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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
John and Yoko - a SumoSam Upscale Resto
John and Yoko is now celebrating its first month of operation at Greenbelt 5. I'm excited to try it out ever since Greenbelt 5 opened. My excitement led to high expectations which were not met when I found out that it was just an upscale version of SumoSam (by Marvin Agustin and business partners). Essentially, it is SumoSam in Greenbelt 5 with additional menu choices (pizzas,etc..), brilliant branding, snazzy interiors and sexy servers. I liked the Japanese movie projected on the wall which adds "authenticity" to its Japanese inspired Filipino Food.
The John and Yoko concept is very good. In reality, John and Yoko is a Filipino Restaurant pretending to be a Cosmopolitan Japanese place. The head chef is Filipino. If I were to describe John and Yoko, it would be: SumoSam + Omakase + Teriyaki Boy + Snazzy Interiors + Sexy Servers = John and Yoko.
I liked the food because it was suited for the Filipino sweet taste buds. But we hate paying for over-priced food. It would be a good place to have a birthday treat or barkada blowout. I would recommend that you go with family and friends because it would be expensive if you eat only with 2-3 people. Expect to pay P500/ head.
The John and Yoko menu is a photo album of its food selections. There are no descriptions just photos and captions. The photos are enticing but some of them can be deceiving.
John and Yoko | Japanese Salads on the Sunset Strip | Ginza Tapas and Big City Teasers 1 | Ginza Tapas and Big City Teasers 2 | Soho Sushi and Broadway Rolls 1 | Soho Sushi and Broadway Rolls 2 | Rockin Ramen and Noodles of Immortality 1 | Rockin Ramen and Noodles of Immortality 2 | Soups in the City | Wagyu Packing District | Our Theory on Tempura and Teppanyaki 1| Our Theory on Tempura and Teppanyaki 2 | Steak of the Nation and Yakitori Republic | From the Deep Blue Sea |A Nation of Blowouts | Big City Bowls | The Sun Rises in the East | Too Hot to Handle and Too Cold to Hold | Brain Freeze Time
Sunset Prawn Salad (P 269 +SC) This is a 300 peso salad with only two shrimps, chopped to look like it was more than 2 pieces with a few vegetables on big plates. Learning: Don't order that salad.
Tofu Cheese Melt (P158 +SC). This should be described as Fried Tofu with melted Chiz Wiz and bacon.
Crunchy Squid Teriyaki (P138 +SC). We enjoyed the crunchiness of this squid appetizer. I would order this the next time around.
Beef Teppan (P289 +SC). We resisted ordering the Wagyu because it would only taste like Beef Teppan.
Wagyu Rice (P289 +SC). We fell for this wagyu trap. For a small bowl of rice and a little bit of Wagyu (which you cannot tell the difference between ordinary beef), you pay an overpriced fee of P300. Good for one person. Learning: If you plan to eat Wagyu, don't eat in places like these...
The kitchen has poor ventilation. Expect to smell when you get out of the restaurant.
John and Yoko Cosmopolitan Japanese
2nd Floor Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St., Legaspi Village Makati, Metro Manila
Telephone: +632 729-8698
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Pia Y Damaso's Philippine Colonial Cuisine?
November 27, 2007 in 04. Restaurants that are worth to try once, 37. The Best of Makati | Permalink
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you should really try nanohana along valero street, it's salcedo village's best kept secret.
Posted by: grace | Nov 27, 2007 8:46:12 AM
i love reading your site. my hubby and i will definitely try out the places that were featured here.
yung wagyu, based on your review, parang naging "wag-yu" eat tuloy ito. hhhmmmm, "nget-pa" lasa? joke! :lol:
Posted by: Pao | Nov 27, 2007 2:18:33 PM
will definitely visit gb5 this weekend!! :)
Posted by: fran | Nov 27, 2007 10:03:19 PM
I would IMAGINE
that John and Yoko,
although not explicitly identified
as Lennon and Ono,
may feel offended if this restaurant
is an example of hip marketing
taking priority over food quality.
Posted by: spanx! | Nov 27, 2007 10:36:48 PM
I want to go there na. I love all the 3 restaurants you mentioned.
Posted by: Em Dy | Nov 29, 2007 1:15:03 PM
just like the other resto he has at Gateway, the Cafe Ten titas. its also very pricey and the food is so simple.
Posted by: Bubut | Nov 29, 2007 8:49:34 PM
just like Mr Rockefeller is the upscale version of Oyster boy
Posted by: jeff | Nov 30, 2007 12:40:28 AM
Hay naku punta na lang kayo sa Tokyo para kumain ng japanese food - at wala kayong mahihita dito. Dito para makitipid they use the bland corn oil or soya oil, while in Japan when cooking tempura they use sesame and peanut oil combined .... dito they all pretend to be classy and authentic pero pricey at kulang sa sarap, hindi po ba?
Posted by: Kiki ni Mimi | Dec 15, 2007 3:07:43 PM
Dont order the sashimi at john and yoko. my wife and I had a bad case of food poisoning when we ate their tuna sashimi.
Posted by: Benz | Jan 20, 2008 11:04:46 PM
Dont order the sashimi at john and yoko. my wife and I had a bad case of food poisoning when we ate their tuna sashimi.
Posted by: Benz | Jan 20, 2008 11:05:19 PM
Dont order the sashimi at john and yoko. my wife and I had a bad case of food poisoning when we ate their tuna sashimi.
Posted by: Benz | Jan 20, 2008 11:06:38 PM
if service is as bad as SumoSam's in Shang Mall, i think i wouldn't even try this one
Posted by: esquire | Jan 25, 2008 1:27:52 PM
Awww not so good review of John and Yoko. Sayang naman.. For the past 2 weeks I've eaten there at least once I think and obviously I'm enjoying eating there. Price, yeah a bit pricey, but of course you should already know that since its in GB5.
For those who would still like to try eating there, I'd recommend Japaella (you can ask the toppings be served separately - para feeling mo dami niyo food.. hehehe), Tofu Steak, and any Yakult drink ;)
Although napansin ko lang they use items na may Sumosam branding pa rin like plastic, tissue, pero paano na propromote and John and Yoko Resto without being in the shadows of Sumosam. Kaya I guess the title serves them right, an Upscale Sumosam lang...
Posted by: imnsho | Feb 3, 2008 11:09:12 AM
The concept sounds interesting but the description they wrote about themselves...full of cliches, inaccuracies and stereotypes. They tried hard to be so hip but you know they aren't quite that.
Posted by: Yumiko | Mar 4, 2008 2:18:45 AM
their servings are huge. but proportion of rice to its viand, as in the case of their curry toppings, is irregular.
Posted by: jo-e | Mar 21, 2008 8:13:12 PM
We were so disappointed with the food and service at SumoSam. This does not look promising either :(
Posted by: kikay | Apr 11, 2008 3:05:29 PM
Just ate there a few hours ago. The Japaella is good and I think reasonable yung price na din for the serving size. Their selection of maki is good too. We ordered 7 dishes plus 6 drinks for P2800...yah 500 each person pero pwede na yun.
Posted by: tee | May 10, 2008 12:31:22 AM
I've eaten several times there, and I've come out satisfied each time. I guess becaus the first few times i ate there, i had no idea it was a sister company of sumosamo. Once some people know that, they tend to compare it with sumosamo - for the snooty pinoys, it loses its snob appeal. Also, price was not really an object as it was a business lunch. My thinking there is GO PINOY. Why prefer to pay for foreign franchises. Anyways, Iive had several of their salads, tempura and sashimi. The crunchy squid was something i found unusual in a Japanese restaurant. Anyways, it was good.
Posted by: Jun | May 30, 2008 11:32:42 AM
service has deteriorated drastically since my first visit there. I will not go back there anymore. Fingers are dipping at the food they serve.
Posted by: bgc | Jun 16, 2008 12:34:52 PM
John and Yoko is a concept restaurant, with the emphasis falling on "concept", and not so much on the "restaurant". The first moments of the dining experience are promising with the allure of beautifully designed interiors and unique food concepts. However, the promise fails once the food is served. My experience is that the food on your plate barely measures up to the pictures seen on the menu. A good example is the Wagyu rice. The preparation is also a tad too greasy.
I'd still give the restaurant a second chance. All it needs is a little fine-tuning to deliver the promise.
Posted by: Deniz | Jun 19, 2008 10:01:51 AM
I love John & Yoko! For sure it is the best Japanese resto in the country! Wagyu is terrific! The tempura tastes like those I've had in Tokyo! Japaell and sushi creations are unique and remarkable! Great concept and wonderful food! Pure genius!
Posted by: tokyo man | Jun 29, 2008 1:41:46 AM
I totally disagree that John & Yoko is an upscale Sumosam. I think both are upscale and aspirational serving different genres and offering distinct concepts. The price is the same. Averaging 500 per person. The difference lies in the concept and the execution. Sumosam is Japanese-American creations while John & Yoko is east meets west, as in Japanese dishes in cosmopolitan cities. Hence, the paella and the pizzas. The food and service in both concepts are great and worth every centavo. I'm actually surprised with your unfair assessment of John & Yoko.
Posted by: jay dizon | Jul 2, 2008 5:07:07 AM
I love SumoSam and John & Yoko. Pinag-isipan ang concept and food and service are exceptional..To say that John & Yoko is an upscale Sumosam is a sweeping generalization and an unfair judgment of the 2 concepts. Kasi magkaiba naman talaga. I've been to Tokyo several times and the taste is actually comparable to Sumosam and John & Yoko!
Posted by: JC Reyes | Jul 26, 2008 7:10:48 PM
At first, I was hesitant when my friend asked me to have our dinner at john and yoko since I have read the above reviews. But just to give it a shot, we decided to try it. I love the pizza (the mango and teriyaki chicken) and the bottomless iced tea. We ordered the tempura and tofu steak but we were disappointed.. HOwever, I'd still want to go back for the pizza! love it super and it's only less than 200 bucks
Posted by: ciara | Oct 6, 2008 11:14:29 AM
I can say that the foods @ John & Yoko are very awesome! I like their wagyu beef & Japaella!! yum! The resto itself is really cozy and the servers are hippy! One of the server there who's name is Richmond assisted me & my friends well. He's nice.. Keep it up! John & Yoko, u rock! ill visit you again.
Posted by: cheska | Oct 6, 2008 8:30:23 PM
