The Alley by Vikings

The Alley by Vikings

          I started with several pieces of Maki, Tempura and fish fillet. To go with these mouth watering food delights, I had a plateful of Yakisoba.

          Next, I asked for Roast Beef. I had moved up to the heavier class. The food attendant opened a big cauldron, and with stainless tongs, took a piece of meat and placed it on a sizzling plate. He then poured  gravy. It was so good and satisfying that I asked for another serving. This was followed by a sizzling Chicken steak.

          Action indeed was picking up and it was time to caution myself: Temper your desires, old man. Better yet, slow down!

          At The Alley, food stations or outlets are designed snd positioned in such a way that you feel you are in an alley. There are stalls in narrow passages.

          The Alley is located at the 2nd floor of UP Town Center along Katipunan Avenue, right next to La Strada Parish Church. It is owned and managed by Vikings Luxury Buffet. 

          Come one, come all.

- Konted

 

The Alley is located at the 2nd level of UP Town Center along Katipunan Ave. QC

If you want something sizzling, this stall is for you.

Chicken Steak

Roast Beef

Here I asked for pizza and carbonara.

This food station serves Chinese food delights

Yummy

Yummy

This stall is located in a narrow passage

This food cart sells manggang hilaw, singkamas, fishballs, etc.

For your dessert and other dainties, try Honeycomb.

Honeycomb food station

A wide variety to choose from

Honeycomb food stall

Cookies and cream for me

Dining area for six.

I wanted to burp, I asked for a root beer.

Souvenir shot for the family

Price per person on a weekday is Php938 plus 5% service charge.  A birthday celebrant is free of charge provided he is with a full paying diner

Our youngest grandson Archer Gener.  No extra charges for this boy.

Taking a break.

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The Grand Flyover at Commonwealth Avenue

The Grand Flyover at Commonwealth Avenue

          

           We all have our own landmarks. They are markers or references which help us in establishing our location and provide us with driving directions.  But these landmarks, at this age of fast infrastracture development, may not be there always. At the Old Balara in Quezon City, for instance, time was when traffic moved slowly at the narrow road leading to Commonwealth Avenue and to the other side, which is Tandang Sora and the adjacent areas. It used to be a bottleneck. There was this Glori Supermart near the junction. 

Iglesia ni Cristo temple along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City (wikipic; caption is mine)

The Old Balara public swimming pool popular in the 60s and 70s. (manilanostalgiapic; caption is mine)

           But times have changed.  And the places as well.  The road at the Old Balara has been widened and concreted. And just as one gets past Zuzuaregui Drive, an imposing and massive flyover looms on the horizon. This flyover has a span of 500 lineal meters from the Old Balara Road to Luzon Avenue, which is on the other side of Commonwealth Avenue. What seemed like an eternity in the past, it takes a motorist only a minute to traverse that P520 million overpass. It is an engineering feat. Kudos to the DPWH and the Quezon City local government.

The Commonwealth Flyover connects Old Balara to Luzon Avenue whch is on the other side of Commonwealth Avenue. (carnavipic; caption is mine)

Approaching Luzon Avenue which connects to Congressional Avenue Extension.(doctrinepic; caption is mine)

           This overpass is a vital part of an ambitious government project that links South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).  From Luzon Avenue, it connects to Congressional Avenue Extension leading to the NLEX. There is ongoing development in this major thoroughfare.  There are gasoline stations, cafes and restaurants, car wash shops and other business establishments. Subdivisions like Tierra Pura, Mira Nila and Tierra Bella have opened secondary gates along the stretch of Congressional Avenue Extension.

This is part of Congressional Avenue Extension which leads to the North Luzon Expressway(NLEX).(rentpadpic; caption is mine)

The wide North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) (wnpic; caption is mine)

Tierra Pura is a first class subdivision along Congressional Avenue Extension.  It has another gate at Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City. (homestrovitpic; caption is mine)

One of the principal roads of Tierra Pura.  There are still available lots for sale. (homesmistulapic; caption is mine)

House and lot for sale at Mira Nila along Congressional Avenue Extension in Quezon City (homesmistulapic; caption is mine)

House at Tierra Bella (fallingrainpic; caption is mine)

Romy' s safe house in the vicinity of Congressional Avenue Extension

            One commercial establishment along Congressional Avenue Extension is Brewing Point.  It is a resto bar near the gates of Tierra Pura. Perched on an elevated ground and with clear see-through glass panels, one can enjoy whiling away the time with old friends, engaging in quiet conversation while savoring the much talked about food delights of the place. Yema Cake, Blueberry Cheesecake, name it, they've got it. Beef Salpicao with mashed potatoes, Gambas Fritas, Quesadillas and Pasta Bolognese are best sellers. And to cap the day, a bottle of good wine stimulates the senses, and memory alike, for that short trip down memory lane. You surely will enjoy. To the last drop. Even when the rain pours, even when thunder roars.  For who cares about the weather when you are in good company?

- Konted

Brewing Point along Congressional Avenue Extension near the gates of Tierra Pura 

Beef Salpicao with mashed potatoes.  The meat is tender.

Gambas Fritas: Both an appetizer and a main dish

Quesadilla is Mexican flour tortilla with cheese and other stuffed ingredients.

Pasta Bolognese is Spanish in origin.

Wine is good for the heart.

Romy I, Rouel Quito and Ted G.  Non-stop conversation for four and a half hours.

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Johnny Rockets: Let The Good Times Roll

Johnny Rockets:  Let The Good Times Roll

            There is a jukebox. It is a Rock-Ola jukebox.  There are high stools and red booth seats.  The waitresses' attire and hairdo are retro. And the food is classic. Johnny Rockets recreates a setting reminiscent of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Even the neon signs and posters are indicative of a bygone era.  Everything at Johnny Rockets is really old-school. And they are succeeding in drawing in the customers from near and far.  And these customers keep coming back for more, even if it is a little bit pricey.

Johnny Rockets' one of two entrances at Eastwood in Libis, Q.C.

Part of the restaurant crew.  When a group walks in, these vibrant ladies say in unison:  Hi, guys !!!

Clean and spacious dining area

Single pedestal stools and a bar

Red booth seats and checkered floor tiles

Vintage Rock Ola jukebox

Almost all restaurant  employees work  in a place where they can be seen by customers.

They don't work behind covered kitchen or working area. You see them doing their job.

A beverage famous in the 50's and 60's where you mix the ingredients by shaking.

French fried potatoes usually served with the burgers.

             While there is a wide variety of food items offered, diners'  top pick is the hamburger. There is the original Johnny Rockets hamburger.  With lettuce protruding, a thick patty seasoned well and some cheddar cheese and tomatoes added, your appetite is all the more whet.  And as you begin to take a bite, a group of gorgeous waitresses start to dance to the tune of a 50s song:  One, Two, Three O'çlock, Four O'clock rock...Five, Six, Seven O'clock, Eight O'clock rock...Nine, Ten, Eleven Oçlock, Twelve O'çlock rock. ...We're gonna rock around the clock tonight.  It is a Bill Haley song.  You are entertained.  You like what you are seeing and hearing. And it is only later that you realize that the mayo is dripping down your fingers. But it is alright.  You let the good times roll. Even for a brief moment. 

The Original Johnny Rockets Hambuger

Close up shot of the original burger

Burgers or other sandwiches are served with freshly cooked fries.

Catsup is served with a drawn happy face.

My energy drink

When you ask something, waitresses respond quickly.  They have a sense of urgency.

Two restaurant crew members look around to see if service is needed. They do their work with alacrity.

What you see strapped to the waist of the young lady are coin savers or dispensers.  They are for the jukeboxes.

Every 30 minutes, at a given cue, they dance to the tune of a 50s or 60s song.  

These young servers provide wholesome entertainment to Johnny Rockets' customers.

"We're gonna rock around the clock tonight....."

             Johnny Rockets is an American food chain that started in Los Angeles in 1986. It has made its presence felt even in the early years after its establishment and has continued to attract customers all over the world. It is one of the top burger chains worldwide. Johnny Rockets offers not only burgers but other sandwiches as well.  Its club house sandwich and the chili cheesedog are best sellers too.  In Metro Manila, there are Johnny Rockets outlets at The Fort, Eastwood and one in the Timog area.

Framed old photos such as this one adorn the walls of the burger joint.

It takes you back in time.

Malt comes from barley.

Even The Men in Uniform go for Johnny Rockets.  What else do u need for endorsement? 

The hamburgers are Johnny Rockets' best sellers.

A mini-bar

Johnny Rockets, indeed, has that "winning taste".

Johnny Rockets burgers and Coca Cola go together.

              At Johnny Rockets, there is a mini jukebox on top of each table.  You drop a coin and choose a song. It is one peso for a song.  I planned to drop one and began selecting. They are old songs like I Feel Good by James Brown, Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry and La Bamba by Richie Valens. At this juncture, when I was looking for coins, I suddenly remembered:  Mahahatak ang sasakyan ko! I left it by the side of the road near the industrial section of Bagumbayan just to have a burger at Johnny Rockets.  I hurriedly asked for my bill, thanked the manager and passed by the same group of lovely attendants, now dancing to Gloria Jones' Tainted Love:  Once I ran to you...Now I'll run from you...This tainted love you've given...I give you all a boy could give you...Take my tears and that's not nearly all...Oh Tainted love...Tainted love....

- Konted

Mini jukebox on top of each table.  

Johnny Rockets also serves spicy ones.

The Johnny Rockets clock

There are extra tables outside the restaurant at night when diehards troop in.

Johnny Rockets resto is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week..

The view from the Eastwood outlet of Johnny Rockets. From Johnny Rockets, you are facing south. It is across TGIF.

Maximus and Phoenix are JR burger lovers.

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