Plates & Suitcases
First-hand restaurant reviews, small-chain hotel stays and airport lounge visits from Marie Mendillo, with practical details from Ottawa, Orlando, the Philippines and destinations around the world. Browse restaurant reviews, hotel stays or airport lounge reviews.
Browse reviews by location: Alabang · Baguio · Cocoa Beach · Davao · Filinvest · Gatineau · Granada · Halifax · Liliw · Madrid · Makati · Manila · Manila Bay · Narita · Orlando · Ottawa–Kanata · Pampanga · Parañaque–BF Homes · Pasay–NAIA · Ronda · Seville · Tagaytay · Toronto–Pearson · Airport lounges
Latest reviews
Golden Corral Buffet, International Drive — Orlando review
Read review: Golden Corral Buffet, International Drive — Orlando reviewI visit Golden Corral on International Drive when I want a reliably large, informal American buffet experience. For me it’s as much about the variety and the dessert station as it is…
Miyazaki Japanese Restaurant (Molito, Alabang) — Solid Food, Spotty Service
Read review: Miyazaki Japanese Restaurant (Molito, Alabang) — Solid Food, Spotty ServiceI’ve yet to order a disappointing dish here. I visited Miyazaki Japanese Restaurant at Molito, Alabang on July 19 for lunch and found the food consistently well prepared, though the service can…
Antonio’s Tagaytay review — Consistent excellence
Read review: Antonio’s Tagaytay review — Consistent excellenceAfter dining here repeatedly over the years, one thing becomes very clear: Antonio’s doesn’t succeed because of one spectacular dish—it succeeds because everything is consistently excellent. Service and staff Their staff are…
Sodiê Doces: Strawberry Shortcake Review
Read review: Sodiê Doces: Strawberry Shortcake ReviewI tried Sodiê Doces’ bestseller, a strawberry shortcake-style cake sold by the pound, and I completely understand why they’re so popular. The cake Every component works in perfect harmony. The icing is…
Jollibee Orlando review — generous portions, standout pies
Read review: Jollibee Orlando review — generous portions, standout piesJollibee in Orlando lived up to the chain’s North American reputation for its fried chicken and, in my visit, surpassed several of the same-brand outlets I’ve eaten at back in the Philippines.…
Liliw Bake Shop review — roll cakes in Liliw, Laguna
Read review: Liliw Bake Shop review — roll cakes in Liliw, LagunaThanks to TikTok, Liliw Bake Shop has become something of a destination, so our expectations were high when we visited. We went specifically for the roll cakes that have been getting attention…
El 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,…
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.
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,…