GrandMomma's Kitchen: American Comfort Food in Il Terrazzo

Eating has always been a stress reliever for me. When I'm in a bad mood, a plate or two of good comfort food can already lift up my senses and put me back to a state of zen. So when I received an invitation to try out GrandMomma's Kitchen in Il Terrazzo which boasts of home-style American comfort food, there was just no way I would say no.

Located on the ground floor (beside Yoogane) of Il Terrazzo along Tomas Morato in Quezon City, GrandMomma's Kitchen is a new comfort food destination which opened just last December of 2012. And while it might be the youngest restaurant in the mall, it's definitely one of those which never fail to exude a sense of nostalgia through its country kitsch-inspired interior, complete with cute trinkets, homey décor and warm lighting.

While the overall feel of GrandMomma's Kitchen reminds me of a few quirky breakfast destinations I've visited in the past, I can't deny that walking inside the restaurant really gave off an impression of visiting your beloved grand momma's house on a Sunday morning, then eagerly waiting for her tasty home-cooked food to be served on the table.

Click to enlarge the menu photos.

As expected from an American comfort food destination, GrandMomma's Kitchen offers a wide variety of hearty dishes from a selection of all-day breakfast items, to soups, pastas, meats, sandwiches and desserts. And for a restaurant still running on soft opening, I'm pretty impressed that their menu looks very presentable and on-theme.

The Pastas

Of course, first impression is definitely not the only impression. So to put the flavors of GrandMomma's Kitchen to the test, we first sampled two of their pasta dishes.

First on our table was the Aglio Olio (P155) which is a simple pasta dish of spaghetti in garlic-olive oil. While this was presented appetizingly, I wasn't sold with its taste upon my first forkful. Aglio olio is a personal favorite of mine, and GrandMomma's Kitchen's version sadly didn't deliver. While the spaghetti was cooked al dente, the whole plate was quite bland. I didn't get to enjoy even a hint of the garlic's goodness. Good thing though this had generous portions of Parmesan cheese which somehow gave it some flavor.

We then had a serving of Broccoli Alfredo (P175) which is a creamy pasta dish tossed with broccoli. Unlike the first item, this one had more flavor. The cream sauce was rich and well, creamy, although it can still use some more seasoning. The star on this plate though was definitely the broccoli. Even though I'm not really a big broccoli fan, I can't deny that it added an interesting but mild veggie flavor and crunch to the whole dish.

The Proteins

The pasta dishes may have failed to impress me, but I'm glad that we got to try some meat dishes from GrandMomma's Kitchen which successfully cleared its name.

This plate of Ol' Fashioned Pork Chop and Applesauce (P255) served with sweet pepper & herb rice and some grilled veggies, didn't only look appetizing, but tasted good as well. The pork chop was cooked to a perfect tender with a nice, smoky flavor. And paired with the applesauce, this ensemble packs a rich yet balanced flavor for the palate.

We then had the Smoked Baby Back Ribs (P255) served with mushroom gravy, sweet pepper & herb rice, and grilled veggies on the side. Between the pork chop and the ribs, I'm definitely going for the latter. Although it wasn't as juicy as I would've wanted, the meat was still moist with a rich, savory and smoky flavor that I just can't get enough of. Even without the gravy, these ribs were still as tasty. And oh, I should mention that I fell in love with the grilled veggies. They were crunchy and had a similar smoky flavor to them.

Our last meat dish was the GrandMomma's Whole Chicken Platter (P455) which comes with a choice of rice and sides. As a signature dish at GrandMomma's Kitchen, even bearing its name, I can say that this is the most enjoyable item I've had for that afternoon. The whole chicken from inside out is succulent, savory and just plain delish with a beautiful combination of herbs and spices. However, I wish the chicken wasn't under-cooked. If it were just oven-roasted for a little more longer, it would've been perfect.

The Sides

Although side dishes don't really play a big part in most occasions, I still think it's important to know which ones taste good, and which ones should be avoided. As for our trip to GrandMomma's Kitchen, we got to try three kinds if sides in total -- a few of which came with the main dishes we had for the day, and some served a la carte.

The most prominent side dish on our trip was the Sweet Pepper and Herb Rice (P45) which came with two of our meat orders. Either in a small bowl or on the plate with entrée, this fried rice looks super enticing. And it's not just the beautiful colors that I came to like with this rice dish, even its taste is delicate yet very enjoyable -- sweet and a little savory without being too there, making it perfect to pair with tasty viands.

If the other was a yay, sadly, this Mac and Cheese (P45) was a nay. It may look creamy on the bowl, but the flavor was barely there. I thought I just didn't have enough to really get to taste this side dish, but even after several spoonfuls, it was still bland and lifeless.

Last among the side dishes we had was the Smashed Potatoes (P45) which came free with the chicken entrée. True to its name, this siding is indeed a bowl of smashed potatoes. It was smashed nicely and into a semi-smooth paste, but it somehow lacked the creaminess, the milky, butter flavor, and some savor of traditional mashed potatoes.

To wrap up our lunch, the nice owner of GrandMomma's Kitchen gave us a cup each of Vanilla Ice Cream. I'm not sure if this is really their regular serving, but I loved this to bits! Unlike most vanilla-flavored ice creams I had in the past, theirs is creamier, milkier and more enjoyable. It's weird, but I feel like it gets better and better with every spoonful.

THE VERDICT

While my visit to GrandMomma's Kitchen was a mix of both positive and negative, I see potential in this American comfort food destination. Flavor-wise, there are dishes which really stood out like the GrandMomma's Whole Chicken Platter and Smoked Baby Back Ribs. However, the texture and doneness can still use some improvements. As for the pasta dishes and sidings, they can add more flavor as they seemed to be under-seasoned in general. When it comes to service, I appreciated that the staff were quite friendly and courteous. However, they seem to lack the knowledge about the food they're serving. Overall though, I think GrandMomma's Kitchen is a pretty decent food spot in Il Terrazzo worth a visit especially for its nice ambiance and affordable prices. I just hope the next time I pay it a trip, they'll already be completely out of the soft-opening standard.

Taste - 3/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 3/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 3/5

GrandMomma's Kitchen, Il Terrazzo Mall
G/F Il Terrazzo, 305 Tomas Morato Ave. cor. Sct. Madriñan St.,
South Triangle, Quezon City,
Metro Manila Philippines
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