First Sip: Dipdenza Coffee

After a filling dinner at Manam’s, F and I decided to cap the night with a warm drink. (When you reach our age, you’d want tea or coffee after a meal to help aid digestion.) I remembered that there was this coffee shop that I wanted to try when I went to Jonas for dinner. And without thinking twice, I convinced F to have our warm drinks there. 

Hello, Dipdenza Coffee! 

It has been several months since I last visited Fort Strip. I’d usually head home right away given the unpredictability of Mother Nature. Also, Fort Strip isn’t exactly “on the way” back home. Then again, so are the other restaurants I have visited these past days. Anyway…

F and I stood in front of the counter for a few minutes with blank faces and obvious traces of food coma. Eventually, F went with a cup of tea while I ordered Hot Chocolate (PHP110). Yeah… I should have ordered tea too or at the very least, coffee. But I wanted something semi dessert. 

Service was quick as there were no other customers during our visit aside from the other fellow busy tinkering with his laptop. 

My hot chocolate drink had a bit of art on top and it made my expectation a bit higher.

But I was disappointed after my first sip. It wasn’t thick enough and it tasted just like Swiss Miss. It was an overpriced slightly watery Swiss Miss.

Then again, I guess their specialty is coffee. Also, the place was a bit hidden and quiet making it a perfect venue for catch up sessions.  So I’ll give this place a second chance to impress me. 

Dipdenza Coffee is located at Fort Strip, 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. It is right beside Early Bird Breakfast Club. 

First Bite: Ogawa

I always see Ogawa’s signage whenever I pass by Fort Strip. Though it piqued my interest, I was never motivated enough to dine there. But I guess the food gods want me to give it a try a few weeks ago when I had a failed attempt to visit Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte (which was still closed to the public). Since we were already there, R suggested that we just dine wherever I haven’t been to yet and I figured it’s time to visit Ogawa. 

Hello, Ogawa!

The place is located on the second floor of the building with Modern Sichuan on the ground floor. The building is equipped with a lift for those who are carrying a lot or are not fond of stairs. 

We were greeted by nice Japanese style garden with stone bridge and a friendly hostess who asked us if we made reservations. After saying no, she asked if we would be okay with bar seats as all other tables have been reserved that night. The first thing that came to mind was, “Wow, this place is in demand on a rainy Sunday night.”

The place was half empty when we entered but all tables were indeed reserved. Guests poured in after 15 to 20 minutes and most were Japanese. It made my expectations shoot up.

We quickly took our seats and ordered two bento meals—Teppan Gozen (PHP760) and Ryo Goku Gozen (PHP590).

Game Night: Puzzles Board Game Lounge

I love board games and I could be very competitive too. That’s why I spent 9 hours in Ludo last year. But since I got busier with work, I wasn’t able to visit that puzzle heaven anymore. There are actually a lot of board game places now like Dyce N Dyne which I have yet to visit too. One night, C posted something that made the gamer in me so excited.

Puzzle Board Game Lounge now has a Fort Strip branch! Woohoo!

Since it’s quite near work, we decided to head there on the last day of work before the long weekend. And because we want to make sure that we have a table, C reserved one for a party of 8.

But when we arrived, 5 minutes before our reservation, there was no table available! The server and (I guess) the owner said that there were a few walk-ins and they accommodated them. It made me upset. What’s the point of reserving then? But what made matters worse was there was another party of three who walked in and they were given a table and seats before us (as soon as a table was cleared)! I told C that if I was not with them, I would have walked out already but since everyone was eager to play games and enjoy the night, we stayed.

After 20 or 30 minutes of standing in the middle of a very narrow walkway in front of the counter where everyone who try to cross to the other side will bump you, we finally managed to get a table for 5 pax. Remember that we needed a table for 8? They claimed that the table we had was good for 8. Yes, it is possible if the other three were floating. (Just thinking about it annoys me!)

Anyway, we just sat down and ordered. I decided to get Fried Chicken and Cheese Pasta (PHP250) and a bowl of Mushroom Soup (PHP160). While waiting, I snacked on a pack of Sky Flakes.

Our food arrived as we were playing Dirty Minds, a game that will test how clean or dirty you think.

Second Bite: Early Bird Breakfast Club

I love breakfast food. Sunnyside up eggs, waffles, bacon, toasts… aaaah~<3 This is why I enjoy visiting breakfast all day restaurants.

Hello again, Early Bird Breakfast Club!

It has been quite a long while since I last visited this place. I recall my former colleague T was still new with Summit   Media when we visited this quaint restaurant. Early Bird stays the same, charming and homey.

This time around, I tried one of its newest dishes, Cod and Salmon Breakfast Pie (PHP325) with a glass of iced tea (PHP95).

It took a bit over 20 minutes before my food was served.