Review: FlapJacks

7 06 2008

Ok, time for a mouth-watering review care of yours truly! I truly LOVE blogging for this reason, getting my words out there, as representative of the common mallrats. I am certainly not a professional food critic, but I think I have enough life experience to know what’s delicious or not, right?

Our restaurant on the spot for this evening is FLAPJACKS.

The branch of FlapJacks that I went to is located at the 1st floor of the Midtown Wing of Robinson’s Place Manila. The place is brightly colored with an orange and yellow theme. They specialize in cooking breakfast meals which they serve morning till night. But don’t fret because they also serve desserts, salads and dinner type food. The place is really clean, and as you can see from the picture above, the cooks are seen by everyone and they are all well groomed, as expected.

I like this restaurant for so many reasons. One reason is the service. I love that the waitresses and the hosts were not ROBOTIC. By that I mean they are not like those other people that says “Hello Maam/Sir welcome to (insert restaurant name here)!”. First a woman (who I assumed to be the host) approached me in a non-predatory way (some people actually look like they are gonna attack you), and asked me if I would like to see the menu for that day. When I confirmed that I was interested in eating there, she told me her name (a flaw of many restaurants is that they don’t introduce themselves anymore) and led me to my chosen table. Before leaving, she told me that a waitress will be there to assist me with my order in a few minutes. While waiting for the waitress, I looked around and saw that the place was well decorated, from it’s beautiful paper placemat which had Good Morning written in different languages all over it to the beautiful artwork on the ceiling and the wall.

Good Morning!

\

A beautiful waitress then came up to me and introduced herself and smiled as I told her what I would like to eat. She pleasantly repeated my order and told me to wait for a while, while the chef cooked my meal. It was morning on my first visit, and so I ordered brewed coffee which is refillable at a neat price of 85 pesos. This went perfect with my day of reviewing for the boards. I also want to take note that the waitress NEVER waited for me to ask for a refill, she always seemed to know when I wanted more, because she automatically came to me and asked, “Would you like me to brew another pot of coffee for you?”. I am telling you, the service at FlapJacks was flawless. They obviously had tedious training. The waiters and waitresses were always smiling, even when they weren’t talking to a customer. They are always there to answer your questions and requests, unlike other people who avoid to make eye contact with customers as much as possible (now you guys are finding out my pet peeves when it comes to restaurants huh?).

Now, about the food…

The food, was delicious, as predicted. They made the eggs fresh and not too dry. It wasn’t that salty, but it wasn’t bland either. Everything was just right. I was able to take a picture of the dinner that I had the other night, which was Country Style Chicken Steak. It is a combination of breaded chicken fillet with gravy, scrambled eggs. griddled potatoes, and corn and rice on the side. There were so many things to choose from in the menu, from healthy salads to guilty pleasures like ice cream and shakes. When I go back there I promise to sample the famous pancakes or the waffles, I cannot wait!

For the parents and kids out there, you are in for a treat. The owner of this place must have thought of so many scenarios to be THIS ready. As I was waiting for my food, I saw 3 kids fidgeting and playing around while their parents took their orders. Out of nowhere, their waitress walks up to them and gives them some table toys to play with. This may be not that big a deal to most of you, but I thought it was plain genius. They also placed in a TV where they show some movies ^_^

I give another plus point to FlapJacks for the way they take care of their customers!

Seeing as I took a long time to leave during my first visit, I was able to see the waiters and waitresses interact with their customers. What really surprised me was what my waitress did next. She went to my table with another waitress beside her and told me,

“Ma’am I will be taking a break for a while, my co-worker (I forgot her name sorry girl!) will be taking my place for now, is that alright?”

She actually ENDORSED to her co-waitress. That is the first time that that has ever happened to me! What service! She endorses better than all the nurses in the wards! Applause for the greatest waitress!

However, with all these perks taken into account, it is obvious that this place is not just your usual fast-food restaurant that you can visit everyday. The prices are a little steep but are worth it. It’s that kind of place that you go to to celebrate! Or a place where you can treat yourself to go to every month for a job well done. It’s the kind of place where I’d wanna eat with my good friends or when my dad comes to visit (We WILL eat here when you come to visit ok Pa?).

So here is your grade:

Cleanliness: 10/10

Service: 10/10

Food: 8/10

Price: 8/10

Overall: 4 stars!

So yeah, FlapJacks has made me an official fan of their resto. And now, I give back by recommending their restaurant to my beloved readers. Till next time!

As the picture says, “Famous Breakfasts, Super Lunches, Great Dinners.”





happy

25 01 2008

You read a lot of blogs that talk about how crappy their lives get (my blog included), but there ARE days when you just can’t help but view yourself like you are like those people in vitamin commercials that say “More energy, mas happy!” (translated as more energy means more happiness).  These are the days the keep you moving forward.

After a long and tiring 24 hour duty in the OB admitting section, the day started about great for me because I did pretty well during the summary rounds.  As predicted, they asked me most of the questions since I was the only one decked with a patient last night.  And with the little time I got to read, I was able to survive the interrogation.  YES!!! Man, you have no idea how much my shaking hands and tired face with my unkempt hairstyle seemed to glow after that.  Students like me live for this moments of triumphs.  Because unlike people who are par excellence, there are people like me, PLAIN ME.  The student who just gets by.  Damn, it really felt so good.

I went home and immediately fell on my comfortable bed… With luck I was able to wake up just before I met with some people for a coffee-shop transaction.  I hurriedly went to the nearest Starbucks cafe and ordered my usual Java Chip Frappuccino, and there he was: the kind barista.  Not just kind, but I-am-happy-to-be-a-barista-and-I-am-not-just-being-kind-to-make-you-come-back-for-more-coffee kind.  Our conversation went like this:

Barista: So are you a UP student?

Me: Yup.

Barista: That’s cool.  So what are you studying?

Me: Medicine.

Barista: Ahh… Are you a first year or second year?

Me: I’m an intern already.

Barista: Wow! You look so young!

Me: Naks.  Thanks for the compliment.

Barista: Cool.  Enjoy your coffee!

I am so easy to please right?  Sometimes a compliment can seem so fake, but sometimes it can be the best thing you should hear after a tiring duty.  Work makes you forget to take care of yourself.  But when a complete stranger compliments you on your youth, then it makes me light up all over again…

Next happy story?  Don’t worry I got more.

As I sipped my Frap, a familiar face walks up to my table.  Nikko Faller!  My childhood friend.  He tried to teach me tennis when I was young, and I didn’t really do well.  Anyway, it’s been 7 years I guess since I’ve seen him.  He stroke up a conversation with yours truly.  He told me that he is almost done with his Nursing course.  He asked how I was doing, and I told him that I was ok.  A reunion with a good old friend is a treat!

Then late tonight, I went to the gym after a long long hiatus.  I was able to join my favorite Body Jam class. The new music was amazing!  It was just a one hour workout, but I felt so rejuvinated afterwards.  All the stress was gone!  I was able to forget the ton of books I had to study.  I was able to forget that a girl like me doesn’t have a special someone (yes I think about that sometimes especially when it’s real quiet).  With all those fun people around me, all strangers, all with no inhibitions about dancing in front of people they don’t know, it felt like I was in a party where everybody was invited.  No one cared if they weren’t able to dance on cue or if they didn’t have the perfect figure or if they didn’t have the sexy hips.  People just came to dance.  ^_^

All of that happened in one fantastic Friday.  It doesn’t matter if my day is gonna suck tomorrow.  Today, I am happy.  Hope you get to have your own happy day soon. ^_^