September 7, 2011

Dinner at The Shop Around The Corner (TSATC)

Located in the center of Lipa City, the TSATC is literary located in the corner of Kap. S. Luz Street. Its name is derived from a 1940’s movie Shop Around The Corner which starred Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, and Frank Morgan. The Owner Igan Aragon, Thea Sace-Aragon, and Jay Ann Aragon started the TSATC in April 2010. The place features : Retail Shop – Custom-made Furniture – Interior Design – Cafe and Gelateria.

They offer coffee and other beverages, pastas, paninis, cookies and desserts. Its more like a coffee shop, like Starbucks. Usually they have students from La Salle Lipa I think who stays there to study, to have their group study, and just chillax and hangout. Inside the TSATC you could find books, novels, and some board games. All the design and furnitures inside is somewhat like classy old italian style. Its nice and cozy inside. They also have a balcony where smoker can sit and eat there. But, they view ourside is not nice because you can all see the electical wiring on the streets and the pollution of smoke from the vihicles. but during the night its nice to hangout in their balcony. 

We decided to have dinner at TSATC because I suggested that the place and food is good according to one of my friend, but to our surprise. when we entered the restaurant, its like were lost or something, like we were looking for familiar faces, most of the staff did not greet us because theyre busy in a “meeting” (I dont know), including the owner. only one service crew, “chef” attends to us. We decided to eat outside, in the balcony. It was 9PM and its not that hot outside.

The ambiance inside is cozy and relaxing, its like just a living room with strangers as guest, and a mini bar/ kitchen. We ordered BACON AND MUSHROOM ALFREDO, MOM’S SPAGHETTI, CHICKEN STIR FRY PANINI, and FOCCACIA STICKS AND QUATTRO FORMANGGIO DIP. The table and chair were sitting on is too small to fit all those foods. the service crew served as well but not that higly trained compare to other caffee and fine dinning in Manila. The utensils like plates and glass looks great coz of its simple and elegant design. They offered us in the table some condiments like catsup, mayonaise, salt and pepper, chilli, cheese, soy sauce and vinegar, they are too many and could not fit all to our small table.

Now, the verdict has come and were going to taste our bacon and mushroom alfredo and mom’s spaghetti with two meatballs, both is served with foccacia. Their Mom’s spaghetti with meat balls and foccacia is not that presentable compared to Shakey’s spaghetti with meatballs. the taste is somewhat you will not look for it anymore. I have to add some salt and pepper to taste it more evenly. the bacon and mushroom alfredo with foccacia is definitely tasteless, my partner could cook more delicious than that. my partner added some salt, pepper, and chilli to his alfredo to have the taste. he even added some cheese. the foccacia sticks are good and crispy, especially the dip it taste so good. their iced tea is not that sweet and it taste mild and soothing to the throat.

the chicken stir fry panini is devastating. i never tasted chicken, and i think its a pork, it taste like PORK MENUDO. The bread/ panini is so hard and hard to bite even with a bread knife couldn’t ease the job of slicing it. ALL IN ALL, the food they serve is not that good compared to Italianni’s or Burgoo, or Uncle Cheffy, and other Caffee shops around the corner.    

the final judgment is if we will come back to try their other menu?

i will say, we’ll just find another corner to eat. :-)

(some photo courtesy of www.wowbatangas.com)