I'm not a huge fan of Valentines day, not only do I see it as a capitalist tradition but the gory massacre associated with it kind of gives me the creeps too. But even if I don't love it as a holiday,  I love romantic gestures which I usually plan right around this holiday because that's the time when restaurants usually spruce up before the huge V day. I take about 3-4 days so everything's still waaaay cheaper lol and it isn't as crowded. I typically travel around this time because Metro Manila traffic is a bitch, but this year I decided to do something romantic with this guy I'm dating yiiieee kilig.

So anyway, I looked up restaurants with the kind of vibe I wanted to go for--the perfect romantic breakfast date! I don't like going out at night because of the traffic so a breakfast date sounds perfect. I read up an article on Booky and Burrow Cafe is one of the restaurants on their list. 

Coming from Mandaluyong, it tooks us about an hour to arrive at our destination. Burrow cafe is situated inside Beverly Hills an there's a P20 fee if you're bringing a car right when you drive by the guard house. Reservations are highly encouraged and walk-ins aren't guaranteed so make sure you call or send them a message ahead of time. This is an underground cafe so there's a downhill walk before you actually see the restaurant. According to their website, 76 steps down to be precise. 

When I opened the antique doors, I was floored. The place was amazing! Not only is it lovely on Instagram, it's lovelier in person. When I walked in I just knew I made the right decision. It was only us plus another group dining during the time of our visit--can I just say breakfast dates really are the best. The place has limited seating but it's is spacious enough so you won't feel crowded. 

Okay, now on to the food. If you look at their menu, you'll be a bit surprised because given the selection the price can be a bit too steep. I thought of the same thing but hey, I also looked at the photos on Zomato and they look amazing. I ordered the Slow Braised Beef Shank (P730.00), BSE--Bacon, Sausage and Egg (P480.00), Dayap Creme Brulee (P160.00) and Cold Brew Latte (P160.00). 

The Braised Beef was tender and it melts in your mouth but the flavor was overpowering. I had to eat a ton of baby tomatoes and french beans to balance out the taste. The BSE was okay, is there something special about it--none. The coffee was good and justified for it's price. The creme brulee was also okay but personally the addition of Dayap didn't suit my taste, I like my creme brulee creamy.

Would I go back?? I would! The food may be pricey but you're not just paying for THAT, you're paying for the ambiance, the experience and everything in between. I probably couldn't get another cafe in the metro that can offer the peace and serenity I had while dining--it was so quiet and peaceful I was left to wander with my thoughts while enjoying my meal. Burrow Cafe is probably one of the restaurants I thought I'd never go back to because I was a bit put off with the price but no, the experience was totally amazing and I look forward to coming back soon.

The branch that we tried was the one in Mandaluyong. Not a lot of parking space available. I think they only had about two slots with the other one shared with their delivery motorcycles. What I liked about the place is that they have solo stall if you're dining solo, and these stalls have partitions so you can eat in peace without worrying about your personal space being invaded by the next person.

Service was relatively fast since it was just us and another couple who was dining at the time. But even in the wee hours of 5:30AM, the place already looked busy and most of the staff were just moving around doing something.

We ordered Beef Pares (P148.00) and Beef Tendon Pares (P158.00). I love Tendon because it's like fat but they say it's collagen so it's essentially good for you, lol. I don't really have a study to back that up but I eat a lot of tendon and bone marrow because I love the consistency and flavor. Okay so first blush, I wonder when the surge of Pares culture started happening because when it did, the prices wouldn't go below P100--which is insane in my standards. I mean a meal for about P150, what am I having really?

Not to say Goto Tendon isn't good, it is good. Better than Pares Retiro which is another joint that's really popular for their Pares albeit more expensive. But for both my question is, are they really worth that much? I know Pares is quite tedious to make but I've had better Pares in roadside Carinderia's for like P30-P50. Other than that I don't have any other comment. It's good but not the kind of good that would make me put it on top of my list. 

GOTO TENDON

Budget : P400 for 2 people

Open daily : 11AM - 3AM

Maysilo Circle, Plainview, Mandaluyong City

For a couple of weeks now, I have been craving for Indian food and torn between actually giving in to this craving or prioritizing my diet lol. I'm trying to eat healthier but we all know Indian food isn't just complete without rice so I had to hold it up on the rice. I did find an alternative but I'll be talking about that on a different blog. For now I'd like to talk about this hole in the wall I discovered a couple of weeks back. 

So, since the guy I'm dating hails from Bulacan, I often find myself scouring the streets of Malolos for my next food adventure. I'm also surprised at how budget-friendly most of the restaurants are, say, a Samgyeupsal place offers both Korean Bbq + Shabu Shabu for only P299! That's how crazy the prices can go. Anyway, we all know Indian food can be a bit on the pricier side so I was ecstatic when I discovered Biryani House Malolos. 

I've been making my own Biryani at home but I wanted a restaurant-made feast because I didn't know if my recipe was closer to the original. I got Butter Chicken (P219), Chicken Biryani (P199), Yogurt Shake aka Lass (P129), Butter Roti (P39) and Cheese Paratha (P119). My order roughly reached about P7700+ and I think it's not bad given I got so many things! I also just want to say I get why Indian food is expensive here in the Philippines because of all the spices involved in making the dishes which is why I appreciate it when I get authentic food for a fraction of the price. 

The Chicken Biryani was good and the serving as good for about 2-3 people but I almost consumed it all. I had a little for take out but you get how good it was because I really could've consumed it all. It was served with Raita and spicy tomato puree (I dont know what it's called) on the side. Next is the Butter Chicken, the serving was sufficient but for P219 I was expecting a bit more. I also dipped my Butter Roti and Cheese Paratha on the Butter Chicken sauce and bam, divine! The flavors were combined so well I just wanted to eat everything.  

Would I go back? Definitely! Yes the heat could be off-putting since Indian food can also get pretty hot which is why I was sweating buckets, but nothing can stop me from getting good food with really awesome price tags. If you're around the area and craving for Indian/Arabic/Pakistani food, go ahead and check them out!

BIRYANI HOUSE

Budget : 400 for 2 people

Call : 0977 777 4017 for reservations

Caltex Gas Station Blas Ople Diversion Rd, Malolos, Bulacan