Blake's Wings & Steaks in Marikina City

We unexpectedly decided to check out Blake's Wings & Steaks House in San Roque, Marikina. We had to wait quite a while before we were seated.

Word of Warning: Parking is limited. They do have a parking makeshift parking area at the street a few meters back.

The steakhouse was relatively cheap. The place itself had a certain Texas charm. I assume the owner poured his/her heart in decorating the place with wood-themed furniture and decorations.

This is the Blake's Wings & Steaks House waiting area.

I just love the restaurant's front. I've imagined witnessing their intense cooking routine beyond the walls made of glass. But enough about the place, lets talk about the food.

Blake's On-and-on Strings

The onion strings were seasoned and battered fairly. I can't say they're as good as Rack's onion brick, but that's just fine-given the price it's being sold at.

Dibs on Ribs. 1/2 kg of Pork Ribs at 350 pesos.

Now, the Pork Ribs, those were unforgettable. I never thought a hint of curry flavor would mesh well with Hickory barbecue sauce.

1/2 kg Wicked Wings for 195 pesos.

Then, there was their Porterhouse Steak. I swear the steak looked like a T-bone. The waiter said it was a Porterhouse Steak, but it had a T-shaped bone in the middle! Kidding aside, the mashed potatoes were really good. I would eat seconds in a heartbeat. The same goes for the leafy greens.

Blake's Porterhouse Steak at 250php.

Overall, our eating experience was okay. Blake's Wings and Steak House is perfect for people who want to enjoy good food on a budget. They're usually full (even on the weekdays), so do be patient while waiting to get seated. 

Blake's Wings & Steaks is located at Mayor Gil Fernando Ave, Marikina, Metro Manila.  You may reach them at (02) 632 71 90 / (+63) 906 904 4919

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Dining at Omakase Japanese Restaurant

We never expected for Omakase to be surprisingly good. The Japanese place is usually caught with empty seats. This, we soon realized, was because people had to wait to be seated--which is completely fine.

Of course, there's also the price point. Four thousand pesos for a group of eight isn't so bad, but it's not the cheapest place to eat Japanese cuisine at either.

Omakase Marikina's Sushi Boat. Don't let the mustard-ish blob scare you. It's good!

On the bright side, be it service, plating, or their food itself, Omakase hit my sweet tooth like a chocolate cake baked to perfection.

Tempura Ice Cream. Vanilla ice cream wrapped in crunchy pancake and doused in chocolate sauce. With a cherry on top!

A most memorable selection includes their Japanese Sushi Boat (920 php), Tempura Ice Cream (105 php), and their cheese-dressed, tuna-filled Maki. If I remember correctly, it's called the American Dream (205 php). 

And my final suggestion: a glass of their bottomless Iced Tea (75 php). You can get refills for both Wild Raspberry and Panama Orange in Omakase Marikina--whichever you choose to order.

Sorry, I had to use another Store's Map. Omakase is located in the same building.

Omakase is located in ESJ Building, Gil Fernando Avenue, San Roque, Marikina City. You may call them at (632)631-6588. Check out there menu at Zomato.

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Chevy Burger in Marikina

Hamburger House. Self-service. Pay as you order.

After a few months of wondering why Chevy Burger was always filled with customers, I finally struck gold when my sister decided we go try it.

The large Chevy Burger sign greets incoming patrons as they enter the small joint.

Indeed, the place is small, but the taste is nowhere in comparison to the crowded seats and the overwhelming abundance in ingredients.

This newly opened Chevy Burger is situated along JP Rizal, across Malanday's South Supermarket.

As you could see, the place is jam-packed. When we entered, they were full. For a brief moment, the seats emptied. A few minutes later, it's like this again.

I second this caption. They definitely know their stuff.

Chevy Burger reminds me of Iloilo Glor's Burger or the old American Legacy. They serve good burgers at an affordable price. Getting the Messy Melt at 75 pesos and a tall glass of Iced Tea for 25 pesos is quite rare.

This Messy Melt Burger oozes with "house-blend" cheese sauce. Each bite was filled with meaty goodness.

I just love that the Messy Melt burger had mushrooms. But then, there was the nachos with cheesy abundance.

Nachos!!! Mmmm....

Overall, the #ChevyBurger experience was worth the wait. It was always full and far. So when they opened a branch more accessible to me, I was ecstatic. I think I've blurted out their name a few times than anticipated.

One of Chevy Burger's newest branches is situated along J. P. Rizal Street, Marikina, Metro Manila. They're open from 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM.

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Marikina Sports Center Rates, Schedules, and Brochure

In my opinion, Marikina has one of the best sports center in the Philippines. It has well-kept facilities, and most of it are open 24/7. So the swimming pool is closed during Mondays, and only during summers do they allow night swimming, it's not that bad when the rates are affordable.

Marikina Sports Center's Soccer Field.

Given the government's average budget, the sports area and its staff is proof to where the citizen's taxes go. 

Marikina Sports Center contact number, information, and rates.

Postscript: 

MARIKINA SPORTS CENTER

Administrator: Dr. Angelito A. Llabres 

Bookings/ Reservations or Inquiries (02) 682-9573

Administration Office (02) 646-1635

Visit us: www.marikina.gov.ph

But let's not talk about that. I didn't put this post up to review the place.

And if all Badminton Courts are fully-booked, where better than to play beside the track oval.

Beside the veteran chess players...

Honestly, I just wanted to post some pictures and information the Marikina Sports Center rates.

Multicolored bleachers surrounding both sides. Entrance fee is 10 pesos per person.

To make things easier, I took the liberty of posting the Sports Center's brochure.

Marikina Sports Center Brochure
Just click on the image to enlarge it.

Marikina Sports Center Brochure
Just click on the image to enlarge it.

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Where to Buy Cakes and Pastries in Marikina? Wolly Winkle

Now, before anything else, I have to say that this was not paid nor endorsed by the owner. I simply came across the tiny patisserie while waiting for our car to get upholstered, which took about 3-4 hours!

To make a long story short, I got hungry and checked what was in the Wolly Winkle Cakes and Cafe shop.

Don't let appearances deceive you.

Wolly Winkle is located near MG Square Upholstery at G. Fernando Ave., Corner Dragon Street, Marikina City. It's directly beside the newly-opened, awesome-looking Car Wash and Restobar whose name I have not taken note of.

The Wolly Winkle Cakes and Cafe's atmosphere suggest a cozy and welcoming vibe.

So I entered the establishment with sky blue metallic sticker plastered all over its front display. I'm not sure why the owner chose to do this with the cake shop as you could barely see through it during afternoons.

This cake shop may look barren in the outside, but once you've entered, you'll certainly appreciate the thematic choice of blue and Alice in Wonderland artwork hung throughout the small room. 

I especially love that their service water is served in a wine glass instead of a regular cylindrical one.

There aren't that many tables, which makes sense since it's not an ideal place to eat dinner in. 

However, if you're going to hang out with a friend and just want to try some cakes, it's definitely a place to consider (especially if you're near Sta. Lucia Grand East Mall).

A slice of cake cost within 100 php range. The portions are smaller than what I expected, but I won't judge this yet since I haven't tried any of it.

Cake pricing is as follows:

(Cake - Slice/Whole)

Blueberry - 125 / 1000

Oreo Cheesecake - 125 / 1000

Classic Sans Rival - 105 / 840

Chocolate Dream Cake - 95 / 760

Chocolate Paradise -  95 / 760

Unfortunately, I forgot to name of their best-seller... It had something to do with Marshmallow; it's the one located at the upper right corner of the picture directly above. 

I ordered their Mac and Cheese (95 php) and Revel Bar (45 php). 

The bread was a little chewy (perhaps from having been refrigerated). Nevertheless, the Mac & Cheese was real good.

Okay, so the price is a little steep compared to mainstream restaurants and fastfood joints. After all, Goldilocks' Baked Mac cost about 65 - 75 php. 

Still, it's definitely a place I would consider visiting again. I wasn't able to taste their cakes, but their revel bar sufficed to tell me that its preparation was home-made.. and I just love home-made cooking.

To sum it all up:

***** Ambiance/ Atmosphere - cozy, thematic and just great for friends who want to hang out.

****   Food - Good enough. I haven't tasted the cakes yet, but their Revel Bar was OK! It's not too sweet or too jam-packed with flavor.

***     Price - A little steep in comparison to Banapple (my favorite cake place), but all the well good. Can we go back to the ambiance? It was really cute and adorable.  On the other hand, the pricing just sounds about right if you were to go to a cafe to hang out. It's cheaper than Starbucks albeit the lack of specialized  coffee blends.

Will I go back there to try their cakes? Definitely!

Wolly Winkle Cakes & Cafe is located at #32 Gil Fernando Ave., San Roque, Marikina City

Tel No. 631-76-44

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Coco Fresco at SM Marikina

Thirsty? Need a refreshing, cold drink at an affordable price? Are you at SM Marikina? Drop by Coco Fresco and enjoy their Plain Buko Shake (Coco Shake) at 55 php.

The Coco Fresco logo is found in all their drinks.

No, this isn't a sponsored ad. But I sure hope it was. On Weekends and Fridays, don't be surprised if their little kiosk is teeming with customers. Their Coco Shake is delicious (and did I say cheap already?) and well worth the 55 php it costs.

Coco Fresco Kiosk in SM Marikina

Coco Fresco Prices (as of this post's date):
Coco Shake Venti (22oz) - 55 php
Coco Shake Grande (16oz) - 45 php
1 L Coco Water (Buko Juice)- 70 php
500 ml Coco Water- 40 php

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Marikina Veterinary Clinic in Marikina City

The Marikina Veterinary Clinic is one of the best vet clinics I've gone to. Their veterinarians are nice, patient and effective. I've never regretted bringing my dogs here as you'll definitely get your money's worth. 

To read more about our experiences in this clinic, you can visit this link.

The Marikina Veterinary Clinic is located in 236-D A. Bonifacio Ave., Jesus dela Peña, Marikina City

Consultation Fee (as of the date of this post): 250 php

Telephone Number: 997-0370 / 997-0759 / 386-0207

Clinic Hours: Monday- Sunday (9:00 am - 12 nn / 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm)

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Sunset at Marikina

Where best to view the sunset but on top of one of the tallest houses in the neighborhood.

It is my pride and joy to declare that no DSLR camera was used in capturing this beautiful moment. My Samsung Galaxy Y pretty much did the job.

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