I have this book called “If You Really Wanted a Great Marriage, You Would.”
As we entered the first restaurant, the hosts, Michelle and Sab of Mothers Who Brunch, asked everyone to share our typical “mood” during Valentine’s Day. While we don’t celebrate the V-day that much, the inviting vibe of this restaurant made us want to dine in and rekindle our love for food.
It’s such a small book yet the tips inside are delightful to read. They’re in fact effortless and pretty self-explanatory. One of the statements were from a quote penned by Virginia Wolf: “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.”
The colors combined in the table set up were invigorating.
Hasn’t this been true for you? I don’t know about you, but for us, food always fixes everything. While I am aware that most malls are packed this Valentine’s Day, these restaurants inside Evia Lifestyle Center are a must-visit. Additionally, the mall itself isn’t as crowded as the usual malls we have nowadays. Contrary to what others say that Evia Lifestyle Center looks intimidating and classy, its upbeat feel ensures the quality and convenience are appreciated by its consumers.
Let me get you in the mood for some love and great food with these 7 ‘Instagrammable’ restaurants we tried last week.
1. Tigerleaf
If you want a”home away from home” feel, don’t fret as Tigerleaf got your back. This place is a feast not only for your stomach but for your eyes as well. The invigorating ambiance will make you feel like you’re in a countryside indulging their best sellers Chicken Satay and Crispy Catfish Salad.
Chicken Satay (or Sate in Indonesia) is a ubiquitous dish of Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It’s seasoned, skewered, and grilled chicken served with a special sauce and best partnered with rice. Tigerleaf’s version though has a taste of Filipino, still mouthwatering. The meat was soft and easy to chew, perfect for kids and kids-at-heart.
The Crispy Catfish Salad was equally delicious as well; it was refreshing and the flavors were dancing inside my mouth. It was distinctively tasteful. For pricing and reservations, visit their Facebook page (Facebook.com/pg/TigerLeafPh/) or drool over the photos on their IG account (@tigerleafph).
2. Mama Lou’s
Mama Lou’s is a given masarap na restaurant. If you haven’t tried Mama Lou’s you’re missing a lot in your gastronomic life.
For instance, this “grazing table” prepared for us was full of glorious food: homemade pizza, salad, pastries, and more!
Home to countless authentic Italian Dishes, Mama Lou’s is one of the best and go-to restaurants for everyone. Reserve your seats by messaging them on Facebook or Instagram @mama_lou.
3. Merlion’s Cuisine: A Truly Singapore Restaurant
As the name implies, Merlion’s Cuisine serves authentic Singaporean food like Laksa. Do you know what made me love this restaurant more?
I love their creativity. They used the mythical creature “The Merlion” as their salt garnish. The Merlion Cuisine has two branches; Evia and Vista Malls in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Get to know more of their dishes by following them on Facebook and IG @merlionscuisine.
4. Mesa
Mesa is one of my favorite authentic Filipino restaurants. In fact, when our Balikbayans crave for authentic Pinoy food, we take them to try Mesa’s wide variety of Filipino dishes like Lumpia, Suahe, and Crischon: Crispy baby lechon.
Photo by Mothers Who Brunch
Mesa, according to the chef we spoke to, proudly explained that Mesa is in fact, the first and only grill-restaurant that provides on the spot grilling right at your table, with innovative Filipino Modern Dishes. As an example, he showcased how they innovatively cook their “Suahe.”
The chef cooked these juicy and scrumptious shrimps in front of us that made us all excited to dig in. It was cooked for 30 seconds but gone in 5 seconds! Yes, that delicious!
Keep up to date by following their Facebook and IG (@mesaphilippines) now!
Hop on to the next page for more exciting dishes to try!
