Inside the historic walled city of Manila is a beautiful quaint restaurant that will make you travel back in time. Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant will let every visitors experience dining like an Illustrado during the Spanish era. The restaurant offers home-cooked, Spanish-inspired meals meticulously prepared for their guest’s satisfaction.
My family and I visited Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant after attending a Catholic mass at the Manila Cathedral Church in celebration of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8, 2020. The restaurant follows the DOH Covid 19 standard health protocol, like getting your temperature checked, filling out of contact tracing form, and social distancing.
Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant is open for ala cart dining only from 8AM to 8PM during weekdays, and 8AM to 9PM during weekends. The lunch/dinner buffet is not yet available. Kindly wait until further notice.
The restaurant’s exterior and interior look like an old-fashioned Spanish home that gives a nostalgic atmosphere. If you love classic things, you’ll surely enjoy visiting here. The large dining area has a lot of stylish chandeliers, beautiful antique wooden furniture, fabulous wall mirrors, and old portraits. And to set a relaxing mood, Christmas carol is in the air in time for the season.
The food we tried:
Barbara’s Special Salad—
Mesclun Greens with Caramelized Walnuts and Shaved Parmesan, topped with fresh fruits in season, accompanied with your choice vinaigrette: Raspberry, Lychee, or Balsamic.
I liked the combination of the crisp leafy greens and the freshly cut fruits with sweet and tangy salad dressing. This fiber-rich salad is cool and refreshing to eat with a mixture of sweet, sour, and salty tastes that burst into your mouth.
Paella De Mariscos—
A flavorful Spanish dish made with varying combinations of rice, vegetables, seafood, and meat.
This Seafood Paella was the best tasting I’ve ever tried so far. The rice was creamy and savory, topped with generous types of seafood. The plating is very presentable and appealing. The serving size is good for sharing.
Grilled Salmon—
Hot off the grill, the well-seasoned Salmon was perfectly cooked. The flavorful fish melts in the mouth and goes perfectly with slices of lemon and buttered vegetables (zucchini, corn, carrots, and beans).
Guyabano Shake—-
This wholesome drink is somewhat sour yet sweet in taste. It has a very cooling and refreshing effect, perfect for the warm weather in Manila.
Blueberry Cheese Cake—
Blueberry Cheese Cake was smooth and creamy, sweet and tangy, and tastes like an ice cream dessert. This rich and semi-sweet cake is reasonably satisfying.
We enjoyed the food, especially the flavorful Paella. The food served is well-cooked and presented in an appetizing manner. The servers are friendly, polite, and attentive. The serving time was more than 30 minutes, which is understandable since they cook the food as you order.
We toured around the house to take photos of antique items like a manual typewriter, many decades-old pianos, and other similar stuff. The restaurant has a museum in the attic, but unfortunately, it remained closed due to the pandemic.
The place is perfect for groups or a casual lunch or dinner date. It is also recommended for returning OFWs and foreign visitors. We will definitely revisit this place sometime soon to try their buffet.
- Food: Delicious
- Service: Fast and attentive servers
- Ambiance: Homey, relaxing, rustic
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/barbarasheritagerestaurant
Address: Casa Manila, Calle General Luna, Intramuros, Manila, 1002
Contact number: 0917-7921792 / 0920-9326702 / (02) 82447260
HAVE A NICE DAY!