Pepper Lunch or Pepper Steak?
It’s one of life’s greatest mysteries. Will you go for the expensive but delicious, or the reasonably priced but with “just ok” flavors?
Short History of Pepper Lunch
The first branch of Pepper Lunch operated in 1994. The star of the show? The hotplate where food is served is actually an electromagnetic cooker. Plates are heated up to 260 degrees Celcius allowing the food to cook while being served. The diner then has the choice of eating beef strips medium rare or well done.
To date, there are over 200 branches all over the world extending well into the United States. Pepper Lunch started the DIY (do it yourself) teppan (iron plate) craze.
Sizzling Pepper Steak: local copycat?
They never claimed to be the first, but they are, admittedly, cheaper than Pepper Lunch. It is a local company that aims to bring the same teppan goodness at less than P200 plate. A noble cause, I think.
Food is served in a similar electromagnetic cooker and you can only stop the cooking process when your pour the sauce. Your meal remains hot even until you’ve gone past the half empty point. It’s full service and there is no need to queue in front of a counter to order. They have a sign that calls waiters for you and you don’t have to stretch your neck trying to call for one, especially when you badly need it. Sadly such level of service is not available at Pepper Lunch.
Admittedly, Pepper Steak is not as good as Pepper Lunch. So there, I said it. However, Pepper Steak’s service is something to consider. People waiting to be seated are not herded like cattle. There are benches where you can wait comfortably and the staff will check up on you from time to time, offering to serve you drinks if you’re thirsty.
These are the small things that make a world of difference. Sitting on a bench is still better than standing in a long line.
The difference between Pepper Lunch and Pepper Steak?
Pepper Lunch in Rockwell doesn’t have this level of service because diners are expected to follow the Pepper Lunch rules of processing orders. Their staff is nice but they tend to get grouchy when the lunch crowd gets impatient, and impatient you’d get if pictures and videos of the food are continuously shown while you’re waiting in line. The most obvious difference that you will immediately see is the price, then the taste and lastly the service. If you’re the patient kind with money to spare and unwilling to compromise taste, Pepper Lunch is for you. However, if you’re more like me who thinks pricing and service are more important than taste, then Sizzling Pepper Steak is the way to go. I’d love to know what you think so please feel free to comment.
June 18, 2010
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Arpee В· 
3 Comments
Tags: beef pepper steak, pepper lunch, pepper lunch steak, pepper steak, pepper steak and pepper lunch, pepper steak vs pepper lunch, piazza mall, rockwell, rockwell restaurant, sizzling pepper steak vs. Pepper Lunch, teppanyaki restaurants in the philippines, teriyaki pepper chicken В· Posted in: restaurants
3 Responses
Haven’t tried Pepper Steak. But I agree, even if Pepper Lunch is worth every peso, aside from food, the experience, ambiance, comfort are also a factors when eating. No matter how delicious these foods served on the table if I am so grouchy already, it’s just off. And it happened to me a twice in Pepper Lunch Rockwell that’s why I don’t include them in my favorite list. To think that those people standing outside has money for such an expensive dish, you just don’t do that to your CUSTOMERS. I’d rather pay more in the other restos near them rather than stand outside. Literal na patay na sa gutom bago makaupo.
pepper lunch!!!! the one and only super favorite namen to ng mom ko lalo na yung sa may rockwell supersarap kapag nasa makati kame hindi pwedeng hindi kame kakain dun..
after reading your blog, i definitely want to try pepper steak. i had 2 consecutive negative dining experience at pepper lunch greenbelt. service there sucks! with a lot of options to choose now, i vowed not to visit their place anymore.
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