I think, for groups with varying tastes in Asian foods, they could try dining at Banana Leaf Asian Cafe (also called Banana Leaf Curry House) which has a branch at SM The Block.
It was my first time to dine there and it was around 2:30 p.m. and so, not much people around.
It’s a bit dimly lighted, but I like it. It’s a break from the overly bright lights out there in the general mall area. The whole place is clean, no scraps of tissue or dropped food found on the floor. The place smells nice, too. No overpowering smell of spices or smoke from the kitchen.
Whenever I’m new at a place, I don’t really ask the waiters/waitresses as to what is their restaurant’s specialty because from previous experience, most would just suggest the most expensive dish on the menu. And so I went with my gut feeling (and also, the very tempting photos in the menu) to decide which I would order.
So, I got Roti Canai Supreme, Baked Hongkong Chicken Curry, and Iced Lemon Grass Tea with Honey.
Roti Canai Supreme
Roti Canai (pronounced as “chanai”) is a flatbread found in Malaysia (roti, by the way, means “bread”). The dough used to make the roti is made up of ghee (fat), egg, flour, and water. The mixture then is kneaded thoroughly, flattened, oiled, and folded repeatedly. It is then cooked on a flat iron skillet and ideally, becomes fluffy on the inside and flaky and crispy on the outside (see article on Wikipedia). Roti Canai can come served with garlic, banana, chili and spring onions, egg, or cheese. The one in the photo above comes with cheese filling (cheese, of course! My favorite!). I love that the bread is salty and tender enough. It makes for a good snack and, at P88 per serving, it can already be shared between two persons. But at that time I ordered it, I didn’t exactly meant it to be a snack, as I was already hungry and can’t wait for the main dish. Haha. So, it became an appetizer for me.
My rating: 
Iced Lemon Grass Tea with Honey and Hongkong Chicken Curry
I was curious as to the taste of the lemon grass that’s why I ordered the tea. I thought it’s going to taste like chewing real grass, but it actually didn’t. Of course, there’s still the herbal taste in it, but it’s very subtle and I actually enjoyed the iced tea. Very refreshing without being too sweet.
My rating: 
A particular feature of this restaurant is that you can eat your food on a banana leaf, instead of the usual dinner plate. Well, I should have done so, just to get the whole feel of the place. But being the hungry bear that I was, I ate the curry straight from the hot plate, which I regretted afterwards because I didn’t finish my food. Ahaha.
Something to keep in mind when eating at Banana Leaf: most of the food served come in big servings, enough for sharing with a dinner buddy.
Hongkong Chicken Curry, in close-up
I love curried foods, as long as it’s not that very spicy. The Hongkong Chicken curry is very mildly spiced, so I was very happy to dig in it. I ordered that it come with rice, but one can also have it with spaghetti noodles (which I should have done, since I find it weird to eat curried food with noodles). Nothing really spectacular, but it’s enough to satisfy a craving. I love the potatoes, though. Not overly baked, though the blackened tip of the potatoes would have told you otherwise. Reasonably priced at P178. Good for sharing (but not for those with big appetites, haha).
My rating:
A little side story, though, before I end this post.
I was happily digging in my Hongkong chicken curry dish when I noticed that the other waitresses, who seem to be on a break, have decided to eat their late lunch in the table next to the one I’m occupying. I find it weird that the establishment didn’t provide a pantry for their employees. I wouldn’t have minded, actually, if they weren’t a bit noisy. Also, I noticed one even had the audacity to put up her bare feet (with dirty heels) on the opposite couch while eating. I don’t know if I should feel insulted because such actions implied that I’m not a person that they should be really mindful of (read: no one important), so they could be as lax as they can be. But I just kept quiet (because I’m hungry and I’m busy gobbling my food). I think what makes up for such uncustomary behavior was that they were alert to what I may be needing (a waiter refilled my glass of water without me having to tell him to do so).
So, would I be coming back to this restaurant? Hmmm, I think so. Despite that little awkward experience, I’d go back because I want to try more of the dishes. And honestly, I enjoyed it. Hopefully, though, next time, there’ll be no more dirty-bare-feet-propped-on-the-couch scene.
I really love CURRIES (that I even suspected myself having this Indian blood or something, LOL). So maybe I’d love that dish
wow.. that shouldn’t be the “sight” one would want to see when eating…i hope their management sees this? haha!
but i think you enjoyed your eating experience…so i hope i could try eating there one of these days
haha! i would definitely love to try the chicken curry..thanks for the writeup
My first time with Banana Leaf was last year at The Podium. I like their rice with egg whatever (I forgot the name of the food). I don’t like spicy food, though.
to utakGAGO:
Or baka naman Ilokano ka lang. Ehehehe. Go try Banana Leaf!
to bong:
I think it’s a remote possibility that the management of Banana Leaf would even see this post. It doesn’t come up at search engine results pages yet. Hehe.
Yup, you should try the chicken curry. You can also choose to have beef or pork curry, if you like.
to Arbet:
No worries about the spicy food. It may be a Curry House but it also serves non-spicy dishes.
Try Nasi Lemak in T. Morato. I like their Singapore dishes better =)
to whiff and a sip:
Where is Nasi Lemak in T. Morato? Any landmarks?
Hi Prudence,
It’s just across the big Mcdo/Teriyaki Boy. Did a review on it too.
http://whiffandasip.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/nasi-lemaknasi-lemak/
Their food also improved more the second time I visited.
Let me know once you’ve tried it!
Address below.
Unit C3 Thompson’s Square
165 Tomas Morato Ave. cor. A. Roces Ave., QC
Tel: 3766108
[...] A few weeks ago, I came back to Banana Leaf Asian Cafe at SM the Block with my parents, just so that they may be able to try the food there. Also, I wanted to check out some of the other dishes. And the good thing is, I didn’t have any more horror side stories, like what I blogged about before. [...]
quote “I think it’s a remote possibility that the management of Banana Leaf would even see this post. It doesn’t come up at search engine results pages yet. Hehe.”
It does now!:P It’s even the first (but in pinoyblogosphere.com) when i typed in “banana leaf the block” in Google.
Anyway, thanks very much for the write-up. Now i’m planning to bring my friends there tom (My bday). haha.:)
I am a African American woman who has hair past my shoulders and I tried the instyler yesterday with a fresh perm. Overall it did make my hair soft, but the infomercial did exaggerate a bit.
[...] FOOD TRIP TAYO: Revisiting banana Leaf Asian Cafe @ SM The Block A few weeks ago, I came back to Banana Leaf Asian Cafe at SM the Block with my parents, just so that they may be able to try the food there. Also, I wanted to check out some of the other dishes. And the good thing is, I didn’t have any more horror side stories, like what I blogged about before. [...]