Charitos by Bag of Beans ~ TKO by Coffee

My-ex and I decided an impromptu joy-trip one weekend and found ourselves in Tagaytay.  We were feeling a bit romantic, having the alone time, without our extra baggages (our beloved but super "kulit" duo ~ awws you know who I mean), that we knew right away that lunch would be extra-romantic (meaning no fast food!) and yes a tad more expensive.

Restaurant hunting in Tagaytay is never a problem ~ good restaurants abound. 

We finally settled in Charitos operated by the well-known Bag of Beans. 

Unlike the Bag of Beans branch located at the Aguinaldo Highway, Mendez Crossing, Charitos is spacious with ample parking. 

Charitos is gorgeous ~ it has wide open spaces with a view of Taal volcano (unfortunately, the weather was gloomy that day and we only got glimpse of the famous attraction). 

Decoration is a bit eclectic, but more of the Victorian side.

I ordered Fish and Chips (P380), tender lightly coated fish fillet, with side salad and potato wedges.

My ex meanwhile herbs marinated Roast Beef (P450). 

I took bites and found it tender and really flavorful.   

For the finale (You can't say you have been to Charitos without) Bag of Bean's house blend coffee (P130) and  blueberry cheesecake (P160+).

VERDICT:

• Charitos by Bag of Beans is charming. It is perfect for a romantic or a special occasion date with your better half.  A clear view of the Taal Volcano below would have been the topping on the ice cream.
• It is bit upscale, but we didn't mind paying extra since service was A+ and food great.  
• We had a wonderful lunch at Charitos and would not mind coming back for more.

Happy customers :P

CHARITO BY BAG OF BEANS

Maharlika East, Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, 

Tagaytay City, Cavite, Philippines

Contact no: 046 4831279

Welcome to Pagsanjan ~ More than rapids: Calle Arco Restaurant Review

There is more to Pagsanjan Laguna than the Pagsanjan falls and shooting rapids... there is of course Pagsanjan's delectable cuisine.

Located just a few meters away Pagsanjan town's century old arch gate is Calle Arco restaurant.  I was first drawn to this restaurant from recommendations from TripAdvisor ~ me and my foodie family wanted a taste of their menu. 

 The Pagsanjan Arch is difficult to miss. 

Calle Arco is an old house turned restaurant. 

An old piano sits by the main entrance. A lady was playing wonderful music the night we dined in ~ setting the perfect ambience (you easily forget that the restaurant sits on a busy road  and traffic can be a bit hellish as times.

There were numerous seating options,  we decided on a inside seating in the comfort of an air-conditioning.

We were ushered into a pink room decorated differently from the main seating area.  The pink room is styled like a European café as compared to an antique mansion feel outside. 

We ordered Tortang Talong (P180)

Crispy Chicken Garlic (P250)

Pancit Habhab (P150)

Halo-halo with ice cream (P95)

VERDICT

• All our orders are spot on. We could have ordered more, but were too full to try all of the house specialties.  If you are not hungry and just passing by, I suggest a serving of their special halo-halo!  It is topped with the tastiest leche flan ever.... 
• Price is really affordable, with huge servings meant for sharing.
• Service is fast and crew are accommodating.
• Recommended for travelling families and barkadas who are really hungry :P. 

A clear thumbs up for Calle Arco from MamaSpeaks!

Calle Arco Restaurant is located

57 J.P. Rizal Street, Pagsanjan Laguna

Tel. No. (049) 501-4584 / 0917-4281325 

For more information check out Calle Arco's facebook page www.facebook.com/Calle-Arco-Restaurant

Check also our related visit to Villa Socorro Farm Resort if agri-eco interests you: A Fun Stay at Villa Socorro

Viewsite Restaurant and Seafood Inihaw - Go the extra mile!

Looking for a place to eat in Tagaytay for lunch is hell ~ oh, especially if you are picky and want a table with a view! 

You would be lucky to get in and be served right away.  We had to drive a couple of miles outside Tagaytay's busy main highway, to finally find a decent (and not full) place to eat with a view.

AMBIANCE:  Laid back and rustic, like most of the restaurants in Tagaytay, with a very good view of the famous Lake Taal and Taal Volcano. 

Like most Tagaytay Restaurants they also have local entertainers, who were amazing in belting out fairly new English and Tagalog songs.  My youngest sang with them, when they started singing the Filipino hit song "Pusong Bato" and Bruno Mars' "Lazy Song" (hahaha, I was about to request for Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball").

FOOD:  We ordered, Inihaw Platter (Included grilled sugpo, tuna belly, grilled pork, talong ensalada), pansit and chopsuey.  The waiter gave us free bulalo soup (plus additional refill, hehehe!!!). 

PRICE:  Less expensive than Leslie's, RSM, and other main road Tagaytay Restaurant, but comparable in taste and quality.

(Oh need, I say more?)

 

VERDICT:  Obviously under rated!  

 

Go the extra mile and try out Viewsite Restaurant. You would enjoy the food, the entertainment and the free view.

 

 Recommended for families and balikbayans!

 

 

Viewsite Restaurant and Seafood Inihaw is located at Batangas Highway Mendez Crossing West, Tagaytay City.

Tok's Manggahan Foodhaus (and everythingelse)

 

 

Lunch at Tok's Manggahan Foodhaus was purely accidental! 

 

We were on our way home from Porta Verde in Cavinti Laguna to Taytay Rizal via the National Hi-way.  It was  running late and everyone in the car (including my husband-driver) was near irksome from hunger!!!

 

My husband stopped by the first food house/restaurant he saw and before we knew it, we were already seated at Tok's Manggahan Foodhaus for lunch!

 

The restaurant's façade looked exotic and rather expensive. 

 

My family loves trying new things and exotic seems appetizing at the moment.  We were celebrating a special occasion, so I thought an exotic restaurant would be perfect. 

 

However, lo and behold, we were dumbfounded to learn that we entered a canteen "turo-turo" type restaurant (lol, my dad was easy on his pocket this time and offered to foot the bill - he was of course just joking)! 

 

 

 

 

The food was decent and the place seemed clean.

 

The bill:  We were a party of very hungry 9 pax (7 adults and 2 kids) - my husband ordered: everything on the food display table, rice, drinks and dessert and ended paying P500. 

 

Plus: The restaurant doubles as a "pasalubong" center.

On one corner they have sweets, native delicacies from Laguna and nearby Quezon.  On the other is a gift shop, where you can get cute, inexpensive fashion jewelries, trinkets, bags and blouses, slippers.  Talk about maximizing space!

 

 

Tok's Manggahan Foodhaud is located along the National Hi-way of Fami, Laguna.

Please see my related post on Porta Verde Resort.

Bulawan (not) Floating Restaurant

 

It was a fine Saturday morning for a road trip.  So we packed our bags and headed off to

Cavinti Laguna from Taytay Rizal via Manila East and Lumban-Caliraya-Cavinti Road.

 

It was almost noon time and I swear I heard my kiddos' tummies grumbling.  Along Pilillia Rizal main highway we saw the Bulawan Floating Restaurant signage.  Without hesitation, my hubby entered the restaurant's gates and hurriedly parked the car (I guess he is hungry as well :). 

 

We were greeted by the restaurant's waiters and led to the main pavilion (I was eyeing a more private seating, but the private cottages where all occupied).

 

 

 

 

 

I was immediately given the menu and proceeded to ordering for my family of 9. 

 

I ordered buko, 2 sets of halo-halong inihaw, halo-halong sinigan, buko pastel, 2 orders of pansit. According to the waiter, each order is good for 3 pax, but for a hungry road-tripping family I would say each order was only good for 2).

 

 

They have huge tables.  It was difficult to pass the food around, one would have to stand to reach across. 

The first to arrive is my dad's order of buko! 

The halo-halong inihaw, included - tilapia, hito, pusit, liempo (with side vegetables: okra and talong).



The halo-halong sinigang meanwhile included - hipon, alimasag and fresh fish catch.

 

 

My boys while waiting for the rest of our entourage to finish, gamely posed for picture taking.

 

Bulawan's main pavilion.

VERDICT: 

FOOD and PRICING- Food was good, not splendid.  I also find the servings quite small for the price (average 300-400 per order). 

AMBIANCE- Since it was an open area, there were plenty of flies hovering around. A fly literally dived into our Singing.  It was a constant struggle to keep them off your food.

SERVICE - The crew were nice and friendly.  I requested for fish feed (since the restaurant has an area for fishing and I thought my kids will love seeing fish feeding) and one of the attending waiters nicely got me fish feeds for free.  Unfortunately, the fishes must have been sleeping or probably just had lunch 😄, since we did not see any.  I was a little disappointed.

Overall it was a good experience. Not sure if I will be back though.  There were plenty of other restaurants in the area and I would gladly try them out first before any repeat!


So is it floating - not really!  The cottages are not on stilts and were in fact made of concrete.

Bulawan Floating Restaurant is located at
Km. 59, Manila East Road, National Highway, Halayhayin in Pilillia Rizal (Contact No. 585-3234).
 

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!

 

 

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