Plates & Suitcases
First-hand restaurant and travel reviews from Marie Mendillo, covering Ottawa, Orlando, the Philippines and destinations around the world.
Explore active locations: Orlando · Ottawa/Kanata · Gatineau · Manila
Latest reviews
Location: OrlandoEl Tenampa Mexican Restaurant & Bakery — Authentic Mexican in Orlando
Read review: El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant & Bakery — Authentic Mexican in OrlandoSometimes, you don’t critique a meal—you simply submit to it. From the moment I stepped inside El Tenampa, it felt as though I’d crossed an invisible border into Mexico: the music, aromas,…
- Location: Ottawa–Kanata
Hockey Sushi Review — Kanata, Ottawa
Read review: Hockey Sushi Review — Kanata, OttawaA return visit found a refreshed dining room and faster, better-organized all-you-can-eat service, but a serious undercooked-chicken concern remains unresolved.
- Location: Orlando
King Cajun Crawfish – Crawfish Boil & Gumbo on International Drive
Read review: King Cajun Crawfish – Crawfish Boil & Gumbo on International DriveSometimes the best meals are found in places that almost convince you to walk away. From the outside, King Cajun Crawfish looks like another casual seafood spot along International Drive. Inside, however,…
- Location: Liliw
White House 1938 — Homey Filipino Eats in Liliw, Laguna
Read review: White House 1938 — Homey Filipino Eats in Liliw, LagunaWarm service and comforting Filipino cooking, led by tender ginataang kalabaw, make White House 1938 a worthwhile Liliw stop despite smaller portions and parking logistics.
- Location: Manila
Aida’s Chicken House review: Michelin hype, zero service
Read review: Aida’s Chicken House review: Michelin hype, zero serviceA lunch visit defined by unavailable dishes, repeated ordering obstacles, and a wait of more than an hour with no food served.
- Location: Makati
Fogo de Chão Review
Read review: Fogo de Chão ReviewA milestone family celebration was disrupted by changing reservation instructions, a shortened dining window, and communication that never produced a reliable plan.
- Location: Filinvest
Basil Filinvest Review
Read review: Basil Filinvest ReviewA disappointing Thai meal marked by unavailable dishes, weak value, uneven execution, and basic cleanliness concerns at the table.
- Location: Orlando
Teppan Edo Review — EPCOT, Walt Disney World
Read review: Teppan Edo Review — EPCOT, Walt Disney WorldFresh ingredients and an engaging teppanyaki performance could not overcome muted flavours, thin soup, and disappointing sauces on this family return visit.
- Location: Pampanga
Lola Ima Pampanga Cuisine — Lakeshore, Pampanga
Read review: Lola Ima Pampanga Cuisine — Lakeshore, PampangaA candid review of a Lakeshore stop with superb ginataang kuhol and sinigang na kambing, attentive recovery after a missed order, and a few dishes to approach carefully.