Ddung's Bob Burger at Robinsons Place Antipolo

Our family was recently in Antipolo to visit our dearly departed at one of the cemeteries there and to meet up with some relatives. For dinner, we went to Ddung's Bob Burger, a Korean fusion restaurant at Robinsons Place in Dela Paz. I was glad that although the place was not really spacious, they gladly welcomed our huge group 
of 15 persons, although we had to split into three groups to be seated. 

We soon found out, however, that grilling meat was a little different at Ddung's from most Korean restaurants we've been to. Instead of LPG-fueled, they only have small round grilling pans heated by solid fuel or wax underneath. The fire didn't last very long and we had to call a crew for new wax every so often. My sister and a cousin would get annoyed by the waiting. Thankfully, the food was good and it 
more than made up for the inconvenience of having to wait for 
"refueling" just so we could finish grilling our meat.

Anyway, we had five orders of their Grill Set (P1,499) that's good for 5-6 persons each and included iced tea and dessert. We also had three 
big orders of Korean fried chicken. 

Grill Set

Meat for grilling plus side dishes

The wax-heated griller at Ddung's

Yangnyum Chicken, P649.

Pat-Bingsu
This was included in the Grill Set but costs 
P149. if separately ordered.

Ddung's Bob Burger at the Al Fresco area, 2nd Level, 
Robinsons Place Antipolo, Dela Paz, Upper Antipolo

Apart from the inconvenience caused by the use of wax-fueled grillers, my overall experience at Ddung's wasn't so bad. In fact, I enjoyed the food, service by the friendly and helpful crew and the reasonable prices. In particular, the chicken was tasty. The sweetness did not go overboard and they were fried to perfection, such that there was some crunch in every bite. The samgyupsal was good, too, as well as the side dishes, especially the sweet-spicy anchovies. 

As to the Pat-Bingsu or shaved ice dessert, I left it to the young ones to enjoy although I had some but found nothing really special about it. 
There's one thing that's quite unique in Ddung's menu, but we skipped it -- the burgers which are far from the usual thing you can have elsewhere. They have rice as "bun" and various "ulam" or viand such as bulgogi and chicken adobo (yep, fusion!) as "patty". I wish to be back to try these unconventional burgers, 
which, I imagine, are fun to eat!
Try Ddung's Bob Burger when you're at Robinsons Place Antipolo 
and craving for your Korean food favorites. 
Happy eating!

The Clubhouse at Robinsons Magnolia

I took a one-day leave from work last week to do some errands and have a little bonding time with one of my sisters. We had dinner at The Clubhouse in Robinsons Magnolia, which I had long wanted to try. Finally, I had the chance. With my 
sister footing the bill. I couldn't get any happier! 
Our orders, all of which we shared:

   Caesar salad, P265.

We really enjoyed this one. Everything -- the crunchy veggies, dressing, bacon, boiled egg -- came together really well. A yummy health-booster!

Triple decker, P325.

This is almost my default order whenever it's on the menu. I loved that they used wheat bread, as it's healthier than white. The problem was the ham, tho. It was too salty! They better switch brands or they'd give their customers kidney trouble! Otherwise, this was a good clubhouse, loaded with meat and fresh veggies.

Classic carbonara, P295.

The first thing I noticed here was the serving size -- it was quite huge! My sister and I shared one order and we still had some left for take out. Taste-wise, it was good -- creamy, bacon-y, and flavorful without being salty. Thumbs up to this pasta!

Brewed coffee

My sister's not much of a coffee fan but she had this anyway as she was having 
a sore throat and needed something hot.

Green tea

I wanted to have a cup of coffee, too, but it was around 8 p.m. already and I didn't want to stay up late, so I settled for green tea. This was aromatic and refreshing. Perfect as palate-cleaner! Loved it!

Inside The Clubhouse

The Clubhouse at Robinsons Magnolia

I could say that food at The Clubhouse was good, but honestly, not unforgettable. Maybe, there are more fantastic dishes to try so I'd better pay the place another visit. Well, the brekkie sets and even bibimbap look promising, so who knows? I just might fall in love with the place next time. You might want to try The Clubhouse too, so visit them at the ground floor of Robinsons Magnolia along Aurora Blvd. in QC.

Cafe Mary Grace at SM San Lazaro

Good friends and good food are a perfect mix, I'm sure you would agree. Two weeks ago, I had the utmost pleasure of having the company of a dear friend whom I hadn't seen for 12 long years, for early dinner. And at a very lovely place at that: 
Cafe Mary Grace at SM San Lazaro.
Our orders:

Fried Kesong Puti Salad, P288.
Something new to try, I thought, when I saw this on the menu. I'm a big fan of kesong puti and I just think it's the perfect thing to put on my pandesal. But to have it on a salad is something different and it was actually a great idea. The white cheese is covered in batter, deep-fried and put on a deep dish alongside with green and purple lettuce and some chunky slices of tomato. Dressing is vinaigrette with calamansi. The mix of different flavors - sour, tangy and salty - works really well in building up an appetite and making you ready for the mains.

Fish and Bell Pepper Sandwich, P258.
I loved this one! Fish is an ideal sandwich filling when you're trying to cut back on meat, which is precisely the reason I ordered this. And I could say this was a utterly good sandwich, especially with the addition of veggies and homemade potato chips on the side. Delish!

Spanish Sardines & Olives Pasta, P320.
My friend ordered this and raved about how good it was. She's a chef back in the US, you see, and admitted she could easily whip up good pasta. But she absolutely loved this healthy Sardines Pasta at Cafe Mary Grace that she even ordered another serving to take home to her mom. 

Americano coffee, P95.
My buddy and I loved Cafe Mary Grace's coffee. It was bold and rich without being too bitter. 
My friend even ordered another serving! 

Inside Cafe Mary Grace at SM City San Lazaro

Cafe Mary Grace at the ground floor of SM San Lazaro in Sta. Cruz, Manila

Cafe Mary Grace, for me, is the perfect "comfort place" for that elegantly beautiful interiors in all of its branches. The fresh plants, country-style decors and wooden furniture provide a lovely and homey feel that draws people to dine in a relaxing environment. The good food complements the ambiance, of course. 
The prices on the menu are steep, however. I also know of some people who do not approve of some dishes, especially those using aromatic spices. But for me, Cafe Mary Grace is one of those places where I'd love to spend special moments with special people. And that includes real, long-time friends.