Pamana Restaurant:
Owned by Ms. Happy Ongpaoco, a restaurateur and a chef, offer traditional Filipino cuisine across the country. From the list of dishes to its interior design, the restaurant lives to its concept of Pamana (Heritage). Visitors will get a nostalgic feeling upon entering the place. Its location also offers a vantage view of Taal Volcano.
We recently tried Pamana Restaurant after attending a Saturday mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The place is not as big as other famous restaurants within the area but, I think that gives an idea of a homey feeling to ensure a pleasant meal like eating in our own home.
From the outside, the restaurant looks like a private house of with a small parking area but there is still a parking area at the back of the restaurant.
The food we tried:
Crispy Adobong Pusit Calamares is simply squid cooked in adobo style and then deep-fried in squid ink. It is a Pamana innovation, served with spicy vinegar and mayo with aligue (crab fat). This recipe is a sure appetizer but can be perfectly eaten with rice. This dish is so tasty, cooked just right, outside it is crispy but soft on the inside.
Tuna Gising-gising– Fresh tuna chunks cooked in green chillis, green beans, native herbs, and coconut milk. I liked the creaminess of the sauce with a spicy kick of the green chillis. The dish is very flavorful and satisfying.
Sinugba– Grilled kinds of seafood, pork liempo, chicken, vegetables like okra, and eggplant are served on a platter with special sauces for extra flavor. The dish was originated and very popular in Cebu.
Now, for the dessert, we tried Ginumis and Palitaw paired with Batangas Tsokolate
Ginumis is a shaved ice dessert similar to the famous Halo-halo except that it has lesser ingredients. Its main ingredients are sago, gelatin, coconut meat, rice crispies, and coconut milk. At Pamana restaurant, the dessert was topped with homemade panutsa ice cream. this dessert is truly refreshing, especially during the summer season.
Palitaw is a local rice cake topped with sugar best paired with hot chocolate. The Palitaw is not special to me but the hot chocolate was extra creamy. Yes, this combination is satisfying and filling also.
Going inside, was like entering a museum. From the ceiling where old chandeliers are hung, down to the walls where black and white photos were artistically placed, even the furniture, dinnerware, and other displays are from a typical old house of an elite family.
If you choose to dine on the veranda, the view is spectacular, but expect that it is always fully occupied.
What I liked most at Pamana restaurant:
- They serve pandan-infused drinking water.
- The staff is very attentive and courteous.
- Food is reasonably priced.
- The feeling at-home dining experience.
- Easily accessible location.
What I did not like about Pamana Restaurant:
- The place gets too crowded during mealtime
- Small parking space
- Not a PWD and Senior Citizen friendly establishment; no wheelchair ramp is provided for customers with special needs.
Overall, we had a pleasant experience and were satisfied with the food and the service during our visit. We will definitely visit this restaurant again to try other dishes.
Address: 1315 Aguinaldo Highway, Silang Crossing East, Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite
Contact number: (046) 413 2461
Thank you for reading!
God bless always!
