Comments on: Eat Out Now! :) https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now A food blog that talks about food, produce, recipes, ingredients, restaurants and markets here in the Philippines and around the globe. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:48:54 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Ed https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-393358 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:48:54 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-393358 Chris,

Let’s just agree to disagree then.

]]> By: Chris https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-392285 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 11:23:29 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-392285 Ed,
I’ve eaten at Aracama a couple of times and although it is a little pricey, I think it deserves to be on the list. Seeing from your comments, you also don’t like Masseto. I think at this point, we should just agree to disagree as I think that any list of good restaurants in Manila without Masseto wouldn’t be worth much. I guess iba lang talaga ang pang lasa natin, di ba?

]]> By: Ed https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-388457 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:06:33 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-388457 BTW, lest I’m mistaken for some angst-ridden dweeb, I am quite passionate about L’affaire Aracama because the whole experience- from the ill-trained staff, the mediocre food, the weak weak cocktails, and the unjustifiable prices- several times at that, not only were complete wastes of my time, but also shows how vapid and superficial these establishments can be if we allow it to happen. I also am embarrassed to say that several people I know tried this out after reading the praises and such online and pointing the place out to them.

We diners deserve better.

]]> By: Ed https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-388423 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:22:45 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-388423 Alicia,

I’m glad that your experiences at Aracama was positive. And I do hope its not because the people there know you as the lifestyle editor of T&C and as a food blogger that is why they made sure you were a happy puppy. My experiences at Aracama, as well as several of my friends, are the same as Boopsy’s.

Funny how people like Margaux Salcedo and her friends were, uhm, lamenting on Mr. Palanca’s review of Aracama (which I agree was not scathing at all) with the “I would never base a review on a single visit” excuse, spliced with the “its unfair to review a restaurant that’s under ‘soft opening’ mode.” Well tell you what, if a restaurant is charging FULL PRICE for their food, then it would be hypocritical for them to put up a “soft opening” sign on the door.

Also, with regards to your other book contributors: yes there are certain biases and “more forgiving tastebuds” with regards to establishments that they are gushing over in their blogs, articles and fb posts. You could smell that from a mile away.

I wish you success on your book. At a certain level, we do need to let people know that there are more options in dining out than having fried chicken and spaghetti at , but the fact that a place like Aracama is included in the list makes annoying small-time belly-achers like me question the compilation’s validity.

I also see that Masseto made the list, too. I rest my case.

-Ed

]]> By: JB https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-387479 Sat, 24 Nov 2012 11:43:58 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-387479 Awesome! Can’t wait to pick this up.

]]> By: Marketman https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-386621 Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:18:04 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-386621 Boopsie, I think what allows a restaurant to last for say more than 2-3 years, ultimately, is the majority of dining experiences and whether enough folks come back to dine and continue to patronize a restaurant.

If you go to Zubuchon’s trip advisor page, we are still rated quite highly in Cebu, even though we have had some APPALLING and WICKEDLY BAD experiences outlined by some customers. We try to learn from those mistakes, and keep say 90-93% of guests happy (there will always be a percentage who aren’t pleased) and if we keep trying our damndest to do that, we hope to stick around for many years to come. Customer experience can vary dramatically, and you are right that those who get a bum rap aren’t inclined to come back.

Having said that, I wasn’t impressed the first time I went to Antonio’s in Tagaytay, a battle with veins left in my foie gras, but after a couple of years I went back and thoroughly enjoyed it, and it has since been cemented as my favorite restaurant in the Philippines for several years now. So I would have to agree with Alicia that several visits are usually required before a fair review of a place can take place…

But thanks for the discussion on this topic, it’s something I think a lot of readers should think about…

]]> By: Boopsie https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-385931 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:15:45 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-385931 Alicia,
In the real world, restaurants only get one chance to make an impression with the paying customers.
Ate in Aracama several months after it opened after the crowds have dwindled. It was a Sunday 1pmI tried 4 dishes based on the waiters recommendations. I didnt like it and my dining companion was not impressed either.

I would not return even if the food was given away for free.

My complaints are

Snooty service
Slow staff
Forgetful waiters
Under seasoned food.

Did I mention the 10 minute wait to get a table on a half full restaurant.

I didn’t get to try the drinks at the bar though.

To be nice to Aracama, it had really nice classy interiors. Furniture was nice too. Good seats. Nice wooden tables. No expense spared. I believe it was Ivy Almario who did it. It was a nice place to sit and have lunch. Their food prices reflect it too.

]]> By: Boopsie https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-385927 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:03:57 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-385927 I guess this brings out the issue of PR in the food industry.
I have eaten in a lot of new restaurants with a lot of rave reviews yet came out so disappointed especially if I went out of my way to just try it. I come back to my usual restaurant haunts with great food but no glittering reviews.
These PR writers/bloggers who seem to have the most forgiving tastebuds in the world. Since I already have noted who are these writers/bloggers who do PAID food advertisements in the guise of blogging. I rarely read them or use them in my “To Avoid” list.

My favorite blog is of course marketmanila.com. The most honest blog in the Philippines.

Don’t let your pristine reputation get tainted marketman.

]]> By: alicia https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-385922 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 07:49:40 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-385922 Just a comment about Aracama and its inclusion on the list. I am very sorry to hear that your readers experiences at Aracama have not been good. I have eaten there about six times already and my own experiences have all been been more than pleasant . A few misses on some dishes in the first weeks of its opening, but then I would never base a review on a single visit or in the first month of a restaurant’s existence.

What I would like to make clear,however, is that I am quite confident that my opinions and that of the panelists were not not influenced by PR efforts by Aracama, or any restaurant for that matter.

]]> By: alicia https://www.marketmanila.com/archives/eat-out-now#comment-385916 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 07:37:44 +0000 http://www.marketmanila.com/?p=27982#comment-385916 Thanks Joel! Just saw this now. Its been a busy, busy week. Happy Thanksgiving!

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