SGS House of Minis - San Jose del Monte

Ever since I could remember this restaurant has been in Greenhills for years, more than a decade even. We ordered the following: Salpicao (Php270) it was suppose to be our appetizer but it came after our main course arrived plus it's not worth the price. Grilled Pork chop with Apple Sauce (Php275) really sulit it came with soup, dinner rolls and salad. I really liked their soup of the day. They renovated the place for make it feel homier. Although they need to work on their ventilation because of the smoke coming from the sizzling plates.

My boyfriend and I went here for lunch to celebrate our anniversary. He had good things to say about this place because he'd been dining with his family here since he was a kid. I was skeptical at first but it was finally the time to give it a shot. Once we got seated, I liked the atmosphere. It was homey, relaxing, and quiet. But it sucked seeing that we were just next to an old mall corridor. I ordered the T-bone Steak and my boyfriend got the Steak Picante. We were first served with a big bowl of mushroom soup, which was pretty decent. Next was bread and butter, also decent. My order first arrived, served on a hot plate and dosed with gravy. The serving was huge and I thought I was getting a good deal, but I didn't like it at all. It was tough to cut and eat. Didn't taste so good too, like it wasn't seasoned at all. I was so disappointed I didn't want to eat it anymore. My boyfriend's Steak Picante was smaller and spicy. It tasted better and was cooked well! He made us switch (after he took some bites of his, of course) because he didn't want me to completely have a bad experience. Overall, I'd still go back to this place for the atmosphere, soup, and a chance for a better steak but definitely not for their T-bone Steak.

Nostalgia is the best seasoning, and this adage is best exemplified through this family-style restaurant. The main clientage consists of old souls and those who sincerely don't know any better. Think about the steakhouses that you grew up with, reader (provided you were born around the Eighties), and heave a sigh - The House of Minis is, to my limited knowledge, the last of its kind. Its ambiance is reminiscent of roadhouse-style eateries, with steer horns and other Western accouterments mounted on the wall. Perhaps in a misguided attempt to remain relevant to the modern palate, the menu was diversified through the years, and we now have a steakhouse that curiously offers, among other things, items like kilawin tanigue, sizzling tahong, tempura, and bouillabaisse. Don't expect perk nor hustle from the waitstaff. By the looks of things, they've been with the restaurant since day one and have every intention of going down with this ship. The food is adequate at best. Living in the past will be a bit costly, as the price does not match the presentation and quality. The numbers on the menu will heighten your expectations, but diners' standards have elevated in the past decades, and no true gastronome craving for a slab of marbled beef would even think of gracing this place now. Their set menu - an awesome thing that more restaurants should bring back - offers salad, soup, rolls to go with your main dish of choice (New York strip in my case), and a scoop of ice cream. If nothing else, you are sure to leave with a full belly. The "prawns" of their surf and turf are minuscule and their steaks, while tasty, are dry and sinewy. It would be wiser to patronize Everything At Steak or Salt instead, but it wouldn't be the same now, would it? In the end, the best seasonings - be it nostalgia or something more tangible - cannot mask the dubious freshness of their food. It is more an anachronism now than it is a timeless classic, but understand that it's not gourmet food that you're paying for, but the experience of dining in a time capsule. It's good for a visit every few years, but nothing more.

Been here thrice already. The place was used to shield with their curtains and diners would not be seen from the outside. But now, windows are now clear and can be seen from tiangge stores outside. The feel of the store has changed since the last time I went here. The quality of meat is not that special than what they had before. Still the rolls, veg soup, side salad and ice cream or coffee for dessert is still free and included in any housesteak orders. Service is a bit slow even on non-heavy dining time as early as 4pm.

One of the few house of minis branches in the metro and im glad its still around. Was craving for steak, and their porterhouse meal is affordable and great. For 410 (mini) or 470 (regular) you get a porterhouse steak done to your liking, creamy vegetable soup, a side salad, dinner rolls, some vegetables, and ice cream. Service was a little slow but we didnt mind since the place was packed. Really enjoyed our food and visit today!