Manam — Restaurant in Mandaluyong

I really hate that I have to write this review. Last year, I went to this same location and had one of the most memorable restaurant experiences here in the Philippines. The waitress who helped us made great recommendations, and everything we ordered was tasty and well-made. At the end, she gave us a complimentary dessert since it was our first time at Manam. The dish that stood out to me was the watermelon sinigang, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since last year. I even raved about it all over social media! Needless to say, I was really excited about returning.

Today, my experience at Manam was less than stellar. I had ordered the watermelon sinigang, a cup of rice, a water bottle, and the mango pomelo sago shake. I waited over 30 minutes, and I was gracious because I saw it was busy—I was also admittedly just excited to eat here and passed the time by messaging friends. However, I saw people who had ordered at the same time as me had already received their food and were almost finished eating.

I called a waiter and asked if I could at least get my water bottle, and he said sure. He delivered the bottle to me, and informed me that he had followed up on my order. Shortly after, my food arrived. Honestly, it kind of feels like the staff had just forgotten about me. The rice and sinigang arrived, but I never received the mango shake.

The watermelon sinigang was disappointing, to say the least. The meat was clearly not cooked that well, as it was dry and a little tough to chew. It honestly tasted more like nilaga than sinigang. Then, there were only two pieces of meat in my bowl. While I was eating, I overheard the table next to me ask where their change was three times. They were also clearly annoyed with the slow and messy service.

I was unsatisfied, but I didn’t feel like ordering more food because it had taken so long for my small order to come out. I asked for the bill, and the mango shake was still on it. I informed the waiter that I never received it, and that I wanted it removed from my bill, which he did.

This was all during lunch, so it was pretty busy in the restaurant. Also, many tables are crammed inside that it’s a bit difficult getting around, moreso when there’s a rush. Additionally, everyone is sat very close together. It feels like they’re trying to fit as many tables as possible to maximize profit, at the expense of customer comfort.

Manam is obviously a popular place, so I feel like management needs to implement a better system to make the restaurant run more efficiently. My experience today was so very different from last year, and I was a bit shocked. The managers need to step their game up, because it was so noticeably disorganized in there, and I’m not too keen on returning...

Review Title: "Manam Cafe: A Test of Patience in a Half-Empty Haven"

Walking into Manam Cafe in SM Mega Mall (Building D), you expect a culinary carnival, but what unfolds is more akin to a leisurely stroll through a bureaucratic maze 🏃‍♂️🚶‍♂️. The ambiance whispers of promise, nestled in a surprisingly serene corner of a bustling mall, an ideal spot for those seeking a break from the shopping stampede. Yet, serenity in setting does little to combat the sluggish pace of service that seems to operate on a time delay.

The food? Well, it lands squarely in the realm of "alright" – not quite a flavor fiesta, but not a total palate punishment either 🍲🤷‍♂️. You might find yourself fantasizing about the potential of the dishes if only they arrived in sync with your appetite. Speaking of timing, the servers, while not lacking charm, appeared to be practicing for an upcoming marathon in forgetfulness, prompting not one, not two, but three gentle reminders for take-out containers. 🏃‍♀️💨

To top off the dining drama, the bill made its grand entrance before several of our dishes had even taken the stage 🧾🎭. On a day when the restaurant wasn’t exactly bursting at the seams, one might wonder whether the staff were juggling invisible patrons.

In conclusion, if you’re not in a hurry, and you've brought a snack to tide you over while you wait, Manam Cafe offers a front-row seat to a slow-motion culinary ballet. Just be sure your expectations are as tempered as the...

We went to Manam Cafe in Megamall for early dinner at 5:15pm yesterday and we are really disappointed with the service. Yes, it was undeniably the food was great but when their POS machine broke down, that was when the nightmare kicks in.

We have finished eating at 6pm and the bill took 1 and 1/2 hours to settle. Take note, that was when I became hysterical to settle our bill. The one beside us who were earlier than us waited for their change for 2 hrs. How ridiculous is that?

The manager and staff only keeps on apologizing but what is the use of apologizing when everyone's time is wasted. Can our time be replaced by simple "sorry"? If I did not insist of them settling the bills with high tone, are we going to wait until closing time just for them to settle our bills?

Almost all the diners were all finish with their meals but the bills took so long to calculate. No contingency plan on how to de-escalate the situation. There are 3 managers but only one manager is visible and that manager (Charles) is with all the staff at the far end standing there for God knows what he was doing. This only justify that your manager and staff should undergo a serious customer service and crisis management training so that the same very unacceptable experience won't happen again to...