Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Life begins where WIFI is weak
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Service with a smile!

Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant is located 10 min by car from Tagbilaran city square along the main road. It is a big place with many seats but when we were there it was relatively empty of people. The service was excellent and the food was good with good value for the money.

​Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
5 Service
4 Value
3 Atmosphere
I was here December 2015.

Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant
Carlos P. Garcia Avenue, 6300 Tagbilaran City
Phone: +639176588654
Review of Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant (Bohol, Philippines) © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The entrance

Review of Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant the waitress (Bohol, Philippines) © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Service with a big smile

Review of Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant everybody happy with the food (Bohol, Philippines) © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Everybody liked the food

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​The best Blueberry Cheesecake!

There are currently two Bo's Coffee shops in Tagbilaran. One is in ICM, Island City Mall. The other one is strategically located at the city square near the cathedral in Tagbilaran. This review is about the latter one, located at the city square.
This was my watering hole to get real good coffee. They had a wide selection of pastries where my favorite was the Blueberry Cheesecake. They also served complete breakfasts, pasta and savory pies suitable for lunch.

They make me feel welcome every time

I came many times here to work with my computer and drink Café Latte with Blueberry Cheesecake. Good WiFi and electrical outlets for charging your phone or computer were available at some seats. The CR (Comfort Room) was always nice and clean. The staff was friendly and made their effort to make me feel welcome every time.
The only downside was that sometimes it could be really noisy when there were many guests and that they didn't repair one of the electrical outlets despite I reminded them about it several times.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Food 
5 Service
5 Value
4 Atmosphere
I have been here many times 2015-2016.

Bo's Coffee
Front of Rizal Plaza | Torralba Street, Tagbilaran City, Philippines
Phone: + 63 38 501 9345
A table with a view
View towards the entrance
My favorite, café latte and Blueberry Cheesecake
WiFi was good
My snack
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Big casino and a Chinese restaurant

If you for some reason happen to be in Santa Ana, the almost northern tip of the whole Luzon you are really off the beaten track but probably heading for the ferry going to the Babuyan Islands. There are not much here in Santa Ana, but you have the Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort here. This is a big casino and a Chinese restaurant with accompanying bungalows. When you pass by on the road outside it looks really anonymous like a big quiet warehouse or something. It's only the signpost which tells you there is something going on inside the compound.
Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) signpost

The signpost

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) entrance

The entrance

​​A surrealistic place

But don't hesitate. Just proceed through the gates and walk along the big warehouse wall until you reach the front and you will be amazed! A big entrance with fountains and nice plantings welcomes you. But it's a little bit of a surrealistic experience, in the middle of nowhere, in this small town Santa Ana you find this place and there is almost no people around. By the time we were there having dinner there was only one other guest present. 
Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) reception

The reception hall

Conclusions

However the food was delicious and the portions were huge. We ordered hot and sour soup and beef with mushrooms. The food was price worthy and  they also had a good WiFi here. 

​Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
4 Service
4 Value
4 Atmosphere
I was here January 2014.

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort Philippines
Brgy. San Vicente, Santa Ana , Cagayan Valley Philippines, 3514
Phone: +639088907646
Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) the restaurant

Only one other guest present

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) the food

Hot and sour soup and beef with mushrooms

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Good location

You have two branches of Buzzz Café in Tagbilaran. One is located in the ground floor of Luisa Galleria. Maybe this one is the most accessible of the two due to it's central location near the city square. The other one is located in Island City Mall (ICM) which is 5 min away from city square by tricycle. This review is mainly about the branch located in Luisa Galleria which also is the bigger one and have more tables available.

Locally produced with organic farming

From inside of the restaurant you have a beautiful view over the strait between Bohol and Panglao. Free WiFi is available and AC is functioning very well (read: it's not too cold inside). The unique with The Buzzz Café is that everything they sell here is locally produced with organic farming. They also have a shop here where you can buy fresh bread, pastries, honey etc.

​Healthy and delicious! 

The food is a mix of Western and Filipino style. Soups, salads, sandwiches, ribs, fish, chicken, pizzas and pasta. Vegetarian alternatives are also available. Everything is cooked with their style, unique for The Buzzz Café. Some dishes come with fresh salad and newly baked bread with delicious spreads. The have also a good selection of tea and coffee. The conclusion is clear, healthy and delicious food to reasonable prices.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Food 
5 Service
5 Value
5 Atmosphere
I have been here many times the past years.

The Buzzz Café
Ground Floor, Galleria Luisa, Galleries St. Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Phone: +63 38 502 2288
Complimentary to every meal. Fresh bread with honey and pesto spread.
Fresh bread with pesto spread
Look at this! It's like an artwork for your soul.
Ribs
Ribs, fresh salad and red rice
Caffe latte with a carrot muffin
Grilled squid
Different kinds of honey for sale
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Don't let the first impression let you down

The whole place looks a little bit shabby from the outside. But don't let the first impression let you down. The Golden Cowrie virtually stands alone surrounded by a parking lot, which means there are always free parking space available. When you enter the restaurant all the shabbiness vanish away. It's nice and clean and you are greeted by staff. The food is Filipino style and you have many dishes to choose between and the prices are very reasonable. The only downside is when the restaurant is full of guests, which it often is the sound level tends to be high probably because of the acoustics is not that good.

A little bit unlucky this time

The food shown in one of the pics was Kangkong, a common vegetable dish consists of green leaves mixed with garlic and spices. Bicol Express which is pork with coconut milk, chili and shrimp paste. The Kangkong was delicious but the pork in the Bicol Express consisted almost only of chops of pure fat. When I told the staff about it they replaced it with pork chops which was to my satisfaction. I felt I was a little bit unlucky with my Bicol Express because I have been here several times before and usually the food have been very good.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
4 Service
5 Value
3 Atmosphere
I was here several times in December 2015.

Golden Cowrie Restaurant
0068 Venancio P. Inting Ave, Tagbilaran City, 6300 Bohol, Philippines
Phone: +63 38 411 1323
Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Kangkong (green leaves vegetable), Bicol Express and rice
Pork chops
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Willing to make it right!

I have passed by this restaurant many times when I have been in Mall of Asia looking for something to eat. It looks nothing special from the outside. But then finally I thought I would give the place a try! 
Chili's offers a little bit of the usual stuff for this category of restaurants. Tex Mex, ribs, chicken, seafood, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, salads etc. They also offer lunch combos. Actually it took me a while for deciding what to take. Many of the dishes in the menu looked very delicious. I finally decided to go for the Monterey Chicken. Grilled chicken breast topped with BBQ sauce, crispy bacon, cheese, diced tomatoes and green onions. Served with mashed potatoes and steamed fresh veggies. The waitress asked me if I wanted fried mushrooms together as a side dish. I really got the impression from her that the mushrooms were complimentary. So I didn't distinctively ask for the price, which of course I should have done.
The food was quickly on the table and the portion was huge and delicious. The price for the Monterey Chicken was 485 PHP. When I got the bill they had charged me additionally 220 PHP for the mushrooms. The portion of the mushrooms had been very small.  So I felt disappointed of the expensive price and the way the waitress had handled her upselling. 
So I asked for the supervisor and explained the situation. To my surprise she was very understanding and immediately offered me a compensation free of choice. So I ordered The Deep Fried Cheesecake as a dessert for 350 PHP. From the feeling of disappointment to satisfaction I become a very full satisfied customer.
​They also had a strong and fast WiFi net and clean and fresh comfort rooms. 

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Food 
4 Service
3 Value
4 Atmosphere
I was here February 2016.

Chili's Restaurant
SM Mall of Asia, South Wing, Ground Floor, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: 835 9663

Note! Click on images to see slideshow and captions!
Chili's restaurant in Mall of Asia, Manila Monterey chicken as it looked in the menu Monterey Chicken and my mushroom side dish on top Deep fried cheesecake with ice cream Related links: UCC Good Coffee Smile in Manila​ Where to eat the fiery style in Manila? Visit Intramuros in Manila​ Manila American Cemetery & Memorial​ Visit the Manila Chinese Cemetery​ Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant, Manila Review of hotel Isabelle Royale in Makati, Manila Review of Kyochon restaurant in Mall of Asia Review of Arya Persian Restaurant in Pasay Hiking trip to Mt Pinatubo Review of Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens, Imus, Manila Review of Chili's Restaurant in Mall of Asia Review of Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia Review of Pinoy Pamilya Hotel in Pasay Review of 88 Courtyard Hotel in Pasay Video clips Manila Ocean Park​
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An American in Manila, Burgoo Restaurant

Burgoo is conveniently located in the south wing of Mall of Asia. The serving staff are nice and service minded. They introduce themselves and ask for your name. In case you forget the name of your waitress they write their name on the paper tablecloth. The menu consists not only of hamburgers, they have other dishes as well, Tex Mex, pizzas, pasta, seafood, steaks and ribs.

Bacon Cheeseburger and Seafood Jambalaya Supreme

​First time I was there, I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger. Charbroiled Angus beef patty, grilled and topped with cheese and golden crispy bacon.  It was served with U.S. fries flavored with sour cream and onions. The serving was generous and the burger was delicious.  The second visit I went for Seafood Jambalaya Supreme. It was a huge serving of mussels, calamari and shrimps with ham, chorizo, green peas, green bell pepper, white onions, cajun spices in long grain rice and topped with deep fried chicken. The food was tasty but I preferred the burger instead of the Jambalaya.

Conclusion

They have free WiFi which was functioning to my satisfaction. The serving went smooth and nicely without any hustle and waiting. If you are looking for some burgers the American style I can recommend this place!
​
​Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
5 Service
3 Value
4 Atmosphere
I was here May 2015 and February 2016.

Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant
SM Mall of Asia, Bay Blvd. Brgy. 76, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Burgoo American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia, Manila

Burgoo, American Bar and Restaurant (Manila, Philippines)

Burgoo American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia, Manila

Today my waitress was Joy

Bacon Cheeseburger at Burgoo American Bar and Restaurant in Mall of Asia, Manila

Bacon Cheeseburger

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Disappointed!

I was here two times. First time I wanted coffee. But they only had 3 in 1 and that's a shame to call that coffee. Bleehhh!!
I gave the place a second chance a couple of days later. I went there for lunch. I ordered grilled fish. What I got was a small deep fried fish, not grilled. Immediately I was surrounded by thousands flies, they probability came from the beach which is very close to where I was sitting. The taste was ok but nothing really special. 
Amore Cafe is apart from above a nice place, good location, nice building, it's  almost a little bit like a museum with lot's of stuff to look at both inside and outside the building. With real coffee and better food this could be a really good place to visit.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
2 Food 
3 Service
2 Value
5 Atmosphere
I was here February 2016.

Amore Cafe
Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Dermagu Baru, Karimun Jawa, Indonesia
Reviews of restaurants in Indonesia, Cafe Amore, cats

Those cats were patiently waiting for the leftovers of the fish meal

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​My first visit ever on Chow King

I've seen Chow King everywhere in the Philippines but it was until now I tried it for the first time. The menu is not that exciting but the food was good and the portions surprisingly big compared to for example Jolibee. This particular Chow King is located near the centre of Toril.

The concept: Western fast food service style with Chinese food

For those who doesn't heard about Chow King, it is a Philippine-based chain. The concept combines a Western fast food service style with Chinese food. Chowking predominantly sells noodle soups, dim sum, and rice toppings. The company was founded in 1985, at a time when Western-style burger joints were dominating the Philippine fast food scene.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
3 Food 
3 Service
3 Value
3 Atmosphere
I was here April 2015.

Chow King
J. Rasay Street, Corner Agton Street, Toril, Davao City
Chow King Toril Davao

Chow King (Toril, Davao)

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Una Pizzeria, better than average (2014)

My first review 2014 I wrote this: We had pasta and pizza and compared to certain fast food places here in the Philippines which have the same type of food, this was by far better. Otherwise nothing special.

The café latte is best in town (2016)

In February 2016 I visited Pizzeria Una three times. The restaurant is located opposite of the Fernandos Hotel which I was currently staying at. The food is still good. I tried pork spiced with herbs the Italian style with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes. Second time I went for the traditional pizza. Their café latte is best in town together with blueberry cheesecake, although to my knowledge this might be the only place in Sorsogon where they serve this! So the competition isn't that fierce. The staff is friendly but not really attentive. I often had to wait for ordering the food, getting the bill and refilling of the water. They tend also to have the AC very cold so for me at least who doesn't want to sit in the full blast of cold air I had to chose my table with care.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
3 Service
4 Value
3 Atmosphere
I was here September 2014 and February 2016.

​Una Pizzeria
Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, Philippines
Phone: ​+63 56 211 3945

​Note! Click on images to see slideshow and captions!