Blake's Wings & Steak

My first dine-out with friends during this "Pandemic" definitely one for the books.

I'll admit this Pandemic made me anxious to dine-in in a physical restaurant. I and my Husband have been "dining out" to "eat-in" inside our car for a couple of months now. This is a big transition from what we've been doing these quarantine times. And yes, We are still in quarantine - General Community Quarantine to be exact and I think this will be the norm until the vaccine comes here in the Philippines.

I don't really mind eating inside our car just to be safe, We don't know where the next person sitting next to me have been.

But of course, we all have a tipping point where we need to adapt to the new normal of dining in, and sooner or later you'll be eating again inside a restaurant and yes, our time has come.

The Experience

Dining out sure comes with a lot of health protocols. First, is the health declaration form that comes with a temperature check. Second, since the restaurants only allow 50% of seating capacity, you need to have the patience to wait to be seated. Third, menus are now a checklist. Some restaurant requires you to go online to view their full menu so, be sure to have some data for internet before dining in.

The Food

It's my first time to try Blake's Wings & Steak and I'm impressed. No wonder why they have such a long queue of people lining up. Food is good, especially for the price. It's not that cheap but it's justified by the giant serving.

Recommendation

Would I recommend Blake's Wings & Steak?

Definitely, It's a good bang for the buck meal! You would impress a date if you bring them here.

Would I be coming back?

Yes! Next time I'll try their Chicken Wings!

And that's for my blog, this is the first restaurant that I'll be reviewing in my new blog. Generally, this is what I do on my previous blog at WordPress then slowly transitioned on to travel blogs. Since the world is still on a pandemic this is what I can come at for now. I would love to do more bloggy entry this 2021 and revamp my blogging career (as if I had one). Follow my blog for more updates!

KKO KKO - Fairview Terraces, Quezon City

Finally, the long wait is over!

Me and Paul had finally eaten at KKO KKO.

This restaurant have been hyped by my colleagues long before the branch at Fairview Terraces have been opened.

 

THE PLACE

It was a convenient location for us, since we live in the north. The first branch I heard Kko Kko was in Ortigas, I don't know if that's the first branch or main but that's the first one I know. Since the restaurant is at the mall, mall-goers are all over Kko Kko, well at least this branch. I can't blame them 'cause it's been only opened last May 2018. Me and my friends attempted to eat there last May also but we didn't managed to get a seat, the restaurant was jammed.

Lucikly, Me and Paul went to the mall earlier than usual and went straight to Kko Kko. We managed to get a very nice spot.

At Kko Kko - Fairview Terraces

Paul

The ambience was nice. It's a nice place to bring a date.

THE FOOD

So, the big question is - How's the food?

To be honest, the cheese fondue is what really made us eat at Kko Kko. So we decided to get that only. And to tell everyone frankly, the food at Kko Kko at least the ones that needs the cooking, was quite expensive for an average filipino. The cheese fondue alone cost Php 600+ and that's just a half order. Is the price justifiable?

cheese fondue (half order)

 Yassss!!! It's not everyday that you get to fondue stuff. 🧀🧀🧀

And seriously, the food was good.

THE VERDICT

If you love cheese, this the place to try. Sure it's expensive but if you saved a few bucks, it's affordable. It's a social activity so do bring some friends or love-ones. Other than the cheese fondue they have a lot of korean food there, the keyword here is korean. If your in to that, go for this place.

Bonus if your a "K-Pop" fan, they play a-lot of Korean songs there. ✌

The Alley by Vikings - UP Town Mall, Quezon City

Photo c/o Vikings Website

Yesterday was Paul's Birthday and we have this yearly tradition to eat on an all you can eat buffet on our birthday, why? because we're free of charge! We usually go to dine at Vikings a Php 888 (+5% service charge) buffet resto decent enough and almost fine dining if you ask me. This Php 888 (+5% service charge) buffet here in the Philippines ain't cheap (that's $16.64 in US Dollar) usually that cost could feed a family of 3 for dinner.

THE PLACE

First, Let's talk about the place.

Our spot

The Alley is perfectly located at UP Town Mall, Me and Paul would say that it's a North and East people's safe haven of mall. The mall has a-lot to offer in terms of entertainment at least 'cause me and Paul went to the mall early to secure a reservation for that day. Folks, don't do the same thing. Usually they have an online reservation but We have decided to celebrate Paul's birthday there really on the last minute that online reservations are full. Luckily, there was Timezone to the rescue to kill our waiting time, Heck! Paul even won a plushie on the claw machine.

@pmcarrot “the claw” game is strong! #theclawprize #ufocatcher #mymelody #sanrio #plushie

A post shared by Maia Alcomendras Castillo (@pancakemaia) on Jun 21, 2018 at 9:37am PDT

So, that's for that. But the other main issue that happen yesterday is that Metro Manila was hit by a short but very heavy rain. It was so bad that when we went inside the alley, power interruption went on twice (not sure) or maybe thrice? but it was an on and off kinda situation. Some people, including us was even relocated because of the leaking pipes at the restaurants vicinity.

It was an unfortunate but the eating must go on.

Every food stall or whatever they call it have a store name like it's a real food park and when the line is packed, some stalls have electronic ticketing system for you to hold on to while waiting for your food to cooked. You'll know your food is ready when the saucer lights up.

THE FOOD

We came on only eating a light snack in the morning to prepare our tummy for the ultimate eating fest. We went first, head on the steak section of The Alley called Just Steak A Minute. 

That's me looking at the steak choices

They had 3 selection of sizzling steak, I got beff and Paul got pork.

After that we went full on buffet hunters. Few yummy to mentions was the Pork Siomai. It was really good! It had an authentic chinese taste because of the diced mushroom. Next was the Bagnet Kare-Kare.

A beautiful peanut butter sauce mess.

And lastly the Truffled Parmesan Cheese Pasta cooked on a parmasen wheel. 

I miss you already

Truffled is a newly introduced flavour to my palette. I only had truffled food like this year and I can't get enough of it. The strong flavour works really well with cheese. I am no food expert but I know what decent food would taste like, and The Alley offered some-some quality. I might get a-lot of hate for saying this but the food was only ok compare to Vikings which is the mother company of The Alley.

Dessert Buffet (Strawberry Cheesecake was the bomb.com)

Their sushi bar option are mostly crazy sushi flavours, I suggest to stick to the classic ones.

NORD'S Coffee bar drinks was good! Order their frappe

I love the drinks options, unlike other buffets here in the metro, they do offer best options of drinks to choose from. They also serve Mojito which was the drink of the day. Do they change it up everyday? Probably. They also have beers that came from other countries. We only tried one Tiger beer and shared on it, Paul will be driving so no booze for us. 

THE VERDICT

If your like me, You have probably eaten a-lot of buffet here in Manila and being that The Alley is new, you would probably would like to try to go here. The following next statement and words are only based on my opinion so here it is, I have also been to Sambokojin lately (like 2 days ago) and in terms of price, they are the same but food not even close, It's like apple vs. peaches. If you like ready made food and looking for a high-end food park experience, The Alley is perfect for you! but personally I feel like The Alley lacks more food option, I know. But my comparision is based not on Samobokojin but on Vikings as well. Being that The Alley is under Vikings, I expect food quality near or at least same as The Vikings. I feel like most of the possible food options was replaced with drink options. Well, I do love the drinks selection but I came there to eat food. I also feel like they could also trim down the price to at least Php 750 'cause Php 888 (5% service charge) is same price with Vikings and Sambokojin and that it's instantly became it's direct competition. So, If you ask me, I would choose Vikings and Sambokojin easily over The Alley. But for the one time dining experience, sure! you could dine there but for moneys worth dine in other Php 888 buffet.