Lunch at Gerry's Grill

My BFF Raxie came over here in Marilao again last Saturday (January 20) to spend time with me and Nathan. But because I don't want to hassle Mamoosh (since we've had late lunch already), I asked Raxie to just meet us at SM Marilao first so we could just eat lunch there.

Raxie arrived first so she called me and asked where I want to eat. She mentioned Max's which I instantly negated lol. Umay na ako sa Max's sa Vancouver haha! I suddenly remembered that I haven't eaten at Gerry's Grill in SM Marilao yet since it opened around two years ago so I suggested it. Oks daw. We both love sisig and calamares kaya ayos.

We waited for a couple of minutes before we were lead to a booth table. The receptionist was nice. Overly nice na nga eh haha.

Raxie didn't want to order a lot, kasi baka di raw namin maubos. Both of us are watching our diet kaya kelangang magigil sa pagkain.

We just ordered calamari for appetizer.

And pork sisig and inihaw na liempo as main dishes. Plus one cup of rice lang since I'll be eating Nathan's leftover pa kasi Jollibee chickenjoy ang lunch nya (na tinake-out ni Ninang Raxie for him).

Raxie ordered green mango shake din pala kasi init na init siya.

Nakakamiss din kumain sa Gerry's. But I might not dine there again in the near future haha. Ang liit na ng servings nila. Or baka nasanay lang din ako sa malalaking servings sa Canada? Haha, bitin ang food. Buti na lang nga may leftover pa na chicken si Nathan. Hindi na kami nagdagdag ng order kasi nga it will take a while, baka wala na rin ang momentum namin pagdating ng food.

This was our bill. I made the mistake of thinking na walang service charge kasi I looked on the lower left side -- VAT sales, 12% VAT, at Total lang ang nakita ko. I didn't know na may VAT din pala ang service charge? I gave the Php50 bill plus the coins as tip.

Tataasan ako ng kilay sa Canada (at lalo na sa America) kapag nalaman nila yan. Unacceptable haha. Kasi at least 12% DAW dapat. I guess Pinoys are just kuripot in giving tips kasi nga mahirap ang buhay dito. Kumbaga, niraraos lang din ng karamihan sa atin ang pagkain sa labas so masyadong malaki ang PHp95 pesos para ibigay lang (on top of the service charge). And no, hindi dahil balikbayan ako eh dapat generous ako haha. Kasi nga jobless naman ako sa Canada noh, humihingi lang din ako sa asawa ko.

The kuripot side of me was really nanghinayang. Naisip ko sana we ate somewhere else na lang, baka mas nasatisfy pa kami. Namamahalan na rin akong kumain sa mga restos dito sa Pinas, fast food gal lang talaga ako. Feeling ko kasi ordinary lutong-bahay lang naman ang food ng Gerry's.

By the way, I saw this stamped notice at the back of my receipt. Hindi ko mareconcile sa utak ko kung bakit kailangang issurender ang receipt in exchange of a free item. Hindi ba pwedeng ipakita na na lang? What will they do with the returned receipts? Hindi ide-declare?

Max's Restaurant (Vancouver)

I love Max's Restaurant. I love their chicken and I love the consistency of their food. I remember being so happy when I learned that they were opening up in Edmonton. I was pregnant then at talagang takam na takam ako.

First time naming mag-Max's dito sa Vancouver last July 15 (you know, pre-D-Day days). Malapit lang pala sa Metrotown Mall. They've been operating since 2012 pa, sa Edmonton eh 2014 lang nagbukas.

It was a Saturday night and the place was packed. We had to wait a little to be seated.

They sell pala Pinoy beer there. Haha, my Ilocano husband wouldn't dare order one kahit favorite niya ang San Mig Light. Kuripot yun eh lol.

Max's in Edmonton is bigger and with more function rooms. Dito sa Vancouver, isa lang yata. Pero sa Edmonton alam ko nahihirapan silang magmarket for events like baptismal, wedding reception, etc. kasi nga relatively mahal sa Max's kumpara sa ibang restaurants.

Max's is still my favorite among all the Filipino restaurants here in Canada. Kasi nga 'tastes like home' talaga.

There were so many customers, I wonder kung bakit hindi na sila nagbukas ng iba pang branch sa Metro Vancouver. O siguro dahil weekend lang?

hungry three

By the way, we ordered nilagang baka...

Fried chicken, op kors...

And my favorite sizzling tofu!

Plus a large order of rice (again, pre-D-Day days pa ito) na equivalent pala to five cups!

Overall, the food was good. Medyo matabang lang for me ang nilagang baka pero keri na rin.

I don't eat halo-halo kaya si Pod lang ang nag-order.

And here comes the bill. Total amount due was $57.70 but we paid $64.63 because of the tip (additional 12%).

To be honest, ang pagti-tip ang hindi ko pa gaanong trip dito sa North America. If you would notice, may suggested percentage pa ng tip talaga sa receipt (parang minimum pa ang 15%).

No offense meant sa makakabasa nito na nasa service sector, pero kasi mabigat din naman kasi sa bulsa ang mag-tip lalo na kung niraraos mo lang din naman na makakain sa labas paminsan-minsan. Restaurant workers here in Canada (I am not sure kung ganun din sa America ha) are being paid nang at least minimun wage (tulad ng retail workers) so parang redundant na kung ioobliga pa ang customers na magbigay ng tip. Why give them extra money for merely doing their job? Tipping is ok, pero di ba dapat voluntary?

I have a friend in Edmonton who works in a restaurant and she says na medyo kuripot daw talaga ang Pinoy pagdating sa tip. Siguro kasi hindi natin nakasanayan, lalo na kung 15 to 20% ng total bill mo ang ineexpect sa iyo. Karamihan naman sa kumakain ay ordinary wage-workers lang din na gusto lang din makakain sa labas. Kaya nga gusto ko ang 'no tipping policy' sa Japan eh.

Anyway, here's Max's Vancouver current menu prices:

I am very sure that Max' in Vancouver is a lot cheaper than in Edmonton. A one whole chicken here costs $17.99, sa Edmonton ay $19.99. Basta malaki ang kamurahan dito, kahit sa Toronto. Pinakamahal sa Edmonton, dahil kaya sa sweldo ng tao?

Store hours:

I am glad there's a free underground parking ang Max's. Mahirap din kasing maghanap ng parkings sa Vancouver, tapos karaniwan may bayad pa.

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Oops, we came back to Max's again on August 12. We only ordered two ulam that time -- sinigang na baka and crispy pata -- because we weren't able to finish the three ulams the first time we were there.

The sinigang na baka was a lot better than nilaga.

It was our first time to try their crispy pata, kasi nga palaging chicken ang naoorder namin. At tama nga yung pinsan kong taga-Toronto, masarap nga! Parang chicken din, malambot at sarap to the bones. Even my very picky eater son loved it! Waaah, sayang hindi na kami pwedeng kumain nito ngayon kasi bawal na nga sa amin ang fatty at putok-batok food.