It's been a very long time since the girls of The Foodies Circle met.  I haven't seen the girls since last year!  Naturally, a hangout together is long overdue.  And, there's no better place to chill over good food and chill than Applebee's which we have long wanting to try.

We all rarely go to Eastwood so coming from the side, we didn't see Applebee's at first.  Good thing they had a sign by their stairs pointing us to go up.


When we got up, we were surprised to see how big and spacious the place was.  The interiors gave a hint of a laid back kind of bar.


After the first portion, there are more booths that for many would be more comfortable and well-suited for dining.


Yet, it still keeps the same dim and yellow hued lighting.  Some parents would find it to be too dark as a family restaurant but then for me, some family restaurants like Tony Roma's is even darker. 

Food  

Appetizer

♥ Fried Sweet & Spicy Pickles (195 php)

There were a lot of interesting appetizer options.  But, we were really intrigued by the Fried Sweet & Spicy Pickles.   Upon trying this out, we felt that we made the right choice.  The boys were more delighted than us since this is an amazing bar chow.

Salads

♥ Grilled Watermelon & Spicy Shrimp Salad Half (445 php)

Applebee's menu has an extensive menu including greens.  So glad they have salads because I always aim for a balance meal.  The Grilled Watermelon & Spicy Shrimp Salad swooned all of us.  I like the ying and yang between the grilled watermelon offered a sweet fruity flavor and the spicy shrimp added a nice kick together.  Together with the feta cheese, yogurt dressing and almond, this salad is the bomb!

Buffalo Chicken Salad Half (325 php)

If you like a very bold spicy, sweet and salty flavors to go with your greens, get the Buffalo Chicken Salad.  But, most of us found the taste to be strikingly sharp for our taste buds.

Pasta

Spinach Artichoke and Grilled Chicken Cavatappi (495 php)

Since I'm crazy for spinach dips, seeing the Spinach Artichoke and Grilled Chicken Cavatappi instantly lured me to order it.  However, we all felt that the spinach being fried in this case was too subtle to create a good balance against the creamy artichoke sauce.


Chicken and Fish

Teriyaki Balsamic Glazed Salmon (675 php)

If there was an order we would not have made, it would be the Teriyaki Balsamic Glazed Salmon.  The thick salmon slice was not cooked as evenly as we would have hoped.

Local Favorites

Applebee's Pork Liempo Adobo (485 php)

So I suggest ditch the Teriyaki Balsamic Glazed Salmon for the wholesome Applebee's Pork Liempo Adobo.

Sandwiches, Tacos and More

♥ BBQ Beef Brisket Tacos (545 php)

The BBQ Beef Brisket Tacos is served quesadillas style with dips and sauce.


Burgers

Triple Meat All-In Burger (795 php)

Okay if you're looking for an instant heart attack, get the Triple Meat All-In Burger!  Just kidding!  But, wow this is one bad-ass burger with USDA beef burger patty, double smoked bacon, honey barbecued shredded beef brisket with cheddar cheese.


Desserts

Banofee Cheesecake (350 php)

We all yearned for an evident banana taste from the Banofee Cheesecake.  We can't help but feel disappointed that the banana component is just the banana chips.  I suggest that you order this for sharing because the cheesecake is very rich and dense. 

♥ S'Mores Creme Brulee (375 php)

I highly recommend the S'Mores Creme Brulee as a meal ender.  The slightly burnt marshmallows and rich dark chocolate fudge with caramelized crisp is wonderfully comforting to eat.  I never thought that smores could presented like this!  It is fun, appealing and delicious!


Drinks


Local Crafted

♥ Brew Kettle (110 php)

Sweet Adventures and Refreshers

♥ Strawberry Banana Colada (195 php), Fresh Mango Shake (175 php), Blueberry Cheesecake Shake (195 php), Fresh Lemonade (150 php)

Happy Birthday Surprise for Achie Joan (At Applebee's There's Always a Reason to Celebrate!!!)

We surely had a great time over Applebee's New Menu for 2017.   I have so much more to try so I'm coming back with the family next time!

Cafe Via Mare has already engraved its heirloom Filipino dishes into our Filipino hearts and spirit.  What I love about Via Mare is that it serves consistently good Filipino dishes for everyone including Pope John Paul II, First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and her distinguished guests as well as you and me.  


Now, as Via Mare celebrates it 40th birthday,    I have been invited to a luncheonette to share with you some of its best sellers.  Whether it's for breakfast, lunch, merienda and dinner, Via Mare has offerings that is sure to satisfy your cravings.

Food

Mainit na Sabaw

♥ Pancit Molo (195 php)

The Pancit Molo is a big bowl good for 2-3.  It is a heart and soulful soup with stuffed noodles filled with shrimp, chicken and pork.  To add more savory goodness, there are also smokey bacon strips.

♥ Sinigang na Karne (365 php)

The Sinigang na Karne is our classic favorite tamarind based soup with a huge chunk of oh-so-soft cured beef.  There are also veggies to add the delightful sweet flavors and a boost of vitamins.

Sari-Saring Kanin

Calcag Rice (155 php)

The Calcag Rice is guaranteed to awaken all your taste sensors with the explosive umami essence from the sun-dried shrimps, bagoong and scrambled eggs.  This is great with any viand.

♥ Tuyo Fried Rice (155 php)

The Tuyo Fried Rice is so good that rice alone will satisfy you. The rich salty goodness is so good that it will make you eat more!

Fiesta (195 php)

As the name implies, the Fiesta is a staple of extravagance.  Yes! It has loads of adobo bits, salted egg cubes and diced tomatoes so it is already a humble meal by itself.

Masagang Tanghalian

♥ Rellenong Bangus (560 php)

The Rellenong Bangus is stuffed milk fish.  This is gloried by the savory and sweet tomato and onion sauce.

♥ Pinais na Alimasag (380 php)

The Pinais na Alimasag is a crabmeat and coco meat omelet served presentably in a blue crab shell.  The x factor of this dish is tbe coconut cream that gives it a mellifluous, fragrant and creamy consistency.  It is served with the bagoong balayan rice that's wrapped in banana leaf.

♥ Inasal na Manok (195 php)

An order of the Inasal na Manok comes with 4 skewers.  The garlic-annato roast chicken is so bold that it really lingers in your mouth.  The atchara is a great complement that refreshes the palette. 

Beef Kaldereta (470 php)

The Beef Kaldereta has a distinct thick and flavorful tomato sauce that makes you want to splurge all over your rice.  The beef cube is tender and easy to chew.  I appreciate every element of this dish even the olives, bell peppers and onions. 

Arroz Ala Cubana (285 php)

The Arroz Ala Cubana is ground beef cooked in sofrito with raisins and snow peas.  It is served with fried egg and plaintain.
 

Crispy Binagoongan (325 php)

The Crispy Binagoongan is a popular favorite.  The crispy pork bellies are sensationally crunchy so surely you'll go crunching away till the last bit.
 
Ensalada at Gulay

♥ Ensaladang Pako (220 php)

My personal healthy favorite is the Ensaladang Pako.  The bunches of crisp fern leaves together with the salted egg and tomatoes plus the vinaigrette is a winner!
 
Sari-saring kakanin

Guinataang Halo-Halo (98 php) *sampler size

The Guinataang Halo-Halo is a coconut cream dessert soup tinted with the color of its main ingredient: purple yam, taro and sweet potato.  To add the mellow sweetness that we love, there's plaintain banana and jackfruit slices.  And, I'm glad there's my favorite chewy rice dumpling ball too.

Palitaw (55 php) *sampler size

The Palitaw is poached rice patties with grated coconut and toasted sesame seeds.  This is my type of chewy snack. 

Grilled Pan De Sal

♥ Laguna Cheese (155 php) and Spanish Style Chocolate (85 php)

The Laguna Cheese is grilled pan de sal served hot off the grill and filled with Laguna's farmer-style white cheese.

I like to pair my Laguna Cheese with the Spanish Style Chocolate.  This pair brings a delightful comfort to my soul. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cafe Via Mare time-tested prestige can tell more than we could.  So what's your favorite?

Since Eastwood City is very far from home, the family makes it to a point to make a very wise and selective dining choice when we do.  We've always been epicurious to try Stacker's Burger Cafe and so there we dined.


Stackers Burger Cafe in Eastwood City Walk 1 is open 24/7.  While we were dining, we can't help but notice how busy the place was with so many diners rushing in.  Good thing it has a spacious area with dining options inside or al fresco.  They also offer FREE WiFi. =)

Food
I discovered that Stackers is not the usual burger joint.  It has a very comprehensive menu.  You can visit it even if you don't feel like having burgers and leave equally or even exceeding satisfied.

Soups & Salads

♥ Chicken Tenders Salad (165 php)

Since I'm a very balanced eater who happens to love salads, I tried the Chicken Tenders Salads.  The Chicken Tenders Salad comes with shredded lettuce, cabbage and carrots topped with chunky and crispy chicken strips and drizzled with nutty and zesty oriental dressing.  The oriental dressing is one of the best dressings I've tried!  It has a dominant mango flavor with sesame essence.

Premium Burgers
For their burgers, you can opt for single or double stack of their 100% certified pure Australian Angus beef patty.

♥ Jack Burger (195 php/Single)

The Jack Burger is their best-selling burger.  It has crispy bacon strips, sauteed mushroom, melted Monterrey jack cheese and Swiss cheese, lettuce, quarter pound Angus beef patty and tangy ranch dressing.

All American Loft Burger (195 php/Single)

My brother had the All American Loft Burger which has american cheese, Monterrey jack cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, quarter pound Angus beef patty and honey mustard sauce.

My little sister who is such a picky eater had the Pepper Crunch Burger (195 php/Single) and really loved it!  I'll try that on my next visit.

♥ The Penthouse (688 php)

Of course, I didn't intend to leave Stackers without conquering The Penthouse!  It's basically three stacks of the double Angus beef patty All American Loft Burger.  But, without the top brioche bun for the latter two stacks. 

To be honest, this reminded me of my encounter with Zark's Jawbreaker Burger which I gave up on after having only 3/4 of it.  The torment of that experience  made me feel intimidated with The Penthouse.  But, as soon as I got to try the first layer of The Penthouse, I knew I could finish it.  I swear Stackers had the best brioche burger buns ever!  It's so light, soft, moist, tasty and chewy that you'd want to have some more.  The double Angus beef patty was so tender and juicy with natural bold beefy flavors.  It's not overly seasoned or marinated so you get to appreciate the quality of the meat.  The caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, gooery Monterey jack cheese and American cheese, crispy lettuce and honey mustard dressing made the experience even more sensational.  It was an amazing feeling to have my appetite intact and wanting for more even as I emptied the wooden board.  But of course, I felt my bulging tummy as my pants became tighter too. =))   

P.S. I highly suggest that you request for gloves and eat this with your hands like I did for a more wholesome experience.

Stackers Bakeed Fried Chicken: Stack & Go

♥ Jumbo Stack (1,050 php/15 pcs.)

For take-outs on any lazy day or party ideas, I highly recommend availing the Jumbo Stack of Stackers Baked Fried Chicken.

♥ Jumbo Stack (1,050 php/15 pcs.)

I'm sure this beautiful crate box will make you the star of the meal hehe.

♥ Jumbo Stack (1,050 php/15 pcs.)

The Stackers Baked Fried Chicken is better than fried since its baked and has 80% less oil.  I was surprised at how enormous they are!  I usually eat 2-3 pieces of chicken in a meal.  But for the very first time, the entire family was satisfied with just one piece.  My health-conscious siblings usually donate their chicken skin to me but not this time.  They just couldn't resist the perfectly crunchy and healthier (80% less oiled) skin.  Plus, the chicken meat was so tender and juicy.  You just have to try this!  For the price, I'd choose this healthier option any time of the day. 


Side Stacks

Crispy Fries (55 php)

For carbs to enjoy along your Stackers Baked Fried Chicken, the Crispy Fries is a good choice.


Mini Milk Shakes

Coffee Oreo (65 php)

The Coffee Oreo is a combination of my two addictions so I was an easy bait.  I ordered the mini size to lessen the guilt hehe.  It's so cute!  However, I found it to be overly sweetened for my taste.  The sweetness overpowered the fragrant taste of the brewed coffee.


Beverages

Stackers Iced Tea Large (60 php)

If you've been reading my post, you'd glance through my disappointments over overpriced non-brewed iced teas.  I'm happy to share that the Stackers Iced Tea Large is not only affordable but a very good blend too.


Tip

Ifood Card

I'm very happy with my experience at Stackers that I got my own Ifood Card.  I just love cards.  For only 350 php, you can avail the Ifood Card with a validity of 1 year.  It entitles you to a 15% discount and 1 php rebate.  Plus, a 25% off voucher for your birthday month (Can't wait to use this!).  If it expires, you can renew it for only 150 php.  By renewing, you can turn over your earned points to your new card.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Stackers Burger Cafe as a burger joint is already one of the best available.  But, it's more than that!  Whether it's for Salads, Burgers or their Baked Fried Chicken, you definitely can't go wrong.  The price is very reasonable for the quality food their offer.  I look forward to my next visit.  I'm surely going to try the Pepper Crunch Burger and perhaps try the "Build You Own" burger next.  I just have an issue with the "Build You Own" option though, I can't seem to find the buns!  I'd wouldn't want to stack many Angus Beef Patties without the delicious buns in between.  I hope they make that available.  If they do, who knows I might even stack a burger taller than The Penthouse right? ;)