Real Deal meal plus more at The Old Spaghetti House

When our family eats out, I prefer ordering group meals to quicken things out. Six people choosing and ordering different things could spell chaos and take some time, you know, and to avoid that, my husband and I opt to order just one thing that includes all, for all. For lunch yesterday, we ate as a family for the first time at The Old Spaghetti House at Robinsons Otis in Manila. As usual, we ordered the group meal. Here, it’s called Real Deal. For P2,599., we got a large serving of pomodoro pasta, another of carbonara, 12 pieces of fried chicken, two 11-inch pizzas, and a 1.5-liter Pepsi. We also ordered the Appetizer Sampler consisting of fried wonton, calamares and 
chicken tenders with three kinds of dips. For dessert, 
we got the Dessert Platter consisting of fried Oreo cookies 
topped with a scoop of ice cream, tiramisu and mud pie.

Appetizer Sampler 

Pomodoro

Carbonara 

I think this was pesto bread

Pinoy Pizza

Chicken Barbecue Pizza

Fried Chicken

Dessert Platter 

Tiramisu

Mud Pie

Golden Oreo Cookie ala Mode

Soda

Tropical fruit juice for my daughter who doesn't like soda

Much like the way we serve the spoons and forks at home

Interiors

The Old Spaghetti House at the ground floor of Robinson's Otis 

What did we love here at TOSH? The pomodoro pasta, fried chicken and desserts. I particularly loved the Mud Pie. Yummy! Sorry but we weren’t happy with the pizza and carbonara, which to me were lacking in flavors, and the pizzas, also in toppings.
 I remember eating at their short-lived branch on Lacson Ave. near UST with my friends some 10 years ago. I don’t recall what pasta I ordered then but I remember liking it. I loved the coffee, too, which I recall was of dark roast that I had a hard time falling asleep that night. Hehehe..
Am I coming back? I'd like to, to try their other offers like the Pasta Negra and sandwiches.  Well, whatever you’re having right now, happy eating, folks! 

Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters at Sun Mall

It was at the Sun Mall in Welcome Rotonda, Quezon City that I discovered Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters April last year. I was drawn to the menu, seeing some pretty interesting "things" - dishes that are old and ordinary but made new and exciting. Consider this: Kaldereta Mac - baked macaroni with kaldereta sauce; Crispy Bangus Paksiw - the usual paksiw na bangus made well..crispy from deep frying; and Carabao's Milk Ice Cream. Hmmm..those things made me wonder...Soon, I was actually there to end my curiosity and from the first time till now, I've eaten at Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters three times and seen some hits and a few misses. 

First, the misses: 

Sizzling Liempo Sisig

Pugon Roast Chicken 

My daughter is fond of eating sisig and had high expectations of this Pinoy favorite dish at Chef Lau's. She was disappointed, however. Chef Lau's version was lacking in zing - it fell short of the expected smoky, salty and spicy flavors. The Pugon Roast Chicken was my order and neither was I happy. 
It was bland for my taste and even too dry.

When I came back months later with my little son, we were there for afternoon merienda after
some Christmas gift-shopping at the nearby Dapitan Arcade.
We had:

Kaldereta Mac

Creamy Meaty Spaghetti 

Now these were the hits that erased the misses from my mind. My son loved his spaghetti and me, my Kaldereta Mac. The latter, I highly recommend that you try. It's an Italian-Filipino food fusion that for me was worth the try. If you love our very own kaldereta and are fond of pasta, too - this one's for you. The kaldereta flavors from beef, liver, tomatoes and pickles plus cheese  and other spices were a perfect blanket to macaroni pasta. Quite a unique and savory dish! It was perfect with the pandesal toast that came with my son's spaghetti so I placed 

an extra order of the bread.

Then just this afternoon, my daughter and I were back at Chef Lau's, this time just for dessert and coffee as we've had lunch at the new Greenwich branch beside Burger King also at Welcome Rotonda. Pugon Roasters offers different kinds of cake. I chose the Queso de Bola Cheesebake. And it was a wise choice.. It was delish! I love queso de bola, you see..but I know there are people who don't, my daughter including. But the queso de bola taste wasn't overpowering in this cheesecake and its sweetness was just right. The caramelized nuts (pili or cashew, I wasn't sure) on top added a nice, sweet crunch that made this dessert all the more interesting. It was a 
perfect accompaniment to my cup of brewed coffee. 

Queso de Bola Cheesecake 

Brewed coffee

Menu

Interiors 

 

Chef Lau is actually Rolando Laudico and he's one of the popular and successful chefs now in the country. He owns the restaurants Bistro Filipino, Patisserie Filipino and Chef Laudico Guevarra's. I'm happy he decided to open a fast food chain that's not only more affordable, it also offers a diverse menu that you won't find in any other similar restaurants. At present, Pugon Roasters has branches at SM San Lazaro, Taguig, Mandaluyong and Ayala Triangle Gardens

aside from the one at Sun Mall. Try it one of these days, folks. 

Happy eating!

*NOTE: The Sun Mall branch has permanently closed.

Today's Word: John 19:30

It's the week after Resurrection Sunday. How was your reflections of our Lord Jesus' death on the cross? At church, I couldn't cry enough thinking of my own sins. I knew it had to be me suffering for my wrongdoings. But Jesus, that sinless Man, chose to take my place and died for me so I could have eternal life.  Were you thinking like I was? I hope and pray that Jesus' sacrifice of His own life got you thinking hard of where you are headed. Have you accepted Him as Lord of your life and Savior? I pray you've had or you will because Jesus died for you and me and His death on the cross would be in vain if we do not regard Him as Lord and Savior. Just before He gave up His spirit, He said, "It is finished". It is finished! No more condemnation for our sins, no more chains by the Enemy, we are set free! May Jesus' resurrection and triumph over sin and death leave an indelible mark in our hearts - 

the very blood that was shed for us. 

God bless you today.