Maria Maria's

We stay at this resto as it is a comfy place to stay while waiting for our kids who study nearby. It’s always cold and clean even when there are a lot of parent groups occupying the tables.

Most of the servers are polite, friendly and accommodating, but there’s one who seems to be indifferent and clueless about the menu. My biggest criticism is the waiting time for the food to be served. It literally can take you 30-45 minutes, and that’s when you’re just one of two customers there.

As for the food, my kids and I like their food, especially with the updated menu. Our favorite is the triple decker sandwich as it is yummy and filling at the same time. Prices are a bit steep, though.

The prices were 'a bit' higher than what Zomato stated. I guess I should have looked over the menu. We loved the Bahay Kubo mixed vegetables dish. The dinuguan was pretty good but portion was a bit small. But no liquor license because of its proximity to a school. Didnt know they still enforce that.

Here for dinner. Ordered the crispy pata and ribs. Tomahawk size! Good food and great ambience. The adobong pusit is something really different. Will come back soon.

Living around Greenhills area, i have noticed the condominium being built. After a while, restaurants started opening up. I only noticed Cops and Robbers since it was located in the corner. My aunt and her family invited me to have dinner with them that night and i was with my friends. I then asked if i could bring them and they allowed me to. We enjoyed everything about the place. From the food, to the ambiance down to service. I found everything really good except for their ice cream. It was too creamy for me that i could t taste the flavor of the ice cream anymore.

Pumpkin Soup
This was perfectly seasoned and i loved how creamy it was. It was also served on a tea pot and you can pour it on the bowl yourself! I'm not quite sure about this, but i think that they are the first restaurant to do this.

Fish
Oh so yunmy!! It was crispy and very flavorful. The sauce didn't even overpower the flavor of the fish! PERFECT!


Baby Back Ribs
VERY tasty! Enjoyed every bite!!

Sans Rival
It was good but kind of tensile.

Chocolate Lava Cake
Mm! Oozing chocolate! Really good!!

Ice cream
Too creamy for me. But my aunt and friends enjoyed it!

Ever since I graduated from an all-girls school in Greenhills, I rarely pass by that area. Even so, I kept myself posted as to what establishments are being developed like the 81 Xavier Residences, which is located across Xavier School’s Sports Center, where Maria Maria is situated. Curiosity hit and we decided to try it one Saturday evening.

My aunt was able to try the restaurant before we did so I knew the building was already done. The interior was of vintage design, creating a warm and homey atmosphere.

Coronation Chicken Salad (P390)
We started off with a simple salad. It was just okay, nothing really special. I love that they gave a good amount of the Mango Chutney dressing so the salad won’t be dry.

Lola Mary’s Pancit Molo with Queso de Bola Crust (P230)
This was my parents’ order. The dish may look dull but a surprise awaits as you get pass the crust. There were a good number of molos (ground pork wrapped in wanton wrapper), and the chicken stock was very rich, making it more appetizing.

Slow Cooked French Onion Soup Gratinée (P325)
Luckily, I was able to try my brother’s order because this turned out to be one of my favorites that night! One thing I look for in French Onion Soups is the generous serving of cheese and they were able to meet this expectation of mine. Aside from the cheese, the soup was really tasty making it comparable to Chef Jessie’s French Onion Soup.

Cream of Roasted Pumpkin and Apple with Bacon Flan (P220)
The “Bacon Flan” caught my attention. Sadly, it didn’t turn out to be as good as the first two soups. The “Bacon Flan” was interesting; however, it gets pretty dull as you finish the soup. One thing that makes this distinct is the sweet taste it has among the other classic pumpkin soups.

Tuna Tartar Classic (P550)
One of the best Tuna Tartars. Despite being mixed with the wasabi cream sauce, the freshness of the raw tuna can still be distinguished. The wasabi cream sauce was not as spicy as I expected it to be and this, in a way, is good, especially to those people who want to try this appetizer but are not really fond of spicy dishes.

Ribs ni Love (P1480)
This is said to be one of their bestsellers. True enough, the ribs were succulent and they went really well with their vinegar.

Tanay’s Taguntong (P390)
WINNER. I was undecided whether to order this or not but I’m glad that I did. The soft-shelled shrimps were sweet and so fresh that it gave you the sense like they were just caught. It was really delicious that I couldn’t resist it!

*TIP: Garlic Rice + Tanay’s Taguntong = HEAVEN!

Adobo Three-Way: Puti, Dilaw, Smoked Gata (P520)
Not your typical Adobo. The first one is called puti because it was marinated with vinegar. Dilaw is marinated with atsuete and the third says it all. Among the three, the Smoked Gata was the best as it was creamy and rich, giving a mild taste that contrasts the other viands.


There is still room for dessert!

Lola Mary’s Pecan Tart (P320)
“The secret is in the crust”. There’s nothing more I can say.

Duo of Sansrival: Lola Mary’s Classic and Ika’s Espresso (P260)
Even with the richness in flavor, this particular dessert was pleasant to eat since it was not too sweet. Sansrival lovers will definitely enjoy this :)

Molten Lava Cake (P230)
My favorite dessert. The chocolate cake was crunchy on the outside but it was really moist in the inside, allowing the chocolate to ooze out of the cake. It could have been better if they paired this cake with vanilla ice cream but the restaurant also wanted to retain the classic manner of serving lava cake, which is without the ice cream.

Though there were still on soft opening, the place definitely met my expectations. Maria Maria is a great place to celebrate special occasions because of the ambience it has and its dishes are really big enough to share. Also, the servers were really accommodating and attentive allowing you to have an easy time. Make sure to order Slow Cooked French Onion Soup Gratinée, Tuna Tartar Classic, Ribs ni Love, Tanay’s Taguntong, Lola Mary’s Pecan Tart, and Molten Lava Cake as these are really mouthwatering dishes that are worth trying!

The place is also open during breakfast and I would love to come back and spend my morning here one day. :)

I would like to thank Ms. Laarni for giving us a wonderful dining experience :)