When the TriNoMa (Triangle North of Manila) Mall opened last year, as everyone else, we could not contain our curiosity. We wanted to see how the Ayalas changed the mall scene in that part of the city — where SM North, one of tycoon Henry Sy’s department store chains, reigned over the area for some time. Unlike the SM department stores, the Ayalas have boasted of balancing nature with city structures as seen in the Glorietta architecture. Now, TriNoMa boasts of that, too!

True enough, the new mall offers a lot more under one roof: spacious supermarket, a department store (the Landmark), boutiques and specialty shops, coffee shops and dining havens, cozy cinemas with organized human traffic and seat assignments, gamers’ nooks, a lot of benches were tired window-shoppers can re-tire for the next stretch, washrooms that do not spillover, etc. It has lots of escalators and some elevators that are accessible to persons with disabilities. They do not provide wheelchair service, though.

Also one downside is, the concierges do not provide maps for the shoppers to have a guided tour. The way to the exits to the parking areas are quite confusing, every where you look, you see awesome distractions that will make you forget your point of origin. Your next steps will lead to another and another and another. Until you are so lost. Your only point of reference is the stage on the ground floor.

Kids order.

One that caught our eyes was the Heaven ‘n’ Eggs diner. A small restaurant at the far end of the second floor near the elevator by the fountain side. The selection on the menu is good and properly described (so you’d know what goes into your hors d’oevre). The drinks are freshly made using local available fruits or fruit preserves. Condiments are syrups that are also locally prepared as all the food.

The menu boasts of nouvelle cuisine divided into varied offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The local favorites, as adobo and ‘bistek Tagalog’ have been renamed and superbly enhanced for both the eyes and the palate! The absence of MSG (monosodium glutamate) can be easily detected.

Food and desserts are served on big plates, in big servings; and if you usually eat small, you may share your meal with a friend. The service attendants will be willing enough to provide you with an extra plates to split your hors d’oevres. One good meal with desserts will average to P450. If you come in two, that is so filling. If three, that is still enough. Four or five, you may have to add P200 for a good eat.

The desserts are just great! You must try them yourself.

We usually go to Heaven ‘n’ Eggs with the kids (my daughter and her cousins), as there is no food wastage. The food and drinks are kid-friendly. You may share them your meal or they may split the meal among themselves. Unlike in other diners where most of the time the kids are left out from menu considerations you often end up bringing home doggie bags; but here, kids just love the meals.

Sumptuous desserts!

If in other diners we could not experiment with other food choices, at Heaven ‘n’ Eggs, the kids order whatever they can read!

The service attendants are polite and they always smile — a contagion that permeates within the company, according to Jovelle, a service attendant in TriNoMa. They will promptly inform you how long the prep time is from the kitchen to your table.

Of course, I have to ask Jovelle if he is paid well. He proudly says he is, as all the rest are. They are paid the basic rate plus service charge plus tips! No wonder they always smile. He said, they are all happy to serve.

Heaven ‘n’ Eggs is a great place for the family, for friends and colleagues — young and old. My daughter even celebrated her birthday with her friends there. Heaven ‘n’ Eggs belongs to one of the restaurant chains of young restaurateur Raymond Magdaluyo.

Source: Dessert photo and logo from Red Crab chain.