Rekados Cafe and Restaurante: A cozy stopover before Tagaytay

With the scorching summer heat, a trip to Tagaytay would surely sound fitting. And if you already have plans to drive up to the nearest summer capital from Manila, then why not stop over this quaint cafe and restaurant along Sta. Rosa- Tagaytay National Road?

Last month, my friends and I were off for a weekend staycation at Wilson's Place. And en route to Tagaytay, we decided to stop by Rekados Cafe and Restaurante for a late lunch-early dinner munch. We already looked up the place prior to going there, but we were still surprised when we finally arrived.

Charming and romantic. 'Tis how I'd describe Rekados Cafe and Restaurante.

The resto-cafe itself, donned with brick walls, vintage picture frames, tables made from old sewing machines, and other nostalgic accents, is warm, cozy and simply the perfect place to relax while enjoying a leisurely meal or snack. Though quite small, the indoor seating area perfectly captures the essence of a homey cafe. But for bigger (or even louder) groups, there's also a spacious al fresco dining area that looks as charming, especially in the evening.

But while I can go on and on about the atmosphere of Rekados Cafe and Restaurante which I oh-so-adore, I'll do you a favor and stop right now to move on to the food...

✓ Squid Ala Vinaigrette (P185)

First on our table was this appetizer -- grilled squid that's succulent and soft but with a bite, served with a sweet, savory and garlicky vinaigrette. Every bite really whetted our palate.

Prawns Ala Parillada (P345)
Solo Meals come with free iced tea.

We also shared a solo serving of pan-fried tiger prawns in a savory yet refreshing lemon-butter sauce, of which I only took a few bites -- the woes of having eczema! Nevertheless, I enjoyed every mouthful, although crazy prawn lovers might find the serving a little bitin.

Mixed Seafoods Saute (P265)
Solo Meals come with free iced tea.

Another solo meal we had was this plate of fish, squid, shrimps and mussels sautéed in white wine, garlic and butter. This is a good treat if you love seafood but can't decide which specifically to get.

✓ Spanish Sardines Pizza (P225)

We also had this serving of thin, crispy-crusted pizza topped with Spanish sardines, bell pepper, olives, onions, cheese and pesto sauce. We thought we'd feel so full from the carb-loading, but this pizza is surprisingly light yet an adventurous ride on the palate. Even light eaters can easily down two slices or more without filling too full.

✓ Paella Negra (P495)

If we have to choose a highlight in our Rekados stopover, then it would undoubtedly be this pan-ful of squid ink paella with squid rings, bell pepper slices and flavorful aioli sauce. Every spoonful of this soft, moist and savory rice kept us begging for more! (´▽`ʃƪ)

Choco Turon Ala Mode (P95)

For dessert, we had this classic Filipino snack with a twist -- deep-fried rolls of bananas also stuffed with chocolate, and served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. 'Tis the sweet ending perfect to cap off our meal at Rekados Cafe and Restaurante.

House Blend Iced Tea (P45)

Ampaw Frappuccino (P115)

To wash down all the food we ate that day, we each had Rekados Cafe's homemade ice tea which was zesty, refreshing and surprisingly fizzy. We also tried a very unique milkshake currently offered at the restaurant. Just who would have thought of creating a creamy concoction out of ampaw -- caramelized puff rice bar? But, it works. You get creamy, milky caramel puff rice goodness with just the right amount of sweetness.

Rekados Cafe and Restaurante is already a good stopover on its own. It offers good Spanish-Filipino food and even greater ambiance. I can actually see myself just chilling here for breakfast or afternoon snack while catching up on my blog backlogs. But what makes Rekados an even more effective stopover spot before (or even after) heading to (or from) Tagaytay, is the fact that it also has pasalubong shops in the compound.

You can drop by the neighboring Gatas Station to buy fresh cow's, carabao's or goat's milk, along with other milk products.

There's also Balai Pasalubong where you can grab local delicacies to take home to loved ones.

THE VERDICT

Rekados Cafe and Restaurante is not just any other dining spot along Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay National Road. Its quaint, homey charm is enough to put any visitor in a good Tagaytay holiday mood. And do I need to mention #InstagramWorthy too? The inclusion of Gatas Station and Balai Pasalubong in the compound also makes for an eventful stopover where you can't only chill and eat, but also shop for delicacies. It's truly a one-stop shop before or even after heading to and from Tagaytay.

Taste 3.5/5
Ambiance - 5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Osaka Ohsho, SM Megamall
Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay National Road,
Silang, Cavite, Philippines
(0917) 545-5421
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