Tikim 55: Bangkok Cafe (Pearl Drive, Ortigas)

So, to get things a bit different from my usual "Milk Tea" posts here's one restaurant that will definitely make you say Aroi (means delicious in Thailand)!! 

After a talk with some of the well-known people in the Fashion Industry that happened in SCHU Outlet, a friend of mine who studies in a nearby University invited me for dinner in a close-by place.

Whenever i hear Thai food, i always think about really spicy goodies. Bangkok Cafe offers great Thai cuisine that would really satisfy your tasty buds! The ambiance in the place was really relaxing and their classic Thai interiors adds to the traditional feel inside the restaurant.

cool conventional wall decorations!

I ordered KHAO NUA NAMMAN HOY and KHAO PHAD KRAPPAO for my friend. Funny because we had to ask the help of the waiter to pronounce our order for us. 

You wouldn't wait too long since their service is really fast, so you get your food hot and fresh!

so here is KHAO NUA NAMMAN HOY 

and the KHAO PHAD KRAPPAO

both were really great and yes i liked it since the spices blended perfectly! not too spicy so yay! 

So if you are craving for Thai Cuisine or if you are just around Pearl Plaza, Pearl Drive, this place is worth checking out and of course dining in!

Taste: 3/5

Quality: 3/5

Ambiance: 2.5/5

BANGKOK CAFE

Address:  G/F 8101 Pearl Plaza Pearl Drive St. Ortigas Center, Pasig city

Contact Number:  (02) 638 7036 

Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bangkok-CafeThai-Restaurant/219722988082932?sk=info

Tikim39: Garden Dining at Basil (Katipunan,Quezon City)

I learned about Basil through Evan's friend and the thought of trying out a new Thai restaurant  made me excited. Why? My go-to Thai restaurant is Thai Pan and because of the great experience I had in Basil, I now have 2 favorite Thai restaurants.

Basil is just easy to find. If you know where Corinthian Gardens (White Plains Avenue) is, you'll have no trouble looking for the restaurant because it is literally just a corner away (Katipunan Avenue). Keep an eye for the first establishment on the left if you're coming from EDSA or Mandaluyong because you might think that Basil is a garden shop.

Basil

The interiors inside the restaurant scream indoor lanscaping. Wooden chairs, a lot of plants, and even an indoor pond complete the serene and earthy feel of Basil.

Inside the restaurant

Indoor Pond of Basil

Their menu is pretty simple. I wish they had pictures of the food so that you can see what you'll be ordering. Ordered the following on our table:

Menu

Fresh spring roll por pie koong sod P220

The fresh spring rolls is composed of prawns and ground pork with fresh vegetables rolled in rolled in rice paper, served with a tamarind sauce. It's the healthy kind of spring roll since it isn't fried.

Prawns wrapped in noodles going sarong P395

Going Sarong are deep fried prawns wrapped in rice paper and crispy rice noodles, served with a tangy dipping sauce. This kind of reminds me of lumpia shrimp rolls that my mom cooks at home.

Wagyu beef with holy basil pad gra-prow nua P325

The Pad Gra-Prow Nua are slices of Wagyu beef that are stir fried with Thai wild basil, chili, and garlic. This is my favorite dish that was on the table. It tasted like beef with broccoli in Chinese restaurants with a Thai twist. Also, the beef is tender (should be because it's Wagyu)!

Thai bagoong rice khao kluk gapi P295

I always order Bagoong Rice in Thai Pan, to have a point of comparison I ordered Basil's version of Bagoong Rice. My verdict: Thai Pan's Bagoong rice wins! Basil's version had too many chili in it and it was hard to taste the flavor of the shrimp paste when your tongue is burning :(.

*Bagoong Rice: rice flavored with Thai shrimp paste, thin sliced fried egg, fried dried shrimp and meat (pork/beef/chicken), sometimes slices of green mango.

Thai Ice Tea P95

The Thai ice tea was just like a fruit shake, too much ice (half of it was crushed ice). Nonetheless, the thought of coconut milk infused in this ice tea made me so relieved. I drank half of it to neutralize the spice after eating a spoonful of the spicy bagoong rice. 

Bill

Bill

When you ask for the bill, it will come in a pot! The presentation was amusing!:) All in all, the food and ambiance was great! For sure, I will go back to taste their other specialty dishes.

Taste: 4/5
Quality: 4/5
Ambiance: 5/5

Basil 
White Plains Avenue corner Katipunan Avenue,
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Telephone: 911-4158

Tikim9: Thaipan's white ambiance (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)

Thaipan is a perfect date place if you guys are looking for some Thai cuisine (As the name suggests). It's a bit hidden from the main road of Tomas Morato Street but it is not that hard to find. You'll notice the restaurant with it's white themed ambiance. It is very refreshing when you step into the restaurant --- design is modern, fresh, and romantic! You can have a choice of dining in their veranda or inside where there are rooms for functions with air conditioning. I strongly suggest eating alfresco because during the day their food and cold drinks are a perfect combo while at night you can have a peep at the stars while eating (so romantic ^.^)

Alfresco style lounge

Eat at the veranda for better ambiance

 in-house dining for those hot summery days

In ordering, you can see their menu is very simple ans straight to the point --- just the Thai name and the description. The menu lacks pictures of their best dishes which can help their customers choose what to order. However simple their menu is,the taste of food is what matters! :)

Simple menu

Me and evan ordered the following for dinner...

See Khrong Moo Yang: Cinnamon & lemon marinated pork ribs

Paw Pia Thawt: Deep fried spring rolls

Gai Sateh: Chicken Sateh

His favorite is the pork ribs which are indeed barbecued to perfection [must try!] while i thought that the  deep fried spring rolls are a bit too oily for me but i really liked the chicken satay especially with their sweet vinegar dipping, a mixture of spicy and sweetness! As you noticed, their dishes are served in simple white plates with minimal garnishes, indirectly suggesting that taste is what they are after. You'll not regret..Thai is really in the air!


Thaipan
120 Scout Dr. Lazcano,
Tomas Morato, Quezon City

Contact:  352-4926, 0917-808-0718 Email: Thaipanresto@yahoo.com

Verdict 4/5