SAGING REPABLIK (You don't need to be a monkey to dine)

Word is Saging Repablik is the new place to dine. When it opened last week, my facebook  timeline was full of pictures that I got curious about the place. I only saw a few images about the menu and I got more interested with the interior.

Yesterday I went there together with my buddy Myk and checked out the area (parang foreman lang.)
Located at the old Sunburst right in front of Kangaroo Coffee shop. (location below)

Saging Repablik stands proud like an edifice unbreakable despite its intentional lack of finishing paint and lights encased in geometrically designed metals. It felt like a fusion of Blu Gre's Butingtings and an upscale Kasagingan. The two floor area could accomodate plenty of customers (cant tell the exact number) with chairs and tables in different heights and design. I am not fond of the waiters uniform which was all black, it adds up to the monochromatic feel of the building. Dim the lights and it could pass as a bar.

View outside 

If they don't improve the quality of their bananas, I suggest do not create your own

Gigingka overload - Banana Cakes

the waitstaff were nice and accommodating

stairway to second floor

pasalubong area: designs are reminiscent of team manila

The Dong Juan Experience

We were curious about the restaurant located at the third floor of Abreeza frequently flooded with customers. And you wont miss the warm Chinese man in front of the door, inviting passers by to try his cuisine. I, being a mall rat and a lover of food together with my friend, Myk, tried out their menu one cold night after salivating from book sale at Fully Booked. The excitement have caused us hunger pangs that we were looking for affordable dining. And here are the pictures...

Kalamansi Blush is a weird concoction. For someone looking for an exotic drink, this can be reconsidered

Dining 

the Room inside. A minimalist feel.

Lemon Iced Tea - tasted pure instead of commercialized

Green Salad in Vinigrette. The portion is big but I wish the vinigrette was more.

Organic Living

In the advent of fast food chain wherein globs of fat is already available for your heart and arteries that will definitely shorten your life, My friend Myk and I started to cut off our calories and its high time for me to get serious in my gym sessions. A week ago, Myk came across pictures of food from his facebook friend. Our curiousity led us to a place reminiscent of the Bahay Kubo song. Welcome to Balay Bukid where everything reminds you of your childhood and the place speaks of Filipino ingenuity. The rest of my moments will be told through pictures

Basket Ceiling

Dining Area

Recycled Bottle Walls

Tetrapack for placemat

Art for Arts Sake

Darcy and other stories

Darcy, not in Bridget Jones, is one of the new places in town. DARCY Coffee.Tea.Panda is located at Door 4 Lucita Building at Corner Lapu-lapu and Sobrecary St. just a block after Ginos Burger. This was recommended by my niece because of the ambiance and food.

For starters, we did not have a friendly beginning. Three weeks ago we decided to have our dinner in the area, telling my parents and my niece to go ahead since I was still strolling around the mall. After 45 minutes, my friends and I arrived in the area with my parents furios and my sister already complaining. Almost an hour had passed and still our food has not been served and to think they were only us and another set of customer at the other table. Because our hunger pangs were killing us, we decided to ask permission to our mall purchased mangga and bagoong.

The place is indeed was full of pandas. It ever got me thinking if the owner was a member of World Health Organization and has a strong advocacy for Panda protection.

Whats your order?

Happy Area

You can wear the Panda head rest

A room with a view

Food for the Road

  Throwback Pictures during the Dahilayan Road Trip. Thanks to Atty Teen's printed write-ups our tummies were good to go. The Dahilayan Resort Cafe gave our tummies a run for our money.

The Cafe

interior

the eaters

ang rice. bow

chicekn...quite dry though

sizzling fish . . . tastes good

playah

Pakbet was good

MESA - a not so Moderne yet

The newly opened MESA at the ground floor of SM Lanang Premier, in front of the fountain area, boasts of delectable cuisine with a price that's easy on the pocket. For weeks it has been swarmed by locals just to get the taste of the Filipino dishes with a modern edhe. My family and I decided to check out the restaurant as friends of mine recommended it as a must try.

their menu speaks of sumptuous dishes

awaiting

the exterior

Theres no denying the the area lacks space as any extension of your limbs could hit your next table neighbor or worst will catapult any meal to other areas. However the interior would compensate to their nearly tuna sized atmosphere and the cocoon section was an amazing feat.

POP ART. Disturbing yet fun to watch

We literally jolted to the sudden shouts of birthday wishers

bring this to my house pls

the cocoon. i wonder how it feels there.

outside in?

The food at MESA tastes delicious. Its a cross breed between Hukad and Krua Thai. The spices and the flavors, for me, were just right on some entree. The big problem with the MESA in totality was their serving which came in staggered. Just like in New Orleans Cafe, we have to wait for a few minutes for our next order to come out. And we did not order a Five course meal. This puts your hunger pangs on hold and melts your appetite. This has been a common problem even at Cafe Laguna. Could it be easier to assign a waitstaff per table and check the orders from time to time to avoid angry customers. And rush hour is not a reason since strategies should be previously discussed as plenty of diners visits during rush hour sanz the term. And it could have been better if customers will be informed as to the nature of their orders rather than serve it late and cold.

the standing chicken?

the iced tea that I never got the chance to taste

the yummy scallops - hope they'll go easy with the garlic

Century Egg, Shrimp in Tofu

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Laing in 2 ways. The upper concoction had a sweet aftertaste, while the one below was your typical Laing.

Stuffed Big Shrimp

Barbecue. Spicy Sauce. It was soft to eat and easy to slice

the controversial liempo that was re cooked because as claimed it didnt fit their standards. Was serving it semi cold included in your standards?

Because we were not happy campers, the manager gave us a delicious cassava to compensate their poor servicing, Tasted good.

I would still recommend MESA for good Filipino dishes and hope that their service would improve. The Dining Supervisor was well mannered while we spoke of our suggestions. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to visit the john.

copyright pictures

Almost ran out of breath at Hog's Breath

In the spirit of our dining experience, last Friday night we decided to check out the newly opened restaurants at SM Lanang. We were geared towards Bulgogi Brothers however upon our visit, the store was closed. I wonder if their dry run went awry. And so we strolled outside the fountain area and surveyed other cafe's. In the far end of the the mall near the grocery exit we found an upscale Australian Restaurant. HOGS BREATH.

outside 

welcome

bring plenty of cash

Doing my Health a Favor

I had a run for my money on different yogurt around the city but this stays true to my heart. Located around the food district of Torres St. Yoh Froz has opened its doors welcoming every generation. During the opening I came here thrice and brought some of my friends not only for its cozy ambiance, affordable prices and proportional servings but because of the taste. It makes my brain tingle, and if my neurons electrify then I am happy.

car not included

chillaxin

some benefits of yogurt. i dont have to expound