For our large group, we were ushered towards the second floor.  On the way, we passed by these aquarium filled with live sea creatures.  This is a typical display for a Chinese seafood restaurant. 


Now, these big red linen covered round tables were the much familiar set up for a Chinese restaurant. 


While waiting, we were served some complimentary hot tea and peanuts.  This is also customary for Chinese restaurants of this type.

Food
As expected, the menu offers both ala carte and set menu.  For Chinese restaurants that we regularly visit, we usually take the set menu and the adjust a few dishes therein based on the advisement of the manager.  However, since this is our first time to try Sha Tin, we opted to go for the ala carte so we can try the dishes that interested us. 


Dimsum Articles

Kuchai Scallop Dumpling (110 php)

Century Egg Siomai (85 php)

Ever since I tried X046 Filipino Heritage Bistro, I've vowed to come back with the family.  Finally, the night came when we were craving for Filipino cuisine and near Makati so it was the perfect destination. 

Walking in, I was excited.  My family who is hardly excited over Filipino food was a bit skeptic.


But, seeing the awards made them a bit enthusiastic.

The place reflects the authentic Filipino elegance.  I love every detail of its interiors from the chair to the lighting.

Lovebirds can opt to seat here.  But, no pair dined there that night cause we were all groupies that night.

Very nice plate mat right?

Food

♥ Complimentary Puto with Aligue and Yema Dip

Once we were done ordering, we were served a plateful of  Complimentary Puto with Aligue and Yema Dip.  The puto has three flavors: ube, pandan and plain.  This is one of the best puto I've ever tried!  It was soft and moist.  The dip wasn't much but since it's free, I can't really complain.

Spanish Tapas

♥ Callos A La Madrilena (545 php)

The Callos A La Madrilena is stewed ox tripe and pork hock with chickpeas and chorizos.  A serving is good for 3-4 persons. It is one of our family favorite dishes.  The ox tripe and pork hock were so tender and the stew was so flavorful!  Everyone gave their approval as soon as they tasted this.

Kanin at Pansit

Tinapa Rice (220 php)

I rarely praise rice dishes but this Tinapa Rice is really good!  Consider this as an option for your staple.


Family Style Dishes: Seafood

♥ Dumaguete Express (Mixed Seafood with Spicy Coconut Sauce) (245 php)

The Dumaguete Express is the best dish for that night.  It was our first time to try a dish liked this and it won't be the last!


Family Style Dishes: Meat & Poultry

Adobong Baka sa Bawang (495 php)

As expected from XO46, they can make an ordinary dish like the Adobong Baka sa Bawang so extraordinary!  This is a heavenly garlicky, salty and savory dish.


Vegetables

♥ Ginataang Langka (Young Jackfruit Stewed in Coconut Creme & Seafood) (275 php)

Like the rest of the dishes, I also loved the Ginataang Langka.  In fact, I'll admit I ate about a half of this!

Mga Dulce

Casava Cake with Salted Caramel (145 php)

For dessert, my mom who loves kakanin (rice delicacies) ordered the Casava Cake with Salted Caramel.  I'm usually not to fond of Casava cakes but boy this was so good that even my brother who doesn't eat desserts loved it. I'd like to applaud the plating.

Desserts

♥ Sapin-Sapin Bahaghari (155 php)

The Sapin-Sapin Bahaghari is always feautured in magazines and blogs so we just had to check it out for ourselves.  It is served with honey wine and mantecado ice cream.  We've tried a lot of Sapin-sapin before but none of them offered an experience as astounding as this one.  The components just mesh wonderfully together.

Halo-Halo (135 php)

Mom wanted to try their Guinomis but it was not available so the server suggested that we try their Halo-Halo instead.  We were so happy with it.  It is very tasty because of its bountiful ingredients. 


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

X046 Filipino Heritage Bistro is the best Filipino-Spanish restaurant in the Metro.  usual serving size is for 2 to 4 persons.  The price is a bit expensive but considering the quality, service and ambiance, I'd give you a complete go signal!

Food

Appetizers

Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip (180  php)

Salads

♥ Chef's Wife Salad (195 php)

The Chef's Wife Salad is a green romaine lettuces, topped with croutons, mangoes, grapes, grilled chicken, candied walnut and cheese (I think its elemental).  Together with the dill dressing, it had a nice and refreshing medley of flavors.  The grilled chicken which was moist and savory was my favorite ingredient.

Sandwiches

♥ Oliva Burger (195 php)

The Oliva Burger is a wholesome burger with bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and dill pickles.  I totally agree that this burger is worthy of putting their name on.  Just from a bite, you can tell that their beef patty is made of pure beef.  In fact, we were told that they grind and make it on their own from scratch.  The french fries were also pretty good.  I'm not much of a fan of french fries like fellow Tsinoy Foodie Kurt.  But, I couldn't stop nibbling that I finished my fries in a flash.  

Pasta

Oliva Pasta Sharing (195 php)

The Oliva Pasta is another dish named after the restaurant itself.  It has pasta with an olive oil as a base.  It is topped with olives, capers, parsley, garlic, sun dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese.  During my first servings, I was delighted with the fragrant and strong flavors of this pasta.  However, it could get too overwhelming so I'd recommend this only for sample serving rather than as main dish.  

♥  Linguine with Salmon and Spinach in Garlic Cream Sauce Sharing (265 php)

Desserts

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Candied Orange Peel with Honey (80 php)

The Vanilla Panna Cotta with Candied Orange Peel with Honey is a simple but delightful meal-ender.  The vanilla panna cotta has a superb creamy consistency.  The candied orange peel with honey is a bit sweet  but it was neutralized when eaten together with the vanilla panna cotta.

♥  Chocolate Walnut Brownies with Vanilla Ice Cream (95 php)

Everyone enjoyed the rich fudge-y texture of the bitter-sweet Chocolate Walnut Brownies with Vanilla Ice Cream.  

Marble Cheesecake with Strawberry Coulis (120 php)

The Marble Cheesecake with Strawberry Coulis impressed us with its nice plating.  The strawberry coulis is also a great match for the marble cheesecake.  

♥  Warm Crepe Suzette with Vanilla Ice Cream (120 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Oliva Bistro Cafe is a great place to dine with family and friends.  The place is a bit tricky to find bring tucked in one of the buildings along Visayas Avenue but certainly worth trying out.  They serve delicious food in stylish plating.  More importantly, they are  reasonably priced.  

We met at Bugsy's Sports Bar & Bistro Bonifacio Global City Branch.  Located in Burgos Circle just between Sweet Bella (see previous entry) and Yakitori (see previous entry).


Just upon entry, you can view the sports bar with high tables and chairs.  As expected from a sports bar, it had several LCD screens were you can watch sports shows.


The bistro part is located on the second floor where we dined.  It had a scarlet lounge which was very cozy.  There is a clear glass window that over looks over the first floor.  Unlike below, it only has one LCD TV screen.  

Appetizers

Calamari (185 php)

The Calamari were huge.  They had a nice thin crunchy coating and the squid were soft and easy to chew.  It goes well with their marinara sauce.

Mozzarella Sticks (195 php)

I've always loved Mozzarella Sticks.  Bugsy's version were jumbo sized.  It was oozing with mozzarella.  It was so deliciously cheesy!  It has the same marinara sauce as the Calamari.

♥ Bugsy's Cured Beef Surprise (195 php)

♥ Bugsy's Siegel (595 php)

Pan Seared Salmon (295 php)

Grilled Pork Chops (195 php)

Chicken Corleone (250 php)

The Chicken Corleone is a pan fried breaded chicken breast filled with three kinds of cheese: blue cheese, mozzarella and cheddar cheese.  It is served with mashed potatoes.  The chicken was very tender and tasty perhaps because it was locked in with all those cheese.

Dessert

Bugsy's Chocolate Lava Cake (145 php)

The Bugsy's Chocolate Lava Cake  is a bitter sweet chocolate lava cake topped with whip cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup.  The warm chocolate filling was a bit sweeter but just right when eaten with the rest.