Apparently, food taste, ambiance and service must be impeccable to complete either a casual or a fine dining experience. But have you ever considered the importance, or at least the impact of a decent menu to a restaurant or even to a modest eatery?
I wonder if people appreciate menu in any restaurant before savoring their orders.
Whether the menu is on a thick, laminated or fancy paper, written in chalk on a board, simple or stylish, a volume of ordinary diners are usually more concerned on what’s listed on the menu, rather than how it looks. Well, guess what? I was thinking the same way too! 
This was before my family and I dined at Chicago Ribs in Plaza Gurney Mall, Penang last month.
Just before heading to Hard Rock Hotel Penang to grace their invitation for a 3D2N accomodation & to sample & review their food & beverage, Tina, Gabby and I had to fill up our tummies for late lunch. It was almost 2PM and our stomachs were all growling. Borborygmi (stomach sounds) became audible even without stethoscopes, hahaha! Tina and I wanted to grab quick bites but not from any fastfood because we had enough for that week. I suggested for us to try for the very first time, Chicago Ribs and the two loves of my life agreed.
After the wait staff handed us their menu, a very long moment of silence lorded on our table.
Looking like a serious family of foodies here.
We liked their menu! We also appreciate food places that offer separate menu for kids! 
With Chicago Ribs’ broadsheet-themed-menu in full and vibrant colors and written in readable fonts, it dawned on me that a restaurant menu is as essential as its contents. It seems like the most integral ingredient to any dish that any restaurant could offer. Menus are reflective of the cuisine, ambiance and overall style of the food place, thus it should be enticing enough and compelling for diners to order and order more! 
Enough with the cheap thoughts; let’s get down to business. Here’s another shameless display of what we wolfed down in Chicago Ribs.
Tina had a gorgeous plate of seasoned salmon and coleslaw while I sampled bacon and cheese burger and onion rings; both platters were served with generous amount of french fries. Our little prince enjoyed his four-cheese-pizza; Gabby’s a purist when it comes to one of his favorite junk foods, he doesn’t want any toppings on his pizza. Over all, we’re satiated and satisfied with our orders. But where’s the ribs? The name of this American restaurant and its fantastic menu boast of Chicago Pork Ribs! We should have tried either their ribs or steaks. Perhaps, next time! 
What I remembered from the invite they sent in pdf via email and a printout form was the phrase that made me smile ear to ear : “if you wish, you may order other stuff.” I forgot to memorize the phrase that came before it (“After the platter,” ) toinks!!! We came earlier at Hard Rock Cafe that Saturday evening than our fellow blogger-buddies, thus my family and I were done with the last meal of the day earlier too. I immediately emailed Ms. Danielle Fung of HRHP to explain and verify everything after our sumptuous dinner. And I must say, they’re really generous. Everything’s waived and we didn’t pay a single ringgit. 
SEAFOOD CAESAR SUPREME, regular PhP 395+ (large PhP 445+). Traditional Caesar salad topped with fried calamari and grilled shrimps, crabmeat and parmesan cheese. I so love its ingredients but I wished they could have added more dressing into it. I didn’t ask for more but should I?
SUPREME SAMPLER, regular PhP 395 (large PhP 595 +). A combination of Buffalo wings, Sta Fe spring rolls, mozzarella sticks and onion rings. My wife likes the spicy hot Buffalo wings which are served with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing. This platter also has deep fried onion rings coated with seasoned mix, served with ranch dressing which I personally like. Another inclusive in the plate are mozzarella sticks which are Gabby’s favorite.
But this restaurant’s people are really exceptional; well-trained.
PIZZA SAMPLER, regular PhP 375+ (large PhP 475+). My son has been biased with QUATTRO FORMAGGI or four cheese pizza but there was none on their menu, so we had the sampler instead, which is a combination of 2 to 4 pizza flavors of your choice. For Gabby, we ordered MARGHERITA in half serving, with mozzarella and parmesan in fresh tomato sauce, less the basil leaves and the other half we tried FRUTTE DE MARE topped with shrimps, calamari, mussels, bell pepper rings and onions. We like any pizza that’s stone-baked, so we give this Pizza Sampler our two-thumbs-up! 
MISSISSIPI MUD PIE, PhP 155+. The plating and the mud pie itself are enticingly divine!
CLASSIC CAESAR SALAD, PhP 110 +. Crisp romaine lettuce, bacon bits, crunchy croutons served with Caesar dressing. 
QUATTRO FORMAGGI (Four Cheeses) 8″ pizza, PhP 165 +, also available at 12″ at PhP 335+. This thin crust pizza has no toppings but parmesan, fontina, mozzarella and ricota. Sarap!
PESTO (original price PhP 145 +). Made of basil, cashew nuts and parmesan cheese in olive oil. Pesto tops my list of favorites of all pasta dishes. Joey Pepperoni’s may not be the best pesto I’ve tasted but it’s not bad either. I like it.
CARBONARA (original price PhP 155 +). Pepper cream sauce and bacon bits in spaghetti. Joey Pepperoni Pizzeria’s version of this usual pasta got my wife’s vote, considering her discriminating taste. It’s best eaten immediately after served so as to avoid the pasta being dried as it can absorbs the creamy sauce in a few minutes.
BOLOGNESE (orginal price at PhP 175+). Classic meat sauce. It isn’t as good as the other two but then again, perhaps it’s just me.
FROZEN CAPPUCCINO MUD PIE, PhP 90 +. This definitely is one of the reasons to visit JP again. It’s so delectable that we find it hard to resist. Satisfied the sweet tooth in all of us, hands down. It’s enormous serving and cheap price gives everyone a chance to enjoy life’s simple pleasures 
COUPLE ICE, PhP 260. This is one of Red Bean Halowich’s refreshing delights. Thinly shaved ice available in 2 flavors- either milk or mango serves as the base. We chose mango ice.
QUATTRO FORMAGGI, PhP 475 +. It’s hard to overlook Aria’s finest woodfire oven-baked pizzas. Aria’s version of four-cheeses pizza is light yet satisfying and flavorful. The amazingly delicious crust is topped with four different cheeses : pecorino, feta, parmesan and mozzarella. 
BOSCAIOLA, PhP 370+. A creamy sauce of mushroom, ham and parmesan cheese on pasta of your choice. We had the white sauce on penne. Wow, sarap! 
TIRAMISU, PhP 120+. This is one of the best Tiramisu I’ve tasted, hands down. 
PORK SINIGANG, PhP 69. Andok’s big bowl of sour soup of pork and veggies is surprisingly delicious! The string beans, kangkong and tomatoes are fresh. FYI, we haven’t had anything from Andok’s in Manila other than its grilled chicken + gravy + atchara or pickled papaya. Now, we know that there’s more of it than lechong manok.
SIZZLING SISIG, PhP 145. Lipid-rich Sizzling Pork Sisig is one of Pinoy food favorites. Since we don’t eat it on a daily basis, I guess having it on a plate during a (self-declared) holiday is logical enough (*defensive*). Tina and I like this, malinamnam! (tasteful, compared to other restos’).
BREADSTICKS, Complimentary 
BUCATINI AMATRICIANA, PhP 250+ (bacon, tomato and onion sauce).
QUATTRO FORMAGGI, PhP 250+ (mozzarrella plus 3 different kinds of cheese; tomato based).
POLLO ALLA DIAVOLA , 1/2 PhP 280+(grilled chicken breast with herbs and chili).
TIRAMISU : GELATO CAKE, PhP 170+
GREAT WHITE PIZZA, PhP 220+. Freshly made pizza crust topped with bacon, shrimps and mushrooms with garlic over rich and creamy Alfredo sauce. This is a delicious breather from the usual tomato-based pizzas plus it has one of my favorite ingredients : shrimps!
SPAGHETTI CARBONARA, PhP 148+ A pasta with bacon, ham, green peas in a mild parmesan flavored cream sauce. It tasted OK, just like any Carbonara; nothing unusual and I wish those strings of ham could have been diced or cut into smaller bits. I’m not sure if it’s close to being authentic, but it just felt weird seeing those long strips of ham on pasta; maybe, it’s just me or something.
CHOCOLATE MARBLE CHEESECAKE, PhP 120+. Creamy baked vanilla cheesecake marbled with dark and whit chocolate ganache. 
PENNE AL SALMONE AFFUMICATO, PhP 230+
AI QUATTRO FORMAGGI, PhP 290+ 
BANANA BLAST, slice PhP 80. Who says nothing can be enjoyed less than a hundred pesos? Presenting to you, the gelato cake that caught my discriminating gustatory sense. OK, I haven’t tasted them all, but for that moment, I think this one’s superb of its kind. If you like flavors and textures, this one’s perfect. With chilled strawberries and banana-based Italian ice cream mixed with another chocolatey flavored gelato -Banana blast is simply fantastic! 
PISTACCIOCCOLATO (Choco Pistachio cake). How can you resist such beauty? lol…
Last Saturday, after a quick stop at my folks’ place in Pasig, I brought my family -Tina and Gabby to Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City. Look how crisp the interiors of the Eastwood Mall is…
Other than having those functional and stylish lounges, Eastwood Mall boasts of having mall butlers clad in black suits who’ll offer to carry your paper bags throughout the duration of your shopping. Although we haven’t bought anything yet from our previous visits there LOL 
If my taste buds served me right, the mango and cheese combo in IWO JIMA pizza was also mixed with cubes of chicken teriyaki and sesame seeds. It’s so flavorful enough for you to forget worries of daily living, lol 
Another must-try from the menus of either Sumo Sam, John and Yoko and Mr. Kurosawa, are the 3 -colored-iced teas.. They’re in green (lime), red (calamansi), and my favorite – in blue (dalandan)…
They’re refillable until whatever volume you can handle at PhP 108.
The other slice we had was New York Style Cheese Pizza, PhP 79 a slice/ PhP 474 whole. It’s being plain with only generous cheese toppings made it a good match with any tomato-based pasta. I like it!
TEGAMINO DI FORMAGGIO FUSO : Grilled cheeses, thin Sardinian flatbread , PhP 213.00 
OPINION COUNTS…