Persia Grill: Great Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine

Walking around Greenbelt one Friday night, we were searching for a restaurant that was not too crowded. Our usual go-to restaurants were all full so we went out of the mall and turned to the corner of Legazpi and Dela Rosa Streets to eat at Persia Grill and we were not disappointed. In fact, we were glad that we went to this place and it surely will be added to our "go-to" restaurants list.

Ratings:
Food: 4/5, very good. Generous serving and full of "Persian" flavor because of their use of fresh spices.
Place: 4/5, excellent interior designing; complete with Middle Eastern paintings and decors. 
Service: 3/5; service is OK; the food was not warm enough as I liked, though.
Prices:  3/5, price is reasonable for Persian dishes since there's not much of these kinds of restaurants in the Metro.

The Food
I had eaten just twice at this restaurant. The first time though was on their branch in Palanan, Makati. I had their Baba Ganoush  - dip of freshly roasted eggplant mixed with olive oil & Persian spices before. This time we ordered Chelo Kebab Kubideh- 2 skewers of grilled ground beef, and Chelo Kebab Combination - combination of chicken breast and beef kebabs.

The food here is really great. I liked the grilled tomatoes and long grain rice topped with butter. It looks simple but it is full of flavor because of the spices and dips that come along with it. It is very authentic and  that may be the reason why there are a lot of expats who are Indians and those of Middle Eastern descent eating here. It is their way of dealing with homesickness, I think. :)

If you want to eat healthy, this place is also a good option. They have vegetarian dishes that make people who don't like vegetables that much go bananas. One of this vegetable dishes that I like is their Baba Ganoush.

The Place

Like I said, there are many expats of Indian and Arab descent eating here. Well, the food is one thing but the place is surely another because the interior of this restaurant have an authentic "Persian" environment.

There are Persian inspired paintings,vase, colorful gems, and wall decors, but what strike me most is their logo. It is a symbol of a robed man inside a winged disk - Faravahar - the symbol of Iranian spirituality because it is also the symbol of Zoroastrianism.

The place is kinda small though and I read from a review that it gets crowded here during lunch because there are a lot of offices around the area.

Tips for Wandering Peasants

• If you want to try their kebabs, order the Chelo Kebab Combination like we did so you could try both their beef and chicken kebabs.
• For health buffs, most of their appetizers are vegetable based

Location
Legazpi Branch: Unit G4, Prince Plaza II, Legazpi corner Dela Rosa Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City

Useful Links and Info
Official website
Menu and other branches
Facebook

READ MORE>>>

Ginhawa Spa and Dining: Relaxing Massage With a Hearty Meal

One thing that I have been longing to do is to get a massage at least once a month as a way for me to de-stress from work. Finally, we were able to have our first massage in a long time at Ginhawa Spa & Dining by Mont Albo in Pasong Tamo, Makati. We got a voucher from Metrodeal which includes a 45-minute massage, a personal sauna, and a 4-course meal.

Ratings:
Service: 4/5, the massage is good, receptionists and therapists were polite, restaurant service is good, too.
Facilities: 4/5, every massage room has a shower; you can have the sauna all to yourself
Food: 3/5, average and the serving is kinda small.
Prices: 4/5, we had the Ciudad package worth Php 850 and I think it is just right for a 45-minute massage, a personal sauna, and a 4-course meal.

The Place

Nestled in a busy corner of Pasong Tamo in Makati, Ginhawa Spa is located at the 2nd Floor of High Pointe Building. Before going, we phoned and booked for a schedule and secured a time slot. We went on a Saturday afternoon so there were a couple of empty spaces on the parking lot.

Upon entering, we immediately felt the aroma of relaxation because it smelled of something like menthol or tea tree oil which invigorates the senses. We then handed our vouchers to the receptionist and waited for our scheduled time.

Our waiting time was made pleasurable by the ambiance of the reception. We were seated on classic wooden chairs with throw pillows and it sure was a nice way to loosen up.

Sauna and Massage

Finally, after a few minutes of waiting, we were called up by the therapists to the massage room. I showered and changed to my robes as preparation for the sauna. The massage room itself is small but it's all what's needed for a massage and it comes with all the necessities.

Solo massage room.

The sauna has a personal touch to it because it only accommodates up to two people. You can have it all for yourself if you don't have a companion.

sauna booths

There's an hour glass in the sauna to help you track time. I haven't noticed how long we were in the sauna - maybe ten minutes. We exited the sauna dripping with sweat and headed back to the room for the 45-minute full body massage.

Overall, the massage was good. The experience really depends on the therapists skills. I told my therapist that I wanted the "hard" pressure for my message and I really think the massage went well. After the massage, they offered hot tea and a wet and warm face towel. I find it a nice way to cap off the relaxing experience.

The Meal

We really didn't expect much on the four-course meal they offer. The dining hall is quaint and has four small round tables that could seat two. It seems that this place is really made for couples.

The cook served us our creamy mushroom soup for our appetizer. It tasted like the usual sopas but is creamier. The waiter then cleaned up our table and served us Kani Salad - another appetizer.

Kani Salad

After the appetizers, we were served the main course which is the Chicken Stroganoff. Like our soup, the Chicken Stroganoff was also creamy and for me, its taste is one of the better Stroganoffs I have eaten. What I liked best about the main course is the black organic rice. It tastes richer and is definitely healthier than the ordinary white rice we usually eat.

Finally, the waiter served our dessert. It was Ube ice cream with corn flakes. The corn flakes neutralized the sweetness of the ice cream.

Tips for Wandering Peasants

• Get discount vouchers from one of the online deals like Metrodeal
• Call them to reserve for a time slot before going. Most weekends are fully booked so call ahead of your preferred time.

Location
Ginhawa Spa and Dining is located at the 2nd Floor of High Pointe Building, Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City

 

Useful Links and Info
Facebook page
Contact Number from their Facebook page: (02) 403-2270 | 0917-887-60-70
Rates as of June 2015 (click image below)

READ MORE>>>

Nuvali: Evoliving in Sta. Rosa Laguna

If you are looking for a break from the bustling city life, or you're fed up of the mall crowds during your weekend leisures, you might as well head south to Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and enjoy nature's cool fresh air in Nuvali. 

Ratings:
Place: 5/5, relaxing place, you can spend a day without spending a cent by setting a picnic on the grass around the man-made lake, jog around the place, or bring your own bicycle for a scenic bike ride.
Food: 4/5, there are many restaurants in the area, no fast food though :p
Activities: 5/5, lots of activities to do here for kids and adults

Activities
Nuvali is famous for its man-made lake. Around this lake, there already are a number of activities you can enjoy. There are two areas: Solenad 1 and Solenad 2, both offer various activities to your liking.

Koi Feeding/Watching
You can see the people gathered around the pier. This is where the Koi watching/feeding happens.You can buy fish feeds for a very cheap price of PHP 15.00. Koi feeding is very fun and relaxing activity. You can see these fat colorful fishes cramped and jostling each other in the area where you throw the feeds. No wonder these Kois are fat. Fish feeding is perhaps the most popular attraction here in Nuvali.

Boat Ride

For PHP 30.00 per person, you can already enjoy a boat ride on the lake. The boat will take you to a tour around the lake, in which you will pass under a bridge and a fountain. It is a short ride but I'm sure the kids, even grandmas and grandpas will enjoy it.

This is one of the most popular attractions here in Nuvali. Though it is a short 10-15 minute ride, it sure is  a pleasurable experience for a meager sum of PHP 30.00.

Biking

Bike rental is PHP 60.00 per person. There are bike lanes around the area, and you can explore Nuvali's all four corners while taking in the fresh air. If you are a bicycle hobbyist, you can bring your own bike instead. Bikers are a common sight here in Nuvali.

Picnic

Pack that picnic basket and head under the trees beside the lake. You can spend the whole day here hanging out with friends and family, eat a snack, play games. All this while having the boat riders wave at you. Just make sure you cleanup your trash afterwards.

Time for a picnic.

Shopping and Dining

Lots of restaurants to choose from. My personal favorites are Buffalo Wings n Things, and the Purple Oven Bakery at Solenad 2. Several retail stores, and a Robinsons Supermarket are also available in the strip mall in Solenad 2. If you're planning to shop here, you can find the list of their stores and restaurants here.

Sports and Outdoor Activities

If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, Republic Wake Park is in Nuvali Road but is already in the area of Calamba, Laguna. Prices are reasonable, which you can check out here.
There are also many wide open spaces in Nuvali and you can just go jogging, walk around or just take your camera out for some photo shoot.
For the kids and kids at heart, there's this train that goes around Solenad 1.

Enjoy the cool fresh breeze as you jog along these paths.

Start A Career

One Evotech and Two Evotech are home to BPO offices here in Nuvali. The biggest companies I see here are IBM and Convergys. So, if you're planning a quiet suburban life, you can settle here and work in one of these companies in Nuvali.

Events

We watched a gig of Freestyle here once. Nuvali hosts a variety of events from gigs, open air cinemas, sports, outdoor activities, etc. You can check out the upcoming events here.

Tips for Wandering Peasants:

• There are many free activities that you can do in this place like biking (with your own bike, of course), hang out under the shade of the trees by the lake, bring your own picnic basket, or just watch those Koi by the pier.
• If ever you're coming down from Tagaytay by way of Sta. Rosa, you might as well stop by Nuvali for a side trip and enjoy the last sights of greenery before heading out to the highway to Manila 

Turn right to Tagaytay.

Book a stay at Seda Hotel Nuvali.

Location

Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Nuvali Solenad, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Useful Links and Info

Nuvali website
Solenad Nuvai Facebook page
Seda Hotel website
Rates of activities (as of June 2015)

READ MORE>>>