MEMORY LANE chuvaness

 

 

Memory Lane is a country diner, mini boutique and beauty salon rolled into one! 

It is owned by actress-singer Jolina Magdangal ~ I can just imagine, how busy this place must have been during Jolina's heyday. 

 

The place is located along Magallanes Drive, Tagaytay City and could be a little difficult to find since it is tucked a few miles away from the busy main road.

 

 

 

The diner is cute and cozy, however, since it is also parlor and a gift shop, I found it quite overwhelming.  Not to mention the various knick-knacks from the 50s to 70s era that adorned the place. 

the entrance

 

the diner

wooden bird houses

 

 

 

the gift shop

movie posters from the yester years

 

 

We ordered salpicao, seafood hotpot and fried banana split ice cream for dessert.

 

 

 

 

Food was on the pricey side, but it was okay since my boys  finished their meal!

 

My boy gamely poses by the garden.

 

Cute!  Unfortunately not for sale :(

 

My hubby was a bit disappointed, Jolina was not around when we came that day. He would just have to be contented with this Jolina look alike mannequin (hindi talaga pinatawad - hahaha!).

Very relaxing!

 

 

Uno Grille Vigan

I have very high expectations of Uno Grille in Vigan.  The very good reviews I have seen on the net were indeed quite promising.  Unfortunately, my first hand experience was far from satisfactory. 

 

We came in past lunch time, a little after 1:30pm, but there were still  a number of guests coming in - I think that would very well explain, why the waiters and attendants were running all over the place and service was quite slowwwww...

 

 Service: Poor

 

 

 

We came in such a bad time. The only place left for us to occupy is a table underneath a tree.  There is a makeshift net that blocks the tree leaves from falling down on our food.  However, it was not as effective on falling insects. 

 

Ambiance:  Felt like I was gate crashing to someones birthday party.

 

 

 

We ordered the Vigan staples poki-poki, Vigan longanisa and bagnet! 

 

VERDICT: Over rated! Price was okay, but food wasn't great!   

 

 

Eating is a social experience, especially if you are eating in scenic Vigan.

In this case, we were just glad we were finally served, we ate and went our way.

 

 Uno Grille Restaurant is located at

 1 Bonifacio Street, Vigan City

 

 

Fruits in Ice Cream (FIC) - Brrrr!!!!

 

Crazy peeps would go to Baguio and order ice cream for an early morning dessert!!!

 

Yup!  We went a little crazy, forgot we were in Baguio and that it was freezing cold - when we ordered two ice cream pints FIC's (2 pints for 2 adults and 2 kids - so silly, what were we thinking?) . 

 

Oh we ordered mango and strawberry flavors and they were so creamy, we were liking it until we started shivering a little...and getting brain freeze... then finally decided to stop!

 

 

 

Note to self: Ice cream in Baguio - bad idea!!!

 

Incase you don't believe me: 

FIC is located in Mile Hi Center, Camp John Hay 

 

Kainan sa Dalampasigan - Nasugbu Batangas' Best Kept Secret!

Our Nasugbu Batangas road trip led us to Kainan sa Dalampasigan Restaurant.

 

The great reviews I have read online enticed us to drop by for lunch before heading back to Manila from our overnight escape at Canyon Cove Resort.

 

The restaurant is about 15 to 20 minutes from Canyon Cove and is quite easy to locate (If you get lost you can ask any locals.  They seem to be quite familiar with the place.)

 

 

First thing that struck us is that despite it's name Kainan sa Dalampasigan, we can't seem to find of view of the beach (or maybe we weren't just looking hard enough!).  What they do have, plenty of, are gardens (Maybe they should consider changing their name to Kainan sa Halamanan :P - makes more sense really!) 

 

 

The place is laid back and the atmosphere very relaxing.  The high ceiling allows the air to move freely - creating a tranquil ambiance.

 

 

Welcome to Kainan sa Dalampasigan.

This garden with water falls is located inside the restaurant. 

 

Ingenious center pieces that obviously came from their garden :)

Kainan serves traditional Filipino food.

 

We ordered sea food sampler, gulaman and halo-halo. We literally devoured the entire bilao - and I thought I over ordered (hahaha!).

Price is also reasonable.

 

 





Very delicious!

 



I was so busy touring the place, I cannot recall how fast service was. 

 

I remembered though, the restaurant's attendants to be very polite and welcoming when we came in. 

 

Kainan sa Dalampasigan is a complete dining experience.  

 

Kainan sa Dalampasigan is located at

Ruiz Martinez St. Brgy. Bucana, Nasugbu, Batangas

 



Vigan's Hidden Garden is actually not so hidden :P (Lilong and Lilang Restaurant)

Too bad we were not able to come earlier - traffic was so bad we arrived in Vigan two hours later than we have expected.  I am almost certain than this place is lovelier with the sun out - it was near dusk when we came and too dark to get good photos.

 

Homey ambiance in a garden setting. 

 

The well maintained and beautifully kept garden should have made wonderful backdrop for picture taking (sayang). 

 

 

 

 

 

We ordered bagnet sisig, pochi-pochi and sinigang na bagnet with rice.  For dessert the boys had fruit shakes and halo-halo.

 



Food was delicious.  The boys loved the bagnet and sinigang, while I just can't have enough of the poki-poki  (I love POKI-POKI... I really do :9 )  

 

 

 

 

 

My youngest requested for this shot by the bar :P

And another one on the "duyan".

 

 My family so loved the food (indeed quite special).  If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Vigan -  search out for the Hidden Garden. 

 

The hunt is all worth it  (to save you time searching for the place - rent a kalesa going there to amp the experience).

 

 

HIDDEN GARDEN LILONG AND LILANG RESTAURANT

(Located At The Heart Of Hidden Garden Vigan)

 Brgy. Bulala, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

viganhiddengarden@yahoo.com
hiddengardenvigan.com
(077) 722-1450
(0906) 332-8309
(0928) 965-9190

 

 











Razon's of Guagua Pampanga

 

 

My husband has been bragging about how mouthwatering Razon's halo-halo is... so when we were on a road trip on our way to Subic, we just had to stop by the Guagua branch and give in to my husband's pleading and see for myself,  just how delectable Razon's halo-halo really is...

 

 

 

We ofcourse ordered the famous Halo-halo and Pancit Luglug.

I think these are default orders.

 

My kids liked it, no need to ask my hubby as he is an obvious fan.  For me, however, I can't seem to remember how it tasted. Not very outstanding as I expected.  I was waiting for a "BANG" and all I got was a so-so dessert. Even the pancit lug-lug was just okay!  I honestly do not understand all the fuzz...! 

 

 

 

Kubong Sawali Restaurant - La Union

 

Hungry and nearly starving on our way back to Manila from Vigan, we chanced upon Kubong Sawali Restaurant in La Union. 

 

It was hot and humid and the halo-halo signage was a real come on!

 

 

 

The restaurant has semi-private airconditioned rooms, which was a real treat for our heat scorched bodies from the noon sun.

 

 

Kubong Sawali serves home style Filipino dishes.  We can't seem to make up our minds so we ended on ordering the Seafood sampler.

Grilled pusit, inihaw na liempo, blue marlin steak, pinaputok na pla-pla and guisadong talong Combo

 

Sinigang - sourness just perfect!

Finishing our meal with halo-halo- yummy! 

Fully energized and all set to go!

 

Kubong Sawali Restaurant La Union branch is located along the National Highway Pagdalagan Sur, Bauang La Union.

DULCELISE (yummy) Dessert Shop

 

Our visit to Dulcelise Dessert Bar is an accidental one...

 

We needed a break from the scorching summer heat, a refuge and a place to relax our so tired feet :P.  We needed an airconditioned restaurant.

 

Behold the answer to our prayers: Dulcelise Dessert Shop.

 

 

The entrance to Dulcelise is quite unassuming.  That is okay, we weren't expecting much, we just needed a place to cool down anyway. 

 

 

 

 

The shop interiors is all white, with antique brass chandeliers hanging from its ceiling.

 

 

We had brewed coffee and dessert.

 

The peanut-butter banana and lemon cake we ordered were just heavenly.  Better than most desserts we have had.

 

My boy posing by the shop's window.

 

 

 

 

Dulcelise Dessert Shop is highly recommended. 

 

Stop by and include in your Vigan itinerary.   Order and indulge on one of their creamy desserts to go with a cup of coffee or tea.

 

 

Dulcelise is located (near Calle Crisologo where the Kalesas are parked)

at Mena Crisologo St., Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

LITTLE JOHN's at Camp John Hay Mile Hi

 

I have always loved Little John's at Mile Hi in Camp John Hay.

 

I was there again last Holy Week with my family for breakfast... and I must say, this restaurant never fails to impress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The walls is decorate with drawings and doodles of  customers on the paper table mat and assorted colored crayons the store provides.

 

Real cool way to keep your tots busy while waiting for their orders.   

Omelette comes with one of the BESTEST bread I have tasted!  

 

 

My tapa meal equally delicious.

 

 

Must come back!!!!

Rose Bowl Restaurant in Bauang La Union - Ang Sarap-Sarap :9

 

 

Soy chichen, shrimp and pork siomai, chopsuey and Yang Chow fried rice  ~ just heavenly.  Delicious and it was quite hard to stop chomping until you can chew no more!   Price was reasonable too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I became a converted Rose Bowl Restaurant fan at first bite into their siomai. 

And their chosuey was one of the best I have tasted.

 

 

 

If you are heading Vigan or Laoag,  I recommend a Rose Bowl lunch or dinner stop!!! 

 

Good Taste - really?

We were navigating the Burnham Park Lagoon, when we realized it was almost lunch time. The boys were growing hungry and towing hungry kiddos is not a very pleasant sight.  We asked our boatman for restaurant referrals and we were directed to

Good Taste Restaurant. 

Good Taste Restaurant is located Lapu Lapu St., Baguio City

and is about a 10 minutes walk from the park, but my kids were too tired to walk so we ended getting a cab. 

There is a display bar for cakes and sweets. 

It wasn't as we have imagined, it was a fast food Chinese restaurant.  We were looking for some fine ambiance, where we can laze around as we eat lunch and relax

The place is busy and noisy.  Staff were all over the place like robots - none smiling, they were just serving...(I guess they are tired)! 

As the place was half-packed  with starving guests and my boys were exhausted from our Burnham Park day out, we decided to order take out and just have lunch in the comfort of our Azalea Residences hotel room.

We ordered take out pancit, fried chicken, chopsuey and yang chao fried rice.  Servings was obviously hefty and quite affordable I should say.

Where is my order?

Food is not good as we were expecting.  Chopsuey was over cooked, chicken was bland, pre-packed ready to cook pancit tasted better than the one they served us  (and I love pansit) and the Yang chow - hmnn... was different.  Not really sure if I had my orders all wrong or we were just being picky.

Good Taste was definitely cheap ~  if it is your birthday and you are paying for a huge group,  you could save tons by dining here! 

But I honesty can't say it is good tasting. 

We would definitely skip this one in our next Baguio visit.