This Cafe Has The Best Service in Cebu City!

This Cafe Has The Best Service in Cebu City!

Friday, January 26, 2024

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Do you know the feeling of craving for something you've never had before? That's what I've been feeling with pain au chocolat for the past few months now. I just never seemed to get around having it. 

So in my last visit to Ayala Center Cebu, I found this relatively new cafe and saw that they have tons of French pastry options and I decided to give it a try.

Allow me to tell you about the cafe that for me has the best service in Cebu City.

The Mill Lifestyle Cafe

Based on the posts I found, my best guess is that the cafe has been opened since September 2023. They're located in the new wing of Ayala Center Cebu and the closest entrance is Cardinal Rosales Avenue.

I went there at around 10-ish and there was very little crowd dining in the cafe with most people having to-go orders.

Pricing

The cheapest bread they had when I went there was their Rustic Baguette for Php 60, a fairly decent price. They also had smaller pastries for as low as Php 70 and the croissants/puff pastries start at Php 130. 

The price is certainly not so cheap. It is up there with Starbucks or other higher end cafes. However, I may sound like (and have been called) a snob for this opinion but I really believe that there are food products that have to cost a little high for it to be good - like croissants and ramen. Those are like artisan or special products here because they're not local to us.

Here are the prices of their bread and pastry:

They also have a few drink options:

The Food

I ordered the Kouign-amann Plain, Pain Au Chocolat and Iced Americano - they weren't much fun to pronounce when I ordered due to my obvious ignorance of the French language, but I'm just glad they were patient with me. 

Links how to pronounce Pain Au Chocolat and Kouign-Amann in French in case you're curious or you want to be able to pronounce the words when ordering:

• Pain au Chocolat - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1RmLhOygmA&t=3s
• Kouign-Amann - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_AX7SHJnZY

Pain Au Chocolat

I am not French and I have not tried any other Pain Au Chocolat prior to this, but this is absolutely a great start.

I feel like it was a bit embarrassing how fast I finished (errr...devoured) this pastry. I couldn't help myself because it had a flaky crust and the dough is light and fluffy but at the same time very buttery which made the experience so heavenly.  The dark chocolate is also perfect and of really great quality. I was just smiling the entire time.

I think this is the ultimate pick-up pastry if you're having a rough day because I don't see how this could fail to bring a smile to anyone's face.

Pain Au Chocolat Rating: ★★★★★ 

Kouign-Amann Plain

Just when I thought the experience couldn't get any better from the Pain Au Chocolat, their Kouign-Amann Plain took it to another level.

According to Wikipedia (such a scholarly source, I know), "Kouign-amann is a sweet Breton cake made with laminated dough.The name comes from the Breton language words for 'cake' (kouign) and 'butter' (amann)." 

I honestly did not know what to expect with this which was why I was a little bit surprised when I got home and found out this was a type of cake. This is much sweeter than the Pain Au Chocolat, but it is not the kind of sweet that's overwhelming. Its sweetness plays perfectly with the texture. It is much richer and buttery. I really enjoyed this one as well.

Kouign-Amann Plain Rating: ★★★★★

Iced Americano

I think it's important for me to state that I have a very complicated relationship with all the iced americanos in the world. I despise it because it tastes like what exactly it is - a watered down espresso. However, in most cafes that do not have dairy substitutes or dairy-free drinks, I usually just go for iced americanos when I am having pastries.

That being said, I was not head over heels in love with this drink but that's more because of my non-preference to it. But it was not bad at all, it was not so bland and the coffee did not taste weird or cheap. It's also not too bitter and it complemented the sweet pastries I had that day.

Iced Americano Rating: ★★★

Service

Other than the great pastry and the ambiance, what I found outstanding was the service in the cafe. This cafe is also great for introverts because it's far more peaceful than the other mainstream shops.

I also did not feel judged when I was ordering those pastries with my poor French pronunciation. They accommodated my request of having my leftover pastry packed to-go. It was all smiles from the moment I stepped in to the cafe up until I left.

My server that day was Angela and she was extremely nice. I chose a spot near the glass wall and she asked if I was comfortable enough there because it might get too bright and too hot. She also offered me a bag holder for my paper bag so it won't occupy a space in my table.

I only ever experienced the princess treatment from high end restaurants and even compared to those, this cafe has much better service. I could see that they really loved their job and it's very commendable.

In conclusion...

I believe The Mill Lifestyle Cafe should be talked about more because it's truly a wonderful place that offers high quality pastry and has excellent service. 

If you're looking for your next cafe to try, I highly recommend this cafe if you haven't been there already.

Disclaimer: As you can tell by my not so poetic description of the food that I am not a food critic/expert nor have I ever claimed to be one. This is out of personal experience. Your experience and preferences may differ from mine. This review is not written with the intention to harm any individual, group or business. This review is not sponsored nor is it in any other type of x-deals.

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Is "Cebu Lasagna" Worth Craving For? | A Takeaway Review

Is "Cebu Lasagna" Worth Craving For? | A Takeaway Review

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

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My absolute favourite food in the world is my Tito Roy's lasagna back home. He used to give us a whole pan for New Year's eve and that was so comforting I still think its comfort is equivalent to a year of therapy. No exaggeration - or how do the kids say it nowadays...no cap?

Anyway, I have been eyeing Cebu Lasagna every single time I came across it on my Foodpanda window shopping. I have also read about it in online forum in threads where people ask about lasagna recommendations here in the city. After months of thinking about trying it, I finally caved in to my cravings.

Here's what I think...

Beef Steak

Beef Steak, Php 195

Before we get to the lasagna, I'd like to quickly talk about another dish from the store which is their Filipino-style beef steak a.k.a. bistek.

The beef is very tender, the portion is also generous for its price and it is very flavourful, but I felt that this was more like a beef tapa than a bistek. It was missing the lemony tang and the strong citrus element that usually sets bistek apart. The soy sauce took centre stage on this dish.

Bistek Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Combo A: Lasagna and Chicken Skin

Combo A, Php 275

I'll go through the lasagna specifically in the next section so allow me to also quickly talk about their chicken skin. This can be ordered separately or with a lasagna combo meal like what I have here. 

I really didn't know what to make of this combo at first because I never had chicken skin with lasagna before. It's usually with actual fried chicken or with garlic bread. As for the flavour, the best thing about this is that it's not greasy. Of course, it still tasted fried but it's not dripping in oil and very crispy. Speaking of its taste, I found this a little too bland for my liking. It's not even salty (which might be preferrable for some) but it just lacks flavour.

Do I like chicken skin with my lasagna? No. I still very much prefer a tasty and crispy garlic bread or actual chicken tenders.

Chicken Skin Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Lasagna Solo

Lasagna Solo, Php 195

Saving the star of the show for last.

The lasagna, as seen above, is topped with a very heavy creamy sauce. The portion is really good for it's price and is much larger and thicker than the one from a famous pizza chain.

It is worth noting that this does not taste like an Italian style lasagna, it leans more towards the Filipino style but is not too sweet at all. I really like how generous the filling is and it's also pretty tasty. What I did find is that the filling is a little dry than what I usually prefer which is a gooey and saucy filling. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the filling, it's just my odd preference that I thought might be worth mentioning. Lastly, despite the delicious, creamy sauce topping, I found that it is more of creamy than it is cheesy. 

Lasagna Rating: ★★★☆☆

In conclusion...

Overall, I really enjoyed Cebu Lasagna. I was scared because I thought the portions might be too small or too thin, but this is so worth it for its price. It's tasty and well-portioned. This is one of the really few great lasagna spots I tried in the city. I definitely think I would crave for this again in the future.

Disclaimer: As you can tell by my not so poetic description of the food that I am not a food critic/expert nor have I ever claimed to be one. This is out of personal experience. Your experience and preferences may differ from mine. This review is not written with the intention to harm any individual, group or business. This review is not sponsored nor is it in any other type of x-deals.

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Trying Out the Ribs Michael Scott Was Singing About | Chili’s Cebu Takeaway Review

Trying Out the Ribs Michael Scott Was Singing About | Chili’s Cebu Takeaway Review

Sunday, January 14, 2024

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My dear husband is the biggest fan of The Office that I know. So, when I told him that Chili's just opened the store here in Cebu, he was so thrilled since Chili's does not have a restaurant in Canada that he really pushed me to try them out. This meal was really dedicated for him and to get the most out of it, I decided to write a review to immortalise the (little bit expensive) experience.

>> Scroll down to skip The Office reference

If you're not familiar of The Office, it is a comedy that is a comedic caricature of probably the worst people anyone who worked a corporate job might have met or worked with. In the heart of it all is the most obnoxious boss, Michael Scott the regional manager whom in my opinion is really wild blend of all the unhinged bosses in the world while at the same time probably being one of the best characters in TV history. 

In an episode, Michael Scott and his boss Jan Levinson were taking a client out for a dinner meeting with the hopes of closing a big sale. Instead of the Radisson, Michael took them to Chili's (an obvious informal counterpart) where he miraculously had the same weird vibe as the client. Here's a video of them singing about the baby back ribs:

Honourable mentions...

I got two other things which are the quesadilla and the Chili's rice from this order which are also worth talking about. Spoiler alert, I was head over heels for these.

Chili's Rice

Chili's Rice, Php 80

I usually just skip over the rice I order from most places when I write about them, but for this I'll make an excemption. I ordered this as a side for my ribs because my Asian soul just had to. I didn't think this would wow me that much and definitely is not good on its own (this is not a regular "fried rice"). However, this is nothing less of a perfect match to the ribs. It has a little bit of kick in flavour though nothing that disrupts or even at the very least interrupt the flavour of the ribs or whichever main you might choose to have this with.

Chili's Rice Rating: ★★★☆☆

Bacon Ranch Quesadillas

Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, Php 585

Before anything else, I'd clarify that I've never had any experience on authentic Mexican quesadilla which is a shame because I just know the authentic version would knock me off my feet. Having said that, I am reviewing this dish as its own and in no reference to any authentic versions.

Now I can confidently say that I absolutely loved these! The bacon ranch quesadilla from Chili's are the best quesadillas I have had in the city. I honestly had low expectations because I'm used to the so-so quesadillas experience in the past. I thought they were going to pass off as a quick snack or appetisers so I was extremely surprised that this could be a full meal!

Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, Php 585

The filling is very thick and seasoned to perfection...and that cheese. They absolutely did not skimp out on the quantity and that quality of that cheese. I have been constantly thinking about this dish ever since I first tasted it.

Bacon Ranch Quesadilla Rating: ★★★★★+★★

And for the main that made Michael Scott's heart sing...

Chili's Baby Back Ribs (Original), Php 955

Chili's Baby Back Ribs

Oh dear, was this a huge slab of ribs. 

I was scared that I would not like this because it could have meant that I would be having to finish the size of it until supper because it was expensive. No one wants to eat a nearly thousand peso dish in misery.

Well, Michael Scott did not disappoint. This was an exquisite slab of ribs. Like the bacon ranch quesadillas, this also toppled over all the rest of the ribs I have tried in the city and even the one I had in a pricey restaurant in Toronto.

Chili's Baby Back Ribs (Original), Php 955

The meat was so tender that I didn't even use a knife to eat it! I was just going at it effortlessly and it almost melted in my mouth each time. Additionally, the side of sweet corn and fries are also very tasty.

From experience, the ribs I tried are always either too sweet or too smokey. I think the other flavours might be, but this original flavour was the perfect in between. There is a good balance of sweetness, spice and smokiness. I didn't feel even just a little bit fed up or umay even if I had this for both lunch and supper.

I highly recommend this dish. It's good for sharing, but you really don't have to if you don't want to. 😉 

Original Ribs Rating: ★★★★★

In conclusion...

I must say I had my doubts and I couldn't be happier that I was wrong. Chili's was a big surprise for me and still has me on a chokehold. These are my constant cravings. This is probably at the top range of my list of favourites here in the city.

Disclaimer: As you can tell by my not so poetic description of the food that I am not a food critic/expert nor have I ever claimed to be one. This is out of personal experience. Your experience and preferences may differ from mine. This review is not written with the intention to harm any individual, group or business. This review is not sponsored nor is it in any other type of x-deals.

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Is Open Mic Acoustic Lounge Really One of Cebu's Best? (A Review)

Is Open Mic Acoustic Lounge Really One of Cebu's Best? (A Review)

Monday, January 1, 2024

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A few weeks ago, my friends and I had our Christmas party at Open Mic Acoustic Lounge in Banawa, Cebu City. I've known about the place for years now since I have lived in the area for so long, but never had the chance to go there. I saw that they did receive a Cebu Daily News' (CDN) Cebu's Best Award in the past. I don't know much about CDN's award system so I was rightfully intrigued if this hangout spot is deserving to be named one of Cebu's best.

Here are my thoughts.

Quick overview / Business hours

Open Mic is a KTV lounge - as its name suggests, provides an open mic experience where audience (musicians and non-musicians alike) can sing their hearts out in front of an audience. If you're booking an exclusive room, it would be more like an elevated karaoke experience because they do have a platform for every area which would make one feel like it's a performance rather than just a group of people sitting around in a room.

They are open from Monday to Sunday from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am.

Booking Experience: Exclusive Party Room

I saw that they had per head rates, but in this section I would specifically talk about booking an exclusive party room. You may call the contact numbers found on their Facebook page or message the page directly. I did the latter.

Link to Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/openmicacousticlounge

They reply pretty quickly. They sent me the packages for the exclusive party room, menu, corkage rules, etc. Once I chose the package that we wanted (we chose the 2nd Floor) and the total reservation fee Php 8,000 with consumable of Php 6,000. There was a Php 2,000 deposit needed to reserve the room and this was deducted from our total bill. If you're booking other room types, the deposit rate may be different. After my deposit was confirmed, they sent me the calendar again but this time with our reservation reflected on the date we chose.

The use of the exclusive room is up to 12:00 am.

We were also asked to send our food order in advance. They have pre-set menus that is below the consumable amount, but we didn't go for that. We chose the dishes that we wanted.

How was the food?

Overall, even though only one dish stood out from the rest, the food was actually pretty great and was way better than the other KTV bars I've experienced. I'll go through my thoughts in general categories of Great, Good and So-So instead of talking about each one.

The Great

I would like to sincerely apologise because I forgot to take a photo of their sisig. It came last and didn't think much of it since I thought it would be just like any other sisig. I honestly was so surprised of how good it was. I believe and I sincerely hope that it was made from scratch because it tasted homemade, seasoned really well, the spice was just the right amount of kick and was really great to have on its own or with a side of rice.

The Good

The dishes that were really good, but didn't stand out as much as the sisig were bam-i, lumpiang shanghai, grilled tangigue, lechon kawali and the calamari. Don't get me wrong - these dishes weren't bad at all. They just seemed like how I had them at most restaurants but again, much better than the rest of the KTV places in the city.

Calamares, Php 350

Bam-i, Php 320

Grilled Tangigue, Php 370

Lechon Kawali, Php 300

Lumpiang Shanghai, Php 640

The So-So

These ones fell below the bar just a bit except for the kropek because there's nothing much to judge about it - it's just good ol' kropek. Lol. I just think it's a little overpriced.

Kropek, Php 340

The peanuts and chips. While the peanuts are good and spicy, the chips are just I believe are the regular Mr. Chips because they taste exactly like it.

Peanuts and Chips, Php 150

The scallops didn't have much to give when it comes to taste. The butter that they used only added to the texture, but nothing to the taste. The dish was also underseasoned and looked like it didn't have any cheese.

Scallops, Php 380

How was the place?

Open Mic Acoustic Lounge - Second Floor (2/F)

We booked the 2nd floor for exclusive use which I think is the best way to experience it if you come in groups. I think this area would fit perhaps 12 people comfortably. 

As I mentioned, this room also has its own platform, a stand mic and a wired mic for that full mini concert experience. The sound system is also really great but the volume cannot be adjusted. They also had tambourines and maracas.

Open Mic Acoustic Lounge - Second Floor (2/F)

The place is really well-maintained and was very clean when we got there.

Open Mic Acoustic Lounge - Second Floor (2/F)

And if you're like me who always wonders what the toilets/comfort rooms are like in places, here's a treat. The second floor exclusive room also has its own private toilet/comfort room which by the way, was also very clean and smelled really nice. This aspect sealed the deal for me. It might be trivial for others, but this honestly matters on how comfortable a place can be. Also, there's a sink as wash area right outside it.

Sink/Wash Area

2nd Floor Private Toilet/CR

How was the service?

There were two attendants on our floor and there is a call button inside the room for them. The ladies were very friendly and they were very welcoming. They had the same smile from the start of the night until we left at around midnight - I think this great service is really worth noting. By far, I think this KTV has the best service in the city.

In conclusion...

Other than a handful of slightly overpriced food and the fact that there was no reception area (I just went straight up to the second floor because the front of the place were just an entrance to another exclusive room and the stairs), this is by far the best KTV lounge that I have ever experienced in Cebu. The place is very comfortable and really exclusive. If you'd like to level up your KTV game with your group, I highly suggest looking into Open Mic Acoustic Lounge. It truly well-deserving to be named one of Cebu's best.

Disclaimer: As you can tell by my not so poetic description of the food that I am not a food critic/expert nor have I ever claimed to be one. This is out of personal experience. Your experience and preferences may differ from mine. This review is not written with the intention to harm any individual, group or business. This review is not sponsored nor is it in any other type of x-deals.

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