Mango Tree

I have always wanted to eat at Mango Tree and have even planned to eat there countless times. However, it always ends up as a failed attempt.

Nevertheless, one Thursday morning, my friends and I finally had the time to head to DOH to get some stuff for school. We only spent a few minutes there but by the time we finished, it was lunch time. Naturally, I suggested for us to have lunch at Mango Tree. My ever-supportive friends instantly agreed.

It was like going to someone's house for lunch. It never looked like a restaurant and no one was outside to usher us in. So we let ourselves in. Once inside, one waiter was by the counter and a dog was wagging his tail near the counter. This may be a minus in the hygiene department for some or a plus for appeal for some.

I headed to the tables while my friends played with the dog. I scanned the menu and then ordered with my friends. We had Pork Steak and Pork Binagoongan and chatted for 20 minutes before the food arrived.

The first thing I ate was the Pork Steak. It was tasty like Grilled or Barbecued Pork, which is my favorite food in the whole wide world. :D The Pork Steak was tender and was not really special since it tasted like what it should be. But it was really very delicious. Too bad, it came in thin slabs.

The Pork Binagoongan, on the other hand, was rich and tasty... very tasty, in fact, that we ordered second helpings of rice which was overpriced at PhP20. The meat was tender too and came with many tomatoes. Nom nom nom. I was expecting small servings but was very surprised that they exceeded my expectations. Very much worth it. :)

I was very satisfied with my Mango Tree experience that I can't wait for my next visit.

I'm definitely coming back!
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Because my friend arrived, we just had to dine somewhere to celebrate that special occasion. We all thought that Mango Tree is the place.

Two of my friends and I ordered Lengua and Beef Salpicao but when our orders arrived, we were so disappointed at the very small servings. I alone could eat all of it. So we decided to add Pork Sisig - the only thing we could decide on from their limited menu.

The Beef Salpicao was not amazing. It was composed of bite-size beef cuts swimming or rather wading in its own sauce and topped with garlic. I wish the beef was more tender, and I would have appreciated if there were more sauce and if it were more tasty. I still believe that the best salpicao can be found in Dive Road, where it is sizzling and spicy.

The Lengua was already cold when we ate it. It was the most so-so of all so-so things. It was composed of 6 or so slices of tongue baste in mushroom sauce and topped or rather sprinkled with grated cheese. The taste was fine but there was only a few of it which made me not really enjoy it. Among all the dishes that day, this disappointed me the most.

The Sisig tasted like one I ate a couple of weeks back in a carenderia near where I live. No offense but that is what it really tasted like. There was nothing special and there was too much fat in it. I still think the best sisig is that in Omp's in Miagao where you can even request for it to be almost burnt so that you get a somehow crunchy sisig. :)

My friends ordered Pork and Tofu and Spicy Korean Pork.

The Tofu was good but the Pork in it was just underfried Pork Fats, which I think should be crispy like chicharon or even just like Lechon Kawali. There was only a few pieces of tiny slices of pork too. It was just like minced pork. :-|

The Spicy Korean Pork was good. I like the spiciness and the hotness of the dish. I think I'll order this next time.

The Mango Crepe we ordered for dessert was the winner. I wonder how they make their crepe. But I like the slices of mango and banana inside the rolled crepe. There was also a generous drizzling of chocolate syrup and mango syrup as well.

On my first visit, I thought Mango Tree is one restaurant which is consistent. This was proved wrong on my second visit. I just hope they could redeem themselves on my future visit/s. Right now, I'm still thinking if I should retain them on my Favorite Restaurants list or cross their name out.

Updated menu (in addition to the menu below). Click to enlarge. Open in new tabs to superenlarge.

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Menu. Click the images to enlarge. Open in new tabs to superenlarge.

Mango Tree
Guzman St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City
(033)5007877
Open daily from 11AM-10PM

Mango Tree on Facebook

Casa Verde

After I had lunch at Bigby's, I went to Casa Verde to have dessert. What else to order but their Death by Chocolate.

When it arrived, it was smaller than it once was. I looked around at the other tables and observed that even the ribs are smaller now than it was before. :(

I ate my dessert anyway and enjoyed tasting the chocolate syrup and sugar toppings and then cracking the chocolate coat around the chocolate icecream. Yummmmmm! Life is beautiful. :)
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We were supposed to have lunch at Gerry's Grill but the friend of my friend does not like it there so we headed to the safest choice - Casa Verde.

I wanted to have steak but my friend has never eaten their ribs. And you have never really eaten at Casa Verde without trying their ribs. So I offered to share the large meal with her even if I could consume it alone. :D

We also had half of a soup and half of a salad. We had the Potato Soup which was thick, creamy and cheesy, which made me, the non-soup believer, enjoy it.

The salad was so-so. There was no chicken in it contrary to what the menu says.

The ribs were large but I still think they were larger (and cheaper) way back. It was still delicious and succulent and heavenly... The only thing I can ask for is more! :)

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Menu. Click images to enlarge. Open in new tabs to superenlarge.

Casa Verde
Ayala Terraces,Ayala, Cebu
(032)2338885

Open daily from 11AM -10PM

Other branches at:
69 Lim Tian Teng St. (formerly V. Ranudo), Cebu City
(032)2536472

IT Park
(032)4123336

Casa Verde on Facebook

Bigby's

A couple of days ago, I met up with some friends at Ayala Terraces for lunch. We were supposed to have Casa Verde's ribs but they were closed at 10AM. So we went to Bigby's instead. I have tried their Rodeo Chops and it was such a treat! This time though, I had their ribs which I've heard was good. And so I ordered one...One rack of it. :)

 

When my ribs arrived, it was no different from the half rack my friend ordered. It was of the same size... So stupid. I should have ordered the half rack instead.

Anyway, I cut off my ribs and tasted them. They were tough and bland. Definitely the worst ribs I have ever tasted. But maybe that was because we were the first customers and they haven't half cooked our food and they were in a hurry to cook it so that they could serve it to us. Bah... I wasted my time and my money at Bigby's.

Definitely no more Bigby's ribs for me.

Menu. Click the images to enlarge. Open in new tabs to superenlarge.

Bigby's
Ayala Terraces
Ayala, Cebu
Open daily from 10AM-10PM 
Bigby's on Facebook
Bigby's Website

Ice Scramble

The new craze which costs only P10 is a mixture of ice shavings, milk powder and chocolate syrup. One has to add P3 for every topping one chooses to add. Among the selection are: chocolate bits (like the one seen in the picture), rice krispies, mini M&M's and more. Upon tasting, this mixture is good with a hint of gulaman. I even asked for more from my friend.

I still have to try Scramble King but I think they taste the same.

Shall We Eat

One day when my friend and I wanted to escape one particular event, we headed to check out the expensive bazaar at PNB near Atrium. We didn't find anything good so we headed to Atrium to try this fairly new Korean restaurant.

I always have pork because it is a very safe choice but recently, I wanted to try new things as well. Beef, for one, is one thing I don't really like. So if I must like it, it must be really good.

That night, my friend had the Tonkas and I had the Beef something (Haha. Sorry I really forgot). Both were priced at P65 but my friend's came with a cup of rice. Mine didn't. But the management offered me a free one anyway. :)

My friend didn't like the Tonkas but when I tasted it, it was good. Maybe my friend didn't like it because it was really coated with something I assumed to be egg. 

My beef dish was very very very beefy and although it looked very small, it was a large serving after all with many beef cuts hidden underneath the sauce.

Shall We Eat
Atrium Foodcourt
(Another branch is located beside Grand Dame Hotel)
Open until the mall closes (about 8PM)

Emperor's Wok

This Chinese restaurant, according to the only waiter, came from Manila. They don't hand out menus to the customers but they have this huge tarpaulin beside their kitchen which posts their menu. You can see everything happening in the kitchen through a glass which alone separates it from the world. In the kitchen, you can see a selection of vegetables, seafoods, meat and noodles... and the cook wearing shades. Weird.

We ordered Hong Ma, Beef with Mixed Vegetables and Emperor's Chicken. While waiting for our food, we tried their Siomai which is just P25 for three pieces and topped with Chili Sauce and comes with a slice of Calamansi and a dash of Soy Sauce. It was very good and delicious with no hint of extenders. :)

The Emperor's Chicken is not impressive.

 The beef dish was bland for my friend but perfect for me.

We waited for the Hong Ma but it never came. Apparently, it wasn't available and the waiter never told us. We should have told him to repeat our orders to think that we followed-up for it and even ordered more rice in anticipation of its coming. Tsk. But, in all fairness, the lone waiter is very knowledgeable of the items on their menu.

Menu. Click image to enlarge. Open in new tab to superenlarge.

Emperor's Wok
35 Valeria Extension, Iloilo City
Tel #: (033)3381929
Open Daily 10AM-10PM

Ramboy's

This well-known liempo house also hailed from Aklan. But, the only good thing here is their liempo, which is soft and tasty with a crunchy skin to complement it.

The beef steak and sizzling hot garlic mushroom are priced at P150 each and comes in small servings. Certainly not worth it!

The lechon manok at P195 is dry and not at all tasty. Also not worth it.

As always, waiting for your food takes forever. I wonder why.

The service is very bad. Waiters never smile and keeps ignoring customers. You have to really try to get their attention. There was one waiter though who was very accomodating but I forgot to ask his name. Tsk tsk.

As you see, the only good thing here is the liempo but it is good enough for people to always come back for it.

Menu. Click the images to enlarge. Open in new tabs to superenlarge.

Ramboy's

Boardwalk
Benigno Aquino Avenue, Iloilo City