Desserts over meals

by Bernice S. Sibucao on October 4, 2011

Photo by Abram P. Barrameda

With their wide array of delectable cakes and baked pastries, the mother and daughter tandem, Mom & Tina’s has graced Katipunan, providing yet another outlet for the sweet toothed. Its main meals, however, do not guarantee to be a bang for your buck.

Upon entering the restaurant, the authentic interior embodies the warmth and comfort of the good ol’ American hospitality—almost as if you have been teleported into a Stepford wife’s abode. Small flowerpots and décor patterns line the white walls, with plates strategically placed on the top shelf. Dining chairs are matched with cushions of blue and white prints and rustic wooden tables.

The food however, is a fusion of western favorites catered for the Filipino plate. Mom & Tina’s offers a variety of dishes beyond just sweet confections. It is impressive that among all the restaurants in Regis Center, they have, by far, the widest menu selection. It doesn’t help though, that most of their dishes are served in small portions and are, unfortunately, not really worth its price.

Their bestselling pasta dish is the Meat Lasagna (P175), which is rather misleading; perhaps a better name for the dish would be cheese lasagna as there is more cheese than there is meat. With a little tomato sauce, though, the dish could have been less overpowered by the excessive servings of cheese. What was also recommended was the Beef Stroganoff (P175), a plate of fettuccine tossed with beef strips and cream sauce. The stroganoff however was swimming in oil and lacked creaminess to be considered a cream-based pasta.

Sandwiches are usually favorites for those on a budget, but are rather pricey in Mom & Tina’s. Their Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich (P325) boasts of slices made from U.S. grilled rib eye topped with onions and melted cheese. For its price, the meat slices were bland and were, again, overpowered by the melted cream cheese.

Compared to the other meals on the menu, the breakfast meals are worth your penny. You can’t go wrong with the Tocino and Egg (P195), which tastes like the Pampanga’s Best favorite. If you’re craving for an American-style breakfast, then the Bacon Hash browns (P245) is recommended. The bacon strips are not too greasy and the hash browns are prepared with just the right amount of crisp.

Mom & Tina’s desserts are the highlight of this establishment. Savor their Mini Sansrival (P75) while it melts in your mouth. The classic Butter Cupcake (P45), with its rich creamy vanilla frosting, bears resemblance to Sonja’s Vanilla Sunshine. The Chocolate Fudge (P45) oozes with caramel filling that’s topped with a generous amount of their signature chocolate icing.

As for cakes, the Dulce de Leche Chocolate (P98) is a winning choice. There’s no better way to end a meal with this cake’s bittersweet covering and moist cocoa texture.

All points considered it’s probably better to go to Mom & Tina’s to satisfy your sweet tooth. Compared to the other new establishments in Regis Center, this bakery café are for the ones who are willing to splurge, but there are limited selections that are actually worth your money.

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