Manila Restaurants: Aussie Cafe (Promo)

Aussie Cafe has a new promo this month. Read below:

We would like to invite you to partake in Aussie Cafe's October Events!

Octoberfest

DRINK-ALL-YOU- CAN Beer for only P295! This promo is from 6pm to 10pm (San Miguel Beer Pale and Lite products only)
Plus, ladies get an special 10% Off on cocktail drinks for the month of October from 6pm to 10 pm

Halloween Treat or More Treats!

Invite your children to spend a morning of fun at Aussie Cafe! On October 31, 2009 10:00am to 2:00pm, Aussie will be having a Halloween Special for kids. For an entrance fee of P295.00, kids can partake of: face painting, balloon twisting, halloween games, loot bag, plus Aussie's Special Halloween Kiddie Meal!

For reservations, please call Celine Choa at +639176308800 or at 659-2558.

Aussie Cafe & Resto
BCGroup Center, Filinvest Ave.
659-2658
www.aussiecafe@ multiply. com

Manila Restaurants: Hooters

Yes, the ever-famous restaurant chain in the US is now in the Philippines! Hooters, made popular by their exceptionally "voluptuous" waitresses, opened last 2008 at the SM Mall of Asia at the edge of Manila bay. It created a lot of buzz among the locals, especially the males who want a sneak peek of the scantily-clad waitstaff, called "Hooters Girls". A few weeks ago, me and my friends got curious and tried it out! Below are a few snapshots of what Hooters - SM MoA is like.

According to Wiki,

A Hooters Girl (informally, "Hooter Girl" is commonly used) is a waitress employed by the Hooters restaurant chain. The girls are recognizable by their uniform of a white tank top with the "Hootie the Owl" logo and the location name on the front paired with the famously short orange runner's shorts.

Indeed, their girls looked darn sexy with that uniform on. All of them had long, straight hair with itsy bitsy waistlines and extremely round boobies. With their super short shorts and tiny tank tops on, Hooters is indeed a haven for male testosterone overload.

Aside from the staff, Hooters is also about FOOD. Their menu consists mainly of hamburgers, sandwiches, steaks, appetizers, entrees, and their ever-famous chicken wings. They also serve alcoholic drinks in their liquor bar. And if you want to remember your Hooters experience, you can also purchase exclusive Hooters shirts and various souvenirs.

Our Hooters experience was absolutely F-U-N! We got to see the Hooters Girls dance to the tune of YMCA, and perform hoola-hoop tricks in front of the mostly-male audience. Their service was also top-class, with each Hooter girl ever-ready to cater to their customer's needs wearing a warm smile. We even took a couple of pictures with them (I think these girls are already used to getting their pictures taken!).

I wasn't too crazy about the food, though. I thought it was overpriced and bland -- just like any other American restaurant there is. The price didn't really justify the taste and texture of the food. I guess you're paying for the over-all Hooters experience (the girls, the ambiance, the name), and not really for the food. I'd say I won't be coming back here for a long time, unless absolutely necessary. :)

Here's my rating of Hooters - SM Mall of Asia:

• Price: Each meal costs around Php499 - Php1000
• Serving: Medium
• Food: B
  
• Ambiance: A
• Service: A

If you're lucky with your finances this month, then you should visit Hooters at the SM Mall of Asia. If not, there's always a next time.

Manila Restaurants: Gumbo

Gumbo is a stew or soup originating in Louisiana which is popular across the Gulf Coast of the United States and into the U.S. South. It consists primarily of a strong stock, meat and/or shellfish, a thickener, and the vegetable "holy trinity" of celery, bell peppers and onion. The soup is traditionally served over rice.

- Gumbo Wikipedia

At least that's what Wiki has to say. But here in Manila, Gumbo is actually redefined into something else. It's A Taste of New Orleans in Manila, where you can experience not only its wonderful cuisine, but also the amazing ambiance of Jazz, French, and Mardi Gras combined.

Gumbo is the only restaurant in Manila that takes pride in serving the famous New Orleans' Cajun and Creole cooking. Their menu offers an assortment of interesting dishes cooked the cajun or creole way such as the jambalaya, smoked sausages, shrimp and oysters. More than that, the large servings of their dishes make it ideal for sharing for groups and families. And the price is just right, too.

Moreover, Gumbo gives its guests a meal to remember because of the restaurant's overall ambiance and their wonderful service. The cozy, old fashioned furniture gives you the feeling of nostalgia. The energy of the music and the ornaments displayed are vibrant enough to keep you interested and looking forward to what more they can offer. Their polite and eager to help crew are there to make sure you get the best of what they have to offer. And it's not just the smile on their faces, but the fact that they want to make sure you get what you truly deserve.

Overall, Gumbo is a must visit! Try their branch at the SM Mall of Asia where you have a scenic view of the Manila Bay.

Here's my rating of Gumbo:

• Price: Each meal costs around Php200 - Php400
• Serving: Large
• Food: YUMMY! (Must Try: Seafood Jambalaya)
  
• Ambiance: A
• Service: A

Manila Restaurants: Curry Curry House

Just recently SM Megamall has renovated a section of their mall to make way for the posh place now know as the Mega Atrium. It is located at the center of SM Megamall A and B, 2nd floor up to the 5th floor. Most shops here are those from The Podium, and the restaurants are a bit classier than the usual.

There, we discovered the Curry Curry House. It's a Japanese restaurant specializing in -- yep, you guessed it -- Curry. The interior is similar to any other Japanese restaurant, with wallpapers of some Japanese figure like a ninja, or samurai, or a woman dressed in a kimono, or the like. But the food is totally different.

They serve their food in a special curry sauce, which is terribly addicting but can be too "curry-ful" after one cup of rice. Oh yeah, their rice is also unlimited. More than that, each meal only costs Php 100 - 200 per rice meal, and that's not a bad price at all considering the size of their servings. It's one of those restaurants where you really get a good value for your money.

But then again, you can never get too much curry in a week. I'd say, I'll have curry once a month, but I can't have it more than once in a week. It'll be too much for me. But that's just me. :)

For more information about this restaurant, you may contact them at: (63 2) 631-8470
Or you may visit them at:

3rd Level
SM Megamall Atrium
SM Megamall
EDSA cor. Julia Vargas Avenue
Mandaluyong, Metro Manila

Also just a few reminders:
- Budget range is Php 200.00 and below per meal
- Credit Card payment not allowed YET
- Eat-all-you-can Rice

Manila Restaurants: Fuzion Smoothie Cafe

If you're looking for the perfect place to sip a nice, cold, refreshing drink made of fresh ice-cold fruits on a terribly sunny day, then Fuzion Smoothie Cafe is the perfect choice. They offer an array of natural fruit smoothies to quench your thirst, and they also serve a variety of food which include rice meals, pizzas, pastas, chips, salads and desserts, etc.

One of the nice things about the drinks they serve is that they guarantee an "all-natural" fruit smoothie: No Ice, no sugar. The fruits are kept frozen, and are only blended upon ordering. This is to keep the natural sweetness and coolness from frozen fruits at their peak of ripeness. Today, they have expanded their menu and now offer a full range of coffee, chocolate, and tea lattes.

Fuzion Smoothie Cafe also makes your stay more pleasant because of the very cozy ambiance of their stores -- perfect for your families and friends to hang out. They have large, comfy chairs and stylish tables to make your stay even more relaxing and refreshing. Fuzion stores can be found at popular hang out areas such as Greenbelt, Eastwood, and Greenhills. (Note: Image grabbed from their site.)

For more information, please visit their site at: http://www.fuzionphils.com

Manila Restaurants: Cascada

Cascada is The Classic Cheap Choice.

If you're near Greenbelt area and you're looking for a formal, fine-dining restaurant but on a budget, then you have to visit Cascada located at the 2nd floor of Greenbelt 3, Makati. Cascada offers a wide array of your classic dishes garnished with modern flavors from all over the world: from pasta, to salads, to rice dishes, to steaks. Plus, you get the fine-dining ambiance that's usually felt only at hotels or high-end restaurants. And the good news? It's not as pricey! Price range for a simple meal (without drinks) is at Php 250 - 500. Not bad, right? Especially when the food is great.

Oh and don't forget to get dessert! Try their chocolate fondue!

Manila Restaurants: Cocorama

Cocorama - a cute, retro restaurant at the 6th floor of Shangri-La Mall EDSA (corner Shaw Blvd, Edsa). It has an interesting ambiance: disco balls inside the restaurant, a Wolks-Vagen mini-bus as serving as the counter, and a burst of orange, yellow and pink lining its walls. It kind of reminds you of the hippie days.

The food looks terribly delicious if you check out their menu. Plus, it's quite affordable: Prices range from Php 100 - 200 per meal. Also service is terrific because you are greeting with smiling face and a very accommodating crew.

However, what you see isn't what you get. The Php 175 - pancake with custard filling meal has pancakes that are smaller than expected (it's the same as the circumference of a Wendie's biggie Cup). The filling also isn't that great. As for their steak sandwich, the bread they used probably wasn't fresh because it was so chewy. In the end, you'll end up eating the steak and leave the bread untouched.

Cocorama is a great place to visit if you want to be reminded of the hippie days, or if you want to try something new and groovy. Just don't expect much from the food. It probably won't make your priority list of restaurants.