyone was excited to try the Signature Xiao Long Bao.  We love it so much, we just ordered one for each of us.  As soon as it was opened, steam and scent aroused everyone even more.  Unlike the other xiao long bao I've tried, this one had a hole on top and you could see the juices ooze out of it a bit.  This was quite generous with the soup which was quite flavorful too.  It was delicious but a bit pricey. 

New Dimsum

Steamed "Hakaw" Shrimp Dumplings (188 php)

Modern Shanghai has recently introduced 10 new dishes to their menu and the Steamed "Hakaw" Shrimp Dumplings was one of them.  I'm also a huge fan of Hakaw.  I was quite pleased to see its perfect translucent silky skin.  Once I popped each one of these in my mouth, I just couldn't help but savor the taste and tender shrimp.  Mmm...


Starters

Shandong Style Shredded Chicken (Hot) (358 php)

We chose the Shandong Style Shredded Chicken served hot as opposed to cold.  This is very tasty especially the skin which bore a mild honey, soy and vinegar taste.  The meat was jucy and tender. 

♥ Shaoxing Drunken Chicken (Cold) (298 php)

The cold Shaoxing Drunken Chicken can come a bit surprising to the mouth upon first bite.  But after that, you'll get to appreciate the pleasant flavors conjured by the wine and broth.  

♥ Smoked Beancurd Wraps with Assorted Vegetables & Mushrooms (Cold) (198 php)

It was my first time to try the Smoked Beancurd Wraps with Assorted Vegetables & Mushrooms.  We all loved this.  The smoked beancurd wraps were amusing chewiness which plays well with the crunchy carrots and flavorful mushrooms.

Beancurd with Preserved Egg & Pork Floss (Cold) (198 php)

There's not much creativity with the Beancurd with Preserved Egg & Pork Floss which makes it pale in comparison with the other appetizers.  It's something I could instantly conjure even at home.

Dishes

Deep Fried Pork Ribs with Spicy Salt & Pepper (288 php)

Although I'm not much of a fan of the Deep Fried Pork Ribs with Spicy Salt & Pepper, their version was quite captivating.  It wasn't too oily and tender which made it continuously appetizing to eat.

♥ Tung-Bor Style Braised Pork Belly (418 php)

I usually get turned of by braised pork belly dishes because of their huge amount of fat.  But, once I heard oohs and aah from my companions over this, I just had to try the Tung-Bor Style Braised Pork Belly.  I'm so glad I did!  This is definitely the best dish in there.  The fatty parts melts in your mouth exploding with rich flavors.  The pork meat was oh-so-soft too.

Sauteed River Shrimps with Spring Onions (318 php)

I find this small platter of Sauteed River Shrimps with Spring Onions a bit unreasonably priced.  But, if you love shrimps, go ahead and try.

♥ Sauteed Egg White with Fish Meat (348 php)

The Sauteed Egg White with Fish Meat is a light and refreshing dish to try.

New Dishes

Wok-Fried Sliced Beef with Broccoli (338 php)

The Wok-Fried Sliced Beef with Broccoli is a fair dish to try.  The meat could use a bit more tenderizing.

Native Hong Kong Crispy Chicken (688 php)

To be honest, I really couldn't tell much difference between the Native Hong Kong Crispy Chicken and the Shandong Style Shredded Chicken.  Perhaps, hefty pricing is due to the type of chicken used.  It was not served crispy though.
 

Deep-Fried Squid with Spicy Salt & Pepper (388 php)

The Deep-Fried Squid with Spicy Salt & Pepper is cooked similar to the Deep Fried Pork Ribs with Spicy Salt & Pepper except that with giant squid this time.  This is option is for the seafood lovers I guess.

♥ Eight Treasures in Hot Bean Sauce (358 php)

The Eight Treasures in Hot Bean Sauce is another interesting dish which I immensely enjoyed.  I'm glad they decided to add this to their menu.  As usual, I wished it was a bit hotter though.

Vegetables

Sauteed String Beans with Minced Pork & Chili (188 php)

The Sauteed String Beans with Minced Pork & Chili was cooked with precision.  Each bite was delightfully crunchy.


Rice

Yang Chow Fried Rice (228 php)

An order of the Yang Chow Fried Rice is good to share for two to three persons.  That I think it their standard serving size per order with all of their dishes. 


New Noodles

♥ Crispy Yellow Noodle with Seafood (358 php)

I'm loved crispy noodles!  The Crispy Yellow Noodle with Seafood did not disappoint.  The seafood-rich sauce was an excellent complement to the crispy noodles.  
 

Fried Shanghai Noodle with Seafood (338 php)

The chewy texture of the Fried Shanghai Noodle with Seafood had lived up to my expectations but I just prefer the crispy ones more than this.


Signature Tea Drinks

♥ Passion Fruit Lemonade (178 php)

The Passion Fruit Lemonade was refreshing and it was lightly sweetened which is nice.


Blooming Tea

♥ Peaceful Garden (188 php)

They had a number of blooming tea selections.  I ended up choosing the Peaceful Garden.   The hotter the water poured on the seed, the faster it will bloom.  It was quite cool to watch.

Other Bistro Group Restaurant Reviews
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Italianni's Restaurant
Krazy Garlic
Ma Maison (closed)
SikLab Filipino Favorites
Tonkatsu by Terazawa
Village Tavern
Watami 1 | Watami 2

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Modern Shanghai offers delicious Chinese dishese no doubt.  Having tried Chinese restaurants too often, Modern Shanghai gives a kind of impression to remember.  The service is great too.  The only down side is their price per serving ratio which exceeds the usual casual Chinese joint.  But, for the ambiance and convenient mall location, it's quit reasonable.

I've heard a lot of raves for D' Cream Coffee & Tea affordable offerings so when while waiting for the family, my little sister and I decided to hang out there for a bit.

Their sign of brown and white is a little bit difficult to see during the night.  Good thing we were familiar with their logo.

They adopt the usual pay as you order system.  The staffs recommended the Golden Sun as their best seller.  But, I ordered the Assam Original instead.

They have a chiller filled with cakes and cupcakes.  The price is lower than the popular coffee shops.

It had plain white walls and cute sticker prints.  There are only three tables available on the first floor but the second floor has lots of seats available and well-lighted too.


Drinks

Assam Original Regular 12 oz. (55 php)

I had my Assam Original at 25% sugar.  Their milk tea is creamier than others.  I could sense only a light hint of assam tea.  What dominated it is a sweet taste of milk which I'm guessing is condensed milk. 


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
D' Cream Coffee & Tea is an affordable option for those who prefer their drinks with a dominant sweeter and creamier side rather than aromatic coffee and tea taste.  They also offer a reliable WiFi which makes it a good hang out place.  Ambiance is simple but seats are well-cushion to provide comfort.

I've been hearing raves about Amici for quite some time.  A few weeks ago, I finally had the time to stop by and try it out. 

The place had a nice and homey ambiance.  It's cozy yet laid back so you can simply enjoy the food with your companions. 

Food

Anti Pasti

Proscuitto & Artichoke Cream Pizza Roll (242 php)

The Proscuitto & Artichoke Cream Pizza Roll is a pizza roll filled with antichoke cream, cream cheese, proscuitto and argulo drizzled with reduced balsamic vinegar.  This has a subtle flavor that keeps you wanting more.  
 

Proscuitto Portobello Pizza Roll (242 php)

The Proscuitto Portobello Pizza Roll is a must try for mushroom lovers like me.  It is filled with proscuitto, portabello mushrooms, cream cheese and argulo.  It comes with a delicious roasted garlic dip which complemented it well.


Pasta

Penna Rosa & Bacon (252 php)

My favorite dish that was served is the Penna Rosa & Bacon.  It had an aromatic flavor of garlic and onions which matched its bechamel sauce.  It also had savory bacon and mushroom bits.  I really liked the tangy taste of their tomato sauce.  That's how I expect red sauces to be.

Garlic Chorizo Spaghetti (250 php)

The Garlic Chorizo Spaghetti had a light olive oil base that had a hint of garlic.  It didn't give much impact despite the addition of the salty Spanish chorizo. 

Il favorito dela  Casa

Chicken Parmigiana (328 php)

The Chicken Parmigiana is one of the best one I've tried.  It had a perfectly crunchy breading and a oh-so-juicy and tender chicken meat within.  It's topped with melted mozzarella cheese and tangy tomato sauce.  Yum!


Pizza

♥ Truffle Mushroom Pizza (430 php)

If you've been reading my previous posts, you'd know how much I'm in love with truffle mushrooms so the Truffle Mushroom Pizza was a guaranteed hit for me.  I loved any bite of this!
 

Smoked Salmon-Top Crust Pizza (395 php)

The top crust pizza reminded me of  the Mexican quesadillas except that it was less cheesy and the dough is thicker.  I'm a huge fan of smoked salmon so I enjoyed the Smoked Salmon-Top Crust Pizza but I honestly would have enjoyed this as a simple pizza.  I don't buy the double the crust, double the carbs and less the flavor idea.

I was in a hurry for my prelims so I didn't bother ordering their gelato.  I've tried Cara Mia's gelato a long time ago though. 

Join Amici's Anniversary Pizza Fest by availing their Buy 1 Take 1 Promo on July 27, 2013.  Check their fan page for more details.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Amici serves delicious authentic Italian dishes priced reasonably.  I'll definitely visit it again whenever I'm craving for an authentic brick-oven cooked pizza and perfect al dente red sauced pasta. 

A few months ago, we discovered a grand Thai restaurant called Koh Samui Thai Cuisine at the back part of Hobbies of Asia.  It's not quite visible from the road side of Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard which is probably why it is not attracting the attention it deserves. 

It has adequate parking area.  The outside is inviting too with two elephant statues and the staff was in an exquisite Thai influenced get up.

Upon entering, we couldn't help but be in awe of the majestic size of the place and its luxurious interiors.   This is certainly the most upscale Thai restaurant I've been too.  Too bad it's a conspicuously placed.

Food
As we glanced the menu and after browsing their website, we were learned that they don't only offer Thai Cuisine but they also have Singaporean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Indian, Malaysian and Filipino dishes. 

Appetizer

Thai Shrimp Chips (120 php)

We were given a complimentary sample of their Thai Shrimp Chips which kept us occupied while waiting for our orders.

Three Fortune Platter (350 php)

The Three Fortune Platter is composed of the Chicken Pandan, Poh Pia, Spanish Mackarel Cake and Salad. The Chicken Pandan was tender and juicy. We were all pleased with it. The Poh Pia is also deliciously crunchy. It's my first time to try a Spanish Mackarel Cake and I loved it.

♥ Durian Charpati (185 php)

The Charpati was recommended by our server.  She told us that this is the latest addition on their menu.  And, it also appeared to be the only Indian selection on their menu.  We chose the Durian Charpati because we all love durian.  We watched as their Chinese chef flipped the dough artistically and soon this basket was served on our table with the Durian Charpati still warm.  We're so glad we ordered this.  We all loved the soft and chewy texture and the rich and fragrant flavor of the durian.  I'll definitely order this every time I visit.

Salad

♥ Thai Style Tree Funghi Salad (220 php)

The Thai Style Tree Funghi Salad is not the typical salad.  It's filled with funghi with a zesty dressing.  We were all impressed by it.


Vegetables

Stir Fried-String Bean in Shrimp Paste (180 php)

The Stir Fried-String Bean in Shrimp Paste is a usual item in Chinese restaurants.  The taste is subtle just the way I like it.  It was gave an enjoyable crunch too.


Entree

♥ Koh Samui Golden Curry Chicken (420 php)

The Koh Samui Golden Curry Chicken is a must try!  Although I have never tried golden curry before, I instantly fell in love with the light sweet curry sauce of this dish.  The chicken was cooked precisely too.

Sweet and Sour Pork Cashew (320 php)

The Sweet and Sour Pork Cashew is another dish belonging to the Chinese cuisine. It had a nice blend that is worthy of being appreciated.


Dessert

Mango Pudding

For dessert, we were served complimentary Mango Pudding which was simple yet delightful.

Update (March 30, 2014): Passed by this place and saw this replaced by a Chinese restaurant.  How sad. =(

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I believe that Koh Samui Thai Cuisine should re-brand itself as Asian fusion instead of mislabeling itself with Thai Cuisine.  I believe that, its lack in marketing and poor location is its weak point.  But, in terms of food, they deserve recognition.  I really liked everything we tried.  They have a good sense of delivering the right blend of spices and flavors.  The price is just right considering the ambiance it offers.  It gave a a sensual feeling of dining in a palace.  The service is excellent too.  I'd gladly visit Koh Samui again to try more of their dishes.  I'd also recommend it to anyone.