We live in a time where facebook/four-square check-ins and snapchats are cool; and importance is measured in the number of likes and followers that one could get in social media. While internet has paved way for us to connect with everyone who’s online, it has also disconnected us to the ones we are physically close to. I often see people hang-out in coffee shops and restaurants with their heads on their phones instead of engaging in a conversation with the ones they are with. They are browsing their facebook feed perhaps looking for the latest chikas, snapchatting their food or taking their selfies, tweeting their opinion about whatever’s trending, and so on. We seem to have this dire need to “connect” and showcase whatever’s happening in our lives. Thus, telecommunications companies are now offering affordable MB packages and “unlimited” internet to their users. It is no secret however, that connections can get really crappy at times. With this being said, one of the frequently asked questions when visiting a coffee shop/restaurant/hotel is this: “May free wi-fi po ba kayo?” (in English: Do you have free wi-fi?). We just cannot last a day without checking our social media accounts!
It has also come to my knowledge the tragic outcome of a recently held music event. What this generation has failed to understand is the fact that you can be sober and still have the laugh of your life. Yes people, it is possible. I grew up playing table top games - chess, visionary, word factory, millionaire’s game, bingo cards, even tong-its and pusoy dos. I grew up with ISP Bonanza and dial up connections wherein you only get to “friendster" and check your mail when it is important. I grew up knowing how to communicate with the people I am dining with. Even now that I am in my 20s, I am still collecting tabletop games for my sessions with my friends (my latest buy was “Battleship”) because we are past the drink until you drop stage. So, you probably cannot imagine my joy when we discovered “Lanterns Game and Grub”, a newly opened resto in Antipolo. What differentiated this cool hang-out place from everything else is this: their table top games collection which you may pick from once you’ve placed your order! Yaaay! <3 Located at the 2nd Floor of E-Max Building, Circumferential Road (near Ynares Center), it is the first board game resto in the city. The gimmick is so “fetch”. :D
For the place it is a 4.5/5 (even though there was no free wi-fi. I believe it is just right because guys, you seriously have to interact. Upload the damn pictures after the visit okay? This could’ve been a 5 but when we visited, the room temperature was a little bit warm for my liking. Summer in the Philippines is just … )
Also here’s a good look on their menu for your reference. Note though that this is a newly-opened resto and they are still building up their menu:
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| P.S The doodles make a really good background. :D |
Here’s what we ordered… [I did not rate those items that I did not taste test. But I wrote my playmates’ opinion(s) on the subject].
First on the drinks: I ordered Chocnut Banana Shake P120 (3.5/5), while my playmates ordered Chocolate Shake (3/5), Cookies and Cream (4/5), Lemonade Tea (unrated) and Mango Shake (unrated). Well we definitely enjoyed our milkshakes, except that one of my playmates commented on the mango shake as somewhat “lacking". We had to ask one of the staff to have this remedied. I have to give them a 5 for the very friendly staff - our comments were well-received and they were very patient with us when we asked them to teach us how to play some of the unfamiliar tabletop games). Other than that, everything else is good. (Note, cookies and cream is still the best! It is not yet in the menu since it was an addition after the soft opening.)
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| Cookies and Cream on the side while enjoying a good game of crocodile whatever |
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| Banana chocnut loving while building our own cat tower |
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| Kuya is patiently teaching us how to play this Game of Thrones board game. It was a pain in the ass but really looked fun. |
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| Amazed at this Jenga-like game titled Suspend. |
Second, on the appetizers/finger food/grub: We ordered Pulled Beef Nachos P180 (3.5/5), Onion rings P160 (3.5/5), Blueberry Waffle P120 (unrated), White Truffle Cream Pasta P190 (4/5) and Margherita Pizza P250 (unrated).
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| Pulled Beef Nachos drizzled with cheese, bacon and jalapenos |
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| Onion Rings P160 |
The onion rings were crunchy and fried to perfection! It was a little bit too oily however, and the onion strips were thin. But so what, I'm definitely getting this again on my next visit. Finger foods go well with "bored" games!
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| Blueberry waffle P120 |
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| White Truffle Cream Pasta P190 |
I am not a fan of cream based pasta but when I took a bite on this one, well I can't deny it was good! Will definitely try their chicken pesto next time.
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| Margherita P250 |
I would've tried this one, sadly I ate two slices of Papa John's pizza before going here. My playmates were insisting it was good. Will definitely try this when I come back on Saturday (yes, this Saturday. I just can't wait to come back here and play all the games lol)
Here's a snap of their tabletop games collection:
Some of the games we played:
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| Tic Tac Toe x Lift it! x Cards Against Humanity x Suspend x Cat Tower x Game of Thrones x Telestrations |
And some fun shots during our game night:
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| Kagat labi while "lifting it!" |
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| Roma's moment of glory |
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| playmates! |
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| playmates v2 |
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| Life is a game of tic tac toe... Lolwhut? |
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Happiness level 9999999999999. Will definitely be back! And I am sharing this place with you guys so you could come visit and experience the fun! Tara, laro tayo!
Love,
Cheng
P.S We need places like this. Places where we are not slaves of our mobile phones and free wifi is not needed and the only use of internet connection is to google search the mechanics of an unfamiliar game.
UPDATE:
As promised, I've been visiting this place since we've discovered it & I've been trying out the other choices in their menu.
First, they added strawberry milkshake yuuuum! Baguio feels right here <3
And of course, as a self-professed pesto lover, I tried their pesto pasta. While in all honesty I really loved the pesto sauce, the chicken I did not like so much :P (3/5)
But the best I've tried so far is this, s'mores! <3 Grabe sweet things talaga are <3 <3 <3
Giving this a 5!
My new favorite board game would be this, Ticket to Ride! Saw this in Lazada and they were selling it for around P2k plus. HUHU I promise pag-iipunan talaga kita.
Some of the photos during my subsequent visit (with a different set of playmates):
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| with our baby playmate |
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| support system since HS! |
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