Friday, June 22, 2007
Cyma
Once seated, we were served by a friendly waitor who advised us about the menu options, and described in detail what comprised each dish - something many other Boracay restaurant staff are often unable to do.
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There's such a warmth and friendliness about this cosy restaurant, and the delicious aromas assail the senses before you even step inside. Amongst other things, our group enjoyed the Mezedes Selection, Saganaki (flaming cheese), Spinach and Artichoke Fondue, Lamb Gyros, Marlin Steak, Ossobuca Pasta, Chicken Kebabs, and a tasty anchovy dish (the name of which I can't remember).
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The mouthwatering food is served quickly by the attentive staff, and you can watch your meal being prepared at the open kitchen. I'd highly recommend this little restaurant, but book in advance during high season to avoid disappointment.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Ole
According to the the background information on the menu, the owners are not Spanish, nor have they lived in Spain, but they were inspired to open Ole by their love of Spanish cuisine. Not having been to Spain myself, I am unable to comment on the authenticity of the food, but I did notice a couple of Spaniards sitting at tables outside, and that's a good sign.
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As a starter, we ordered a dish of artichoke, ham and onions in olive oil, served with garlic bread. I'd had this dish before, and liked it so much I even learned to make it at home. This time it was a little heavy on the onions, but still really good.
For our main course we ordered chicken skewers (the Spanish name escapes me) and chicken breasts in a mushroom, wine and cream sauce. This is where we made our mistake, if you can call it that. Both dishes were very large, and had we known in advance we would have ordered just one and shared it between the two of us.
The food was excellent though, and the waitress was happy to box up what we couldn't finish so that we could take it home. Evidently our friends at the next table experienced the same thing, as they came over to share a plate of delicious seafood spaghetti which they too were unable to finish.
Ole is a little pricy, but bearing in mind the size of the portions, it balances out. Unless you are particularly ravenous, one main course will probably be enough for two.
All in all, we thought this place was great - friendly staff, efficient service, nice ambience, and of course, good food.
Mongkok
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The squid was excellent - soft and tender, cooked in a light batter, with just the right amount of mild chillis. It came with a vinegar dip, which was the perfect compliment to the dish.
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The Beef and Broccoli was also pretty tasty - though I personally found the meat a little fatty and slightly chewy, the broccoli was cooked to perfection (on the crunchy side, just how I like it) and the sauce (with carrots, ginger and green onions) was delicious.
The Salad Shrimp Puffs were a little disappointing though. Perhaps they had been cooked in advance and then reheated, as the edges were nice and cripy while the middles were soggy and not very appetising. The mayo dip was pretty uninspiring too.
All in all I have mixed feelings about this place. To be honest, we already had pre-concieved ideas about this kind of neon-lit, generic chain restaurant, and in many ways we were pleasantly surprised. However the prices were higher than I expected (though not ridiculously high), and this conflicted with some other aspects of the place. For example, our drinks being served to the table in the can, complete with cracked plastic glasses? - a little shoddy.
The staff were attentive, though at one point I almost wanted to asked them to back off a little while we were eating and give us some space - they hovered a bit too much. The ambience was OK - not what you'd call romantic, due to the busy location in the mall plaza, but nice nonetheless. Live music was provided by the Hobbit House band across the street, and its fun people-watching as the diminutive sized touts tried to hustle the customers inside for an overpriced beer. Would we go back? Yes, if only for another plate of that pepper squid, and perhaps to try the appetising looking soups..
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Crafty's Rooftop
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Despite being relatively new, the place already has a crowd of devoted regular customers, lured back time and time again by the tasty food and friendly company.
Smoke Resto
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.As well as Filipino breakfasts (beef tapa, longanisa etc) omelettes, sandwiches and noodles are available, and main course dishes include tasty meals such as Creamy Oriental Chicken, Spicy Garlic Pork, Beef Teriyake, Pan Grilled Chicken with BBQ Sauce, Bicol Express, Stuffed Squid with Sizzled Vegetables, Fish Curry, Steamed Crab in Lemon & Garlic, Calamares Fritos, and my particular favourite, Beef Salpicao.
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Smoke is a friendly and relaxed eatery, popular with Filipinos and foreigners alike. Chill to the reggae beats and watch the world go by as you enjoy a tasty meal without breaking the bank!
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Saturday, June 9, 2007
Lemon Cafe
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A popular lunchtime favourite is the Lemons Club Sandwich (chicken, bacon and prawns with salad and pesto mayo), and the Steak & Onion Sandwich though simple, is juicy and full of flavour. Additional main courses are usually displayed on the specials board, and it is the ability to whip up innovative creations such as these which earned head chef Peter Montemayor the first prize in Boracay's Iron Chef competition last April.
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While Lemon Cafe might not be the first place which springs to mind when thinking of dinner, there is a good choice of main meals on offer, such as Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Thyme. Be sure to try one of the refreshing iced juice drinks, such as the mint and pineapple crush, and for dessert the chocolate mousse and the caramel cup are mouthwateringly good.