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Have you tried prehistoric dinner?

Last week the Pakalistas of DiningCebu.com featured Filipino Restaurants and Pizza Parlors here in Cebu Philippines.  This week it will all be about the Chinese food and Chinese restaurants in Cebu.

Visit DiningCebu.com to read our review of the following Chinese restaurants in Cebu:

• Manila Foodshoppe at Parkmall
• Dimsum Break
• Wang Shan Lo at Club Ultima

The Pakalistas of DiningCebu.com once again visited dining haven the Terraces Ayala Center Cebu to experience Thai Cuisine at Siam.

Pakalista Shel gave it an average rating 9.33 for excellent food, service, and ambiance.

Read here to know more about this Thai restaurant in Cebu: Thai Food at the Terraces Ayala Courtesy of Siam

The Pakalistas of DiningCebu.com are gearing up for the 2009 Sinulog Grand Mardi Gras this coming Sunday, January 18, 2009.

Color coordinated costumes ready, cameras cleaned and ready to shoot, and most importantly an appetite prepared for the big Sinulog Sunday.

The Pakalistas have taken up the monumental task of identifying great food and restaurants in Cebu to go to this Sinulog Grand Mardi Gras. This task is so difficult, they had to meditate over their choices in the Sto. Nino Basilica for days!

See the list here: Recommended Cebu Restaurants on Sinulog Sunday

View of Cebu City atop Club Ultima

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I’ve been a patron of Vanilla Bean for about 3 years or so simply because they have good food that is reasonably priced but above all, they are closest to places I’ve worked in Salcedo Village, Makati.

One thing I can say that has been consistent with them is that they have the worst service of all!  I have been around and comparing it to other restaurants with the same calibre or even to the infamous jollijeeps and Hong Kong hawkers, Vanilla Bean surely takes the cake.

Looking at the bright side, I’ve always thought that their waitresses will change but for the past 3 years or so, this didn’t happen.  I’ve heard one of them say how cruel or strict the owner is with the waitresses so there was a time we took pity on them so dismissed our dismay.  Yet, they continue to disappoint customers with their snobbish, unfriendly and frowning service.

To site examples, they claim to be open 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.  One time, I went there are 8:30 am to get breakfast and coffee but a waitress said that they were still closed so I waited outside on their lanai chair to wait thinking it would be that long for them to open.  After 15 minutes, I asked if I could order food already.  She said no, so I asked if I could order coffee while I wait, she said no again.  Another 10 minutes passed by when I asked again for coffee because it was almost 9am at my watch.  She simply replied, “Wala pa ngang 8:30 sa relo namin eh!”.  Pissed, I just smoked a cigarette at the lanai then halfway through it, I heard a few noise behind me.  When I looked, she just turned the sign to OPEN then proceeded to go inside the restaurant — not bothering to approach me at all!

Another time with another waitress,  she was taking our orders when one of my friends asked a bit more questions about the food.  She continued to frown more obviously (because they only smile once in a blue moon) then turned her back and walked away.  She went to the next table to take their orders then went back to us 5 minutes earlier.  Would it have been too much to ask for her to excuse herself?  And this place imposes service charges!

But you may not take my word for it so if you are interested to experience it for yourself, Vanilla Bean is located at the ground floor of Adamson Center along Leviste Street in Salcedo Village, Makati City.  Be sure to pack a lot of patience.