FULLy Booked!

FULLy Booked!
Experiences of a Certified Chinese Lakwatchera!

Friday, October 29, 2010

COSA NOSTRA


COSA NOSTRA 
1951 M. Adriatico St., Malate, Manila
Contact #: (02) 523-7889
Opens from 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm today.
Sun: 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Estimated Budget: 300/meal 
+ 60pesos service charge from the total amount. 
 Along the noisy, crowded and wild Malate, stands a quiet and cute italian bistro named Cosa Nostra. I first learned about this Resto while searching for a place where I can treat my friends on my birthday on the web. I was intrigue because of 4 stars rating it gathered from some top-notch food critic and bloggers. Out of curiosity, I asked my BF to treat me on this place. We walked from his condo in Ermita, we asked a lot of people: from police officers, to street vendors, to pedicab drivers. Atlas! We reached the place. 


 You'll never imagine that it's an italian resto because It looks like a regular middle-house.

Upon entering, I was intrigue because the place is too dark (only 4 lamp shades lightens the place), few seats were available for costumers,accentuated with antique furnitures, pictures and Pavarotti's were played as background music. My partner told me that the place smells like a geriatric hospital, somehow smells like ipis. True enough but I do have the attitude of not judging the book by it's cover. I just thought that it was the place's way to let its costumers feel the authentic italian resto. An old-man approached us and guided us for our table, he's the server.He handed us antiquely-designed menu...







 I can't choose what to order, but all I want is to eat pasta...mi paborito Pesto. and for my partner, I asked the old-man for their specialty. So we're there, seated in a small dark room, with 3 other costumers, the old server and an old cashier lady. while waiting for our orders, I managed to take some pictures inside...




We waited for almost 30minutes for our orders, way half the time, the old man noticed that we're being impatient so he served us a glassful of  water and their house garlic bread.-- well, uhm...Thanks! because We're sooo hungry that time.



Then finally, our orders arrived...
 Pesto for me...

 Cosa Nostra's Pasta Specialty: Seafood Casserole


 Plain Boring Pesto!
what can I say about the taste? It's too salty, no other ingredients. The oil used at least was olive oil. The price is not right. You'll get fed up with the taste!
Sana kumain na lang ako ng Jolly Spaghetti.

Ironical smile for a sodiumful seafood pasta!
Julius said that he'll never go back to that place again, the meal is salty. utensils are dirty and the place seems like a haunted house. He even said that people we're only amazed because of Cosa Nostra's Antique Ambiance.

We both did not finished our plate, we quickly asked for our bill. Surprisingly, from the total amount, we need to pay additional 60pesos for the service fee. 

Overall Review for Cosa Nostra: Dirty and cockroach-smelled resto + super slow service + dark place + pricey, salty and not-even-close-to-edible meals = ★★

I strictly do not recommend this place for any occasions. 

Monday, July 26, 2010

Luk Yuen

It was my first time to visit LukYuen at Glorietta 5 last Sunday. In front, you'll easily recognize the modernized Chinese style. Huge family often eats at the place maybe because of it's cheaper price than other Chinese restaurants. Anyway, since I am Chinese, I'm very fond of eating our delicacies and I know what exactly I really want to eat. As we waited for our orders, they offered us crackers topped with sweet and sour sauce and Hot tea (Perfect! since it was raining hard then).
 Luk Yuen @ Glorietta 5

 I love the wall!
Zen inspired decors

Munch! Perfect while waiting
The tea was not tasty! Yet quite a reliever for a cold day =)

What I like about Luk Yuen is that we did not waited long for our orders which is really an additional point since most of the restaurants will let you wait for ages! 

Finally! Our orders has arrived...
Sweet and Sour Prawn Dumplings Rice Topping
* I'm not really a fan of this because it's not tasty! I think the chef forgot to put salt or something.

 
Raddish Cake
Century Egg
Wanton Congee
 
Fried Taro Puffs.
*My favorite! You must try this.


Over all, I would say that Luk Yuen's Food are not tasty. So maybe I'll never go back to dine there again but except for their Taro Puffs.
2 stars for Luk Yuen. But if you're interested...

feel free to browse their menu:



Visit their other branches

And this is the complete menu of Luk Yuen

LUK YUEN’s Complete Menu
Steaming Congee
Shrimp                                                 ₱135.00
Century Egg with Lean Meat                ₱115.00
Pork Liver                                           ₱115.00
Chicken with Button Mushroom           ₱115.00
Lapu-lapu Fillet                                   ₱135.00
Halo-halo                                            ₱115.00
Sliced Beef                                         ₱115.00
Pork Ball (Bola-Bola)                        ₱115.00
Bicho-Bicho                                       ₱26.00
Dimsum
Asado Siopao                                                  ₱65.00(2 pcs.)
Chicken Siopao                                               ₱65.00(3 pcs.)
Jumbo HK Siopao                                           ₱70.00(1 pc.)
Radish Cake                                                    ₱65.00
Fried Meat Dumpling                                       ₱70.00
Steamed Shrimp Dumpling                               ₱90.00
Steamed Pork Siomai                                      ₱80.00
Deep Fried Taro Puff                                      ₱75.00
Quail Egg Siomai                                             ₱65.00
Chicken Feet with Chili                                   ₱65.00
Seafood Roll Wrapped in Japanese Seaweed  ₱80.00
Machang Cantonese Style                              ₱90.00(3 pcs.)
Steamed Beancurd with Minced Shrimp         ₱70.00
Crispy Shrimp Puff                                        ₱70.00
Stuffed Eggplant                                            ₱65.00
Spring Rolls                                                    ₱80.00
Spareribs with Tausi                                        ₱70.00
Crabstick in Beancurd Skin                            ₱80.00
Panfried Pork and Shrimp Roll                       ₱80.00
Dumpling in Hot Chili                                    ₱130.00
Vegetables Dumplings                            ₱70.00
Deep Fried Beancurd                            ₱85.00
Fried Shrimp Balls                               ₱95.00
Roasted Goodies
Suckling Pig Rice Topping     ₱160.00
Roast Duck Rice Topping      ₱160.00
Pork Asado Rice Topping     ₱120.00
Soy Chicken Rice Topping    ₱115.00
2 BBQ Combination Rice Topping    ₱160.00(Asado or Soy Chicken)
White Chicken Riice Topping ₱115.00
Beef and Veggies
Braised Beef Brisket with Radish      ₱130.00
Boiled Beeef and Pork Liver              ₱130.00
Seasonal Vegetables in Oyster Sauce ₱85.00
Noodles and Dumplings
Wanton Soup                                                  ₱114.00
Ravioli Soup                                                    ₱114.00
King Dao Pork Noodle Soup                          ₱115.00
Beef Bisket Noodle Soup                                ₱115.00
Ravioli Noodle Soup                                       ₱120.00
Ravioli with Ginger and Onion                         ₱120.00
Plain Noodles with Ginger and Onion              ₱65.00
Braised Beef Brisket with Noodle                   ₱125.00
King Dao Pork Noodle                                  ₱125.00
Chicken Noodle Soup                                    ₱115.00
Noodle Feast                                                 ₱250.00
Fried Noodles with Shredded Pork                ₱120.00
Fried Noodles with Shrimp                            ₱135.00
Stir Fried Udon with Seafood                        ₱165.00
Beef Wanton Noodle Soup                           ₱145.00
Noodles Cantonese Style                              ₱120.00
Tossed Rice Noodles                                    ₱120.00
Braised E-fu Noodles with Seafood              ₱165.00
Rice Toppings in a Bowl
Beef Brisket Rice                                            ₱115.00
Yang Chow Fried Rice                                   ₱115.00
Pork Asado Rice                                            ₱120.00
Soya Chicken Rice                                         ₱115.00
Sweet and Sour Prawn Dumpling Rice            ₱135.00
Lapu-lapu with Amplalaya Rice                      ₱135.00
Deep Fried Chicken Steak Rice                     ₱115.00
Tausi Spareribs                                              ₱120.00
Spareribs wiith Chicken Feet                          ₱125.00
Chicken with Black Mushroom                      ₱125.00
Pork Chop with Vegetable Curry                  ₱115.00
Fried Rice with Chicken and Salted Fish       ₱150.00
Bento
Chicken Bento  ₱180.00
Deep Fried Chicken, Stuffed Eggplant, Soy Noodles, Fried Rice, Sesame Balls
Pork Bento      ₱180.00
Sweet and Sour Pork, Fried Tofu, Soy Noodles, Fried Rice, Sesame Balls
Fish Bento       ₱180.00
Lapu-lapu with Tausi, Spring Rolls, Soy Noodles, Fried Riice, Sesame Balls
Ala Carte
Soup
Chicken 'n Corn Soup
₱75.00 - 140.00
Size choices: Small(₱75.00), Regular(₱140.00)
Hot 'n Sour Soup
₱80.00 - 150.00
Size choices: Small(₱80.00), Regular(₱150.00)
Seafood Soup with Beancurd
₱85.00 - 160.00
Size choices: Small(₱85.00), Regular(₱160.00)
Pork
Pork with Vegetable in Chili Sauce    ₱185.00
Sweet and Sour Pork                          ₱195.00
Peppercorn Spareribs                          ₱195.00
Chicken
Chicken Strips with Cashew and Green Peas ₱195.00
Boneless Chicken in Lemon Sauce                 ₱200.00
Chicken Fillet with Fruit Salad                       ₱210.00
Golden Fried Chicken
₱250.00 - 500.00
Size choices: Half(₱250.00), Whole (₱500.00)
Beef
Sliced Beef with Broccoli                                          ₱210.00
Sliced Beef with Ampalaya                                       ₱190.00
Stir Fried Beef with Kangkong and Bangoong          ₱195.00
Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef                                  ₱185.00
Seafood
Pan Fried Egg with Shrimps and Ampalaya                ₱165.00
Fish Fillet in Sweet and Sour Sauce                           ₱210.00
Fish Fillet in Tausi Sauce                                           ₱210.00
Stir Fried Shrimps with Cashew and Green Peas       ₱210.00
Braised Beancurd with Mushroom                            ₱180.00
Steamed Fish Fillet with Ham                                   ₱220.00
Delightful Sweets


Sesame Balls                           ₱50.00
Almond Jelly with Lychees       ₱55.00
Herb Jelly with Fruit Cocktail   ₱55.00
Peanut Roll                              ₱50.00
Momo Chacha                        ₱55.00
Pihng Pihng Tien Tien              ₱80.00
Single Scoop Ice Cream          ₱35.00