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  • Ocean Side Pizza Cocoa Beach Review: Wings Worth Returning For

    Ocean Side Pizza Cocoa Beach Review: Wings Worth Returning For

    There are no big chains in Cocoa Beach, and the restaurants with the strongest reviews were either packed or closed. We took a chance on Ocean Side Pizza—and all of us walked out glad that we found it.

    The buffalo wings

    By my standards, these may be the best buffalo wings in the world. They have no breading, yet the skin is perfectly browned and crisp. The pieces are carefully sized, allowing the meat to stay juicy and tender despite that crisp exterior. The sauce does not drown the chicken; each wing is perfectly glazed and tossed.

    Bruschetta pizza

    The thin crust is crisp without being tough. No single flavour overwhelms the others, and everything comes together beautifully in every bite.

    Spaghetti and meatballs

    The spaghetti is al dente, with a sauce made from fresh crushed tomatoes that have not been overcooked. It is almost like eating fresh tomatoes over spaghetti—in the best possible way.

    The meatballs are generously sized at roughly three ounces each, with no obvious extenders. The flavour is understated, but the seasoning enhances the meat seamlessly.

    Sweet tea

    The same quiet confidence carries through to the sweet tea. It is low-key, balanced and simply right.

    Verdict

    Ocean Side Pizza was an unexpected Cocoa Beach find. I will especially miss those buffalo wings—and they alone are reason enough to return.

    Photos from our visit

    Ocean Side Pizza food served during our Cocoa Beach visit
    Ocean Side Pizza buffalo wings and pizza in Cocoa Beach
    Ocean Side Pizza bruschetta pizza, spaghetti and wings
  • Divan Turkish Cuisine Kanata Review: A Family Platter That Delivers

    Divan Turkish Cuisine Kanata Review: A Family Platter That Delivers

    Divan Turkish Cuisine in Kanata is a practical family-dining choice when the table wants generous portions, grilled meats and enough variety for adults and children.

    The family platter

    We ordered the family platter for two, and it was plentiful enough for three adults and one child. The meats were tender and juicy, while the appetizers worked naturally as additional sides for the grilled platter.

    Appetizers

    The baba ganoush was acceptable but not especially memorable. The salsuka, however, was one of the best renditions I have had and became a standout part of the meal.

    Kid-friendly choices

    The children’s selection is not extensive, but it is sufficient. My granddaughter had the pesto, giving families an approachable option beyond the grilled meats.

    Service

    There was only one staff member managing the front of house during our visit. Given the size of the restaurant, he handled the room efficiently.

    Verdict

    Divan works particularly well for families or small groups. The family platter offers strong value through generous portions, tender meats and appetizers substantial enough to round out the meal. The salsuka alone deserves special mention.

    Family platter

    Divan Turkish Cuisine family platter with grilled meats, rice, flatbread and vegetables

  • Nabe Unlimited Hotpot SM Bicutan Review: Good Food, Troubling Billing

    Nabe Unlimited Japanese Hotpot at SM City Bicutan serves good food. The broths are flavourful, the hotpot balls are of commendable quality, and even the rice was better than many comparable unlimited concepts around Metro Manila. Unfortunately, our meal ended with a disputed leftover charge that would prevent me from returning.

    Food and early service

    Our server initially provided attentive service: iced tea was consistently refilled, our dipping sauce was prepared for us, and tempura sauce arrived without prompting. The add-ons were decent, if not exceptional.

    What happened at billing

    When no server was available at the end of the meal, I went to the cashier. After a table check, we were told we would be charged leftover fees for two people. I initially complied, but explained that we had ordered only once and had not requested refills.

    Reviewing the order slip with our server showed that several items in our pot had not been ordered, including cheese balls, while other items arrived in greater quantities than requested. We had asked for two orders of squid and another striped item but received more pieces than expected.

    Verdict

    The food is worth acknowledging, but the handling of the disputed charge left the meal on a poor note. Diners should compare what arrives at the table with the order slip before beginning the meal, particularly where leftover penalties apply.

  • Olivia’s Fusion Cafe Vino BF Review: Bright Spots, Serious Misses

    I wanted to love Olivia’s Fusion Cafe Vino in BF Homes. There were moments of genuine kitchen skill, but they were outweighed by seafood-quality concerns, uneven execution and questionable value.

    The bright spots

    • Kaldereta empanada: The star of the meal, with a flaky, well-seasoned crust and deeply flavourful filling.
    • Kare-kare chicken: The breaded chicken breast stayed moist beneath crisp, well-seasoned breading. The sweet peanut sauce worked well, and the fried eggplant and vegetables tasted fresh.

    The misses

    • Prawn salad: Oversized pieces of iceberg lettuce made it awkward to eat. More importantly, the prawns had a very mushy texture that made me uncomfortable enough not to continue eating them.
    • Bagoong rice: Pasty and short on flavour. The kare-kare did not include bagoong, and a side serving costing ₱20 amounted to less than a teaspoon.
    • Avocado-banana smoothie: So thick that it was difficult to drink.

    Atmosphere and verdict

    The wine display, multicoloured Nordic chairs and woven chandeliers felt more collected than cohesively “fused.” Despite the excellent empanada and chicken, the prawn texture and sense of being charged for a tiny essential condiment prevent me from recommending this visit. We will not return.

  • 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.

  • Little Viettown BF Homes Review: A Salty Miss

    Hoping to find a new Vietnamese favourite in BF Homes, we tried Little Viettown on President’s Avenue. Unfortunately, slow service and an overly salty flavour profile kept the meal from delivering the balance I look for in Vietnamese cooking.

    Service

    Only one other table was occupied when we arrived, yet no staff member was visible. It took about 15 minutes before someone attended to us.

    What we ordered

    • Rice noodles, spring roll and papaya salad: The produce seemed fresh, but the dressing was extremely salty and lacked the sweet-tangy balance associated with nước chấm.
    • Pho: The broth was dark, salty and short on aromatic depth. Herbs and garnishes arrived mixed into the bowl, and the serving contained little beef beyond a sliced beef ball.
    • Grilled chicken: Acceptable flavour, but a small portion for the price.
    • Banh mi: Pleasant enough, though dominated by bread because the filling was sparse.
    • Tamarind chicken: Decent, but the flavour did not strongly express tamarind.
    • Lychee tea: Diluted and lacking flavour.

    Value and verdict

    The bill was approximately ₱1,450. That was reasonable for the number of dishes, but not for the execution. Vietnamese food depends on a careful balance of salty, sweet, sour and fresh elements; during this visit, salt overwhelmed nearly everything. We will continue looking for our BF Homes Vietnamese gem.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.