24/7 @ Synergis

  Synergis IT Center is one of the recent trysting places I   frequent  because it presents several alternatives.  It offers a   variety of food that caters to different culinary preferences, a   convenience store, health and beauty services, and free wi-fi!

  Commonly known as Sykes Building, where the name   SYKES can be seen on the top portion of the building,   Synergis is located at F.Cabahug St., Ayala Access Road, Panagdait, Mabolo, Cebu City, beside Off-Roads Coffee.

Although it is not the most accessible place if you don’t have private transportation, you can either take a cab, or ride a 03A jeepney (an inexpensive commuter vehicle).

For those with private vehicles, surface parking is available at the front of the building.  Basement parking is also available with approximately 60 car slots.  It can likewise accommodate 30 motorcycles.

If you need to freshen up, restrooms are located at the rear area of the building.  While heading for the restroom, you might notice that the back of Synergis looks out on Kartzone, a 600-meter long go-cart race track for the fast and the furious.  If you have a fascination for speed, try go-carting which is a pretty cool thing to do whether you’re alone or with someone.  But beware – go-carting can cause an insatiable excitement that might leave you wanting for more thrill and adventure.  Eight (8) laps cost Php250 (less than $5) but according to Kartzone’s manager Jonas Eggeling and their president Jess Anthony Garcia, they can extend the number of laps at their discretion.  Kartzone is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Now, going back to Synergis, its ground floor holds a number of commercial establishments such as Bo’s Coffee Club, C24 Foodmart, Betty’s Bakeshop, D’che Spa Salon, Beef Wich Diner, Little Nonki, Golden Bowl Dimsum, Quadro Cucina, Ila Puti, and McDonald’s.

In the mood for coffee, choco, or tea?  Bo’s Coffee Club is open 24 hours.  As the pioneer of coffee culture in Cebu, Bo’s offers an array of coffee – whether served hot (try their Caffee Mocha) or cold (try their White Chocolate Mocha froccino), and you can add-in some coffee jelly.  They also have a tea selection and offer hot or cold chocolate.  I particularly like their Raspberry or Mixed Berry Freeze (but it’s seasonal so, when it’s not available, I go for the Strawberry Freeze) paired with their mouth-watering Milk Choco Brownie Mousse.  In addition, Bo’s serves sandwiches (try their Chicken BLT and Turkey Club), muffins, cookies, pastries, and cakes (try their Super Moist cake and Chocolate Sin).

If you need some quick buys, C24 Foodmart is a 24-hour convenience store offering prepackaged food, snack items, beverages, household products, toiletries, and what-have-you’s.

For breads, cakes, and a little chow, sample the product of Betty’s Bakeshop.  Some of their bestselling breads are the meat roll, ham & cheese, and ensaymada.  For their cakes, try their Chocolate Overload, Chocolate Moist, and Black Forest.  And for their chow which is served with rice, they have interesting names such as the Wake Up Call (4 pieces of longganisa with egg), Rice & Shine (pork tocino with egg), Pork Barrel (pork stewed in special brown sauce served), and Ribbit (saucy spareribs).

You can also choose to relax, revitalize and pamper yourself at D’che (pronounced as di-shay’) Spa Salon.  It is owned by Dhaz Rabilas & Cherry Tolentino thus, the namesake D’che.  They provide affordable therapeutic and aesthetic services from head to toe – body massage, foot spa, diamond peel, trim, color and style, to mention a few.  Unlimited packages are available for individuals while sparty (spa + party) packages are available for groups.  A sparty package, for as low as Php2,999, is a body massage, facial, body scrub, foot spa, or anything enjoyed exclusively with family, friends, or officemates, while having free cocktails with overflowing coffee, tea and juice.  Food and services can be customized according to your request.  D’che is open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.  For inquiries and reservations, contact (+63 32) 422-9111.

Care for something simple but tasty?  Go to Beef Wich Diner and sink your teeth in their Beef Wich – roast beef morsels, veggie trimmings of tomatoes, onions, and cucumber with regular or hot oriental sauce stuffed in lightly toasted Ciabatta bread (Italian white bread).  They also have a tuna version of this.  Additionally, Beef Wich serves breakfast meals anytime and it is open 24 hours except Sundays.  As you enter the diner, observe the red and black color motif (I am surprisingly reminded of the itzamatch website).

Salivating for Japanese cuisine?  Try Little Nonki.  It’s a Japanese restaurant owned by Ma. Ligaya Machida, who is married to a Japanese national, Akira Machida.  Little Nonki offers reasonably priced Japanese food like sashimi, sushi, tempura, and teppanyaki (iron plate grill), among others.  Experience the warm ambiance amid the welcoming staff and charming interior design, while you sit back and enjoy a Tonkatsu Bento (my all-time favorite) which includes a bowl of miso soup, salad or breaded potato, tamago (egg omelet), 2 pieces of California Maki, pan fried vegetables, Japanese rice, breaded pork laid on shredded cabbage, and a little bit of wasabi.  All Bento’s are only Php180 – Butashogayaki (gingered pork), Tori Karaage (Japanese fried chicken), and Tempura (breaded prawns).  Also, try out their crispy and appetizing treat called Karei Karaage (fried flat fish).

If you want some Chinese food, Golden Bowl Dimsum is open 24 hours everyday except between Sunday 10 p.m. till Monday 10 a.m.  Savor Chinese cuisine such as steamed or fried dimsum (siomai, empress roll, spring roll), congee, rice toppings (lemon chicken, pork patatim, sweet & sour pork), and a lot more.  You might also want to try their refreshing Citrus Cooler beverage.

If you’re in the mood for Filipino cuisine with a twist, check out Quadro Cucina.  The place has a very homey but elegant impression (I personally like the walls with framed family photos in sepia tone), along with friendly and accommodating personnel, managed by Ingrid Leung.  The prices for dishes that are served with rice range from Php55 to Php98, among which is the highly recommended Kare-Kare with Java rice.  Another must-try is the Beef Baby Back Ribs with rice.  The meat falls off the bone and it’s smothered with a secret recipe of special homemade sauce.  M-m-m-m-m… yummy!  And don’t miss out on their milkshakes – strawberry, ube, mango, cookies & cream, and chocolate.  You definitely have to at least try their rich and creamy mango milkshake.  It’s oh so mangolicious!

Interested in Asian fusion?  Go to Ila Puti.  Their blue-green walls, cozy couches, and light music contribute to the relaxing atmosphere.  They serve delectable meals and blended beverages (I like their Banana Berry milkshake).  You have to order from the counter but they serve the dish and drinks to you.  My personal favorite, although a little too salty for my palate, is their version of the Thai bagoong (shrimp paste) fried rice called Nonihm Thai which is bagoong fried rice with Philippine adobo tenderloin tips.  You might also want to try these out:

Mushroom Milkfish – Fried boneless bangus in curry sauce with mushroom served with rice

Pasta Puti – Fettucine pasta in rich white sauce with mushrooms and bacon bits, plus a couple of bread sticks

Saigon Adobo – Spicy lemongrass tenderloin served with garlic shrimp fried rice and Nuoc Nam (sweet and sour dip)

Stroganov – tenderloin in thick sour cream sauce served with garlic rice

And what about fast food?  You can drop by McDonald’s anytime of the day because it’s open 24 hours.  In fact, right now I’m imagining their Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken McNuggets, and the simply irresistible McFlurry!

So, that’s Synergis.  I hope you didn’t forget about the free wi-fi (powered by Dominion).  You might want to take along your wi-fi ready laptop or PDA and be online for work or play.  You and your friend might even want to go online and chat your heart away should the “cat get your tongue” during your date.  Perhaps an online conversation would be better (for the moment) rather than an offline face-to-face encounter.  This situation might seem awkward but it may be interesting.

Indeed, I take pleasure in dining and being online (for work), both at the same time.  So, see you at Synergis and see you online at itzamatch.  Dine, unwind and chat the night away!