Discover places you'll love in the Philippines

Village Tavern is an American Restaurant Chain established in 1984 in North Carolina. It was brought in by The Bistro Group who's also responsible for giving us restaurants like Friday's, Bulgogi Brothers, and Itallanis. Village Tavern has changed a lot since i first ate here. It is now more "family friendly", a good place for lunch, and even after-hour drinks. The food was plentiful, and the service was great. A few standouts are the: Spaghetti Al Vongole; Shrimp and Grits; Main Street Platter: (3 Pieces of Fried Chicken, Grilled Porkchops, a Kani Salad Wrap and Marbled potatoes); and High Street Platter (3 Pieces of Grilled Monterey Chicken, Porcetta, Fish Tacos, and Marbled Potatoes). Their extensive menu ensures that definitely something for everyone. My visit was sponsored by the group as part of their marketing and celebration of the restaurants fifth anniversary.

Joey Pepperoni is no stranger to me as I've worked with Kettle Foods Corporation before and handled this pizzeria for a short while. I still remember going crazy over its delectable pesto pasta and how I make sure I dine there for lunch every payday. And years and other pesto dishes later, Joey Pepperoni's version still delights my taste buds. Hello, Joey Pepperoni. This local pizzeria rebranded a few months ago and added new product offerings. Shifting to brick oven also changed how Joey Pepperoni makes its pizza. Now with a puffier and thicker crust, it made carb lovers twirl with happiness. During our visit, we feasted on Pepperoni Fries (PHP170), Mozzarella Bites (PHP195), Joey's Supreme (PHP210, 8" | PHP440, 12"), Bianca (PHP195, 8" | PHP390, 12"), Meaty Legend (PHP210, 8" | PHP450, 12"), Rosemary Chicken (PHP240), Chicken Parmigiana (PHP235), Pesto Pasta (PHP165), Banana Nutella Pizza (PHP140). The Pepperoni Fries were so good! It was so cheesy and the pepperoni slices added that delightful meaty flavor to the dish. I could have finished the whole dish if only there were not a lot of dishes for us to try and if I was not competing with other foodies who fell head over tummies with this smacktacular dish. The Mozzarella Bites were good too. The batter was crunchy and the mozzarella inside was soft and gooey. The dish was well complemented by the marinara sauce it came with. It was no surprise for the pesto pasta to be a hit during our meal. Everyone liked the herby taste of the green pasta. But if you want something heavier, you might want to go with chicken parmigiana which comes with a huge slab of breaded chicken fillet topped with cheese. It may be a bit too tangy for those who are used to sweet red sauce. But it would surely delight anyone who prefer the Italian version. For the pizzas, everyone liked Bianca the best. The blend of mozzarella, white cheese, and bleu cheese with anchovies, garlic and arugula made this pizza a winner! It was flavorful yet not overwhelming. And the fact that it was topped with arugula made me feel that I was eating something healthy. Joey's Supreme was pretty good as well. Its generous serving of mozzarella cheese, cheddar, pepperoni, bacon strips, mushroom, green and red bell pepper, onions and black olives made this dish value for money. Two slices of this could be enough to fill you up. Meat lovers would enjoy Meaty Legend as it is topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon strips, and of course, mozzarella cheese. This is perfect for those who avoid greens. I also liked the beautifully grilled and baked rosemary chicken. It had a lovely garlicky and tangy taste which was well complemented by rosemary. I wouldn't mind having this for lunch for days! The Banana Nutella Pizza was quite hard to slice. But I guess it was made like that for you to avoid sharing it with others. I wouldn't mind finishing one whole of this as it was so good! The chewy crust topped with banana, cinnamon and Nutella was bliss. Overall, it was a lovely meal. I'd definitely swing by again for Bianca, Rosemary Chicken, Pepperoni Fries and my all time favorite, Pesto Pasta.

One of the most famous food destinations in Metro Manila is Kapitolyo in Pasig. Number of restaurants in this area have started to balloon around early mid-2013 back in time when people are getting more curious intro trying out something new from the "usual". Pretty sure you've already heard of the most beloved Café Juanita, Ba Noi's, Silantro, or Thai Dara and might've visited it quite a few times like I do! One of the places in Kapitolyo that's making a buzz for quite some time is Titto's! Known for serving sumptuous Latin American dishes; Titto's is the perfect place to celebrate with family, hangout with barkadas, or chill like a true blue tittos (and tittas) of manila! The festive vibe of the place is almost contagious due to its colourful painted walls; but still very laidback with its chill ambiance that's perfect for every generation. The place is quite big and could accommodate nearly 80 people. Team Kaladkarin was privileged to be invited for an eatup to finally try their specials. Some of us have already tried their food while most of us including me were first timers, so we're excited!!! For the starters, we had.. Nacho el Gigante - still good even though it's already cold. We all know na sanay na kami sa malamig na because instagram photos are lifest! Gotta love the overwhelming serving of cheese and beef barbacoa on top! Sisig Tacos - crispy sisig on top of the soft-shell tacos! Gotta love this because the sisig isn't too greasy! It's quite comparable to El Chupacabra's but both are "standouts" anyway! Elote - Who doesn't love corn knowing that it has magnesium and potassium? This shredded corn masterpiece is definitely one of the must tries from their Starters. Char-grilled sweet corn with smoked paprika butter, some Tamarind spices, crumbled queso fresco and mayo lime. This is pretty good for real! Hindi ito "char" lang! #lastkonayun After a great "warm-up", we're now ready for something more to come like.. Pollo Pizzadilla - Tortilla pizza with grilled chicken, pimientos, tomato sauce, cheese, and chimichurri topped with mixed greens. This is a sort of lovechild of pizza and quesadilla! Paella de Carne - I'm no big fan of paella so I'm not expecting much from this, but was surprised that I reaaally loved it! Grilled chicken inasal, chorizo, sofrito, french beans on top of the quite spicy and flavorful rice! It's not as moist as the usual but not too dry for my taste. 18-hour Gaucho Steak - This is definitely one of the highlights! Hanger steak with onion crisps anf side veggies! Aside from the meat being so tender, the flavor was too glorious and deserves a spot on your table! Costillitas - Cuban baby back ribs with house BBQ sauce. No questions needed if we're talking 'bout baby back ribs! You'd expect it to be fall-off-the-bone goodness aside from its There are a few places that's serving decent ribs, and Titto's could top my list due to its glorious flavor!!! Titto's Wings - you can never go wrong with chicken wings! This is actually the last one I've tried because I'm expecting it to be like the usual spicy glazed chicken wings but boy, I was so wrong! This is just soooo good! And for some sweet endings... Titto's Ube Churros - Crunchy ube churros with white chocolate frosting caramel and chocolate drizzle. I love churros but I'm not picky. I love it because it's not too sweet for my taste though the taste of ube could've been improved somehow? Frozen Brazo de Mercedez - Kailangan mo nang matibay na braso to cut this goodness! 🏼🏼 But it's good by the way! It would tickle a while before its "frozen state" would "cool down". So if you have plans of getting this, make sure to give the crew a heads up to serve it a little earlier? Everything was so good! I couldn't actually think of anything that went wrong but maybe just some little remarks lang on the Ube churros. But nonetheless, it deserves a perfect 5!!! ️️️️️ Also, they're also hosting some events like Acoustic nights and Comedy nights. So if you're feeling stressed and you just wanna laugh out with Comedy Manila while munching some delicious sisig tacos, feel free to go here! Or if you're more into acoustic sound while finishing a whole pizzadilla in 5minutes, this is the perfect spot for you! You might wanna check out the schedule of these hosted events on their social media for the more accurate details! Big thanks to Winslow and friends for inviting us over! Cheers, meu amigo!!! Great times! Jayson J Angela Marie C EJ B Sandy P Norman Lester T Christina R Dennis O!

This place is so breathtaking I don't even know how I'll describe it kasi sobrang blown away ako Malcapuya Island is one of the 3 Islands included in one of the island tours you can avail in Coron, Palawan. It's 1500 per pax, lunch/merienda already included ️ the tours were really generous kasi they really go in with the food and drinks. Nagulat pa ako kasi pabalik na kami sa town pero they handed us puto and a bottle of water for merienda. The Island was really a beauty. I highly suggest everyone to never miss this tour if you happen to go to Coron. It wasn't really that crowded na tipong you can't take good photos. We went on a Sunday and I was expecting many tourist luckily sakto lang yung dami ng tao. They have plenty of kubos you could use for free. The bathroom was decent too! Syempre de-tabo ang flush but it's pretty decent. The beach itself was really blue and breathtaking. The sand was so fine and white. Hindi din makalat sa beach. You can opt to snorkel but our guide told us there's not much to see compared to the other beaches so we didn't bother snorkeling. ️

This place is like a window to a whole new picturesque world. Very relaxing. Their infinity pool does not only make you feel relaxed but will make you want to be glued at the edge of it. Who doesnt want to stare at this serene background? Going here is 5hours from city proper of Bacolod plus 30min of motorcycle ride going to the resort. The price of their food is quite pricy, it is twice the original price, however you cant complain since this resort is far from civilization. You have an option to bring your own food however you have to hold on to them for almost 7hours travel. No internet here. You must embrace nature and blue waters of the resort. They offer island hopping and other water activities. And the best part is You will find fireflies like they are floating in trees at night, and so many of them. It's magical.

Saving the best for last is the Star Beach, a small stretch of pristine white beach on Tapiutan Island. It is known locally as Dalisay Beach and this is where we spent the remaining hours of island-hopping tour doing snorkeling and free diving. The view underneath the water was just as magnificent as the view on the surface. The massive corals, the colorful fishes, everything looked like a dream. The boat crew, young men with dark skin and lean frames swam in the sea like it was their playground. They dove into the deep without effort, and moved in the water like they belonged in it. They were fascinating to watch that I was inspired to take free diving lesson when I get the chance.

Foggy Mountain Cookhouse: One of the must must must try restaurant in Baguio!!! 💯 Legit foodie experience!! 🏼 Here's how you can have a Happy Foggy Mountain Cookhouse experience: Step 1: Visit their FB Page to see the menu and for the contact number. You can either message Chef Babes via FB or through the number available online (09167674687). Don't expect an immediate response, be patient in waiting for his reply. Tip: make sure to reserve days (or at least a week) before your target visit date. Why? Because they're always fully booked and there is no "defined schedule" (Chef Babes is not available all the time since he's sometimes in Manila). I made a mistake of reserving the night before and he's still in Manila. Good thing, my family was willing to adjust and extend out stay. Step 2: Once you've reserved a date. Next is to pre-order. The menu is available online. Read and study it very well. You can read reviews online so you know what are the "must orders". If you think choosing is easy, well I don't think so! The menu is limited but because of the huge serving size, you can't order too much (unless you're willing to bring it with you after). Plus they all are super tempting! I had a hard time deciding that my aunt avoided me and my questions. As mentioned, all dishes are good for sharing and are priced very very reasonably. Best to go here as a group in order to try and enjoy more dishes. 🏼 Also, they give complimentary appetizer (bread hummus), side salad (cabbage + carrots; coleslaw-ish like), and dessert (pumpkin puree). Sulit!!! 💯 Also, if you don't like moroccan rice or if there's any special request, you can say this and Chef Babes will adjust. Step 3: You wait for Chef Babes' confirmation. Also, he'll send you the instructions on how you'll be able to locate this place. It's detailed enough but you can always use Waze just to be sure. And please be on time (early, if possible) because parking space is VERY limited. And though you reserved already, you're not guaranteed to get a table right away (I know, sad lah!! ). Step 4: EAT!!! And enjoy!!! 🤗 PLACE: When we finally reached this place, we had a hard time finding a spot to park because the street is steep and narrow and the parking space is very limited. We had to find a "park-able space" along the street just so we can park. When we went inside, I was surprised to see a usual house. Literally a house with "tables" for the customers. It's like going to a family reunion. If you've been to Chaya, same set up but lesser tables and more bahay feels. I was hoping that we already have a table because we reserved but nope, place was packed with customers and we had to wait for I think around 30 minutes. 🙄 Can't blame the customers taking their time because you're supposed to enjoy your time eating. 🤐 SERVICE: Service wasn't that good. They have servers but no help. Service was slow and magulo. We had to wait for them to acknowledge our existence and had to even ask about our reservation. If only someone's at the entrance but oh well. FOOD: Started our feast with 2 appetizers - BREAD w HUMMUS and SIDE SALAD. The hummus was interestingly good and we all liked the soft mini bread. Side salad was yummy, loved the light citrusy dressing. For our family of 4, we ordered 3 mains. CRISPY FRIED SQUID. Huge pieces of perfectly fried breaded squid served with dill tartar sauce. Very tasty and not chewy since it was cooked just right. This is served with TRUFFLE MASHED POTATO. Ahhhh, the mashed potato was reaaally good! Ang sarap sarap niya!!! PORCHETA. Their bestseller. Crispy skin and tender pork belly with raisins, red wine sauce and yummy flavors. PAN FRIED FISH FILLET. Just like the squid, this was fried perfectly. The fish was tasty and not dry. The breading was just a bit thick but it was able to serve its purpose which is to hold the fish firmly. There were a lot of tomatoes, basil, olives, and parmesan cheese on top but since I like tomatoes, basil and cheese, I enjoyed eating them. Plus it also helped in minimizing the umay. 🏼 I just don't like the olives, haha! The mains may all be really good and yummy but my favorite was Foggy Mountain Cookhouse's PASTA in EGG SAUCE. Though just a side order, you must not miss this one. Al dente pasta with egg sauce, parmesan cheese, and truffle oil. Simple yet packed with so much flavor and awesomeness! Ang sarap niya promise!!!!! OMG!!! And for dessert, PUMPKIN PUREE with roasted marshmallows and whipped cream. Interestingly good and yummy dessert. Doesn't taste like mashed kalabasa. Since it was my uncle's birthday weekend, we were given free shots! PEACH something something. Not a fan of alcoholic drinks but I liked the free shot glass with my uncle's name! Despite the bad service and the parking issue, I am still recommending this place. Please make sure to have lunch or dinner here because it's super worth it. Call and reserve first because they do not allow walk-ins. For the menu and reservations, message them in FB. I swear, it's worth it. 💯

This branch of Tokyo Cheese is in a long hallway fronting the famed fountains in Okada. It's nice to see that they have an affordable section in such a pricy hotel. I mean, the spa charges 4K/hour of massage. You can find TMC beside Pinks, ChaTime and Mary Grace. My daughter absolutely loves TMC. Whichever flavor we have. She also insists she bring some to school for her snack. We also see her tiny hands hoarding a couple of pieces for herself right after we open a box. I sent 5 boxes to my son a few months ago to bring overseas and he ate all of them, didn't even share it with anyone. When he tried the Gorgonzola he said it tasted like his favorite pasta from Cibo, which actually uses the same cheese. Yes, I'm ecstatic with his developing palate. There's a subtle difference in taste between the variants, depending on the cheese and add ons. This time we got the honey/Gorgonzola and porcini/Gouda. No savings when you get a box of 20 instead of a 10, it's still 62 pesos per piece. You just get a bigger box for the 20.

First time to try Vampire Penguin! Been wanting to but it's location is not Paranaque friendly so when I had the chance today, I grabbed it! Together with Reich T, we tried their new flavor - The Jillian! Two layers of fine ice, bottom was Thai Milk Tea and top layer was Matcha. Fished off with crushed chocolate cookies and drizzled with condensed milk, oh my it was good! The Thai Milk Tea though needs more sweet milk but nonetheless, it was still good. The Matcha was leaning towards the "prayer meeting lasang bulaklak" side but it wasn't such a big deal since it still had a good matcha kick. The cookie crumbs gave this a good texture contrast because the ice was so fine and smooth it almost didn't feel like I was eating flavored shaved ice! Can't wait to try the other flavors!

Always game for ramen! For this visit, I refrained from ordering my usual spicy ramen and opted for the miso one. AKAMARU SHINAJI PHP400 IPPUDO’s original tonkotsu broth enhanced with special blended miso paste and fragrant garlic oil. Served with thin noodles, pork belly, kikurage and spring onions. Can’t go wrong with this classic! YOKOHAMA LEKEI RAMEN PHP495 Paitan + Tonkotsu broth. Served with thick noodles, shoyu tamago, cabbage, spinach, nori, loin and pork belly. This is a new item in their menu. Broth tasted deliciously fatty. As always, their ramen is cooked al dente and perfect. DEEP FRIED GYOZA PHP220 Topped with spicy mayo, negi and chili powder on a bed of shredded cabbage. Served with Ippudo’s ponzu sauce Overall, another great visit! 🏻

The expert in lifestyle dining and entertainment originating from Cebu has finally branched out to Manila, bringing with them the promise of good times you should never miss out on. Ibiza Beach Club, owned by the award-winning vintner and entrepreneur Manny O. first opened its doors in Movenpick Hotel in Mactan Island, Cebu. With the incomparable excitement and energy it brings, Ibiza Beach Club has been known all over the country and even internationally, as the ultimate destination for a total lifestyle dining experience, an experience now within the reach of Manileños. The new branch has a 1,000-seater capacity, which is a pretty huge place complete with plush lounges, white furniture with matching teal and light green pillows, a centre stage, and a Jacuzzi! There's also a first class dining section for a more intimate gathering. The ambiance alone of the club was able to convince me that I'm having the time of my life. Little did I know that the day is far from over, as we indulge in the wide array of food Ibiza Beach Club has to offer. The early and late seating lunch special is available from 11am-12:30pm or 1:30-2pm, with a price of P500 nett for a 3-course menu, and P600 for a 4-course menu. This menu includes a soup of the day, unlimited salad bar, the plated main course, and the signature dessert. MAIN COURSE CHOICES: Pork Baby Back Ribs Chicken Drumstick Crispy Pork Belly Fish of the Day Everything from this menu tasted delicious, but what stood out for me the most is the baby back ribs, probably because I wasn't able to taste the others xD. The tenderness and flavorful, smoky taste of the meat was great. The executive lunch is available from Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 2pm, priced at P1,000 for 3-course, and P1,100 for 4-course. The spread includes the basics from the early and late seating lunch, but on a higher level, with a choice of entree from the Balearic grill. MAIN COURSE CHOICES: Ribeye Filet Mignon (US Angus) Lamb Chops Jumbo Prawn Calamari Canadian Beef Ribs I wish I could recommend just one dish from this menu but it'll be suicide for me to do that since I loved all of those that I've tried, so I'll just briefly explain each one. The ribeye was so tender, and seasoned perfectly. The lamb chops was huge and has a delectably distinct taste. The jumbo prawn was, as written, jumbo, soft, and packed with flavors. The calamari had a really nice, smooth texture, contrary to the rubbery squid we normally have. The items from the salad bar are incredibly delicious. There are no words to explain how amazed I am of Ibiza Beach Club's salad bar. I've never imagined salads to taste this amazing! For me, it's a clear indication that a restaurant wants to deliver to their promise of good food when even just the salad is flawless. If you're up for an even more awesome dining experience, then try their signature 15-course Balearic grill for P2,500 per person. This menu includes the salar bar, 4 seafood dishes, 9 meat items and their signature queen pineapple dessert. This menu is guaranteed to impress you, and is worth every peso. Worry not about your kids as you can bring them with you to to lunch at Ibiza Beach Club! Yes, the club also has a menu to cater to your children. We're talking about mini burgers, pizza, spaghetti, chicken, etc. Even adults would want a taste of this menu. The night is still young for all Ibiza Beach Club goers, as the restaurant showcase world-class talents in themed show performances to bedazzle all its guests come dinner time. Ibiza Beach Club has lived up to its name with establishing a place like Eivissa, where the pleasures of dining and entertainment meet so effortlessly. You only live once (YOLO), so make sure you make it a point in your life to visit this club, unwind and have fun. Thank me later ;)

Lo and behold, THE CALI KANI PIZZA. I was invited by #TeamK to attend Shakey's Launch of their newest creation - The Kali Cani Pizza. Saw familiar faces during the event and we were all warmly welcomed by Shakey's fam. I appreciate that they served us Pizza Fresh from the oven and insisted for us to taste it first to fully enjoy and appreciate their masterpiece. Later on we were served Pizzas for photo op. Haha. The Experience East meets West in Shakey's newest masterpiece loaded with Kani, Peaches, Cucumber and Fish Roe with Jap. Sesame Dressing. The full and bold taste of Kani blends well with the light sweetness of sliced peaches with just the right amount of salty kick from the Japanese Sesame Dressing. When I was invited I was afraid I wouldn't like the Pizza cause it might be to sweet for my liking. If you read my reviews you'd know I hate sweet viands lol. Even my boyfriend told me he's 100% sure I won't like it. Daming kontra bida BUT!!! I LIKED IT. 🔸They didn't scrimp on the Kani so the distinct Kani taste is really noticeable. Hindi nagtipid. Love it. 🔸I was surprised that the Kani had a little Sweet x Salty taste compared to tasteless frozen Kani that can be bought in Groceries 🔸The Sesame Dressing and Fish Roe did all the magic! 🔸I wish there were more NORI sprinkled on top to add more saltiness to the overall taste of the Pizza 🔸The peaches looked like mangoes and didn't taste like real peaches. There were only few bits per slice so the taste wasn't so prominent 🔸BEST EATEN WHEN HOT SIYEMPRE!!! I LOVE THE CONTRAST OF THE CRISPINESS OF THE CRUST VS. THE SOFTNESS OF THE KANI. Price: P485 ⏱️ Available for a Limited Time Only ✔️ The event is SPONSORED BY SHAKEY'S Aside from the Pizza, we were also served mojos, fried chicken, spaghetti, carbonara, milkshakes and iced tea buffet LET'S SHAKEY'S! #KANIFTW