Hole-in-the-Wall in Century Mall has been raved for quite some time now.  Since the family and I haven't tried it I invited them there for my birthday blowout so we could all experience it together.  I'll start this in a series starting with Bad Bird.

We arrived there at around 6pm and the place was already packed.  We were a group of 20+ so it was really tough to find a seat where we could all stick together so we had to talk to the staff if they could open the second floor for us.  After a few minutes of consideration, they complied.  

Bad Bird had the longest line so while waiting for the relatives, I already ordered for everybody.  But, big brother and the guys were the ones who volunteered to pick up the orders when the buzzer beeped.

Food

Fried Chicken Plates (2 Substantial Cuts of Fried Chicken w/ your choice of Spicy Level )

♥ Waffle Plate (290 php)

The Waffle Plate comes with 2 pieces of fried chicken, 2 pieces of sweet potato and miso butter maple syrup.
 

♥ Corn & Coleslaw Plate (330 php)

The Corn & Coleslaw Plate comes with 2 pieces of fried chicken, corn on a stick with Kewpie, cheese, bonito flakes, togarashi and kimchi coleslaw.

♥ Dirty Rice Plate (320 php)

The Dirty Rice Plate comes with 2 pieces of fried chicken with fried rice with bacon, chicken liver and tamago, kimchi and 2 pieces of hush puppies.

Everyone loved the Umami Fried Chicken.  I can feel that it was heavily dusted with spices but taste-wise the blend is just right.  What really stands out was its crunchiness.  It was also tender and juicy.

Trying the sides: Waffles, Corn on a Stick, Kimchi Coleslaw and ♥Dirty Rice, it was really difficult to choose which is the best.  But, I noticed that the most popular one is the ♥Dirty Rice.


Bites

♥ Hush Puppies (160 php)

The Hush Puppies are golden fried corn bread in ball-shape dusted with black pepper and topped with scallions and served with the miso butter maple syrup.  When I first brought this, it didn't make a tempting appeal compared to the other orders.  When we tried it alone, it was really good.  But, dipping it in the miso butter maple syrup makes it even better as it over rides the oiliness.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Bad Bird is definitely rave-worthy.  But, because it is is quite pricey, you really can't expect people to enjoy is as much as often as our favorite fast food fried chickens.

Cafe Via Mare has already engraved its heirloom Filipino dishes into our Filipino hearts and spirit.  What I love about Via Mare is that it serves consistently good Filipino dishes for everyone including Pope John Paul II, First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and her distinguished guests as well as you and me.  


Now, as Via Mare celebrates it 40th birthday,    I have been invited to a luncheonette to share with you some of its best sellers.  Whether it's for breakfast, lunch, merienda and dinner, Via Mare has offerings that is sure to satisfy your cravings.

Food

Mainit na Sabaw

♥ Pancit Molo (195 php)

The Pancit Molo is a big bowl good for 2-3.  It is a heart and soulful soup with stuffed noodles filled with shrimp, chicken and pork.  To add more savory goodness, there are also smokey bacon strips.

♥ Sinigang na Karne (365 php)

The Sinigang na Karne is our classic favorite tamarind based soup with a huge chunk of oh-so-soft cured beef.  There are also veggies to add the delightful sweet flavors and a boost of vitamins.

Sari-Saring Kanin

Calcag Rice (155 php)

The Calcag Rice is guaranteed to awaken all your taste sensors with the explosive umami essence from the sun-dried shrimps, bagoong and scrambled eggs.  This is great with any viand.

♥ Tuyo Fried Rice (155 php)

The Tuyo Fried Rice is so good that rice alone will satisfy you. The rich salty goodness is so good that it will make you eat more!

Fiesta (195 php)

As the name implies, the Fiesta is a staple of extravagance.  Yes! It has loads of adobo bits, salted egg cubes and diced tomatoes so it is already a humble meal by itself.

Masagang Tanghalian

♥ Rellenong Bangus (560 php)

The Rellenong Bangus is stuffed milk fish.  This is gloried by the savory and sweet tomato and onion sauce.

♥ Pinais na Alimasag (380 php)

The Pinais na Alimasag is a crabmeat and coco meat omelet served presentably in a blue crab shell.  The x factor of this dish is tbe coconut cream that gives it a mellifluous, fragrant and creamy consistency.  It is served with the bagoong balayan rice that's wrapped in banana leaf.

♥ Inasal na Manok (195 php)

An order of the Inasal na Manok comes with 4 skewers.  The garlic-annato roast chicken is so bold that it really lingers in your mouth.  The atchara is a great complement that refreshes the palette. 

Beef Kaldereta (470 php)

The Beef Kaldereta has a distinct thick and flavorful tomato sauce that makes you want to splurge all over your rice.  The beef cube is tender and easy to chew.  I appreciate every element of this dish even the olives, bell peppers and onions. 

Arroz Ala Cubana (285 php)

The Arroz Ala Cubana is ground beef cooked in sofrito with raisins and snow peas.  It is served with fried egg and plaintain.
 

Crispy Binagoongan (325 php)

The Crispy Binagoongan is a popular favorite.  The crispy pork bellies are sensationally crunchy so surely you'll go crunching away till the last bit.
 
Ensalada at Gulay

♥ Ensaladang Pako (220 php)

My personal healthy favorite is the Ensaladang Pako.  The bunches of crisp fern leaves together with the salted egg and tomatoes plus the vinaigrette is a winner!
 
Sari-saring kakanin

Guinataang Halo-Halo (98 php) *sampler size

The Guinataang Halo-Halo is a coconut cream dessert soup tinted with the color of its main ingredient: purple yam, taro and sweet potato.  To add the mellow sweetness that we love, there's plaintain banana and jackfruit slices.  And, I'm glad there's my favorite chewy rice dumpling ball too.

Palitaw (55 php) *sampler size

The Palitaw is poached rice patties with grated coconut and toasted sesame seeds.  This is my type of chewy snack. 

Grilled Pan De Sal

♥ Laguna Cheese (155 php) and Spanish Style Chocolate (85 php)

The Laguna Cheese is grilled pan de sal served hot off the grill and filled with Laguna's farmer-style white cheese.

I like to pair my Laguna Cheese with the Spanish Style Chocolate.  This pair brings a delightful comfort to my soul. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cafe Via Mare time-tested prestige can tell more than we could.  So what's your favorite?

It been a long time since I last dined at Restaurante Pia Y Damaso.

It still has the same wonderful vibe as I remembered.

Food

Starter

Crisp Cones with Crab, Corn, Tomato Relish (220 php)

The Crisp Cones with Crab, Corn, Tomato Relish is an interesting starter.  This reminds me of a taco because of the fried crispy shell.  But, instead of having something meaty or savory, this is quite the contrary as it is light and refreshing.  The sauteed crab meat is sweet.  It is well-complemented by the corn, onions, tomato, cucumber, cumin, cinnamon, parsley and lemon juice.

Chinese Lumpia Salad (275 php)

Being familiar with the Chinese Lumpia, it looked close to my expectation.  But, the Chinese Lumpia Salad is a very good rendition.  It was very fragrant and the play of textures made it quite interesting.

Soups & Stews

♥ Lang Lang (325 php)

The Lang Lang is my kind of noodle soup.  This is so hearty with shredded chicken, ham, stitake mushroom, woodear mushrooms, pancit molo, lomi and sotangon noodles.

Sandwiches 

♥ Croque Quezo & Spinach (250 php)

The Croque Quezo & Spinach is sure to impress with it's key ingredient: Malagos' goat mozarella. 
 

Kua Pao Pan De Sal (250 php)

I've tried the Kua Pao Pan De Sal before.  And, boy am I glad to have it again.

Pasta

♥ Tuna Egg (Bihod) With Tapenade Seared Blue Marlin & Fresh Tomatoes (360 php)

The Tuna Egg (Bihod) With Tapenade Seared Blue Marlin & Fresh Tomatoes is a delectable Filipino take of a pasta dish.  It has caramelized onions, garlic, tuna egg roe, black olives, sardines, tomatoes, olive oil and seared blue marlin chunks.

Specials

♥ Sisig ni Cabesang Tales (300 php)

I liked the Sisig ni Cabesang Tales because it wasn't as oily and fatty as the other sisig I've tried.

Beef & Game

♥ Smoked Tapang Usa (450 php)

I love tapa and exotic variants like Smoked Tapang Usa excites me. 

Pork

♥ Smoked BBQ Mango Pork (500 php)

The Smoked BBQ Mango Pork is so beautiful.  And, the smoked barbecue and mango marmalade is a great combination.

♥  Crispy Boneless Pork (350 php)

Who doesn't want a version of crispy pata that's without the bones and easy to eat like the Crispy Boneless Pork?  These crunchy pork cubes were gone in a flash!

Beverages

♥ Tubig ni Maria Clara (300 php)

Because we're in a tropical country, the Tubig ni Maria Clara is fresh cucumber juice, ginger and citrus water.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Restaurante Pia Y Damaso has not lost its touch.  It's definitely one of the best Filipino restaurants in the area.

One random afternoon, my best friend Eric was in a mood to treat.  We searched SM Manila for a place where he could charge his phone and the place happened to be 8 Street Bites.

It was very spacious with an interior that adequately fits its name.  It has brick walls and cook paintings similar to New York.

Food

Texas BBQ

Sliced Beef BBQ (268 php)

It was difficult to decide on an afternoon snack so I just picked one at random so I chose the Sliced Beef BBQ.  That way I get the Sliced Beef BBQ and Coleslaw and Eric gets the French Fries.

Hawaiian Blue (158 php)

Eric felt like winning a lottery when he found out that 8 Street Bite has alcoholic drinks.  He got us the Hawaiian Blue.  It was so early so I didn't drink.  Eric said it taste like juice and he finished this all by himself.  We were told by the server that this are drinks for kids to perk them up a bit but just light.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Having tried almost all food places in SM Manila, 8 Street Bites is the coolest and hippest spot to hang out.  The food and drinks are good but the price is above a students allowance.