My little sister and I love yakitoris so when I had the time to spare, I decided to treat her and her beau for a quick bonding time at Toki Q, the first rotating BBQ in Manila.

It occupied a humble space along Wilson street.  But, despite it limited floor area, I'm amazed at how they utilized every inch of it to make it look spacious and comfortable.


Even the lighting is simple yet innovative.  but, since the place is bright during the day, they don't even have to turn it on.


The wooden stairs and table are pretty sturdy and are arranged neatly.  Though they don't have much dine ins, we noticed that students and nearby residents stop by to order for take out. 


This is were we sat.  It granted us a nice street side view. 


Food

Toki Soup (12 php)

I ordered the Toki Soup because it was pretty cheap.  It's basically a diluted version of miso soup but for the price, I dare not complain.
 

Combo 2: Chicken Ball, Pork Ball, Tontoro Pork (Pork Belly), ♥ Chicken Fillet (110 php)

I ordered the Combo 2 because it offered a 5 peso saving.  I'm surprised with its price.  Four sticks only for 110 php!


The Chicken Ball was coated with a well-seasoned yakitori sauce.  It was a bit airy and light that I'm amazed that it was composed of chicken meat. 

The Pork Ball had the same sauce.  But, the meat pork meat was more bland than its chicken counter part.

The Tontoro Pork (Pork Belly) is better than the grinded ball version because it was chunkier and had a lot of fats to add some flavor.

I liked the Chicken Fillet the most!  It was tasty, tender and succulent.  The chicken skin is simply irresistible.

♥Chicken Wings (45 php)

The Chicken Wings is also a great choice to order cause of its tasty skin!  Who cares if there's not must mat in it right?

♥Kara-age (75 php)

The Kara-age is their best selling product.  Upon first bite, I could understand why.  Th sauce is thick and sweet and the crunchiness is superb.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Toki Q is a great place to stop by for an affordable yet satisfying meal.  The rotating BBQ does wonders with the texture of the meat.  Too bad the machine is not fully visible for the customers to view though.  I really like their chicken selections so I'll probably miss the pork ones next time.

I've recently discovered Chops Chicago Steakhouse located on the 4th floor of Greenbelt 5.  It's a bit hidden since its not typical for shoppers to pass by it.  But, that's what makes it special.  


Chops offer the privacy and comfort you need to for an intimate date, bonding with friends and executive meetings.  They offer high speed WiFi!


I love the way the place is designed to offer diners their own space.  They have a unique function room with bar stools matching a high table too. 


The place is quite sophisticated in its own right with its cushioned round booths to the modern abstract art pieces hanged on its walls.  The lighting is soft and a slightly dimmed perfect for candle-light dining. 

Food

Chops Steak Cuts

Although I'm no beginner when it comes to steak, I have to admit that I'm not familiar with steak cuts and technicalities so I really appreciate the way Chops present their steak cuts so you can choose which size and marbling you prefer.

Tomahawk Steak

For a group of six and above, I suggest you try the Tomahawk Steak for a whole new meaty experience.


Food

Complimentary Bread

To start our meal, we were served a Complimentary Bread.
Executive Lunch Meal
Despite the intimidating ambiance to Chops, I'm quite surprised at how reasonably priced their menu offerings were.  The Executive Lunch Meal is a full course meal just for 888++.  It's a steal with the comfort and privacy of the place as bonus too!

Check out the inclusions.

Asparagus Soup (Soup of the Day)

The warm Asparagus Soup was lightly creamy and tasty.  I finished this bowl with delight even the healthy piece of asparagus.
 

Caesar Salad

The Caesar Salad  is my favorite salad and Chops' version does not disappoint.  Fresh green leaves with the right amount of croutons, bacon bits and parmesan cheese.
 

♥Wisconsin Tenderloin

Finally, the moment we were all waiting for... the medalion of Wisconsin Tenderloin served in a wooden chopping board.  My choice of sauce is the Chops Home Made Steak Sauce which is nothing grand but a classic.
 

♥Wisconsin Tenderloin

I had my Wisconsin Tenderloin at medium to appreciate the sumptuous juicy steak.  Its just oozing with flavor that I enjoyed it even without the sauce.
 

Steamed Asparagus (My Choice of Siding)

For my choice of siding, I had the Steamed Asparagus.  I know you may not agree but to me, this is a healthy and siding that's usually underrated.
 

♥Dark Chocolate Cigar (2 pieces per executive meal)

I'm no gentleman and to be honest, I'm not acquainted with cigar.  But, looks like there's a cigar that even ladies like me can enjoy and that's these Dark Chocolate Cigar!  Just grab one of these and puff in its smooth sweet white chocolate cream, then bite through the rich crunchy dark chocolate coating and lick the melted chocolate goodness of your fingers to enjoy.  

Sidings
One siding just never works for me so here are the rest I've tried.  At Chops, the sidings are served in generous proportions and at a standard price of 180 php

Parmesan Creamed Spinach with Organic Egg (180 php)

Although my friends where not too excited upon hearing the healthy word "spinach", everyone dug into the tasty Parmesan Creamed Spinach with Organic Egg as the parmesan and cream did a nice touch in neutralizing the usually too rich leafy flavor.

Beer Battered Onion Rings (180 php)

You can't get Beer Battered Onion Rings any larger and crunchier than these!
 

Skillet Buttered Corn (180 php)

Chops Skillet Buttered Corn is sweet corn of the cob served with butter on top.  Who could ever resist this old favorite right?
 

♥Potato Overload (180 php)

If there's one sidings you could crave for at Chops,  that would be its Potato Overload.  This rich, creamy and savory siding is sure to win over your taste buds.
 

♥Smoked Bacon and Garlic Broccoli (180 php)

Have you ever tasted bacon flavored broccoli, try the Smoked Bacon and Garlic Broccoli and for sure you're mouth will water with the rich taste of bacon even on the broccoli.


Signature Entrees

♥Barbecued Pork Ribs Full Slab (1,025 php)

The Barbecued Pork Ribs is another must try!  The pork meat is so tender it almost falls of the rack. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Chops Chicago Steakhouse is one of the best steak spots that offer comfort and privacy right in the middle of the busy city of Makati.  This is a place that will surely leave a nice and lasting impression upon your business partners and colleagues.  Given the service, FREE WiFi, food quality and ambiance, their pricing is easy on a budget too.  

I don't know have the luxury of time to sit back and reminisce my childhood.  But, today when someone mentioned Big League Chews, I remembered the days back in the 90's when my cousins and I were easily influenced by the movies we watched.  One day, we watched the movie "Little Big League" and it gave us the idea to play ball.  

Ground Ball Grape My Favorite!

We made our own baseball field indoors with paper bases.  Oh, but the bats, gloves and balls we used used are real.  To complete the experience, we chewed on Big League Chews during our games.  Those days were really fun!  We played it as often as we could until one Christmas when the balls we hit shattered every ornament in the Christmas tree and we got banned.

Gone are the days when I'd have the time to run around and play ball.  But,  hey I can always chew on Big League Chews because "You're in the big leagues when you're into Big League Chew!"  There's no other gum like it.  Big League Chews is a foil pack of gum shreds that big league players chew on.  It's the real deal.  I think the shred gum idea as substitute the unhealthy chewing of shredded tobacco is ingenious.  It's now safe, gluten-free and even kids can enjoy it.                       

My family is loves tea and coffee so we've been eager to try out da.u.de (da-you-deh) Tea Lounge since it has opened.  Unfortunately, due to my hectic schedule, we only got to try and have long planned tea party last December while on our way to Bonifacio High Street to buy some present for our dogs at Hobbes and Landes.


da.u.de (da-you-deh) Tea Lounge has a nice, clean and slightly sophisticated facade.  It has an indoor and outdoor area. 


Since we visited during a sunny afternoon, we opted to sit inside.  It had small tables and cozy seats. 
 
They also sell tea leaves and other tea brewing items.


We sat by the wall where loyal customers have made their marks.  I saw the message of fellow bloggers and several celebrities there.

Food

High Tea Good for Two (1,400 php)

The High Tea is a three-tiered tray that is available from 3 pm to 6pm.  When it was served, we were that sharing is not allowed.  For two people, this is a quite a satisfying tea snack.  
 

High Tea Good for Two (1,400 php)

♥Roasted Vegetable Tartine

Couture Blends and Premiere Tea

♥ Skala 8 oz (100 php)

♥ Passion Green 8 oz (100 php)

I failed to take note of their orders but I recall that we just followed the suggestion of our server.  Everyone was delighted with their drinks upon first sip.  

Young
~Defines me

I was the only one who ordered a cold beverage.  It took awhile before my Cajun Watermelon Smash was served. Upon serving, I was given the chance to choose my paper straw.  It opted for the dotted ones because it so cute.

♥ Cajun Watermelon Smash 16 oz (160 php)

I enjoyed my Cajun Watermelon Smash.  The blend is just brilliantly refreshing with some nice spice to it.  Had I know it would be so good, I should've ordered the larger serving since it had a lot of bits which occupied around half of the glass.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
da.u.de (da-you-deh) Tea Lounge is a great place to sit back and relax with some tea, snacks and meals.  Having to eat on a tiered tray with some tea is a first for me and I loved the experience.  The highlight of our visit, of course, was the tea.  It gave us such a calming effect that was even carried over to our sleep that day.  But, the food didn't strike a lasting impression upon me save the Tea and Chocolate Pudding.  It was priced a bit on the high side too. 

As my previous experience with 1771 Group of Restaurants was impressive, I decided to join eat out with my long missed foodie friends at Sentro 1771. 


Sentro 1771 is a modern Filipino themed restaurant with two branches: Greenbelt 3 and Serendra.  Since we're on our way for a Christmas spree shopping, we decided to drop by their Greenbelt 3 branch for lunch. 
 

Sentro 1771 offers a casual and cozy ambiance with its well-cushion mismatched Filipino style chairs and wooden tables.  It's beautiful lighting brings a yellowish brightness to the place.


Food

Appetizers

Sizzling Tofu (250 php)

We started off with a plateful of Sizzling Tofu.  At first glance, I'll admit that this gave me an impression that this is just a plain tofu dish with some soy and mayonnaise dressing.  But, upon trying it out, I just couldn't stop munching on those chewy diced tofu with the right blend of tasty soy and mayonnaise dressing.  Like many, I like the classic sinful sisig.  But now that I've tried the Sizzling Tofu, I'll pick this over that any time.  It's a healthier option too.

Fried Kesong Puti Sharing (320 php)

I recommend you order the Fried Kesong Puti for sharing like we did because this little fried poppers are out to dominate your taste buds making you want them until the very last bit.  I mean it!  This are insanely addictive that my friends and I lost our shyness emptied this plate in a flash.  This is served with two dips: sweet chili guava and the garlic dip.  I liked them both.

Fresh Smoked Fish Spring Rolls (270 php)

The Fresh Smoked Fish Spring Rolls must be inspired by the Vietnamese spring rolls.  It's wrapped in a thin lumpia wrapper with tinapang bangus, salted egg, mustasa, onions and tomato.  What's great about this dish is that the tinapang bangus is highlighted by the other ingredients so the savory flavors explode in your mouth.  This dish is pure genius!

Salads & Vegetables

Beef Pinoy Tapa Salad (180 php)

Among all our food choices, the Beef Pinoy Tapa Salad was my least favorite.  It is made up of lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, dried tapa bits and tuyo vinaigrette.  The tuyo vinaigrette was a nice twist to the usual vinaigrette because it adds a bit of saltiness to the usual tangy taste.  But, I wasn't able to grasp the idea with the dried tapa bits.  I have always been a fan of tapa for its savory and pleasurable chewiness.  However, the dried tapa bits were tough to bite and lacked the intensity in flavors. 


Rice & Noodles

Spinach & Glass Noodles (220 php)

I've always found eating spinach to be plain and boring.  But, the Spinach & Glass Noodles made spinach an enjoyable dish.  The slippery smoothness of the vermicelli mung bean noodles complements the spinach well since it neutralizes its strong leafy taste and the mix-match of textures just brings a superb chewing pleasure. 

Specialty of the House

Sinigang na Corned Beef Sharing (595 php)

I just don't understand why others don't like sinigang.  It's my favorite!  What I liked about ordering the Sinigang na Corned Beef is that Sentro 1771 understands that each person has a preference in its sourness level so they give sample for approval before they serve it.  This warm sour soup with chunky corned beef short ribs and a generous amount of native vegetables brings comfort to the taste buds and to the tummy. 


Seafood

Rated GG Sharing (445 php)

If you think that galunggong is just an ordinary fish.  The Rated GG will change your perspective forever!  These boneless galunggong fillets are not only easy to eat, they are also wonderfully crispy and tasty.  I don't know if its the garlic oil or the garlic bits but in totality, this surprisingly got me hooked.

Tilapia Fillet in Coconut Milk Sharing (360 php)

The Tilapia Fillet in Coconut Milk is a tilapia fillet with bathe in coconut milk and spiced with garlic and ginger laid on a bed of spinach leaves.  What I like about it is its nice mild coconut milk flavor and the soft and juicy fish meat that almost melts in your mouth. 


Meat

Pinoy Osso Bucco (380 php)

If there's a dish that I could never resist, that would be the Pinoy Osso Bucco.  Sentro 1771's version does NOT disappoint.  The bone-in-beef shanks were cooked slow until tender and topped with lots of caramelized shallots and sliced potatoes.  I loved this especially the beef shanks in the bone marrow. 

Lamb Caldereta Sharing (880 php)

The Lamb Caldereta is Australian boneless lamb cooked perfectly in its mildly spicy tomato based sauce.  The lamb tastes clean without any hint of gamey taste.  I think it can even pass as beef for some. 

Desserts
Everyone just had this huge smile plastered on their faces when it was time for dessert.  We ordered practically every interesting item on the dessert menu.
 

Coffee Pie (220 php)

The Coffee Pie has three indulging layers:  Cream cheese top drizzle with toffee sauce, the chilled rich melt-in-your-mouth coffee fillings and the crunchy chocolate-cashew crust.  This slice is to die for!  In fact, one is not enough for us, we had to order another one!

Fried Suman & Mangoes (180 php)

I've always loved the classic suman and mangoes.  But, this Fried Suman & Mangoes has certainly brought this dish into a whole new level.  The light crispy suman together with the cool sweet and tangy mango slices and sweet coco jam is just awesome!

Maja Blanca Crepe (180 php)

The Maja Blanca Crepe are small thin rice crepes topped with corn kernels and chocolate syrup with coconut milk custards with corn inside.  The crepes are so thin that it easily breaks inside your mouth unleashing the light and creamy coconut milk custards with corn. 
 

Creme Brulee (180 php)

This is one the best Creme Brulee I have ever tried.  Beneath the sweet caramelized crystal layer is a light, silky and creamy chilled custard gently sweeps your tongue.  

Mango Jubilee (195 php)

Compared to the rest of our desserts, the Mango Jubilee was a bit overshadowed since it was only plain vanilla ice cream with mango cubes swirled with mango jubilee sauce
 

Coffee Beans Sans Rival (205 php)

The Coffee Beans Sans Rival is another must try!  Not only is it aesthically adorable, its taste and texture is also as captivating.  Each sans rival layer is delicately crisp. Together with its bitter-sweet coffee filling, this is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Keso Flan (220 php)

The Keso Flan is an odd mix of my favorite food options which is to my discovery a great match with each other.  The saltiness from the red egg and queso de bola cheese were able to neutralize the sweetness of their rich and creamy leche flan and highlight its rich egg based flavors.


Beverages

Manggang mangga (120 php), House Iced tea (110 php), Sago't gulaman (110 php), Pandan Lemon Cooler (110 php) and Green Mango and Dalanghita (120 php)

I got the Pandan Lemon Cooler which had a dominant lemon taste.  Another drink you can order is their bottomless Sago't gulaman.   My friend just can't get enough of it.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Sentro 1771 is one of the best modern Filipino restaurant around.  Although I rarely eat at Filipino restaurants, this is one of the few where I'd gladly go back to anytime.  Their food quality is great and the pricing is reasonable.  Their idea in offering some of their dishes for solo and for sharing is another plus.  They also have a Take Out Menu for a group of 6 or 10 that's worth checking out.