We intentionally drove all the way from Mandaluyong to try this restaurant, braving the weekday afternoon traffic. I can’t say that the dining experience was a disappointment—I mean, we had a decent meal—but nothing amazing really that made the drive and traffic worth it.
The grilled meats on sticks were supposed to be their specialty, but we thought it’s nothing speciall, just ok. We weren’t fans of the dipping sauce that came with them. We thought it’s too sweet and lacked sourness. So we “modified” it by adding vinegar and calamansi.
The calamares was also just ok. I’d say I’ve had better from those peddled on the streets. Again, not bad at all, but nothing special either.
The bone marrow was good. A bit on the salty side, but quite delicious.
The Tokwa’t Baboy was better, with the pork perfectly salted and fried. The tokwa (tofu) were cooked well too.
What was a standout for us was the chopseuy. Probably one of the best we’ve had in a long time.
The quality of service was mediocre. The staff were unattentive and were not making any effort to proactively check if customers needed their assistance. We had to make a considerable effort (vigorously waving our hands and clapping) to get their attention. The loud music and the noise outside didn’t help. Anyway, back to the staff—though they weren’t impolite or rude, they didn’t exude any warmth or friendliness either. Not the type that would inspire/motivate you to leave a generous tip. The service was also slow and serving of food was done haphazardly: our rice wasn’t served until more than 10 minutes after the grilled meats were served. Our other orders (chopseuy, calamares, bone marrow) weren’t served until past the 20-minute mark.
They do have a good parking area, good for about seven vehicles, and it’s free. And you can even have your car washed here while you’re dining, as they have carwash service too.
Overall, this is a decent restaurant. If you’re nearby, it’s good enough for a hearty meal. But if you’re coming from a far place (ex. QC, Makati, etc), I’m not sure it’s worth the drive/travel.
