Another Polu Kai encounter

When i wrote about my Polu Kai Grill experience at Serendra, i was pretty sure it will go down quietly into history without anyone noticing. I even wrote a sort-of review of the place at munchpunch.com.

And then yesterday afternoon I was surprised to recieve an email from the Polu Kai management.

They even attached a print out of my review at munchpunch.com. They were saying how sorry they were for the inconvenience and the kind of service the staff extended to us. And that things were being done to correct this. This was 12 days after i wrote the review. Not bad for someone who does his/her job making sure that potentially loyal customers are pleased with every single visit. They even posted the same response at the website. Well in fairness to the restaurant, the food was great (I liked the Crispy Creamy Fish and it was served quick, just not with a smile)

Well, while i understand the kind of hard hits they’re getting to their business, I still feel that changes are more for observing rather than just a very formal apology letter. So maybe I’ll go back one of these days. We’ll see.

At the alley

On the other hand, I mentioned that I was dropping by my friends’ newly re-opened bar, The Alley, Bar & Resto. And as promised, I have to share their menu. Well, just a preview ok? You’ll have to check it yourselves how great (and cheap!) the food is.

What I had:

• Spicy Crispy Dilis for the appetizer (actually more of a pulutan), P45
• Beef Pares (served with rice and technically a breakfast meal), P55
• Nachos to share (with the works: tomat, cheese, and dip; good for 5 people), P120

And yeah, just plain water for me. You know, trying to cut down on the calories. hehe. Should you try it out, here’s a sampler on their menu (I heard the chef is really good) that must be tried:

Alley Appetizers

• Garlic Spareribs, P120
• Fried Canelloni, P125

Alley’s Soup

• Bulalong Batanggas (or beef stew a hundred times yummier; if you’ve heard the Mahogany Market beef fame of Tagaytay, then this is definitely a must try), P165
• Hot and Sour Soup, P120

Veggie Alley

• Pinakbet sa gata/alamang (sauteed mixed veggies cooked in coconut milk or crab fat), P110
• Kangkong in oyster sauce, P55

Main Dish

• Binagoongang Baboy (Pork cooked in shrimp sautee/paste; according to another friend it was really good), P120
• Bistek Tagalog (beef steak, localized! hehe), P135
• Chicken and Chips, P120
• Alley Chix whole or half (don’t get funny, the bar is completely legal with no hankie pankies), P145 or P285

Pasta

• Seafood carbonara, P130
• Tuna white sauce, P110

Alley Sizzlers

• Squid, Chicken, or Pork sisig, P125
• Sizzling tokwa’t baboy, P80
• Gambas, P165

Others

• Grilled porkchop, boneless bangus, tuna belly, or pusit lumot, P80-P160
• Chicken satay, P100
• Sandwiches, P45-P100
• Rice toppings, 45-P50
• Breakfast meals, P45-P55
• Rice (misono, barbecue, bagoong, garlic, or plain), P10-P135
• Desserts, P30-P85

And of course, the beverages

• Sodas and juices, P20-P35
• Alcoholic drinks, P25-P40
• Cocktails by the glass or bottle, P65-P125

All these orders can be for sharing so it’s not at all that expensive come to think of it. It’s also a good venue to hold small parties or get-togethers since there are separate areas available for reservation. There’s also a room at the 2nd floor with a videoke machine. Aside from that the owners are really good looking. hehehe. And there was this running joke that on Feb 14, one of them ( a girl and yup, she’s pretty) will give a free kiss to anyone who orders 2 buckets of beer. O, game na! hehe kidding.

So go visit The Alley at Ortigas Home Depot, Julia Vargas ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. It’s right beside V58 Bar and the band rehearsal studio where Chicosci practices For inquiries, you may email me so I can forward it to my friend. I’m still not sure if I’m free to give out his number or email ad eh. Well, I might be there again tomorrow, so see you!