Army Navy at SM Lanang Premier

On the day of my birthday, I went to SM Lanang Premier with my nephew and boyf to do some errands and a little bit of shopping. When we got tired and hungry, we decided to scour the entire mall to find a place we can grab a quick bite. Since it was merienda time, we decided to skip restaurants offering main course meals but opted for a burger joint, which is why the idea of dining at Army Navy struck me. I haven't tried this place before and so it might be a good time to sample them.

One of the reasons why I  was really curious to try Army Navy is due to its ambiance. It reminds you of a military base pantry with a small window in the center working as the main cashier wherein you can place your orders. It is very simplistic and straight-forward, definitely none of the over-the-top design concepts. 

The food is also equally good. We ordered the Chicken Burrito, which is a flour tortilla filled with several ingredients such as Spanish rice, chicken meat, beans, onion, lettuce, and cilantro. I love Mexican food so this was just right up my alley. The serving is pretty humongous, too! It comes served with a slice of lime and I tell you, squeezing some juice off of that lime to the burrito can make a whole lot of difference as it kicks up the flavor! An order will set you back at PhP 165.

Soft taco when rolled

Aside from burrito, I also am a big fan of taco. Since their crunchy taco is not available, we went for the soft taco carnitas. Priced at PhP 175, you get three small soft flour tortillas that are topped with meat, onions, and cilantro. Again, I squeezed some juice from the slice of lime provided with each serving to cut the strong flavor a bit. However, I was not too excited to find the pork cuts included in my soft taco were mostly the bony parts. Hence, only about half of the pork cutlets included in my taco were actually edible as I had to set the rest aside as they are made up of bones.

Lastly, we had the Tortilla Chips (PhP 35) that is served with its own freshly made tomato salsa. I love salsa! Hence, I was excited to give it a try when I saw it on the menu. And it fell nothing short of my expectation - the tangy flavor from the salsa helped to add a rich texture to the tortilla chips, which in itself is not that rich in flavor. 

Tomato Salsa

Overall, I enjoyed dining at Army Navy at SM Lanang Premier. My only qualm about this dining spot is that it can be a bit on the expensive side. For a small snack, we billed nearly PhP 500. I am not one to complain about paying for good food, but I think that it is not the best value for money. I can get an equally good taco from Taco Boy and they can go for half the price! But if you don't mind the cost and simply want to be treated to good food, give Army Navy a try! I'm looking forward to my next visit to try new items off the menu, esp their Double Burger (though it might be too big for my appetite!).

Army Navy has two branches in Davao: Abreeza and SM Lanang Premier.  

Hog's Breath Cafe Opens December 6 at SM Lanang

In an earlier post, I have listed some of the restaurants that I personally am looking forward to try out when they officially open at SM Lanang Premier. Hog's Breath Cafe quickly drew my attention primarily because it is the first branch to open in Davao and in the Philippines! The restaurant has established its reputation as “Australia's Best Steakhouse”, which should pique the curiosity of many steak lovers out there. Another reason to be excited about Hog's Breath Cafe's first ever Philippine branch? It is recognized as the largest of all 89 branches in the world!

The mere mention of Hog's Breath Cafe inspires to mind mouth-watering steaks, which is clearly the restaurant's specialty. They have also pleased Australian steak lover's taste buds with their tender prime steaks and Davao foodies will be in for a real treat when they have their soft opening on December 6, 2012.

Ms. Roxeanne Macasaet, the Marketing Manager for Hog's Breath Cafe Davao, shares the excitement of Davao food enthusiasts with the arrival of their first branch in the city. According to Ms. Macasaet, “We're thrilled to open the first Philippine branch in Davao, we're happy to share this Australian dining experience with the Dabawenyos.”

L'Restaurateur, the company responsible for bringing Hog's Breath Cafe franchise to Davao, has lined up month-long schedule of activities to whet Davaoenos' appetite for what Ms. Macasaet refers to as “Hogspitality” and, of course, their world-class steaks. The restaurant will have its soft opening on December 6, 2012 but the grand opening is expected to take place sometime January 2013. This is in order to coincide with the celebration of Australia Day.

Hog’s Breath Café Davao is located at Unit 147 – 149 Ground Floor, SM Lanang Premier, Lanang 8000, Davao, Philippines.

You can get regular updates and information about the upcoming opening and corresponding activities via their Facebook page here, or follow them at their official Twitter account - @HBCafeDavao. Also, make sure to visit this blog again as I will continue to update you with what's the latest on Hog's Breath Cafe. 
 

Like this blog on Facebook for more foodie updates.

Gilligan's Restaurant at SM Lanang Premier

Seafood restaurants hold a place close to my heart. I am a seafood lover at heart; so when a new seafood restaurant opens its door in the city, you can count the fact that it will be in my must-try dining places. Such is the case when Gilligan's Restaurant opened a branch in Davao for the first time, courtesy of the new SM Lanang Premier. 

Early last week, I had a chance to visit their branch for a dinner treat with E. I figured it was a great opportunity to see the Skygarden for the first time (last time I went to SM Lanang was during lunchtime) and also sample a new restaurant in the city. We already had our pick before we even got there for which restaurant to dine - Gilligan's Restaurant. I did not get to try this last time I went to Manila so this is a completely new experience for me and I was very curious as to how the dining experience would turn out.

First and foremost, I loved the ambiance at Gilligan's Restaurant in SM Lanang. There were plenty of nautical design elements that E & I were easily transported to this beach restaurant setup (in our minds). Right there and then, we got even more excited to try out items off their menu.

For appetizer, we ordered the Baked Mussel (PhP 110). When it was first served on our table, I was disappointed. I was expecting a bigger serving but instead the plate had 10 meager pieces of mussels. When I took a bite, though, I was in for a surprise. Every shell was well seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and the top was coated with a beautifully melted mozzarella cheese. I loved the idea of biting into the meat of the mussel with the gooey consistency of the cheese and its lightly salty flavor providing somewhat of a neutralizing effect on the powerful flavor of the mussel. 

While I was scanning the menu, I got really excited about the Grilled Salmon Belly but was disappointed when I found out it is not available. Same thing goes with their Gilligan's Seafood Platter. That would have been excellent. 

Instead, we ordered the Baked Pork Belly (PhP 154) and Gilligan's BBQ Platter (PhP 185). The pork belly was excellent - it was tender and not fatty at all. The flavor seeped deep into the meat that you can savor the flavor with every bite. The BBQ Platter, on the other hand, consisted of 4 sticks each of pork barbecue and yakitori. I equally enjoyed this platter because they do not scrimp on flavor. Every bite is truly packed and your taste buds will indeed be spoiled.

By the time we got the bill, we were pleased to note that they do not have a service charge. The reason I pointed this out is because of the fact that their service is excellent. In fact, way better than other restaurants we've tried that have a service charge. And for that, they deserve two thumbs up from me! I would definitely be back here and I can't wait to treat my family for a dinner - it seems to be the perfect place for that! 

Have you tried Gilligan's Restaurant at SM Lanang Premier? I'd love to hear about your dining experience!

Like this blog on Facebook to read more food reviews. 

Classic Savory at SM Lanang Premier

It's been almost a month since SM Lanang Premier opened its doors to the public and I haven't had the chance to pay it a visit until last Friday. It was the perfect opportunity to do so because 1) it was a holiday, and 2) me and my family needed to cool off after paying granny a visit at San Pedro Memorial Park. 

We arrived at SM Lanang Premier just in time for lunch and so we quickly scanned the third floor to see where we can satisfy our hungry bellies. I was a bit disappointed to see that only a few dining places have opened and most were packed during that particular lunchtime. We opted to settle in at Classic Savory. This isn't my first time to dine at Classic Savory but it has been a long time since I last did at the SM City Davao branch almost a year ago.

As for our orders, we had the Spinach and Seafood Soup (PhP 185) to start off the meal. This soup is made out of spinach puree, minced seafood, and vegetables. It was a truly hearty and savory way to kick off the meal.

We ordered two servings of the Savory Fried Rice (PhP 180 each) to be shared by everyone. My nephew seem to love this fried rice, which consists of green peas, Chinese sausage, and bits of the Savory Chicken. 

For our main orders, we had the Long Life Pancit Canton (PhP 185). Mom wasn't too impressed with this one, she said she can do a better job. Haha. But it wasn't the best part of the meal, although I do appreciate the fact that it comes with a generous serving of vegetables and seafood.

Of course, you can't go to Classic Savory without trying their Savory Chicken. Because we were a huge group, we opted to go for the Whole Classic Savory Chicken (PhP 335). I love the subtle taste on the chicken meat and the aroma. Very well cooked! 

We each had a glass of Four Seasons iced tea to freshen up during the meal. And given that it was really hot outside, I felt totally rejuvenated with every gulp of the iced tea.

Classic Savory has been in the industry for years. When it first arrived in Davao a few years ago, and two new branches thereafter, it is no doubt an exciting culinary addition into the culinary landscape of the city.

SM Lanang Premier Davao: More Foodie Updates

In an earlier post, I have listed some of the restaurants that had been reported to launch along with the SM Lanang Davao opening. As the scheduled opening, which according to my sources will be on September 28, is drawing near, more restaurants and food spots had been confirmed to have a branch at the mall as well.

To learn more about new SM Lanang Davao restaurants, make sure to read more after the jump...

Hog’s Breath Café

This is the first time I’ve heard about Hog’s Breath Café, which isn’t surprising knowing that it is not only the first time to open in Davao (at SM Premier Davao) but also the first time in the Philippines. Its website dubs itself as an “Aussie Steakhouse with lots of grunt”. Interesting!

Dairy Queen

Honestly, I’m devastated that this has not opened in Abreeza yet, when I thought they would. But thankfully, one thing is for sure – SM Lanang is going to have a branch opened soon. Just seeing photos of the blizzard cake makes my mouth water.

Krazy Garlik

Ooh, for garlic lovers out there, here’s something to whet your appetite (am I talking to myself?). This new restaurant that is reportedly opening its doors to all clients of SM Lanang Davao offers the best garlic recipes from all over the world. As early as now, I predict it’s going to be a dining experience like no other.

Mesa

If you are looking for grilled goodness, this home-grown restaurant promises to satisfy your appetite. The restaurant offers a wide range of choices on the menu including appetizers, soups, grilled items, choice meat cuts, and many more. On top of that, they are known to offer a relaxing ambiance to help make your dining experience more satisfying. This is personally something that I can’t wait to try at SM Lanang Premier soon.

Which of these restaurants are you excited to try? 

Note: All images on this post are taken from Skyscrapercity forums and I do not claim ownership to them.