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Author: Maria C. Mendillo

  • Korean J Grill BF Homes Review: Premium Price, Poor Execution

    Korean J Grill’s upper-tier unlimited package cost ₱899, plus ₱140 for the advertised USDA ribeye. During our visit, neither the food nor the environment justified that premium positioning.

    Food and drinks

    • “Wagyu” cubes: The texture and flavour reminded us more of unseasoned luncheon meat than wagyu.
    • Ribeye upgrade: The meat showed little marbling, was not marinated and tasted ordinary rather than premium.
    • Seafood: The small scallops tasted noticeably fishy.
    • Buffet trays: Tempura, chicken wings and calamari were rarely available at the same time; trays repeatedly sat empty.
    • Drinks: Four options were offered, but each tasted like sweetened, coloured water.

    Service

    The front-of-house area was unattended for about 15 minutes. My son eventually approached the counter for cheese and found several staff members talking. We repeatedly followed up on our second meat order, while lettuce requested at the beginning never arrived despite three reminders.

    Atmosphere and verdict

    The room was extremely hot—particularly uncomfortable when diners are cooking over tabletop grills. Between the heat, inconsistent replenishment and inattentive service, the “premium” experience did not materialize. We will not return based on this visit.

  • Lafayette Luxury Suites Baguio Review: A Costly Service Breakdown

    After more than 30 years of travelling, our stay at Lafayette Luxury Suites in Baguio ranks among our most frustrating hotel experiences. The problems involved check-in communication, an incorrect room assignment and a disputed ₱2,000 linen charge.

    Check-in and room assignment

    We arrived approximately one hour before check-in. It was reasonable that the room was not yet available, but staff said they would call when it was ready and did not do so. At check-in, I reiterated the room preference for which we had paid an additional charge. We were nevertheless assigned a lower-category room facing the main road, with traffic noise and fumes entering the room.

    Because both of us have asthma, we requested a move. A later shift initially said that changing rooms would cost extra, before it became clear that the first room was below the category we had purchased.

    Service during the move

    When the correct room was finally arranged, I asked for the new keys to be brought upstairs. The initial response was that we needed to vacate the room and return the old keys to reception first. After I pressed the issue, staff delivered the keys.

    The disputed checkout charge

    At checkout, the hotel added ₱2,000 for an alleged makeup stain on the comforter. My husband disputed it because I do not wear makeup. We were not satisfied that the basis for the charge was established or fairly explained.

    Verdict

    The incorrect room assignment, repeated resistance to basic service recovery and unresolved linen charge outweighed the hotel’s luxury positioning. Based on our stay, I cannot recommend it.

  • Nara Thai Molito Review: Availability and Billing Problems

    Nara Thai at Molito looked more promising online than it performed during our lunch. Three of our selected dishes were unavailable, while a dessert that never arrived still appeared on the initial bill.

    Payment also became unnecessarily difficult. Staff told us our card had been declined despite the account having more than enough available credit for the transaction.

    Verdict

    With multiple unavailable dishes, an unserved item appearing on the bill and a frustrating payment process, this visit did not live up to the restaurant’s enticing social-media presentation. The attractive room was not enough to compensate for the food and service problems.

  • The Alley Manila Bay Review: Ingenious Concept, Poor Execution

    The Alley by Vikings at Ayala Malls Manila Bay has an ingenious food-hall concept, but our lunch was undermined by empty stations, rushed service and several poorly executed dishes.

    We arrived at 1:15 p.m. and were told the restaurant would close at 2:30 p.m. Even with more than an hour remaining, the experience already felt as if closing procedures had begun.

    Where the visit fell short

    • Table setup: Placemats overlapped and utensils were hurriedly arranged.
    • Availability: Several food stations were empty.
    • Slider burger: The patty was extremely small.
    • Hao Chi: Getting extra hoisin sauce required unnecessary insistence.
    • Paella: Loose and lacking the expected texture and richness.
    • Roast beef: Dry and very tough.
    • Timing: At 1:42 p.m., a waiter reached for my plate while I was still eating. Checks began arriving around 1:43 p.m., nearly 45 minutes before the stated closing time.

    A service bright spot

    Jenny at the tempura station cooked a fresh serving and later offered bibingka and puto bumbong. Her initiative and attentiveness stood out and helped salvage part of the meal.

    Verdict

    The concept has real potential, but this visit needed better replenishment, food execution and service consistency. Jenny’s effort deserves credit; the broader experience did not meet expectations.

  • Royal Mandaya Hotel Davao Review: Reservation and Room Failures

    I had stayed regularly at The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao since January 2025 because of its convenient location near my office. A late-night arrival on June 17, however, produced enough reservation, room and service failures to end that trust.

    A confirmed reservation that could not be found

    I had booked two nights and confirmed a late arrival with Lea. When we reached the hotel close to 1 a.m., Fred said there was no reservation on record. Hoping to end the delay, I asked for another room with two beds.

    We were directed to an elevator roughly 30 metres from reception, only to find it defective. After returning to the desk, we eventually reached a room—but it contained only one twin bed. A disagreement followed over whether two beds had been requested, and we were moved again about 10 minutes later.

    Room condition

    The next room had a strong odour coming from the bathroom. Other rooms shown to us smelled mouldy or felt uncomfortably cramped. After several unsuccessful room changes, I chose to leave.

    Follow-up

    The next morning, Lea confirmed that the original reservation did exist. I asked for the general manager to call me, but no return call came within the following six hours. Being routed through a service passage to another elevator further diminished the experience.

    Verdict

    Despite the hotel’s convenient location, the inability to locate a confirmed reservation, unsuitable room assignments and limited management response mean I would not stay here again based on this experience.

  • First Meridian Lounge NAIA Terminal 3 Review

    Visited: July 21

    First Meridian Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3 offers a comfortable, spacious place to wait before a flight. The washrooms were clean and well maintained, and the food selection was generous enough to satisfy most travellers.

    Food highlights

    The marinated eggs and fried vermicelli were the standouts of my visit; both were good enough for a second helping. The lounge also has a bakery and a dedicated coffee-and-tea station.

    Service

    The staff assigned to the beverage area were not particularly warm or welcoming during this visit, although that did not outweigh the comfort of the facilities or the stronger food offerings.

    Verdict

    A solid airport lounge with comfortable facilities and enough worthwhile food to make the visit useful before departure.

  • Route 95 Diner Makati Review: Excellent Value, Uneven Cooking

    Route 95 Diner in Makati offers strong value and notably warm hospitality. The ₱899 all-you-can-eat platter is attractive for families, although two cooking issues kept our meal from reaching five-star territory.

    Highlights

    • Service: Friendly, attentive staff made us feel welcome from arrival.
    • Value: The unlimited platter delivered a substantial meal for the price.
    • Burger and fries: My son enjoyed the Route 95 burger, while the fries were perfectly seasoned and one of the most dependable items we tried.

    Room for improvement

    • Salisbury steak: Bland, with a noticeable gamey aftertaste.
    • Chicken: My husband’s serving was undercooked and should have remained on the grill longer.
    • Unlimited ice cream: Available for an additional ₱100, but the quality did not justify the upgrade for us.

    Verdict

    Despite the steak and chicken problems, excellent service and the value of the ₱899 platter make Route 95 a worthwhile family option. I would return for the hospitality, burger and fries—while being more selective with the grill items.

  • Plaza Premium Lounge Toronto Pearson Review: Strong Breakfast, Limited Space

    Visited: July 24

    At 5:30 in the morning, Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto Pearson’s Terminal 1 delivered one of the strongest airport-lounge breakfasts I have encountered. The room is relatively small, but the food offering is thoughtfully balanced.

    What stood out

    The buffet included protein, fresh greens, fruit, oats, bread and hot breakfast dishes. Unlike lounges that rely heavily on sugary pastries, this spread made it easy to assemble a genuinely balanced pre-flight meal.

    Where it falls short

    Space is the constraint. The lounge became crowded and noisy quickly, so it would not be my first choice for a conference call or focused work.

    Verdict

    If your priority is eating well before a flight, this lounge delivers. Come early when possible and treat it primarily as a dining stop rather than a quiet workspace.

    Photo from the visit

    Entrance to Plaza Premium Lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport

  • Lido Cocina Tsina Better Living Review: Must-Orders and Misses

    Lido Cocina Tsina in Better Living delivered several dishes worth returning for, along with a few that are better approached cautiously.

    Must-orders

    • Chinese asado: Smoky, rich and deeply flavourful. It immediately reminded me of Texas Roadhouse and was the standout of the meal.
    • Shrimp balls: Packed with shrimp, with very little filler and a satisfying crunch.
    • Salt-and-pepper squid: Tender squid beneath a light, crisp coating that complemented rather than overwhelmed it.

    Neutral

    • Chicken feet: Decent but not memorable. Serving them on a regular plate rather than in a bamboo basket also took away from the dim sum experience.
    • Creamy leche flan: Smooth and well balanced, although ₱195 felt steep for a serving roughly 2.5 inches in diameter.

    Skip or approach cautiously

    • Chami: Bland and lacking depth.
    • Mango-gelo: The mango did not taste fresh, the gelo had little flavour, and the components never came together.
    • Eight Treasure Soup: The flavour and portion were good, but the tofu tasted sour on two servings. The staff promptly replaced the first bowl; after the same issue recurred, I chose not to request another.

    Verdict

    I shall return. The Chinese asado, shrimp balls and salt-and-pepper squid outweighed the misses, while the staff handled the reported soup problem promptly.

    Photos from the visit

    Chinese dishes served at Lido Cocina Tsina Better Living
    Salt-and-pepper squid and other dishes at Lido Cocina Tsina
    Lido Cocina Tsina menu cover
    Leche flan and mango-gelo desserts at Lido Cocina Tsina
    Menu page at Lido Cocina Tsina Better Living

  • Turkish Airlines Lounge Narita Review: Come for the Ramen

    Visited: July 21

    The ramen bar is the clear reason to visit the Turkish Airlines Lounge at Narita Airport. It provides the lounge’s most memorable food experience and is strong enough to justify a stop on its own.

    Food

    Outside the ramen bar, the buffet was limited and repetitive. Several variations of potato balls occupied a surprisingly large portion of the salad area, reducing the sense of variety. The cucumber rolls were a pleasant exception: fresh, tightly rolled and refreshing.

    Seating and atmosphere

    There was plenty of seating during my visit. However, one section placed guests facing one another, which reduced privacy and made the arrangement feel less relaxing than it could have been.

    Verdict

    Come for the ramen. Keep expectations modest for the rest of the buffet.

    Photo from the visit

    Fourth-floor lounge entrance at Narita Airport