A&D Tagaytay Eats: Sonya's Garden and Balay Dako

Continuing my kwento from our Narra Hill weekend is where we ate our lunch before checking-in and after checking-out. It has been awhile since we went to Tagaytay and we couldn't decide where to have our first meal. Balay Dako was the one and only restaurant on our list and we decided to eat there the next day so I checked the internet for suggestions... and we ended up at Sonya's Garden.

It has been maybe 9 years since I last ate at Sonya's Garden and so much have changed! I was expecting that we will eat in a greenhouse restaurant place like I did 9 years ago but we were led to this room, the Conservatory.

Parang wedding reception! The place was full even if it was 1PM na and there were still coming in.

I called Sonya's Garden while on our way to Tagaytay. In my mind, they still serve the same food they do 9 years ago so I made an advance order of their Roast Chicken. But I was mistaken! They now serve a whole buffet of different dishes including their classics which were the salad and pasta with choice of two sauces.

Fresh salad with edible flowers and other toppings on the side. They have one dressing only which tastes pretty much like honey mustard.

Freshly baked bread served with different types of spreads. I loved the bread. I wish we had time to go back and buy this bread from the Panaderia.

From the buffer: there's Ratatouille, Roasted Mushrooms, Salmon Belly, and Chicken Mango Cream Pasta!

The Roast Chicken was big! It was good enough for 4-5 persons. We weren't able to finish this but we were able to take this home to Manila. Good thing our room in Narra Hill has a mini ref.

After our lunch, we roamed around the place and took the opportunity to take nice photos of the kids. But that only took a few minutes, then R didn't want to cooperate anymore! Haha! 

Sonya's Garden

For more information, you may check www.sonyasgarden.com

Facebook: Sonya's Garden

After having our late lunch in Sonya's Garden, we went on to our unforgettable stay at Narra Hill (read all about our stay here) where we had our dinner later that night and breakfast the next day. After checking out, we headed to Balay Dako to have our lunch. We've heard a lot of great things about the place! We wanted to try their weekend buffet but we felt it would be bitin if we ate here before checking-in, we'll come back for breakfast! 

 Balay Dako means big house is Negrenese which explains huge place, with an overlooking view of the Taal. Love the interior!

There's something about dining Filipino food in Tagaytay with a view of the Taal, nakakagana at masarap kumain noh? I guess the weather has a factor too.

Kids admiring the view while waiting for our food to arrive.

Balay Dako serves Filipino food and as always BOS ordered a lot, maybe food enough for 3-4 people. Ganon kami kumain lagi kaya we always have food to take home! Haha!

Chicharon Bulaklak (Php300) for anti-aging. Char!

Food was served in 20 minutes. Look at their servings, it's big! Kaya madami talaga kami nauwi!

Always a staple when we dine out, kelangan may ramen/noodles/pansit for the kids! Pancit Canton (Php370) was delicious, we all liked it!

Pusit pusit some more! Heehee! I love squid so when I saw this on the menu, I knew I had to order it. Sinuteng Pusit (Php530), I think I finished this by myself. Hello uric acid! Haha!

Sinigang na Baboy (Php460)

Lechon Kawali (Php480), pork cubes brined overnight with lemon grass then deep fried. It's tender and crispy! Goes so well with rice!

To balance all the food, we ordered their Pinakbet (Php220)!

I had the Halo-Halo ni Antonio which was huge! Katakawan lang. I think 3 people can share this. 

Maja Blanca (Php75), BOS said he had better.

Y and R had a scoop of Sorbetes (Php55). FIC in a sorbetes cart!

R who always picks green colored ice cream because of Mater. If you've watched the Cars movie, you would know what I mean! Wasabi daw flavor kahit na hinde! Heehee!

Freshly cooked Piaya for Php65 for 6pcs!

After our lunch, we went around to check out the place and as it turns out, they serve their breakfast buffet in a different area! We must come back soon and try their breakfast, ok BOS? There's a deli that sells Antonio's products.

If you haven't been to Balay Dako, it is worth the try!

Balay Dako

Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Silang Junction West, Tagaytay City, Cavite 4120

(046) 483-4847 / (+63)943-264-1680

balaydakoevents@gmail.com

For more information, you may check http://antoniosrestaurant.ph/

Facebook Page: Balay Dako Tagaytay

Instagram: @balaydakobyantonios

A&D Eats Roundup: Cafe Sansó and Kafé Batwan by Sarsá

Last month, I got to finally try Kafé Batwan and went back to Cafe Sansó for the second time.

Kafé Batwan by Sarsá

Lunched at Kafé Batwan with some mommies to learn more about Study Buddy (which I will tell you about in another post). I've heard good reviews about the place and I was excited to try the food!

For starters, we had:

Inasal Tofu with rocket and spinach, topped with prawns, pomelos, grilled tomatoes and ginamos vinagrette, Php295

Ensaladang Espinida with grilled tomatoes, kesong puti, pili nuts, crispy crablets and mango salted egg dressing, Php295

Crispy Tawilis with Shaved Queso de Bola, Php220, which was so good!

Trio of Pinoy Spreads with Biscocho Pandesal, Php250. The three spreads were Monggo Labuyo, Salted Egg Labuyo, and Tahong Ginamos. 

Grilled Sugarcane Porkchop with Kamote Mash, Php350

Inasal Petso With Soy Sinamak and Batwan Achara, Php225. This was tasty! There's also Inasal Paa if you don't like eating chicken breast.

Madrid Fusion Super Batchoy, Php450. 12-hour soup stock, kurobota charsiou, soft-boiled egg and tuna skin. It's like batchoy na ramen style! BOS was envious because of this. Heehee! He's originally from Visayas and he always says there's no batchoy in Manila. I should let him try this!

Chocnut Turon, Php195

Everything was good and I would like to take BOS here and hear all about his negative comments heehee! I know you're reading this. Tama ba ako? Haha!

Kafé Batwan by Sarsá

GF, Joya Tower, 28 Puaza Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati, 1201

Phone: (02) 625 5166

Instagram: @kafebatwan

Cafe Sansó

Met with my high school barkada for a post-Christmas get together last December and while choosing what restaurant to eat in, I suggested Cafe Sansó because San Juan was our middle ground. Everything was good the first time I ate here but got a bit disappointed this time around. :( But I'm still sharing what we had!

First one to arrive! And while waiting for the others to come, I ordered pasta for the kids and tried one of their sandwiches.

I ordered their best-selling Francesinha, Php350. Rye bread with layers of Jamon Serrano, chipolata sausage, sauteed wild mushroom with chive cream cheese. The whole sandwich was covered with melted mozzarella and asiago cheese in spiced beer tomato sauce. Served with potato wedges.

The kids had the Tartuffo Linguini, Php395. Linguini coated in truffle-infused cream sauce. Topped with Jamon Serrano and parmesan slivers.

And when my friends finally came, we ordered more food.

Ensalada Mixta y Gambas, Php340. Mixed mesclun medley and arugula dressed in balsamic vinaigrette. Served with flambeed prawns and candied walnuts

Churrasco Pork Belly, Php370, served with sauteed haricot verts and rosemary-infused marbled potatoes. It's not as tasty as it looks. The veggies were tastier pa.

Paella Valenciana. I had this before but it was good the first time around, the second time, not so much. I don't know why. :(

Cafe Sansó

32 V Cruz St. Little Baguio, San Juan

(0922) 894-6144

Facebook: Cafe Sansó
Instagram: @cafesanso

A&D Eats: Casa Roces, Malacańan Complex, Manila

A few weeks back, BOS, the kids and I had lunch at Casa Roces, an ancestral house turned into a Filipino-Spanish Restaurant tucked inside Malacańan Complex. BOS being a fan of paella, it's one of the reasons why he wanted to eat at Casa Roces.

Photo from Casa Roces Facebook Page

Casa Roces was the last old house standing in the area and it was where National Artist for Literature Alejandro lived. It has been uninhabited for fifteen years before the Roces cousins approached the Cravings Group to create the menu.

Loved the old world feel of the house, every nook of Casa Roces is interesting and very picturesque. I love old houses and the charm that comes with it.

If it wasn't so hot outside, it would be nice to dine al fresco at their patio.

We ordered our food right away and the waiting game begins! Waiting time was around 15 minutes.

And as always, we ordered too much. Haha! But it was okay because the food was superb plus we got to take home leftovers and I didn't have to cook dinner! Heehee!

Sopa Molo Castiliana (Php115), rich garlic soup with deep-fried pork dumplings, poached egg and parsley. Something to keep our tummies warm.

Truffle Mushroom Purée (Php230), thick and creamy soup made from a trio of fresh mushrooms drizzled with truffle oil.

BOS had the New York Striploin Steak (Php765), striploin grilled to perfection topped with melted blue cheese on a bed of braised local greens and sweet potato puree. This was just okay, good thing the paella made up for it.

I had the Lengua in Mushroom-Sauce (Php450), tender slices of braised ox tongue in tomato base with mushrooms and olives which was so good! Yum! I was so used to having lengua with rice (haha!), this was a different take from it (for me. At mas soshal kasi with mashed potato heehee!) and I loved it.

Kids had the Fettuccine with Blue Cheese and Roasted Mushrooms (Php205), blue cheese and sliced mushrooms on top of creamy fettuccine. I didn't want to order this at first because there's blue cheese but this was good and the kids surprisingly loved it too!

This was the star of our lunch, what BOS came to Casa Roces for: The 

Paella Valenciana (Php565) .Classic Valenciana-style paella with chicken, pork, clams, mussels with chorizo and hard boiled egg toppings. Pasado kay BOS, happy ako! :)

Casa Roces also offers coffee and desserts but we didn't get to try them anymore because we were so full. But we will definitely go back, try their desserts and their Callos, Paelle Negra... and a lot more!

Their cakes looks good! BOS, let's go back this weekend!

If you are looking for a new restaurant to try this weekend and wouldn't mind a drive to Manila, try Casa Roces! Definitely a change from your usual weekend trips to the mall. Fill your hungry tummies with authentic Spanish buffet for only Php699++ per person!

Casa Roces

#1153 JP Laurel St. Cor Aguado St., 1005 San Miguel, Manila, Philippines

Facebook: Casa Roces

Twitter: @casa_roces

Instagram: #casaroces

For reservation:

488-1929, 0917-5509743

reservations@casaroces.com