One of Cynthia's favorite Japanese dish is the Sukiyaki. One of the restaurants that serve this is Teriyaki Boy.
We were seated promptly but it took another 15 or so minutes before our orders were taken. Of course my wife ordered the Sukiyaki Beef. I was hoping to have a Chicken Katsu but that was not in their menu so I ordered the Chicken Ju instead.
Cynthia said that the Sukiyaki tasted just so-so: not bad but not really that good. The best she could give was 3 stars.
It turned out that Chicken Ju was just another name for Chicken Teriyaki. And it tasted just like any other Chicken Teriyaki. So I'll give this 3 stars as well.
Sadly, the waiters were not that attentive. Customer's (including us) were waving, trying to get their attention and not getting it right away. Again, 3 stars for service.
Pardon me if I've been off the grid for quite some time. It's just that I had to undergo a minor surgery about a month ago. That was the first time I'd been hospitalized since I was toddler. Considering that I am now 67 years old says a lot about my health. Unfortunately this recent incident behooved a change of lifestyle particularly in terms of dietary habits. To make a long story short, I am now on a no-red meat, non-dairy, non-caffeine regimen. Seafood and chicken are acceptable as long as they are served with veggies. Adding soup would even be better.
That said, my slow return to eating out (a practice my wife and I did at least three time a week before) was done with utmost precaution. When Cynthia suggested we go to Conti's after doing some errands I hastily agreed. Not only was the restaurant near our home, it was also one of our favorites. For me, Conti's had become synonymous to Chicken Ballotine - one of their specialties.
Naturally that was what I ordered without even looking at their menu. It was as good as I remembered it to be. The stuffed chicken breast rolled in creamy sauce was so tender and delicious. The side vegetables were cooked just right, with just enough crunchiness and seasoning. The dish was also served with garlic rice. Definitely 5 stars!
My wife ordered the Callos - an ox tripe and knuckles stew with slices of bacon in garlic tomato sauce. It was also served with mixed vegetables and garlic rice. Cynthia enjoyed the smoky flavored entree and she said that the tripe and knuckles were very tender. She rated the Callos 4 stars out of 5.
For dessert, we shared a cashew nut covered sans rival. Although this sweet pastry would normally be a no-no for me, we justified our ordering it by saying that we haven't had this in months! Again, it was perfect with just the right amount of butter in between the crunchy layers. Hands down 5 stars.
Service at Conti's was very commendable - the waiters were very attentive and the food was served without much waiting time. The only drawback is the limited parking space and double parking is the norm. However, the security guards were very efficient in directing and managing the parking lot affairs. If you're double parked, just be prepared to have your meal interrupted so you can move your car for the other vehicle to get out. Overall, 4.5 for the food, 4.5 for the service and 3 for parking.
Please check their website: http://www.contis.ph/
October 24, 2013
Allow me to beg for your indulgence for not being very specific in my review of this restaurant and for the lack of photos. Two reasons: First of all there's just so many dishes offered that even those that we partook of were simply too much for a detailed discussion. Secondly, today is my birthday.
Originally, Cynthia wanted to celebrate my birthday at Vikings Buffet restaurant at SM Marikina for the simple reason that birthday celebrants eat for free! However, we were at the Ortigas Center for some errands. While my wife was visiting her friends at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) I was checking out the restaurants at SM Megamall. After she finished her chores, I met up with my wife and told her that Dad Kamayan Saisaki (which serves a triple cuisine type buffet) also had the same offer.
We were escorted to our seat by the friendly hostess clad in Japanese kimono. After explaining the "house rules" she told us we can start getting our food. The vast array of delicious entrees, from sushi to Kare-kare made choosing what to get a daunting task. Please realize that for the past three weeks we changed our diet regimen to a minimalist style. However, since it was my birthday, we both agreed that we can temporarily set that aside for today.
Our first selection was a mixture of Japanese/Chinese cuisine - yang chow fried rice, shrimp tempura (for me), fish tempura (for Cynthia), hot chicken salad (for me), fresh mandarin salad (for Cynthia), fried egg rolls, fried calamari and a beef dish (I forgot the name - too much food does that to my brain). For round two, my wife and I concentrated on Filipino dishes - morcon, embutido, lechon macao, and seashells: kuhol (snails) for Cynthia, tahong (mussels) for me.
Then for desert, let me just say one thing: creme brulee. There were dozens of other choices, and we got some of those, too, but for both my wife and I, creme brulee it was! And oh, there was even a cream puff made in the shape of a swan!
Now let me tell you about the service. It was excellent! The waiters were very attentive! They would even carry your plates to your table for you. The bottomless tea glass always got filled almost religously. Used plates were removed promptly.
The highlight was when a quartet of musicians (two guitarists, one bassist, one vocalist) came to our table and sang "Happy birthday" to me. When asked if we have any requests, Cynthia suggested a song sung by the Trio Los Panchos. As they sang Besame Mucho, tears fell from eyes. I can't explain why. I'm sure these were happy tears. Perhaps I was reminded of the times when we visit my children in California. We always go to Mijares, a Mexican restaurant, where a trio (2 guitarists, 1 bassist) sang Spanish ditties. Maybe those memories of times with my family made me a bit nostalgic and sentimental.
I was still sniffling after we left as I told my wife that I was glad that it was here that I had my birthday lunch. And that was not just because my meal was free.
Please check out their website:
Dads Kamayan Saisaki
