Spring Deer Restaurant
Spring Deer is a pretty good place to go to when one wants to satisfy a longing for a lauriat or lunch with friends especially when being constrained by a budget.
The restaurant specializes in seafood and vegetable and tofu dishes, which take up most of the menu. But do not miss out on the soup! Ask the waiter or owner for the specialty: Egg Drop Soup, which incorporates sea moss, century egg, and tofu, among other things into a wonderful blend of Oriental bliss. It might sound strange, but this inventive and intriguing combination of almost-everyday Chinese ingredients Is alone worth the trouble of going to this restaurant!
For those with hefty appetites, order two bowls of rice (or even more), because even the sauces in every dish are so good that one should not waste a drop. House classics like Steamed Lapu-Lapu (grouper) or the Steamed Shrimps should not be missed. If one were to manage to eat everything and still wish to take something home, try some of the Asado (roasted pork)—the sauce and meat incorporate well into a dish of fried rice with egg next-day Chinese cravings.
Branches:
31 Timog Avenue near corner Scout Tobias Street, Quezon City
Tel. Nos.: 371-4358 • 374-3582 Branch: Paranaque
Monday to Saturday: 10am – 2pm; 5pm – 5am Sunday: 10am – 2pm; 5pm – 11pm
Specialties:
Peking Duck, Steamed Lapu-Lapu, Steamed Shrimps, Steamed Shad, Egg Drop Soup
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Limited Street Parking
Non-Smoking
Spices
Located on the ground level of The Peninsula Manila with an Asian inspired interior, one would know what to expect on the menu. Spices specialize in the cuisine of six countries-Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indonesian and Malaysian. The restaurant maintains two kitchens: one for the Indian and the other for the Thai and other specialties.
The chef would normally suggest to start off with Papadams with Chutney and to try the Lassi Meethi-which is a natural yoghurt blended with milk and rose water for beverage. An exotic soup named Shorba Alipasa-tomato soup with yellow lentil and coriander roots, ginger and garlic – was surprisingly good. A Thai dish called Pla Som Rod-fried Chilean sea bass topped with spicy sweet and sour sauce was crisp on the outside and tender, melt-in- your-mouth on the inside. There are nine kinds of curry to choose from, some with meat and some with seafood, all equally delectable. The chef also suggested to try the Murgh Makhan Wala-north Indian tandoori-roasted chicken in silky tomato gravy – and we found it really amazing! Vegetarian dishes are also very popular here like the Paneer Ki Subzee-mint and spinach gravy with cottage cheese.
Dessert offerings include Gula melaka, leche flan, Thai Halo Halo, and Es kapi den-gan jambu biji-coffee parfait with guava compote is some that this place has to offer.
Spices is the closest you’ll ever get to taste the best of Asia in one plate and, considering the quality of the food, it is fairly priced.
Branches:
The Peninsula Manila,
Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue,
Makati City
Tel. No.: 887-2888
Monday to Sunday:
11:30am – 2:30pm; 6pm – 11pm
Specialties:
Papadams with Chutney, Lassi Meethi, Shorba Alipasa, Pla Som Rod, Murgh Makhan Wala, Paneer Ki Subzee, Gula melaka, Thai Halo Halo, Es kapi dengan jambu biji
Attire: Smart Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Hotel Parking/Valet
Non-Smoking
Soul Food
Soul Food in Greenbelt is a fusion of Mexican, Californian and Asian cuisine.
We had their interesting Gado-Gado Salad. The serving was generous. The dish was a mix of greens, cucumbers, carrots and fried tofu topped off with a peanut sauce. Indeed, the salad really does grow on you after taking a few bites, we loved the texture of this dish, and the peanut sauce was not chunky at all. We give this salad thumbs up!
Fajita Supreme was the main course; it came with the trimmings and all condiments plus a great selection of beef, shrimps, chicken and vegetables. It’s big enough for sharing and all the meats were cooked evenly. The sizzling platter is great and always a crowd pleaser.
For dessert our pick would be the Strawberry Shortcake. The shortcake is made in-house and the strawberries are directly from Baguio. The sauce was nice and sweet but the shortcake itself was the highlight of this dessert. A must try!
What we find exemplary with this restaurant is the service and the attention that the staff gave us that night. They were attentive, courteous and knowledgeable.
Branches:
L2, Greenbelt 3,
Ayala Center, Makati City
Tel. No.: 757-4824
Monday to Thursday, Sunday:
11:30am to 3pm; 5:30pm to 11pm
Friday to Saturday:
11:30am to 3pm; 5:30pm to 1am
Specialties:
Gado-Gado Salad Fajita Supreme Strawberry Shortcake
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Mall Parking
Smoking Outdoor
Sorabol
Two sisters kept going back to a Sorabol food court outlet in a San Francisco and decided it would be cheaper to just get a franchise and bring it home! They now own four branches in Manila. This hip-looking, fast-service restaurant is a plus for Korean food lovers. Their menu is very extensive but photos and numbered dishes make ordering easy.
For starters, a must try is the Pajeon, pan-fried spring onion and squid pancakes with an amazing dipping sauce or Champong, a tantalizing mix of spicy seafood noodle soup. For the main course, Dolsot Bokum Sap, beef with vegetable rice mixed with fried egg and chili, or the Kalbi Chim, beef ribs stew in a flavorful broth, are complete meals and both are quite tasty. If you prefer seafood, O-Sam, marinated squid and pork in chili, which like its name was truly AWESOME! The ever-popular Chapehae (Korean glass noodles with vegetables in a delicious blend of sesame and soy sauce) is always a treat or a compliment to your main course. For a lighter fare, 0 Deng (squid balls in spicy Korean sauce) is their version of our native fish balls.
For dessert, they have an assortment of sweetened jelly (strawberry, almond or coffee) cubes served cold to clear all that spice. The affordable prices and friendly atmosphere are worth a “look see.”
Branches:
Carpark 1, Greenhills Shopping Center,
San Juan, Metro Manila Tel. No: 727-1547
Branches: Manila , Makati Las Pinas
Monday to Sunday: 11am – 10pm
Specialties:
Pajeon, Champong, O-Sam, Dolsot Bokum Sap, Chapchae, 0 Deng
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Bldg. Parking
Non-Smoking
Soleil Cafe Moderne
This is Soleil, that tres chi-chi yet defunct place, reincarnated. Well, not quite-it is considerably more accessible, and less intimidating. It is bigger, brighter and constantly filled to capacity. That said, our advice is: get there early.
That way, one could get to order the Crustacean Bisque, so hot it is sold out even before lunch hour is over. Otherwise, one would have to be content with the oysters, which unfortunately are not chilled, but fresh just the same. If one’s tummy cannot stand that, try the Rockefeller, Soleil-style: oysters baked in a fluffy egg covering, like a souffle. Tad dry, but even oyster non-eaters will enjoy it.
For the main course, meat lovers will be happy with the Alsacian Sausage Dish, a melange of hams and German sausages with sauerkraut. The Duck Comfit is another bestseller – sweet and tender without the usual fatty richness of duck. (A side dish should go with it, the Spinach Gratin a top choice – not too heavy, it will balance out the duck just fine).
Cap a meal off with a zingy-sweet Creme Brulee and one will be smiling like the sun the whole day through.
Branches:
LI, Greenbelt 2,
Ayala Center, Makati City
Tel. Nos.: 757-3600 • 757-3599 Sunday to Thursday: 11am – 12mn Friday to Saturday: 11am – 2am
Specialties:
Crustacean Bisque, Oysters, Alsaeian Sausage Dish, Duck Comfit
Attire: Smart Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Mall Parking
Smoking Outdoor
Sincerity Restaurant
There are plenty of long-time Chinatown residents who swear by both the fine Fookienese food and the homey ambiance of Sincerity Restaurant, a long-established fixture in Manila’s Chinatown district located at Nueva, a few blocks away from the Binondo Church. Established in 1958, first along Carvajal St. alongside the famous Carvajal restaurant, Sincerity moved to its present location when the Carvajal restaurant was destroyed in a fire several years back. Notwithstanding its brush with misfortune, Sincerity has remained for over four decades a perennial favorite among Chinatown residents and visitors.
While Sincerity’s specialty is in its Fookien cuisine, its main attraction is its Fried Chicken, which has made a name for itself long before the likes of big-name American franchises flew into the chicken coop. But those yearning for a taste of the more exotic among the Fookienese entrees include traditional favorites like Ma Chang-steamed rice pudding wrapped in leaves, Gou Hyong-wrapped meat rolls and Ou Keh-deep-fried oysters. It being a family restaurant, expect the service to be both friendly and personable.
Branches:
497 Nueva Street, Binondo, Manila
Tel. Nos.: 241-9990 • 241-9972
Monday to Saturday: 9am – 9pm Sunday: 9am – 2pm
Specialties:
Sincerity Fried Chicken, Ma Chang, Ngo Yong (Gabi Cake), Ou Keh
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash Only
Parking: Limited Street Parking
Non-Smoking
Sentro 1771
Traditional Filipino dishes with a distinct style is what Sentro offers its patrons. They have managed to bring the basic philosophy of rice and viand to a whole new taste level without compromising its integrity. This makes it very accessible to even non-Filipino customers.
For appetizers, a must-try is their Tokwa‘t Belly. A lighter but tastier version of the original fried tofu dish substitutes pork with crisp bangus belly. A hearty soup, called Corn Beef in tamarind broth, reminds us of the classic Irish dish of corn beef in cabbage but in a more flavorful sour soup that blends well with the rich chunks of cured beef. They even let you taste the broth first, for you to judge if it has just the right sour taste. The tomato and kesong puti salad are reminiscent of Insalata de Caprese, a classic Italian salad, but using local and very fresh water buffalo mozzarella. Also try their Pinoy Osso Bucco, melt-in-your-mouth beef shanks and Maya Maya Escabeche, a traditional sweet and sour fish dish that is infused with turmeric and other Indian spices. To top it off, their Coffee pie has a great texture contrast of creamy coffee filling and crunchy cashew crust.
Together with a modern native ambiance to the place, Sentro might just be the type of restaurant that would not only satisfy hungry Filipinos, but foreigners alike.
Branches:
L2, Greenbelt 3,
Ayala Center, Makati City
Tel. Nos.: 757-3940 to 41
Monday to Thursday: 11am – 11pm
Friday to Sunday: 11am-1am Reservations recommended;
No reservations on Sunday
Specialties:
Tokwa’t Belly, Corn Beef, Pinoy Osso Bucco, Maya Maya Escabeche
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Mall Parking/Valet
Smoking Outdoor
Seafood Wharf
Located right on the Bay and serving an assortment of live seafood that you pick out from aquariums located in the restaurant, this restaurant will have you “shop for your food” and then have it cooked in the kitchen. This method ensures the freshness of the dishes. They have an extensive and an unusual selection of treasures from the sea.
During our visit, we sampled the Lobster Sashimi (raw) and Salad (steamed and served with greens in a thousand island dressing) that was firm and fresh. Having all these choices was challenging; but we opted to have Grilled Prawns with a Lemon Butter Sauce and White Pompano (one of their specialties) that was steamed in soy sauce. The prawns were tender and the fish moist, both cooked effortlessly bringing out all the flavors. Have an order of mixed vegetables (sauteed in oyster sauce) to compliment these dishes and some garlic fried rice. They also have the Suckling Pig combination for those looking for meat. A mixture of roasts such as soy chicken, pork asado, Peking duck, and suckling pig is another treat. The portions are quite big, so order if you are in a group or really hungry!
Halo-halo and fresh fruit in season are dessert choices to conclude your meal. Operational since the late ’90s, Seafood Wharf is popular among locals and tourists looking for “a taste of the sea by the sea.”
Branches:
Army ft Navy Club Compound,
South Road, TM Kalaw corner
Parade Street, Luneta Park,
Manila
Tel. No.: 400-5066
Monday to Sunday. 7am to 11pm
Specialties:
Lobster Sashimi, Grilled Prawns with a Lemon Butter Sauce and White Pompano, Grilled Prawns, Suckling Pig
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Parking Lot
Smoking
Schwarzwälde
This institution has been in existence for 24 years. It caters to regulars mainly, from the average Joe to the affluent. Dining in this restaurant makes one realize that there is more to German food than just sausages and sauerkraut.
When visiting, don’t hesitate to try the Sausage Platter. Everything is made in-house and the portion is huge, it can easily feed four people, no doubt. It comes with the traditional sauerkraut, potato puree and onion rings.
Their menu also serves their signature dish, the Pork Knuckle, which can be ordered boiled or fried. The knuckle is marinated in special herbs and spices and has a distinct ham-like texture; the meat is very tender and flavorful.
For dessert, try the Apfelstrudel. The generous portion comes with the choice of vanilla sauce or vanilla ice cream, the filling is generous and the filo pastry is flaky and served warm.
Sehwarzwalder’s owners are also proud of their homemade sandwiches and chicken dishes. They have an extensive menu. They also import beer and other German delicacies. Stop by anytime, maybe you will meet the animated owner Peter Jentes, who is not short of stories about his heritage.
Branches:
G/F, Atrium Building,
Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas,
Makati City
Tel. Nos.: 893-5179 • 892-5220
Monday to Saturday: 7am – 11pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 2:30pm
Specialties:
Sausage Platter, Pork Knuckle, Apfelstrudel
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Bldg. Parking
Smoking
Sanbashi
Sanbashi is a Japanese restaurant in the same premises as the Filipino place called Pantalan. Its drawing power relies on traditional and innovative dishes prepared by an executive chef reportedly flown in straight from Japan. Although 90% of the ingredients used are claimed to be authentic (read: imported), one would be surprised at the reasonable prices.
The Spicy Salmon Roll and Tempura Roll are larger than usual and both are equally good. Favorites like shrimp tempura, sushi and sashimi are readily available, but the teppan dishes are the ones to watch out for. There is the Nasu Bacon Teppan and the Shiitake Teppan. The Angus Steak and Lobster Teppan Combo are just one of the more expensive items, but one could consider the money well spent even after just the first bite.
The ambience is predominantly semi-casual, the degree of which depends on where one chooses to sit. Get some help from the waiters; they are very helpful if one wants a romantic setting, a relaxed drinking spree, or a more formal dinner.
Branches:
South Road corner Parade Street,
Luneta Park, Ermita, Manila
Tel. Nos.: 400-6757 • 525-0514
Monday to Sunday: 11:30am – 2:30pm; 6pm – 11pm
Specialties:
Spicy Salmon Roll, Tempura Roll, Nasu Bacon Teppan, ShiitakeTeppan, Angus Steak, Lobster Teppan Combo
Attire: Casual
Mode of Payment: Cash/Credit
Parking: Limited Street Parking
Smoking