Date # 65: Mile Hi Diner

            Katipunan has always been more than just a strip that houses two esteemed universities, it’s also known as a busy avenue that houses countless commercialized eateries that’s perfect for budget-conscious students. Due to various circumstances, however, the restaurants in Katipunan change every once in a while. Some say good bye, others say hello. In contrast, there are also establishments in Katipunan that have been there forever. But I’ll save those for other days (Cantina, prepare for me). Today, we’re going to talk about the new kid on the block, Mile Hi Diner.

            Mile Hi Diner was actually a Baguio favorite before it decided to expand to the big city. They now have branches in SM North Edsa, Forbes Town, Eastwood City, as well as our very own Katipunan Avenue. They offer regular diner fare, perfect for those who want to have a quick meal that’s different from the usual fast food joints.

            I visited Mile Hi Diner not with Douglas, but with P, a close friend of mine who’s equally picky with what she eats. I’ll just paste some of her comments about her food.

(Sorry for this picture, the lighting was uncooperative)

As a starter, P got a bowl of Chili w/ Cheese and Onion Soup (P85). She said that the soup was served warm, with the right amount of pepper. However, the menu stated that the soup had cheese in it. She saw a (very) little amount of cheese sprinkled at the top, but she hardly tasted any “cheesiness” to the soup.

This is Mile Hi’s Spaghetti with Meatball (P190). It was cooked the Filipino way, the sauce being on the sweeter side. Not really something you’d expect inside a restaurant that markets itself as an American diner. The noodles were cooked al dente. The sauce could have used more spices. It was filling to say the least, but not too heavy.

  Lastly, this was her Chocolate Milkshake (P135).  She said that it tasted good but there wasn’t really anything special to it. She found it too sweet and unoriginal. It was only blended chocolate ice cream with milk and chocolate syrup. Too rich. More chocolate and less milk to the chocolate milkshake, please.

 Meanwhile, I had an order of Buffalo Wings (P295). The skin of the chicken was crunchy while the insides were moist.The wings were nicely seasoned, with a spicy kick, but they’re not as saucy as how I want my wings to be. The blue cheese dressing did not have the pungent taste that’s characteristic to blue cheese at all—it just added a bit of unnecessary saltiness to the dish.

  I ordered a Mozzarella Stuffed Burger (P255) because I think it’s illegal to leave a diner without trying a burger. The fries were perfectly seasoned and flavored, although they could have been crispier. The burger itself was just alright. I would have preferred it if there had been less mayonnaise since the mayo (as well as the slice of cucumber under the patty) overpowered the taste of the beef. The Mozzarella Cheese inside the patty brought a nice, chewy texture to the burger, but didn’t really change much in terms of taste.

Overall Verdict: Mile Hi Diner is a nice addition to the string of Katipunan restaurants, but if it wants to keep up with the nearby competition, it has to step up a few notches. Right now, I still recommend the other diner nearby if you want to satisfy your cravings. The place is nice and cozy, though, with an excellent staff and cool air conditioning.

Mile Hi Diner

Katipunan Avenue, QC

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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