There are several dining options in Tagaytay, but I keep coming back to Taal Vista Hotel because not only does it house two of the best restaurants in the area, you also get to enjoy the best view of Taal Volcano from their deck! And if you happen to want to do a staycation there, you don’t even need to leave the hotel, because their restaurants have got you covered, whatever it is that you are craving for: traditional Filipino food or continental cuisine.
Taal Vista Hotel’s mix of history and modernity that it’s known for is complimented by the hotel’s culinary offerings. : Cafe Veranda and Taza Fresh Table, which I’ve reviewed here. So, allow me to focus on the former in this food feature.
At Café Veranda, diners can indulge daily in Taal Vista Hotel’s authentic local dishes, as well as a variety of international food items. This is where hotel guests can enjoy the breakfast that comes with their stay.
On my recent staycation with my family at Taal Vista Hotel, I tried Cafe Veranda’s weekend lunch buffet featuring the hotel’s heritage cuisine called Hapag Kainan, a collection of Filipino favorites with a twist. Try it on its last weekend, May 28-29, or just visit Cafe Veranda anytime this week, because Cafe Veranda will be closed for renovation starting June 6, but will open with a new concept later this year—you can watch this blog for updates on that!
Their Filipino spread is truly impressive, made up of traditional Filipino dishes. Let’s hope they have the Lechon Belly at the Carving Station (above), which was my whole family’s favorite. Everyone had at least seconds; some even thirds or more! It’s so good, the skin so crispy and savory, and the liver sauce delicious.
My other favorite area was the Pancit Station, which they had in lieu of a pasta station. I loved the pancit! I had them make it with a lot of garlic, pork, shrimp, and squid, and it was delicious!
To entertain the lunchtime crowd, they also have a cultural presentation of various local dances from different regions. If you have balikbayan friends and family or are entertaining foreign guests, it’s a great idea to take them here, not just to experience good Filipino food, but also to get a peek at our cultural heritage.
Everyone stopped eating to watch this lady balance 10 clay pots on her head while dancing!
Cafe Veranda is also a great idea for when you’re celebrating something special. Look at the surprise cake slice they gave my mom; they serenaded her too!
If you want something for Western for lunch, they also have a Western spread. And can I just say their Dessert Station is to die for? It has it’s own room of sorts!
Part of this is a create your own halu-halo station. See my simple creation below, haha:
View the photo gallery below to get a peek at some of the items I tried at Cafe Veranda’s huge lunch buffet spread; there’s a lot more than what you’ll see here. Click the first thumbnail to enlarge the image and launch the rest of the gallery.
Cafe Veranda is located at Taal Vista Hotel, along Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, 4120 Philippines. For inquiries and reservations, please call +63 (2) 917-8225, +63 (46) 413-100, or +63 0917 809-1254. To book your stay at the hotel via Agoda, click here.