Nanos Pizza House: A Piece of Italy in Manila

Nanos Pizza House or simply Nanos is the “new kid on the block” in the exciting restaurant scene of SM Manila. One random Thursday while strolling around the mall with Edwin, my attention was drawn to this red and green-themed dining place that serves Italian food. Two differently-flavored pizzas were laid out on a table in front of their store for people to see and buy. They were offering pizza to-go to people passing by and it was selling like hotcakes! It must be the sign I was waiting for because before Edwin could say no, I had already dragged him to Nanos to have a quick dinner before going home.



Aside from pizza, Nanos serves pasta, salad and rice meals in a self-service, fast food style. It is sandwiched between Salazar's Bakeshop and Meylin's Noodle House on the Lower Ground Floor of the mall. During our visit, there was a long line at the counter area composed mostly of pizza to-go customers. We didn't waste our time and decided to join the queue to get a piece of Italy in Manila.



Edwin wanted rice and I was not in the mood for some pasta so off we went for their rice meals. He had their Beef Goulash (P99) while I settled for their Meatballs Rice (P79).

Edwin’s Beef Goulash was a plate of rice topped with some tomato-based beef stew. He said it was yummy and the beef was juicy and tender.



I cannot say the same for my Meatballs Rice as the sauce that came with the meatballs was too salty. I had a hard time finishing my rice because the sauce was already mixed with it. As with the two giant meatballs, they were a bit bland for my taste. I could also sense the amount of extender they added to ‘em meatballs was more than what I expected.



We also got a slice of their original Cheese Pizza (P69) just because I was curious of the taste. It was actually big for its price. I thought the taste lacked flavor. While I liked the soft and chewy crust, I found the pizza sauce bland and the mozzarella inadequate.



For drinks, Edwin got a Coke (P35) while I ordered their Banana Shake (P45). I loved my drink. It was lightly sweetened and I could taste the rich and comforting banana flavor in every sip. The serving was big, too. For P45, I thought this was very reasonably priced.



Nanos felt like the more popular Italian restaurant Sbarro to me, except that their food was cheaper, they had more stylish tables and chairs (that looked like world class Cebu furniture!) and their wait staff were more friendly (and most of them spoke Cebuano, too). I wanted to ask the waiter who served my banana shake if the owner was a Cebuano but I got shy. I just asked him if they had other branches. He answered in the negative and explained further that this was their only branch. Nice. I seriously think they have potentials to grow big.



Nanos
LGF SM Manila
Arroceros cor. Cocnepcion Sts.
Ermita, Manila


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Dinner at Joey Pepperoni Pizzeria, Plus Their New Pizza Promo

It was one random weekday, dinnertime. Edwin took me to Joey Pepperoni Pizzeria at SM Manila. The mall has recently undergone a makeover with its fourth level filled with the hippest restaurants. The dining scene there has changed dramatically, and for the better I must say.


At Joey Pepperoni, we ordered from the seat meals and availed of their current offering: the Buy 1 Take 1 Pizza Promo at P199. I got pesto for my choice of pasta and this came with three mozzarella sticks and two garlic bread. Edwin had carbonara with two chicken fingers and two garlic bread, too. For drinks, I had a bottomless iced tea while he got content with his coke in can.




The two pizza would arrive after a few minutes. They were 8” in size, thin-crusted and came in two flavors: Hawaiian and Pepperoni Mushroom.


We arrived at the restaurant with only two tables occupied but during our dinner and more so when we left, people started coming in. It was my first time to dine there so this was like an assurance to me that I wouldn’t be disappointed with the food. Italian food, that is. And I must say I didn’t get disappointed. I enjoyed my food very much.

The pesto was generous (both in flavor and serving portion) and the mozzarella sticks (though they weren’t that gooey enough) were satisfying. I also tried a spoonful of Edwin’s carbonara and took a bite of one of his chicken fingers. They were both delicious. I just found the carbonara too oily you could see the oil separating from the otherwise creamy, white sauce. As for the two differently-flavored pizza, I loved them both. The thin-crust was crunchy and flaky; the toppings tasted fresh.

I’d recommend Joey Pepperoni Pizzeria if you’re craving for simple but delicious Italian food. It's also one of the few restaurants we have in Manila that gives value to your money with its good food and affordable prices.

I like it that the place’s ambiance is contemporary but relaxing. The cushioned seats are perfect for casual conversations. The staff at Joey Pepperoni-SM Manila were a bit shy and slow but they sure were polite and diligent. We’ll definitely visit again.:)




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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


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