Restaurant Review | Manos Greek Taverna

Manos Greek Taverna
Tagaytay
Type of Cuisine: Greek
Average cost per person: Php 250-380 (US$5.00-US$8.00)
Overall Rating:

Months ago, plurkers and bloggers led by Manolo and others trooped to Tagaytay City to sample flavorful food treats from different restaurants and enjoy each others' company. For most people going to Tagaytay, one of the more popular stops there would be Leslie's Restaurant. Fortunately, when we went to Tagaytay with other bloggers, it wasn't our first stop, instead, it was our last; instead, we tried Mano's Greek Taverna for lunch.

Mano's Greek Taverna struck us as a sort of hole-in-the-wall restaurant, although we were told that it is both well known and well visited by quite a following. The food's good and the place, just right. We ordered quite a lot, but here are some of their dishes that we liked.

This Greek Salad's cheese is so good, and so fresh. You have to love this home-made delight. It's very fresh looking and pleasing to the eyes. The combination's just honest, simple and perfect.

Saganaki is a dish of shrimp with feta, tomatoes, oregano and other spices. We liked the combination of the shrimp and tomatoes. It's yummy but it's nothing special for us.


Mousaka (Php 220, US$ 4.58)

Sharing the mousaka among four people was definitely a good idea. For Tiffy, eating the mousaka was kind of like eating a whole lot of mashed potatoes. But for Bong, it was really a great dish. Although you gotta admit -- the first bite was YUM!

Grilled Lamb Shoulder (Php 450, US$ 9.36)

This order was super worth it. Not only did it have a generous serving, it also came with this unusually crunchy fries. For Tiffy, lamb is always something to celebrate!

Beftekia Scaras-Grilled Patties (Php 210, US$ 4.36)

The patties had a distinct taste that differentiates it from a normal patty's. You can taste that it's not gummy or dry or has too many preservatives. It breaks easily and is definitely worth a try.

Ozy Go, Tiffy, Bong and Franywanny

Reviewed by Bong and Tiffy.
Photography by Fritz and Tiffy.

Restaurant Review | Leslie's Restaurant

Leslie's Restaurant
Silang, Tagaytay City
Type of Cuisine: Filipino
Average cost per person: 200-300 (US$5-8)
Overall Rating:

Conveniently situated along the highway, Leslie's Restaurant opens its doors to accommodate weary travelers with authentic Filipino food and breathtaking views. The cool air this time of the year offers the perfect excuse to indulge in body-warming food the restaurant has to offer -- this meant more protein-rich food were of priority for us.

The ambiance is very Filipino, as it features a Nipa Hut inspired spacious interior with wooden chairs and tables to go along with it. The restaurant is seated on a cliff with quaint little outdoor huts overlooking Taal Lake and the famous Taal Volcano.

The dishes were in large servings, typical of the Filipino extended family setting. The taste of the dishes were not of the extraordinary but the scenery and the warm Filipino feel and taste made up for it.

It was the birthday of Gwen, who, coincidentally, was with the Foodistas. With Filipino restaurants, roaming guitars and singers are typical and are a unique part of the ambiance. It also exemplifies music as a vital part of the Filipino culture. The song numbers were very good and completed the Foodistas' dining experience.

Beef Kare-Kare (Php 299, US$6.85)
The beef was very tender and it can be easily separated with the use of a spoon. The sauce was rich and tasty. A person with a liking for large helpings of sauce with meals will find this dish heaven-sent.


Bulalo Special (Php 499, US$11.44)
The star of the meal. Both Bong and Harrell have Bulalo as their favorite soups. The cool weather upped this Bulalo experience even more; they both agree that it's definitely the soup of warmth. The bone marrow cut (Harrell's favorite part of the dish) was very large and there was more than enough for everyone.

Crispy Kangkong (Php 175, US$4.01)
A must for fat seekers. The Foodistas thought that it was too oily. Your usual deep fried Kangkong and batter - with extra oil.



Tuna Belly - Small (Php 330, US$7.56)
Very fresh, soft, and tender. Definitely better than Sukat Sili's, according to Tiff and Bong. The tuna was seasoned well and the taste did not overpower that of the dish. Definitely a must-try.

Reviewed by Bong, Harrell and Tiffy.
Photography by Bong and Tiffy.
See more photos on Bong's and Tiffy's Flickr.