where to eat in marikina – Jellybeans in the City

5 reasons to celebrate birthdays at Vikings Luxury Buffet, SM Marikina

Quick question: Where do you usually take the fam or the barkada when it’s someone’s birthday?

Chances are: Vikings Luxury Buffet is right at the top of your shortlist, right?

And why not? Celebrating someone’s natal day here calls to mind the grandiose shindigs that the legendary Vikings held where food and drink overflowed for days until everyone is fully satisfied.

If you’re still on the fence on whether you should hold birthday festivities at Vikings Luxury Buffet, here are five reasons why:

1. Festive atmosphere

The restaurant is designed to create a cheery yet elegant atmosphere that makes your group’s dining experience even more enjoyable.

Equipped the largest buffet areas found in the country, Vikings brings and ambiance of splendor and opulence to its diners.

The spacious dining area is decorated with elegant fixtures and comfortable seating, and the staff is friendly and attentive. They provide excellent service, ensuring that your needs are met throughout your dining experience.

2. Wide selection of dishes

Vikings offers a variety of international cuisines, including Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and more, all specially prepared by its team of world-class chefs. The entire party can find everything they crave for – whether appetizers, entrees, seafood, meats or desserts – one plate at a time among the different stations for each cuisine:

Japanese: fresh sushi, sashimi and tempura
Chinese: dim sum and noodles
Filipino: classic dishes like adobo, sinigang, and lechon
Carving: various roasted meats
Pastas and Pizzas
Desserts

With such an extensive array of dishes, the birthday celebrant, and the whole group, will be able to enjoy old favorites as well as try out new cuisines to explore.

3. Eat all you can!

Vikings Luxury Buffet is an all-you-can-eat restaurant, which means the entire party can enjoy as much food as they want for the fixed adult rate of Php988 on weekdays and Php1,088 on weekends.

This way, everyone can savor their favorites or try out different dishes without having to worry about the cost.

Bringing the young ‘uns with you? Here are the buffet rates for the kiddos:

Kids below 3 feet: FREE
Kids 3 feet to 4 feet: Php338 (weekday lunch and dinner) | Php388 (weekend/holiday lunch and dinner)
Kids 4 feet to 6 feet: Php598 (weekday lunch and dinner) | Php698 (weekend/holiday lunch and dinner)

(All buffet rates subject to 5% service charge)

Be mindful of food waste, okay? Make sure that everyone takes only what they can eat and go back for seconds if needed.

4. Birthday celebrants eat for FREE!

Who can forget Vikings’ much-loved promo which allows birthday celebrants to tale full advantage of the restaurant’s delicious buffet spread – from its signature dishes to unique local flavors – absolutely FREE!

All they have to do is a bring a full-paying adult on their actual birthday or four full-paying adults if their visit falls within their birth month. (Be sure to bring a valid government-issued ID).

5. Cheers all you can too!

Go ahead and pair your food with your own alcoholic beverage. You can bring as many bottles as you want with no corkage fee.

So the next time someone’s birthday comes around, you know where to take them and the entire party to eat like a Viking, celebrating great times with great company and great food!

This Vikings Luxury Buffet branch is located at the 2nd Floor, SM City Marikina, Barangay Calumpit, Marikina City, open for lunch service daily from 11am to 2.30pm, and for dinner service Sundays to Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 5pm to 10pm.

Other Vikings Luxury Buffet branches in Metro Manila are located at:

SM Mall of Asia
SM Megamall
SM North EDSA
SM Jazz Mall
SM BF Paranaque
The Venue

For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 88454647 (8-VIKINGS) or book your table online.

Gather the fam together for an abot-kayang salu-salo at Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

It’s around that time of the year again when we get together with our nears-and-dears over a hearty meal.

This extended family gathering is the perfect occasion to bond with relatives that we might not see so frequently to exchange news, exclaim on the fast growth of the young ‘uns or celebrate each other’s successes for the past year.

While quarantine restrictions no longer prohibit us from throwing a shindig for the fam, our budgets might give us some pause.

Well, at Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina, that won’t be a problem.

Known for its malinis, masarap at mura selections of down-home Pinoy dishes, Mang Ding’s can serve up viands that surely count among the family’s faves. From Pinoy appetizers and side dishes, barbecues and ihaw-ihaw, to sizzling plates and crispy fried food, plus a selection of local beers and sodas, Mang Ding’s is a return to treasured childhood dishes to some and an introduction to down-home Pinoy flavors to others.

Ensaladas. Side salads that combine sweet, sour and salty fresh flavors from tomatoes, onions and bagoong. The Ensaladang Mangga (Php125) and the Ensaladang Talong (Php75) are perfect companions for Mang Ding’s grilled and fried offerings.

Salted Egg Boneless Bangus (Php295). Grilled marinated milkfish topped with chopped onions, tomatoes and slices of salted egg.

McJolly Pakpak (Php325 for half-kilo | Php550 for 1 kilo). Crispy deep-fried chicken wings that’s a kiddie favorite for sure!

Isaws. Did you know that the name saw comes from the word sawsawan, or the sauce that these street food delicacies are dipped in? I’m everyone in the fan won’t have enough of Mang Ding’s Isaw Baboy Bilog (Php45/stick) and Isaw Manok (Pho28/stick).

Pork BBQ (Php45/stick). The Pinoys’ favorite sweet and savory pork barbecue made with tender slices of marinated pork grilled to smokey perfection.

Tuna Panga (Php100/100 grams). If the kiddos’ conception of tuna is something flaky that comes from cans, then it’s high time to introduce them to the massive jaw of tuna marinated in a sweet soy-based sauce and grilled to smokey goodness.

Belgian Chocolate Slice (Php175). Of course, every family meal deserves a sweetly happy ending. A slice of this moist chocolate cake topped with a decadently rich chocolate icing is just the ticket!

Aside from its delicious and affordable menu items, Mang Ding’s laid-back and relaxing atmosphere is conducive to lingering and catching up with family members.

I should know: I’ve spent quite a lot of time here with my own extended family, officemates and fellow foodies, and our dining forays here always extend by hours, simply because we don’t want our time together to end.

So here’s your perfect venue for a family get-together this holiday season and beyond!

Psst! You might want to take advantage of Mang Ding’s Family Platter which already includes Pork BBQ, McJolly Pakpak, Boneless Bangus Overload, Ensaladang Talong and steamed rice good for four to five persons, all for just Php998! What a delicious way to go for an abot-kayang salu-salo, right?

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is located at Block 3, Lot 13 C Buenviaje Street, Barangay Santo Nino, Marikina City, open for dine-in, pickup and delivery on Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays for 11am to 11pm.

Reserve the venue now for your clan gathering, book a table for lunch, dinner or drinks or order for delivery by calling or texting +63 916 2853031.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

Check out my previous posts about Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ:

Rediscovering Pinoy Street Food at Mang Ding’s, Marikina

Pinoy street food for #TeamBahay from Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

Sunday family meal at home with Mang Ding’s

3 ways Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina is perfect for your family holiday gathering

Family steak lunch at Beeffalo by Hotrocks, Marikina

There’s something about biting into a juicy and flavorful piece of steak that makes one feel all good inside, right?

Each bite releases flavor, tenderness and juiciness, a powerful combination that simply makes you look forward to the next delicious bite.

However, steaks don’t come cheap.

Back in the late 2000s, my fam had a go-to place for delicious cuts of beef grilled to juicy and flavorful perfections: Hotrocks. It was a no-frills steak place located along C5 in Libis in Quezon City where we can enjoy steaks without having to break the bank.

Well, it disappeared when the area went through some renovations, much to our dismay, but we were gladdened to discover that it found a new home in the Marikina suburbs.

It even took on a new moniker: Beefalo by Hotrocks. Plus, it adopted a look as well: it transitioned from the down-home, cafeteria-style steakhouse (complete with wall decors of plates autographed by celebrity diners) to a more Western ranch-style roadside house with a spacious garden-style al fresco dining area and interior punctuated by brick walls and decorated with vintage appliances and bric-a-bracs.

During my visits there with my family since I discovered its re-emergence in Marikina, I welcomed its change in aesthetics (as well as the improvement in creature comforts that titas like me look for) but I was also glad to see our favorites still on the menu, such as:

Caesar Salad (Php 175 solo | Php345 for sharing). A bowl of crisp romaine lettuce tossed with bacon bits and croutons in Caesar salad dressing, then sprinkled with grated parmesan cheese is just the ticket for starting a great meal, wouldn’t you agree?

Porterhouse Steak (Php520 for 250g | Php795 for 450g). This is the steak that started it all: hefty cuts of porterhouse steak with spartan seasoning and served with mashed potato made from scratch, buttered veggies and the tangy housemate sauce. No-frills but still quite an indulgence.

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (Php195). If memory serves, Hotrocks served me my first taste of this rich confection more than a decade ago. A cheesecake crust at the bottom is covered with a layer of milk-infused cake, which is then covered with a thick milky cream frosting. What’s not to love?

A family meal at Beefalo by Hotrocks is always a welcome foodie adventure for our family of steak lovers.

Beefalo by Hotrocks is located at Lot 6, Block 3, Gil Fernando Avenue, Santo Niño, Marikina City, open weekdays from 12 noon to 10pm and weekdays from 11am to 10pm for dine-in, takeout and delivery. For inquiries and orders, call +63 2 89676008 or +63 939 1130772.

Stay updated on its latest promos and offers by following it on Facebook and Instagram.

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar, Gil Fernando Marikina

The city of Marikina is home to a lot of foodie destinations: some may be quite off the beaten path but some are endearingly familiar.

One of these familiar establishments is Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar located along Gil Fernando Avenue. Having opened in February this year, it’s conveniently situated to cater to residents of the surrounding areas.

In my family’s case, it’s the perfect stopover on the way to our staycation destination in San Mateo, Rizal.

During our several visits, we filled up on its delicious menu items, such as:

Create Your Own Salad Adventure (Php225) with Chicken Tenders (Php75)

We have proven that eating healthy need not be boring. With the Create Your Own Salad Adventure, we enjoyed fresh and crisp lettuce greens, pickled cucumber slices, tomatoes and crisp tortilla strips with our choice among three salad dressings (Caesar, Roasted Sesame and or Citrus Vinaigrette). We even made into a more filling dish by adding some juicy chicken tenders (alternative add-on proteins include shrimps or peri-peri chicken).

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks (Php150).

We can all be a little cheesy every once in a while. With a few mozzarella cheese sticks, we can be a lot cheesy! Biting into crispy breading that gives way to warm gooey cheese is a great way to start any meal!

Peri-Peri Chicken Grupo (Php1,049).

It’s often quite a challenge to find a group meal that will satisfy the appetites of everyone in the family. The Peri-Peri Chicken Grupo stepped up to this challenge with awesome curation of flavors.

It starts with the Peri-Peri Chicken, a dish that originated from South Africa characterized by its appetizing blend of flavors and juiciness. The restaurant brings this world-famous dish by marinating a whole chicken overnight in a special mixture of peri-peri (bird’s eye) chili, herbs and spices. The chicken is then charcoal-grilled until it reaches that gloriously golden hue, resulting in a peri-flavorful and juicy chicken with every bite.

Peri-peri Chicken is best enjoyed with one or a combination of the restaurant’s eight signature sauces. These represent various gastronomic preferences, ranging from mildly sweet (Cajun Remoulade, Hoisin Sesame and Sweet Soy), medium spiciness (Garlic Brew, Spiced Vinegar and Mesquite BBQ) and fiery hot (Chili Peppa and Harissa Exotica).

To complete the group meal, the Peri-Peri Chicken is served with four cups of java rice, four side dishes and a liter carafe of house-blend iced tea.

Half Chicken Plate (Php430 with 1 side).

At one time, our party included two more persons so we augmented our group meal with a serving of half peri-peri chicken served java rice and pastels de nata (Portuguese custard tart).

Our lunchtime stopovers at this Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar branch always bring a smile to our faces and satisfaction to our appetites!

This outlet is located at 6 Mayor Gil Fernando Ave, Marikina.

Other Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar outlets are located at:

Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala North Exchange, Greenbelt 3
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Manila: Robinsons Place Manila
Marikina: SM City Marikina
Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay
Pasay: Resorts World Manila
Pasig: SM City East Ortigas, Ayala Malls Feliz, Capitol Commons, Robinsons Galleria
Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Gateway Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, Banawe, Brittany Square
San Juan: Promenade Greenhills
Taguig: Uptown Parade BGC, Market! Market BGC, Venice Grand Mall

To enjoy this feast at home, order from Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken’s delivery website or call +63 2 73747374 for Metro Manila orders and +63 917 7747374 for provincial orders.

To know more about Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, browse through its website , or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts on Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken:

Peri Peri Chicken, SM East — Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, SM City East Ortigas

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Tomas Morato

Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Capitol Commons

Friendly get-together at Sundays, Marikina

While I’m happy as a clam with my current work-from-home setup, there are days when I do miss my work buddies. These are the peeps that I can relax with, as well as exchange jokes and all the hot gossip with.

During pre-pandemic times, we would venture out of our office during our lunch break to check out the nearby dining spots. Due to the fun we have while checking out new restaurants and amusing ourselves during our breaks from the daily grind, these lunchtime food adventures came to be dubbed as our #HappyLunch times.

Well, COVID-19 came and some of us transitioned to other companies or decided to take a break from the rat race, so some of us were only able to get together at Sundays Cafe & Restaurant in Marikina at the tail-end of last year.

Imagine my delight when I received a message to join another get-together with the gang at the same restaurant, this time on a Monday night!

So off I went to hang out with my pals (a bigger group this time) and return to the cozy neighborhood cafe in Marikina.

There was a marked difference between this outing and my last visit, which took place on a Sunday morning at the time when quarantine restrictions were just beginning to loosen. During my dinner date with my friends, Sundays Marikina was lit with a warm light which also seem to illuminate the surrounding area. Also, it seemed like the restaurant had a sizeable Monday dinner crowd which gave the place a busy and lively feel.

In between back-and-forth banters and gossip exchanges, my friends and I discovered new menu items to enjoy at Sundays:

Pizza Margherita (Php330). Always a safe bet, this hand-tossed pizza made with marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and basil appeals to everyone in the group.

Salted Fish Fried Rice (Php195). A novel take on the sinangag given additional saltiness and umami with the addition of tuyo flakes.

Sundays Crispy Sisig (Php260). A favorite appetizer that also doubles as an entree consisting of crispy pork cheeks sauteed in house-made sisig sauce and topped with crispy onions and chilis.

Crispy Spicy Squid (Php260). Lightly battered pieces of squid served with chili sauce. (TBH, I prefer pairing this with the tangy ranch dressing).

Buffalo Wings (Php285). Crispy fried chicken wings coated in spicy and tangy buffalo sauce.

Salted Egg Wings (Php315). Crispy fried chicken wings coated in a rich salted egg sauce.

Crispy Kare Kare (Php405). An indulgent viand which combines crispy liempo with house-made special kare-kare sauce and veggies.

Sans Rival (Php145). A classic Pinoy dessert made with layers of nutty meringue, French buttercream and chopped cashews.

Mango Creme Brulee (Php145). A fruity take on the creme brulee, thanks to bottom layers of chiffon and mango cream covered by custard and topped with torched sugar.

While regular #HappyLunch adventures with my friends may not be feasible right now, I’m glad we were able to carve out time to do two of the things we enjoy doing together: eating delicious food and spilling the proverbial tea!

Sundays Cafe and Restaurant is located at J.P. Rizal corner V. Gomez Street, Barangay San Roque, Marikina City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 10pm, Fridays from 8am to 11pm and Saturdays to Sundays from 7am to 11pm. For reservations, call +63 917 1572634.

To know more about its latest updates, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Sweet Sunday meetup at Sundays, Marikina

During pre-pandemic times, one of the highlights of my workday is the #HappyLunch I used to enjoy with my officemates.

We used to scope out the various dining spots in the vicinity of our workplace and choose a new place in which to spend that precious lunch hour. These midday adventures not only presented us with gustatory delights, they also provided our group with a welcome break from our work environment and an opportunity for some levity in between periods of being good little workers.

Well, things happened (some officemates transitioned to other companies, and, of course, COVID-19 reared its ugly head in the metro, which curtailed opportunities for dining out), so we haven’t been able to get together for almost two years.

Thanks to the loosening of community quarantine restrictions, I was able to meet up with two of my former office friends for brunch at Sundays Cafe & Restaurant.

One of the newest dining spots in foodie-friendly Marikina, Sundays offers breakfast, comfort food and coffee. Located along J.P. Rizal Street, it’s housed in a single-story Spanish villa-inspired building, with clean and minimalist interiors well-suited for intimate gatherings as well as a pet-friendly al fresco dining area.

Quite fittingly, I met up with my friends on a Sunday morning for brunch. After experiencing some confusion in the drive over (note to self: rely on Waze, not Google Maps, for directions in this part of Marikina, especially with the one-way streets), I was able to snag the last remaining parking spot, quite ably assisted by the parking attendant.

One of my friends was later in arriving than me and had to park quite a distance away from the cafe.

In between various chika and catching up on events in each other’s lives since we last saw each other, my friends and I broke our fast with Sundays’ cafe staples, which included:

Mocha (Php145). A chocolatey version of the restaurant’s cafe latte, served hot.

Eggs Benedict (Php250). Sundays’ version of my favorite breakfast dish consists of fluffy brioche buns topped with slices of homemade bacon and poached egg drenched in hollandaise sauce, with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.

Homemade Bacon Slab on Kimchi Rice (Php320). This breakfast food given a Korean vibe consists of thick slices of homemade bacon, a fried egg (sunny side up, per our request) on top of flavorful kimchi rice served on a skillet.

Tres Leches (Php130). I indulged my sweet tooth with this light sponge cake soaked in a sweet milk mixture and topped with sweetened whipped cream with a sprinkling of cornflakes for texture.

The restaurant was still on soft opening mode during our visit so hopefully, it will be able to smooth out some kinks in its operations, particularly some delays in serving our food and in providing the bill.

That said, the restaurant was true to its proposition of providing “Great food. Great memories.” It certainly was a memorable brunch meetup with my friends over delicious food!

Sundays Cafe and Restaurant is located at J.P. Rizal corner V. Gomez Street, Barangay San Roque, Marikina City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 8am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 8am to 11pm. For reservations, call +63 917 1572634.

3 ways Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina is perfect for your family holiday gathering

It’s been a year and a half into the global pandemic, and we are just now feeling some loosening of the many restrictions.

With the Metro Manila recently de-escalated to Alert Level 2, kids are now allowed out of doors, emerging from more than a year of being stuck at home.

With Christmas just around the corner, extended families are surely looking forward to the time they can all gather together and catch up.

I know just the perfect venue for such gatherings: Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ in Marikina.

Let me tell you why:

1. Going there is like being welcomed into a family home.

Mang Ding’s is located in a quiet neighborhood in Barangay Sto. Nino, Marikina.

Restaurant owner Dindo Cleofas inherited his father’s (the original Mang Ding) love of grilling and wanted a restaurant where he can continue his father’s legacy as well as have a place where he can relax and chill with friends. Together with his wife, Dotie, he converted their home’s garden area into an outdoor dining space where he can serve customers his specialities, hot and fresh from the grill.

The space is shielded from the elements by a roofed pergola and surrounded by lush greenery, most of which were planted and nurtured by their family.

This open-air dining area is well-ventilated, equipped with fans to keep the air circulating and the surrounding plants adding refreshing color and coolness to space.

Walking into Mang Ding’s feels like visiting your favorite tita’s house; it’s a place where you feel right at home.

2. It can serve as your kids’ introduction to Pinoy comfort and street food.

A few months ago, I brought my parents here for dinner and upon seeing and tasting the familiar Filipino comfort food served to us, both my mom and dad waxed nostalgic about the dishes they grew up with. They regaled my daughter with stories about their foodie adventures back in the day.

If your kiddos are the “just fry me a hotdog, Mommy” type, it may be high time to introduce them to the simple yet sublime joys of good, down-home Pinoy cooking. You can be sure that lolos, lolas, titos and titas will waste no time in telling stories about their own experiences with Pinoy comfort food during your family party, and will help instill among the little ones healthy respect and appreciation for our culinary heritage.

You can count on Mang Ding’s to bring to the table an array of MALINIS, MASARAP at MURA dishes such as:

Ensaladang Talong (Php75).

Sizzling Tokwa Special (Php160).

Quarter Leg Chicken BBQ (Php150).

Boneless Chicken BBQ (Php180).

Isaw Manok (Php20).

BBQ Platter (Php575).

Boneless Bangus Overload (Php265).

Pompano (Php380).

Grilled Pusit (Php425).

Tuna Panga (Php485).

And if the children still want the hotdogs, longganisas and fried chicken that they’re familiar with, you can still accommodate their requests here, and even give them a sweet treat for dessert.

Grilled TJ Jumbo Hotdog (Php50).

Grilled Longganisa (Php55).

McJolly Pakpak (Php225 half kilo | Php400 kilo).

Belgian Chocolate (Php150 slice).

Since good food help spark great conversations and great moments, your fam is in for a memorable experience when you hold your get-together at Mang Ding’s.

3. You can enjoy its tasty dishes at home.

The fun doesn’t have to stop after the get-together. You can bring home the yummy Pinoy BBQ at home with you, thanks to this handy box. For just Php599, you get fifteen sticks of Mang Ding’s signature barbecue and isaw served with grilled corn as well as calamansi and siling labuyo for the dipping sauce.

On the other hand, if your family opted for a virtual reunion, you can still partake of the same meal during your Zoom party by sending them Mang Ding’s Ready-to-Grill Pinoy BBQ packs (basting and dipping sauce included) that they can cook at home in a jiffy.

These include, among others:

Liempo (Php360/500g).

Pork BBQ (Php600/20pcs) and Isaw Manok (Php460/20pcs).

Chicharon Bulaklak (Php325/500g).

So whether your clan decides to have a physical get-together or a virtual party over the holiday season and beyond, Mang Ding’s is surely your best bet!

Reserve the venue now for your clan gathering or book a table for lunch, dinner or drinks by calling +63 916 2853031.

Disclosure: Together with fellow bloggers, I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items served were not paid for by the attendees.

A new hidden gem in Marikina: Swig & Nosh Kitchen + Bar

Weekends are best spent close to home.

And my home is located east of Manila, where traffic jams abound and going to the overcrowded malls is sometimes too much of a hassle to be worth the effort.

This is why I #LookToTheEast for new destinations, foodie or otherwise. Because why brave the metro’s streets when you can find what you want right where you are?

Recently, I discovered another reason for us Eastern foodies to not venture far to satisfy our food cravings.

In the suburbs of foodie-friendly Marikina, away from the hustle and bustle of busy highways and malls, is a new and exciting foodie destination: Swig & Nosh Kitchen + Bar.

A hidden gem in a quiet Marikina neighborhood

The brainchild of Mario Mendoza, one of Marikina’s homegrown culinary talents, Swig & Nosh takes its name from the British colloquial terms for “taking a drink” and “eating a snack,” respectively.

Located in a remodeled bungalow along Mt. Pleasant street, Swig & Nosh is geared to be the place for Marikina locals and visitors to enjoy great-tasting comfort food along with their drinks of choice.

Mario took his cues from the house’s original architect (who also happens to be his dad) and furnished the space with comfort in mind. Ceramic tile-topped hardwood tables bring splashes of color while also accommodating large groups of diners. The chairs are also ergonomically-designed; they adjust when the diner leans back, giving back support that facilitates comfort for resting or conversing with companions after eating.

A well-stocked bar is situated in one of the inner rooms with mixologists at the ready to pour out spirits or concoct cocktails for the guests.

Diners also have the option to take their meals in the garden outside; this will become the location of choice when the cool weather sets in by December to February.

Nosh on fusion of American and Filipino cuisines

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to sample some of Swig & Nosh’s signature dishes.

These included:

Apple Pie Salad (Php220). A healthy combination of sweet and savory flavors made withmixed greens tossed with apple compote, streusel crumbs and cheddar with a cider vinaigrette.

Pork Cubes and Watermelon (Php230). Fork-tender cubes of pork belly tossed with watermelon cubes and hoisin sauce.

Calamares sa Bawang (Php210). Garlic-flavored battered squid rings served with tarragon vinegar and lemon.

Gambas Aligue (Php305). The shrimp and garlic appetizer hyped-up with the inclusion of crab roe balanced with orange bits.

Bacon Benedict (Php335). The hyped-up version of Eggs Benedict with special pan de sal, homemade bacon jam, spinach, bacon, two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.

Wagyu Bacon Royale Burger (Php350). Wagyu patty, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and bacon jam in a buttered brioche bun served with spiced ketchup.

Tinapa Rice. Fried rice flavored with smoked fish.

Dry Rub Chicken with Truffle Honey (Php295). Chicken leg and thigh covered with the house-recipe dry rub and truffle honey then fried to a crispy golden brown and served with cole slaw and ranch dressing.

Prime Rib (Php392/100g). Tender and perfectly grilled grilled steak made of Black Onyx Australian Angus beef.

Choco Chip Cookie Dough Milkshake (Php170). Made with vanilla ice cream and milk with balls of edible cookie dough, topped with whipped cream in a candy studded glass and served with a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.

Brownie Mocha Milkshake (Php175). Made with chocolate ice cream and milk with bits of brownie, topped with whipped cream and chopped nuts in a candy studded glass and served with a freshly baked brownie.

These hearty and tasty comfort food, all meticulously prepared and prettily presented, are suitable for discerning foodies in big celebrations, intimate get-togethers or even solo food adventures. The milkshakes, in particular, were a treat to both the eyes and the sweet tooth.

Take swigs of refreshing drinks and cocktails

Wash down these delicious viands with your choice of drinks – alcoholic or non-alcoholic – from Swig & Nosh’s well-stocked bar.

House Blend Iced Tea (Php185/liter). Swig & Nosh’s own signature flavor of iced tea. A raspberry-flavored variant is also available at Php175/liter).

Atomic Cat (Php130). A mocktail made with lemonade and grenadine.

Long Island Iced Tea (Php170). A cocktail made with rum, vodka, gin and other spirits mixed with cola and lemon juice.

Tequila Sunrise (Php180). A cocktail made with tequila, orange juice and grenadine.

Amaretto Sour (Php190). A cocktail made with amaretto, lemon juice, egg whites and bitters.

Blue Lagoon (Php170). A cocktail made with vodka, blue curacao and lemonade.

So if you find yourself in Marikina, know that you have somewhere to go for good eats and drinks.

Many thanks to the management and crew of Swig & Nosh for the warm welcome and great food, and to EJ of I Love To Eat PH for extending the invitation!

Swig & Nosh is located at No. 6, Mt. Pleasant Street, Bgy. Santa Elena, Marikina City, open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 28 2801298.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare to facilitate honest reviews and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Check out my reviews of other bars and watering holes in the Metro: