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.

Soban K-Town Grill at Robinsons Place Manila

I first saw this Korean restaurant, Soban K-Town Grill, at SM North Edsa earlier this year (or was it 2017?). Last summer, I saw a branch open at Robinsons Place Manila. One Sunday soon afterwards, my daughter and I tried it out for early dinner after worship service at our church nearby. I loved the food and ambiance of the place that I came back the week after with my youngest son, who loved the food as well.

What we ordered on our first visit: 

Samgyupsal Set, P405.
The samgyupsal set is available in 120 grams of pork for P355. and 180g for P405. My daughter and I would be sharing so we ordered the latter. The set includes fresh strips of pork belly for grilling plus side dishes (unlimited!) of soup, lettuce (not pictured here, though), green onions, fried egg, kimchi, and mashed potato with macaroni. All the side dishes are really good especially the green onions which are a bit sweet.

Dolsot Bibimbap, P280.
I super love this Korean dish of rice mixed with egg, seaweed and vegetables for that burst of various flavors and textures, not to mention all the nutrients! 
This bowl of goodness is both healthy and yummy!

Coffee Prince, P120.
So aptly named, this dessert, I  thought when I laid my eyes on it. This sweetie sure looks regal, it has a "crown"! Sorry, Prince, I just had to eat it that crunchy milk chocolate on top of your "head". Writing this review, it's hard to decide which the highlight of this dessert was - the crunchy chocolate "crown", the delectable coffee ice cream or the bed of sweet red beans sandwiched in between graham crackers. Absolutely everything - from top to bottom - was 
sooo good it sent me to dessert heaven!

Meanwhile, these were my son and mine's order: 

Samgyupsal Set, P405.
Again! My son loved grilling and of course, eating!

Ultimate Beef Bap, P250.
My little big boy was super engrossed in this dish and demolished it in record time, though with some help from mom. Tee-hee. He ate everything in the bowl, 
including all the veggies, thankfully.

K-Taco, 2pcs, P145.
My boy and I shared this and loved the Mexican-Korean fusion. There was some heat from the kimchi mixed into bits of chicken but the sour cream and cheese 
tamed it and gave balance to the overall taste. 

 Inside Soban K-Town Grill

Tables are separated by screens which made me feel I was about 
to make a confession. Haha!

Soban K-Town Grill at Robinsons Place Manila

On both occasions, my kids and I left Soban K-Town Grill really full and satisfied! We savored everything we had. The dessert was most unforgettable, though, 'coz it's indigenous to Soban. Aside from good food, ambiance is something I give my thumbs up to as the place is clean and relaxing (although a little cramped). As for the price, it's quite steep on some items but others on the menu have reasonable tags. 
There's a 10 percent service charge, however. 
Still, I'd love to be back! I recommend this place if you're feeling up to some good Korean food. Aside from the SM North Edsa and Robinsons Place Manila 
branches, there is one too at Eastwood Mall, Greenbelt 3 
and ATC Corporate Center in Muntinlupa.
Happy eating!