I decided to dedicate a blog category to restaurant reviews because we love good food, and I can’t resist sharing my thoughts about it—whether you’re curious or not! 😄 Bakit ba? Gusto ko e.

My reviews will mostly focus on whether we enjoyed the food or not, and I’ll rate it using chef emojis 👨‍🍳 based on TASTE. Of course, taste is subjective, so it’s up to you to decide. My opinions are just personal, so let’s keep it friendly—no bashing, please! 😄 For drinks, if we order any (which is rare because we usually just stick to water, lol), I’ll use clinking glasses emojis 🥂.

As for service, I’ll rate it with a superhero emoji 🦸‍♂️ because, let’s face it, those in the service industry are real-life superheroes. Unless you’ve worked in their shoes, you can’t truly understand how tough it can be. Having spent nearly 20 years in food service myself, I know it’s not for the faint-hearted. So, let’s be kind to them, okay? It’s 2025—let’s leave the Karen attitude behind. Lol.

So, for my first feature, I’d love to share our experience with Pino. Pino Resto Bar is located at 39 Malingap Street Teacher’s Village, Quezon City. It’s a Filipino restaurant that serves iconic Pinoy comfort food. We went there on a Sunday night after an impulsive decision by somebody who was too bored at home. Yes, that’s you sissums Jinggay.

Yeah, I know. Why even upload it right? Lol (we went dinnertime duh)

Here’s a much better photo. Not mine, though. Credits to the owner. Got this from the web

We arrived around 7 PM, expecting the place to be packed, but fortunately, we managed to secure a table. Whenever we dine out, our biggest hope is always to find a decent parking spot. It’s particularly important because walking can be challenging for me, especially on unfamiliar or uneven terrain.

Buffalo Cauliflower for appetizer

This dish was surprisingly good! Honestly, I’m not entirely sure if I got the name right—I had to do some online sleuthing, but Pino’s online presence is almost nonexistent. They could definitely improve their visibility because it took me quite a bit of back-and-forth just to track down the name of this dish. Unfortunately, I still can’t confirm it, and to make matters worse, their menu isn’t available online. For the love of roses, how is that still a thing?

The exterior is perfectly crunchy, and the flavor brings back a nostalgic taste from my childhood. What I love most about this appetizer is how it evoked such happy memories, even though I can’t quite pinpoint exactly what it reminds me of. It’s like a delicious little trip down memory lane.

Bagnet Kare-Kare with Bagoong

Kare-kare is that quintessential dish that will always be a part of the big celebrations of every Filipino family. Each family has their own version, and I believe that my Nanay’s version is the best. The consistency is perfect, not too thick with just the right sweetness. A bit similar to Pino’s version. I just think that their version could use a little umami. I find it just a tad too bland. The bagnet pieces, though, were perfectly crunchy and seasoned. But they’re still a far- cry from the bagnet we get from Vigan. The bagoong on the side complemented the dish and made it enjoyable. The vegetables are perfectly cooked and with the bite I like. Overall, I’ll give this dish a 4 out of 5.

Kansi

Kansi is a traditional Ilonggo dish that’s best described as a delightful cross between sinigang and bulalo. Pino’s version was incredibly comforting, hitting the spot perfectly and satisfying my craving that night. The beef shank was tender and generously portioned, more than enough for the three of us to share.

The broth had just the right level of sourness—perfectly balanced and flavorful—and thinking about it now still makes my mouth water. The key to an excellent Kansi, in my opinion, lies in using plenty of batuan, the signature souring agent, and boiling it thoroughly with the beef. This ensures that the citrusy tang infuses deep into the meat, giving each tender, juicy bite that irresistible asim-kilig (a delightful tang that gives you goosebumps). Truly, Pino’s Kansi was a bowl of pure, comforting perfection.

Cucumber Lemon Shake

The first sip of this refreshing drink instantly transported me back 12 years ago to our trip to Singapore, where we enjoyed a similar beverage at a famous hawker center in Bugis. This particular drink, however, feels like a standout on its own—it seems to be their signature creation, perfectly capturing the crisp, cooling flavor of pipino paired with the zesty brightness of lemon.

It’s absolutely a must-try! Although, I think adding a hint of fresh mint could elevate it even further, giving it an extra layer of refreshing depth.

I think that wraps up our Pino dinner. We didn’t order much since we planned to have dessert and coffee after. Which we did at Starbucks Calle Bistro.

Oops, almost forgot to mention—the service at Pino that night was a bit slow. It took more than 30 minutes for our food to arrive, and even settling the bill took longer than expected. It seemed like they were short-staffed that evening, which might explain the delays.

That said, the servers still did an okay job. Despite the hustle and exhaustion evident from their constant back-and-forth, they managed to serve us with smiles, which I truly appreciated. Hopefully, it was just an off-night for them.

Food 👨‍🍳👨‍🍳👨‍🍳👨‍🍳

Beverage 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂

Service 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️

Price 💸💸💸