Amazing graze at Robinson Galleria's Veranda

Robinsons Galleria remains mighty at 20. Despite being two decades old, the flagship mall of premier real estate company Robinsons Land Corporation remains young, hip, and upbeat as it continues to innovate and liven up the mall scene.

“We provide exciting new leisure options to the public,” says Arlene G. Magtibay, Robinsons Malls general manager. Apart from the renovated cinemas, there are new retail zones such as the kids-oriented Jumpstreet in Level 3 of the East Wing, an active lifestyle-oriented Sports Loop in the West Wing and technology-centered myDomain in Level 1 of the East Wing.

For those interested in new dining options, however, the Veranda holds special appeal. “This consists of more than 600 square meters of space,” Magtibay explained during our visit to the new dining zone. “We are confident that as Robinsons Galleria marks its 20th anniversary, the mall is able to provide yet another excellent hub where guests can socialize over great food, refreshing cocktails, and excellent coffee brews.” We discovered firsthand that the diverse dining alternatives at the Veranda are indeed a grazer’s delight for who enjoy good food

Cantonese Favorites At Delicious Kitchen By Eat Well

Another outlet of Delicious Kitchen by Eat Well is always good news for diners because there are usually long queues at its other stores — proof that the food served is really delicious. Apart from our personal favorites like roast duck, braised soft beancurd with crab roe sauce (P268), and roasted barbecue pork asado (P135), the dimsum is tempting. Xiao long pao (P88 for four pieces) or dumplings with hot soup inside, particularly, are a crowd favorite. On this visit, we enjoyed a delicious vegetarian dish of home-made beancurd with asparagus with bailing mushroom and shrimp toast. And of course, we ended with masachi balls — white chocolate within soft, sweet sticky balls that are rolled in crushed nuts. Yummy!

Oh, yes, it’s Johnny Rockets!: Have fun dining on one-third pound hamburgers, hot crispy American fries and rich, delicious milkshakes Photos by FERNAN NEBRES

Fun Dining At Johnny Rockets

Don’t be surprised when the music volume is turned up and the crew starts dancing at Johnny Rockets. Fun dining is a major draw here, along with one-third pound hamburgers, hot crispy American fries, and rich, delicious milkshakes. Johnny Rockets is a popular international restaurant chain that is listed among America’s strongest and most trusted brands. Don’t be afraid to let loose and join the dancing Johnny Rockets crew if the fun moves you. If you are a good sport, you might just get gift certificates.

Spicy, Savory Thai Specialties At 8 Spices

Spice is nice at 8 Spices: See Krong-mo Thod Kratian or Thai pork spareribs with garlic

Diners of whatever persuasion will surely find something that they like at 8 Spices. For us, the familiar reliables, like fried chicken pandan and Thai pork spareribs with garlic, are always great. However, if one is part of a bigger group, the whole fried lapu-lapu with garlic sauce eaten with steaming hot rice might be a good idea. Conversely, for diners who prefer to eat healthy, the salad selection is

varied: spicy fresh tuna salad, spicy seafood, pomelo, spicy eggplant with tofu with minced chicken and shrimp, papaya Thai salad, mango crabstick, and spicy sotanghon with ground pork and seafood. At this restaurant, spice is nice.

Berry yummy: Strawberry mango jubilee crepe from La Creperie

Le Creperie: Crepes With Flair

For Christine Laman and Cheese Ledesma, the inspiration behind La Creperie is to serve authentic French galettes or crepes, which are made from 100-percent buckwheat flour. The savory and sweet choices recreate the flavors from the creperies of Paris and Brittany and could serve as dessert, a quick snack, or even a main meal. Must-try is the Salidou, a crepe with creamy, salted butter caramel. To go with the golden brown crepes are specialty beverages like TWG tea or several variants of chocolat chaud, which is French for hot chocolate.

Fresh is best: The freshest ingredients at Healthy Shabu Shabu

Hot-Pot Happiness At Healthy Shabu Shabu

The main charm of this restaurant has to do with the fact that you get to cook your own food. The fresh ingredients are laid out on the table and it is up to the diner to choose his favorite ingredient, to blanch or boil as he pleases. The method of cooking is undeniably healthy, and the resultant broth is hot, rich, and fortifying. For families with young children, table-top hot-pot dining is like learning by doing. It is fun, so much like play, that even the most finicky kids will gladly eat what they cook.  

Pizza be with you: Tasty pizzas from Papa John’s Pizza, the third largest pizza chain in the world

Papa John’s Pizza & Pasta Perfection

Pizzas and pastas from Papa John’s are always pleasurable, and not surprisingly, Papa John’s Pizza is the third largest pizza chain in the world with 3,500 restaurants in the United States, the Middle East, and Asia. The US-based pizza chain’s classic variants of pepperoni, cheese and All the Meats are bestsellers, but the Super Papa’s pizza — a combination of tasty pepperoni. Italian sausage, succulent chicken roll, green peppersm and black olives — is

Comfort Food At Gilligan’s

Whether you’re craving sizzling gambas to go with a frosty bottle of beer after work, or a full Filipino meal, Gilligan’s is the destination for hearty Filipino treats. Boneless crispy pata is always a good choice, and so

Grilled to thrill: Grilled platter for sharing at Giligan’s

are lechon kawali, pinakbet, and sinigang na Norwegian salmon belly sa miso. Can’t decide what to get? Start with the platters for sharing (for four or six) and augment as you go along. With its extensive menu, it is easy to become takaw tingin and over-order at Gilligan’s.  

Grilled to thrill: Grilled platter for sharing at Giligan’s

Great-Tasting Yoghurt At Golden Spoon

Golden Spoon makes frozen yoghurt taste so good. It is silky and creamy; so much like premium ice cream. The best part about Golden Spoon yoghurt, however, is the choice of toppings. You can customize yoghurt treats as you please, adding dimensions of fruitiness, crunch, sweetness, and excitement. 

Hyped Up For Delectables At Hyphy’s By Chef’s Table

Behind Hyphy’s by Chef’s Table is celebrity chef Bruce Lim. The restaurant is described as “San Francisco-inspired” and chef Bruce whips up dishes reminiscent of his childhood in that city. Highly recommended by followers of the restaurant are the SF steak sandwich and an assortment of desserts.

Starbucks: Tried And Tested Favorite

Whether to start the morning or a place to end a productive day, Starbucks is a favorite haunt for this generation of mall-goers. There is a bonus to late night coffee and snacks at the Veranda outlet of Starbucks, however: An absorbing view of nearby EDSA as the vehicles streak to their destinations — an ephemeral artwork of motion and light.