Unlimited Pasta and Pizza at The Old Spaghetti House (TOSH)

When I learned about the eat-all-you-can pasta + unlimited pizza promo at The Old Spaghetti House (TOSH), I immediately suggested it to the Tropang Gala (a group composed of my husband, my superfriend Nice, my friend Carmela and myself) in time for our scheduled dinner date which happened last Tuesday night at TOSH - SM Manila. For P150 per head, the eat-all-you-can pasta sounded like a good deal to us. We also availed of the additional P50 for unlimited pizza and P65 for bottomless iced tea. To be very honest, we got full from the food but we were not quite satisfied with the service.


There were four kinds of pasta on offer: pomodoro, carbonara, pesto and Viatnamese. For the pizza, there were three flavors: pepperoni, five cheese and Hawaaian. There's really not much to expect here. Spaghetti is the type of noodle used for all four sauces while all pizza was served on thin crust. Here are some food photos to give you an idea of what we ate there:


pomodoro pasta with five-cheese pizza


pesto, carbonara and pomodoro pasta with Hawaiian pizza


Vietnamese pasta with Hawaiian pizza


pesto pasta with pepperoni pizza

During our visit, I liked that the spaghetti was cooked "al dente" and some of the pizza slices were still hot when they landed on our table. We got to the restaurant at around 7:30 pm and left when the nearby shops started closing their doors.

Unlike in other restaurants where eat-all-you-can translates to having a buffet style of serving the food, at TOSH it's kind of personalized. The wait staff go around, table by table, serving the pasta and the pizza.

If we wanted what the staff was showing to us, all we had to do was ask for some. If we wanted a different pasta or pizza, we would ask them for it, too. The problem was, the wait staff wasn't that attentive even if only five tables were occupied that night. We had to call their attention twice, sometimes thrice or more, before we could get whatever food we were asking for. It didn't help that they looked exhausted and couldn't even give out a friendly smile. It was a good thing I was in good company then that these setbacks didn't affect my happy mood that much.


our group

But, if ever anyone from TOSH could read this, kindly remind your wait staff about good and proper customer service. It'll be for your own good, not mine. But even so, I'll appreciate it very much.

The Old Spaghetti House
4/F SM City Manila
San Marcelino St.
Ermita, Manila

(+632) 353-8674


If you liked this post and would be interested to get updated with Foodiestation, bookmark this site or subscribe to my feeds.

Read More...

Late Night Snacking at 8 Street Bites Restaurant

Right after watching the 6:30pm screening of Maleficent at SM Manila last Friday, my mom, my two sisters and I had a late snack at 8 Street Bites Restaurant, also on the fourth level. It’s fairly new, serves American-Mexican fast food and we had never eaten there until that night.


the restaurant's facade...


and interior

We were supposed to get only snack items from the menu but mom wanted to try the chicken tenders that happened to be a rice meal. And so she did. She shared that with my sister Nyam who got an order of fries to pair with the chicken tenders. They both thought it was good. An order had five chunky pieces. The chicken was deep-fried, crispy on the outside but the meat retained its juices somehow. The sauce that came with it was honey mustard and tasted yummy, too. I knew because I had a bite of the chicken with it. Haha.


Chicken Tender Bites, P148


Nyam's fries, P28

My sister Jodie and I, on the other hand, shared Freeway Nachos (P98) and a Banoffee Pie (P58). The nacho sauce was delicious but tasted like it came straight from the can. (Not that it was a bad thing, just saying.) It had a few kidney beans and meat. There were fresh tomatoes, onions, sour cream and cheese sauce on top, too.



This banofee pie satisfied my sweeth tooth. It was pretty basic but I liked the thick cream a lot.



with my sister Jodie

For the small food servings, I thought the prices were just right. The service was a bit slow during our visit and I guess the staff felt that, too. We ended up getting a complimentary dessert in the form of a pana cotta which had a good balance of creaminess and sweetness.



I’d love to go back to this resto and try the other items soon. :)

8 Street Bites Restaurant
4/F SM City Manila
Natividad Lopez St.
Ermita, Manila
(+632) 585-4211


If you liked this post and would be interested to get updated with Foodiestation, bookmark this site or subscribe to my feeds. Read More...

3 New and Exciting Restaurants Open at SM Manila!

Last rainy Sunday, I was at SM Manila to attend the grand launch of not just one but three restaurants namely: Tokyo Grill, Kung Fu Kitchen and Blackbeard's Seafood Island. They are all under the Sumo Sam/Red Crab Group of Restaurants and given that, we should expect awesome dining experience.

The grand opening started with a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a parade and other free and fun activities for the public. The media and friends of the three restaurants were treated to a grand food tasting and yours truly as part of the food bloggers who graced the event could only eat so much. It was three feasts in a row, after all.

Our lunch was held at Tokyo Grill where we were served with yummy Japanese creations. I liked everything especially the grilled food on sticks that were served to our table hot and fresh.
my plate from Tokyo Grill's lunch buffet spread
grilled/barbecued items from Tokyo Grill
fried apple-cinnamon gyoza for dessert!
This was followed by a merienda spread at Kung Fu Kitchen where we partook of delicious Chinese fares, from a variety of dimsum to all-time favorite Chinese dishes that definitely made us really stuffed.
actor/businessman Marvin Agustin with business partners Raymund Magdaluyo and Glecy Lopez-Go
Here are some food photos I took at Kung Fu Kitchen (I've tried them all and they were good!): siomai
the popular soupy dimsum xiao long bao
dumpling
buchi
hakaw
piggy pao, so cute!
cold cuts platter
pata tim with fried mantao...winner!
chili crab with noodles
I told you I was too full already so I didn't bother to check out the offerings at Blackbeards Seafood Island (last stop). But, I made sure to take pictures to show you the mouth-watering boodles they prepared for us. To know more about the food at this restaurant, you might want to read my visit to Blackbeard Seafood Island (Alabang Town Center branch) before.
dining area of Seafood Island
Check out some of their delectable boodle feasts below:
Among the three new restaurants, I noticed that King Fu Kitchen had the biggest restaurant space, the most vibrant ambience and the most budget-friendly menu. As I love Chinese food, I can't wait to take my family there!

If you want to experience something new when dining out, head over to SM Manila and visit these three newly-opened restaurants today!

You may also want to check out their FB pages to get updated on their ongoing promos: Tokyo Grill, Kung Fu Kitchen and Blackbeard's Seafood Island SM Manila.


If you liked this post and would be interested to get updated with Foodiestation, bookmark this site or subscribe to my feeds.

Read More...

Foodie Find: Mr. Kimbob's Bibimbob at SM Food Court

SM City Manila is the mall we frequent due to its proximity to our place. I'm glad that over the years, it has continuously improved its looks and upgraded its services. One thing that's noteworthy for this year is the opening of more shops and dining establishments inside the mall. Even its food court now boasts of new and interesting tenants! One of them is Mr. Kimbob that serves "healthy Koren food."

The hubby and I were able to try Mr. Kimbob's special bibimbob (or simply bibimbap to foodies) one random weeknight and found it quite satisfying and affordable. One order of this complete and healthy Korean meal costs only P99, can you believe that? It is served three ways, which simply means you can choose the kind of meat to be placed on your sizzling plate: chicken, beef or pork. A brilliant idea, I must say.



My order of bibimbob had beef as meat. Of course it had the usual veggies and sunny side-up egg on top. I liked how my plate looked hot, fresh and healthy. When I reached our table, I immediately mixed everything up and had a bite. I remember they also gave me some Gochujang sauce (a special Korean sauce) to mix with my bibimbob to make everything more delicious. The mix of Korean flavors from the meat and the veggies was good. It was not as delightful as Kaya Restaurant's once-famous Aligue bibimbap, but for its price, it passed my expectations! I would have liked the kimchi that came with the dish to be spicier, though. But that factor aside, for P99, I thought Mr. Kimbob's bibimbob was reasonably-priced and gave me maximum value for my money!

I don't know Mr. Kimbob's other branches yet but if you're stopping over at SM Manila's food court anytime soon, I suggest you give Mr. Kimbob's Korean offerings a try. :)


If you liked this post and would be interested to get updated with Foodiestation, bookmark this site or subscribe to my feeds.

Read More...

Razon's Famous Halo-Halo is Addicting!

My brother D is one lucky guy. After landing a teaching job last month, he has passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) recently, and is now a licensed teacher. He got his first salary two weeks ago and he gladly shared his blessings to us through a merienda treat at Razon's of Guagua, SM Manila branch. This restaurant that serves Pampanga cuisine is famous for two things: Pancit Luglog and Halo-halo. The extremely hot weather here in Manila prompted us to order the latter and we couldn't be happier with our choice.

The restaurant was filled with diners when we arrived. We had to wait for a while before we got seated. I noticed that there was a perennial item on each table: Razon's famous halo-halo. Thinking about it now, I guess it's enough proof to show they have the best halo-halo in town.



I can only think of one adjective to describe Razon's famous halo-halo: addicting! The moment my spoon touched the fine shaved ice of the halo-halo, I knew I'd have a great time eating it. With only three choices of "halo" (saba banana, macapuno and leche flan with dayap rind), Razon's famous halo-halo was surprisingly good. I noticed that it was not as sweet as the other halo-halos I've tasted before. The sweetness had no "umay" factor, if you know what I mean. Each spoonful of this favorite Pinoy treat was welcomed by my mouth with gusto. The price of P90 per glass may be a bit steep, but believe me, it's so worth it.



I can say that Razon's halo-halo belongs to a class of its own. I think what separates it from the other halo-halos (those that boast of a lot of "halo" or ingredient) in the country are the following points:

1. it has just the right creaminess and sweetness
2. the shaved ice used is finer
3. the three ingredients form a balance of flavors that is very unique, tasty and hard to resist

Here are the other items we ordered:



I had this super yummy Razon's Homemade Burger all by myself. The burger patty, as you can see, was well-done on the outside but the doneness was just right inside. I could sense it was fried but it was not at all greasy. This came with a side of fried fresh potatoes and a small glass of iced tea. Price was P105. I liked it that they provided me with mayo and catsup bottles for us to get as much as I wanted. Cool.



My brother D ate this Tocilog Meal (sweetened cured pork + fried rice + fried egg). He said it was good but nothing special. He thought it was overpriced, too at P105. Haha.


my brother and I


the fiancee with his sister A

I was craving for Razon's halo-halo last Sunday afternoon so I asked the fiancee to go to Razon's SM Manila. We ordered one glass each and finished it in no time. My cravings aside, I also wanted to check if Razon's was consistent with the taste of its halo-halo. Surprise, surprise...they were! Their halo-halo looked, smelled and tasted the same. This means they have already standardized its quality. I wonder if the same can be said of the halo-halos they serve in their other branches, though. I'll tell you when I get the chance to dine in them. :)


If you liked this post and would be interested to get updated with Foodiestation, bookmark this site or subscribe to my feeds.

Read More...

Anniversary Dinner at Old Spaghetti House, SM Manila

From the ground floor, Old Spaghetti House transferred to the fourth level of SM Manila where most of the dining establishments are found today. For our 6th anniversary as couple, Edwin and I decided to celebrate at the said restaurant. Aside from its homey and relaxing ambience, Old Spaghetti House is said to boast of its good selection of pasta dishes. I wanted to find out for myself if there is truth to that claim. And so, before Edwin could change his mind, I dragged him inside the said dining place and asked for a table for two.

Just one look at the menu, the frugal me already spotted the less expensive "trio meals." Each trio meal is composed of three dishes: a serving of salad or appetizer, a medium-sized pizza and a plate of pasta. I chose the Bestseller (P585) consisting of an appetizer sampler, a medium-sized four-cheese pizza and a plate of pesto pasta with grilled chicken strips.





Edwin and I were happy to learn from the poster-underliners that we could get a pitcher of iced tea if we would pay using a Citibank credit card. Good thing Edwin had one in his wallet and so we got the freebie. No need to order and pay for drinks. Yipee.



If there's one thing we regretted bringing to our Old Spaghetti House visit, that was a camera. I needed one to take good photos of our food. Since we couldn't turn back time, I had to contend myself with my phone camera that barely did justice to our delicious food that night.

Let's start off with the appetizer sampler. We got this plate with several pieces of calamares, chicken fillet and onion rings. Funny that they all looked the same and you could only tell which was which by the shape and the taste. There's really nothing special about them; I think their saving grace was the mayo dip that tasted delish.



I liked how the iced tea at Old Spaghetti House had hints of calamansi that were just enough to enhance the flavors of the tea. It was refreshing and served its purpose well.


our free pitcher of iced tea courtesy of Citibank!

The chicken pesto was light and delicious. We loved that it was healthy and there was parmesan cheese provided by the waiter should we needed more.



The pizza, oh the four-cheese pizza, was very rich and flavorful! I loved every bite. I poured some drops of hot sauce to add some kick to it. The crispy, thin crust fit it perfectly. I didn't think it would be that delicious if it came with a thick crust. I will definitely order this on our next visit to the restaurant.



The damage? Only P600+, 12% VAT and 9% service charge included.

Old Spaghetti House is the place to go whenever you miss your aunt's Italian cooking. It's nice that their food are reasonably-priced and the service is fast. The homey ambience is also ideal for when eating out with friends and family. It offers casual dining at a relaxing atmosphere which is one of the things we always look for when dining out, ayt? :)

Old Spaghetti House
4th Level, SM City Manila


If you liked this post and would be interested to get updated with Foodiestation, bookmark this site or subscribe to my feeds.

Read More...