Balay Dako by Antonio’s
Balay Dako is a well-known restaurant in Tagaytay that proudly serves authentic Filipino comfort food. It is one of the restaurants owned by Chef Tony Boy Escalante, owner of Antonio’s Group of Restaurants. This restaurant is a must-try if visiting Tagaytay City for food and relaxation. Aside from the well-curated dishes, the picturesque Taal Volcano is one of the reasons for a jam-packed dining area during the weekend.
We visited the Balay Dako by Antonio’s for lunch after we attended a Catholic mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Church. It is located within the neighborhood and a few minutes drive from the church.
The spacious parking area is always crowded during the weekend, particularly at lunchtime, so better to come early or late at lunch to secure a parking slot and to avoid the long queue.
The reception area was airy and welcoming as if visiting a countryside home. We booked a table and waited for about 15 minutes to get one, and the staff accompanied us to the 3rd-floor outdoor dining area.
The rooftop, or the terraza, offers different seating options like the indoor and outdoor table set up. The ambiance here is relaxing, peaceful, and refreshing because of the fine weather. Guests can get a full view of the Taal Volcano while dining here.
The outdoor dining area:
The Indoor Dining Area
What about the food? Balay Dako offers traditional local dishes and fusion cuisine.
Lumpiang Shanghai is a Filipino-Chinese dish, deep-fried spring rolls of ground pork, shrimp, and finely-minced vegetables served with sweet chili sauce. I love the crispness of the lumpia wrapper while the shrimp leveled up its taste. It is one of the most flavorful Lumpiang Shanghai I tried.
Fried Hito with Mutasa, Eggplant, and Burong Hipon -A piece of fried catfish with steamed vegetables and Burong Hipon (sauce of fermented rice and baby shrimp) on the side reminds me of my visit to Pampanga. This dish tasted good though the eggplant was too soggy for me, which made the dish unappealing to eat. The fish was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside yet soft and flavorful on the inside. The Burong Hipon complimented well with the fried Hito.
Ginataang Puso ng Saging Banana flower bud cooked in coconut milk is also flavorful. It tasted just the way your mother cooked it. However, the half-cooked vegetable was not as tender as I expected.
Inihaw na Liempo is a grilled marinated pork belly in special spices. This mouthwatering dish is my daughter’s favorite of all the dishes we ordered. The meat was tender and juicy, filled with smokey, tangy, and sweet flavors. It goes very well with the Atsara, pickled grated unripe papaya.
Seafood Paella consists of rice, squid rings, mussels, shrimp, and vegetables which are served in a small paella pan. I was surprised that Lechon Kawali pieces were also in the pan. The rice was creamy and savory, while the calamari and other seafood were tender. The Lechon pieces give it an extra flavor. The food presentation was great.
We had Cafe Americano, Green Mango Juice, and Brown Boba Milk tea after eating sumptuous lunch. The coffee has a strong aroma and flavor, it goes perfectly with the cool breeze of Tagaytay while the Green Mango Juice has a sweet-tangy flavor. The Milk tea for me is too sweet, and the tapioca pearls are not as gooey as the ones I have tasted in other popular milk tea shops.
Overall impression:
The place: spotless, tidy, warm, and cozy space. With a large and pleasant waiting area. PWD and Senior Citizen-friendly place.
The staff: Very friendly, neat, attentive, and courteous.
The menu: With plenty options of for mouth-watering food.
The food: cooked just right, served hot and complete. Serving sizes are big which is good for sharing.
The Price: Reasonably priced; value for money.
A service charge of 10% will be added to your bill. They honor PWD and Senior Citizen Discount. The restaurant does not accept table reservations as they have a first-come, first-served policy.
Opening Hours:
Weekday: 11AM to 9PM
Weekend: 7AM to 9PM
Complete Address: Tagaytay – Nasugbu Hwy, Tagaytay, 4120 Cavite
Telephone Number: (046) 413 4866