Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Pigging Out at Vikings Luxury Buffet Restaurant in Megamall



Our long planned visit to Vikings finally happened last Monday, April 21, 2014. I tried to make a reservation on their Facebook page the day before but I was told that the reservation for lunch is already closed and that there are 150 on the waiting list. I was offered to have reservation for dinner instead but we're only available during lunch so I just went early to get a number for our group. I, with my husband and son, arrived at 10:45AM and we're 9th in line for walk-in guests. At exactly 11AM, they're already seating guests and we were given the couch. We asked if we can be transferred to the couch with the overlooking view of the MRT but the crew who assisted us said that all the couches over that area were taken already. So, if you want to get a good view of EDSA, I'd suggest to inform the Maitre'd before getting a number.
VIkings Megamall
My office mates and I in Vikings Megamall
After our seats were given, we immediately started checking out the different dishes. I went over to the Grilling Station and helped myself with their signature Oyster Rockefeller and a few Pork BBQs. Then I went over to the Drinks Station and got myself a glass of Blueberry Lemonade.

Deep Fried Cajun Turkey and Roasted Leg of Lamb
Deep Fried Cajun Turkey and Roasted Leg of Lamb
California Maki
California Maki (as usual)

After a few minutes, I was done so I went off to the Carving Station then the Dessert Station.



Desserts
Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake, etc.

Ice Cream
Bubblegum Ice Cream (My son's favorite)


By 1PM, everyone's already full so we had a little chit chat, rested for a while then billed out.


I've been to a lot of Buffet Restaurants already but so far, Vikings is the best. Every food and drinks they offer are worth trying.


Vikings in Megamall is located at the 4th floor of Mega Fashion Hall

For the updated rates and promos, click here

Monday, April 7, 2014

Casa Astillero in Calatagan

Last April 5, our team went to Calatagan for our much awaited team outing or what we call our "Anarchy Day". We left Manila at 11AM and arrived at Mahogany Market at 1PM. We stopped by to have our lunch and to buy our food for dinner. We left Tagaytay at 2:30PM and at exactly 4PM, we're already in Casa Astillero.

When we arrived, Sir Romy approached us and I gave him the details of our reservation. He immediately escorted us to the places available for tent pitching. We chose the vacant spot in between the kubo and the a/c rooms.

I was so disappointed to see that the place was crowded. I never expected that much people even though it's weekend since I thought they're only accepting reservations to control the number of guests. There are tents and videokes everywhere and the place is small that it looks like a chaos.

We immediately pitched our tents and unpacked our stuffs on the table provided to us. I believed I paid for a table under the tree but all the tables under the tree were occupied already so they just placed a table right outside our tents. I also paid for a grilling station with mini kitchen but instead got a portable griller. I told Sir Romy that the portable griller is cheaper but he said they just cost the same. Then when I checked out the grilling station, it's free to use for guests. I also asked where we can charge our cellphones, he just said we can use any power outlet. But how can that be possible if all the tables where the power outlets were placed are occupied? Talk about chaos and disappointment.

Casa Astillero



Casa Astillero


A few minutes later, my office mate Ron and his wife arrived. They're from Cavite so they thought it would be more convenient to just ride a bus going to Calatagan directly from their place but their fare cost more than when you'll be coming from Pasay. They paid 400 for the fare to Calatagan Market then 150 for the tricycle to Casa Astillero. Not really what I've been expecting.

So, since everyone's at the resort already, the girls started to prepare for dinner. I cooked Calamares while the others prepared the ensalada. The boys grilled the Liempo and Bangus. I forgot to buy water for drinking luckily, just right outside the resort, there are stores selling purified water (P30/5 liters), softdrinks (P70/1.5L), and ice but they always run out of stock.

After cooking, Some of us took a nap. When i woke up it was already past 9 but the videokes are still on full volume so I did not hesitate to sleep anymore. After we're done eating, we asked the caretaker to prepare our bonfire then we went off to the beach for our drinking session. 

The next morning, there were vendors roaming the area selling fresh seafoods at cheap price. I also noticed a guy in a motorbike selling hot pandesals. I checked out the beach. Still at low tide. The sun's up and the view of the beach from afar is superb but the water is so shallow that even at 100m away from the shore, it's still at knee level. 

Casa Astillero
Beach during low tide


It spoiled our day so we just prepared our Brunch and after we ate, everyone's off to the shower room. There's a long queue over the ladies' shower room and there are only two shower rooms so I think the management should work on having additional shower rooms to accommodate the increasing number of guests.

Our travel back to Manila only took 3 hours. Well, that's the fastest we can go since the road from Tagaytay to Calatagan is narrow.

To summarize, the place clean and well-maintained but the management needs to improve on their service. They should put limit to the number of guests and they should assign a table or cottage number to the guests so that guests arriving in the late afternoon will still get a good and decent spot. The resort is recommended only during off-peak season because the place is nice but was spoiled by the heavy crowd and disorganized management.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Mahogany Market in Tagaytay

We had our lunch in Mahogany Market and I had to buy meat and other stuffs before heading off to Calatagan for our team outing. It was already 1 in the afternoon when we arrived but the place is still full of people eating at the carinderias. We really don't have any specific carinderia in mind and we're all starving so we just sit down to what's nearest to us. There were bunch of bananas on the table and the waiter said it's free and unlimited. I believe they also offer unlimited barako coffee but I guess we're not offered that anymore since it's already Lunch time. I immediately asked for two orders of Bulalo (P350/order), two orders of Tawilis (P300/order), rice and softdrinks and in 10 minutes, food were already in front of us. There's not really any better place to have Bulalo than in Tagaytay. Leslie's Bulalo is also delicious but a bit pricey so, if you want to eat cheap, then Mahogany Market is the place to be.

Mahogany Market
At Mahogany Market

Bulalo, Papaitan and more
They have Crispy Pata too!


After eating, they went to the parking area while I went to buy some food for our outing. Liempo there is at P200/kilo which I think is a bit higher than the usual price because in Pasig Market, I believe it's just P190/kilo. Then I went on to buy Bangus at P140/kilo and Squid for Calamares at P260/kilo. On the other side of the market is the Fruits and Vegetables Section. I went on to buy Indian Mangoes and Shrimp Paste (Bagoong) then I went to the Rice Section to buy 5 kilos of Angelica Rice, which we're only able to consume about half of it. At the back part of the market, there is a stall selling ice, and a small grocery store where we bought softdrinks and booze.

The market has everything we needed for our outing. After we're done eating and buying groceries, we're back on the road for our final destination.