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Concept restaurants: The 'Pop Talk' Review
"Pop Talk," hosted by Tonipet Gaba, airs every Saturday, 8:00 p.m. on GMA News TV. Like the Pop Talk Facebook page and follow the @PopTalkNewsTV Twitter account for more food, gadget, and getaway reviews!
Other than good food and reasonable prices, what draws people to a restaurant is the overall experience it offers. After all, eating is more enjoyable in an atmosphere that satisfies all your needs and wants.
Recently, concept restaurants that offer unique gimmicks and services have sprouted around the metro. GMA News TV's "Pop Talk" didn't miss the opportunity to sample three of these restos.
Did they get a pop or a flop? Here are the final verdicts of celebrity reviewer Janine Gutierrez, Chef Chynna Cojuangco-Gonzalez, and daddy foodie Lem Baltazar.
By the Bay Leisure Park, Seaside Blvd. Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City
Like in many Japanese restaurants in the country, the Banzai staff exclaims "Irasshaimase!" (welcome) as soon as customers enter the resto.
However, the Japanese-style treatment doesn't end there. After the greeting, diners get a map where they can find details about the sections of the restaurant.
The "Old Tokyo" area resembles the traditional Japanese dining places what with its wooden furniture.
The "Modern Tokyo" area, on the other hand, is decorated with bright neon signs that will remind you of how Tokyo looks like now.
Banzai also has an art gallery where you can find paintings of ninjas. You can even wear a sumo costume and take a picture with a life-size sumo wrestler replica.
The most exciting part of the restaurant, however, is the Teppanyaki station where an extensive buffet of authentic Japanese dishes is laid out. Sushi, katsudon, maki, ramen, soba, and takoyaki, anyone? These are just some of the food they offer.
"It really tasted authentic," said Kapuso actress Janine. "Tulad nga ng sinabi nila na, they're trying to be purists about it, na gusto nila talagang Japanese 'yung sineserve nila."
The lanterns that adorn the Teppanyaki station create the perfect ambiance for the live performance that comes later. Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater is a Japanese buffet and theater restaurant after all. So don't be surprised if sword-wielding ninjas and samurai, and kimono-clad women begin dancing in front of you. Even their resident chefs put on their own exhibitions while cooking.
"I'm a freak for Japanese food, for one, and to have a Japanese buffet is heaven for me. It's a concept na wala pang nakagawa rito," Chef Chynna commented. "The price is all right for the quality of the food that you're getting."
Lem, meanwhile, thinks that Banzai will appeal to a lot of people. "Sa food, may mga variety siya. Puwede siya sa mga bata, lalo na sa mga elders. Kasi tatay ako, kaya mas gusto ko 'yung place na puwede kong dalhin 'yung mga bata."
EDSA Shangri-la Plaza Mall, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City
Chef Tristan Encarnacion of Epicurious likens the restaurant to a fridge where you have the power to choose what food you want to prepare and eat. The whole Epicurious experience is categorized into four steps: choose, order, pay, and enjoy. "It's like a sosyal version of Dampa," Chynna remarked.
Epicurious resembles a grocery store complete with all the ingredients you need for a delicious meal. It has a deli section where you can find everything from cold cuts to cheeses to salads, a place for organic fruits and vegetables, and even an area for rice and chips.
The reviewers agree that choosing the ingredients for their food alone is already a fun experience on its own. "It's funny because even if it's not cooked yet, it already looks good," Janine said. "They incorporated the items for sale and the dining area in a nice way."
After the first step, you will instruct the chefs and tell them what you want to eat. Once your orders are prepared, you can get it from the counter yourself.
"Generally, it's 'pop', but there are some dishes that could be improved," said Chynna. "The concept of Epicurious was really nice kasi you get to choose your food, you get to tell them how you want it done, you see the chefs prepare it in front of you. Price-wise, the way it is, where it is, it's in Shagri-la, caters to middle to higher class. For me the prices were just right."
Janine agreed. "Usually cheeses and cold cuts are expensive, so nagulat ako na affordable 'yung meals."
Final verdict: 9 pop points
154 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
"Kalimutan ang lahat, 'wag lang ang bayad." "Basta driver, sweet lover." "Barya lang po sa umaga." These are some of the jeepney signs that decorate the interiors of Gerry's Jeepney, a Filipino concept restaurant that opened in 2013.
"Ang konsepto ng Jeepney restaurant, Pinoy. Filipino ingenuity. Parang jeepney. Masaya, makulay, maingay," Gerry Javier, owner of the resto, explained.
Other than street signs and the signature jeepney slogans, Gerry's Jeepney also serves food in banana leaves and even has an actual sungkaan, where the customer can play while waiting for their food.
True to its concept, this resto serves Pinoy favorites like chicken barbecue, Jeepney fried rice with dilis, itlog at kamatis, kilawin, and binagoongan with talong. They also have a boodle fight menu for people who come in groups. With ambiance like this, you will find it hard to resist eating with your hands.
"Okay ditong magdala ng balikbayan tsaka mga bisita mong foreigner para matikman nila a little bit of everything," Janine recommended. "Kanin pa lang, ulam na."
The reviewers loved the affordable set menus that can easily be shared with others. Lem particularly liked the addition of the sungka.
"We had various dishes right in front of us. We had two types of fish, we had chicken, we had liempo, we had binagoongan and then ensalada. There were so many things going on na it was beautiful to look at. Masarap siya. Kiniliti niya tayong lahat," said Chynna. "'Yung decoration niya was fancy to the eye. Eye-candy siya. It was fun. it gave you the feeling of and experience na nasa loob ka talaga ng jeep."
Final verdict: 9 pop points
— Lara Gonzales, GMA News, Photos by Tonipet Gaba
Looking for more foodie finds? Check out other “Pop Talk” reviews:
