Eating Out for a Picky Eater Local

A week ago when we went to see the Christmas animation display at government center,
I had this longing to eat garlic rice. I've tried it before to no avail and since I am still
not very satisfied with the local restos variant here, (mostly, it just turns out to be a fried rice) I am out to find a recipe online.

As I was searching for the garlic rice, I tried to remember what resto did I like this one best. My search led me to Tago-tago Floating Restaurant in Legazpi City, Albay.
Ah..!The three restos that I loved during our stay there. They sure hold nice memories of my short stay.

Colonial Grill (corner Rizal St. and Aurora St.)

This place has the grilled tuna that resembled close to home.
I had this impression that tuna is more expensive in Legazpi than it is Puerto Princesa.
One time that I went there for my fill, they said that they out of tuna and that the next
delivery will be a day or two later. Hah! I wouldn't hear that info if I were in my hometown. Perhaps, they're out for today but there will surely have it the next day.

One more special thing about this place is that it is where hubby and I had dinner right after we got the lab result that I was pregnant. I went there to satisfy my craving for tuna and it is also where I called my Mom to inform her of the news. Memories.

Location:
Old downtown Albay. Looks like a old house turned into a resto. You have to take stairs. I cannot remember what was on the first floor. It has wooden floors which we reallyliked.

Small Talk Cafe (on Aurora Street, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Legazpi-City-Philippines/Small-Talk-Cafe/186176090111)
051 Doña Aurora St., Legazpi City
(63-52) 480-1393, 820 1477, +63 917-5583275
Email: smoltok_cafe@yahoo.com

Location: Just a few steps from the Grill resto, this looks like another old house converted into a resto.
Despite the fact that it's just a few yard from the city main street, Rizal St., it still lies in a residential-looking area. You might actually miss it if it weren't for the signage. For that matter, it made me feel like a trespasser at first. hahha! Sort of exclusivity. Upon entering, we were greeted with a very loud color on the walls. Ah! It wasn't that intimidating after all.

For our pizza and pasta cravings, we would head to this place specially when we are not yet very hungry. It is not a fast food pizza place anyway. I don't exactly remember
what our favorite dish from the Bicol Italian fusion pastas on the menu which are not that spicy at all. The spiciness, if there was any, suits me just fine. On the other hand, my husband would still need to crush the chili if there is any. But to be honest, what really brought me back to this place was the cheesecake. Such a sweet tooth that I am.


Tago-tago Floating Restaurant (Bgy. San Roque, Legazpi City;Tel. No. (63-52) 820-0202, 480-0202)

Location: True to it's name, which means hidden, it is on the outskirts of the city. Going there and actually looking for the place make you wonder if you're really going to a decent restaurant at all. The roads is long and narrow. Even though it's paved, I had this impression that it's located in a very crowded residential area. The road is winding and one should have his own ride to get there. Either you have your own vehicle or hire the usually present tricycles. In such cases as the latter, better have the rate secured first before starting off. This was a few years ago so the transportation note might not apply anymore.

The restaurant has floating cottages on the pond, good for 4 or so people. Not too many or you might just sink. Haha! Just my imagination, that is. The water looks green and it makes me think of mosquitoes. Good thing the cottages has screens so you can at least eat in peace. These cottages gives a lot of privacy for couples out on a date!

The food that led me back to this is the garlic rice. Theirs was also a bit of fried rice variety, yet it still tasted good. As for the other dishes that I've tried there, I can't remember them now anymore. Sorry.

~~
La Roca Food Garden (Brgy. 38 Gogon Legazpi City; Tel. No. (63-52) 820-2305)
Another place that we got to try at that time was the La Roca Food Garden. Pretty spacious place with an upscale ambience. What I do remember is that they serve shabu-shabu. That's it.

For a quick ran off from the list of other eats that I can remember:

Boklan - got old Chinese resto ambience, quite busy place for families and groups, and good tasting pancits
Benjo's Pizza - they were on our phonelist for quick pizza eats, almost an American style dishes
Biggs Diner - quick eats too, American Diner style, just a bit crowded space though (the one on the Legazpi Center, that is)
Cres Snack Inn - if my memory of the name serves me right, this was the place where we got to eat regular home dishes
at reasonable price, it has Chinese-Fil style of place, and WE love their vege CHOPSUEY.
~~~..~~..~~~..~~~..~~~~..~~~..~~~~~

IN continuum of restos, let me head over to a place closer to home now.

There are a lot of new restos around here nowadays. But I'll try to list my fave places first. Be warned that this list will not include any popular seafood hunts for most people because I hardly eat any seafood except fish. No seashells like crabs, lobsters and alike. These are also located downtown, running from end to end of the main street, Rizal Ave. All are not exactly the it, but a block or two off. All in safe distance from the pier or the airport.

Ima's - good-tasting vegetarian dishes, freshly cooked (that means you may have to wait a bit, but it's worth it),
mid-range prices, cozy place
Balai Inato -Pinoy grilled Chix and chix galore, plus other side dishes of course
Balinsasayaw - we're almost a regular at this place, whenever I don't want to cook at home. hahaha!
- another Pinoy grilled chix galore, just a tad cheaper than inato, and has a wider range of food on the menu
Neva's Place - for our pizza and pasta fill, at a VERY reasonable price, and homey ambience (the place was actually where the owner used to live before, if I am not mistaken)
Pizzito - 24-hour Pizza place locate very near the airport, looks like a franchised chain, neat pizza, love their cone pizzas, almost fast food-style prices, and cold ambience, not a place to go to when very hungry and on a budget, good place for a quick bite at a price, with less crowd compared to the bigger fastfood chains.


Extras along Rizal Ave.

Native Fil Food:
a. Backyard Grill - gone were the days, live acoustic music at times, evenly spaced cottages in an open area
b. Bilao't Palayok - alternative place if I get tired of Balin or Inato, reasonable price
c. Saris Baryo - been there once and nothing special to make me go back again
d. Ka Lui - need I say more with the reputation of this place? everybody puts this at a pedestal ;)
e. *Ati-atihan Chix - it's a bit off the main road building that's why it seldom cross my mind to try it whenever I'm hungry ;)

Fusions, etc.:
*Lotus - Jap, Fil, Asian Fine Dining (daw), good location as it is beside Ka Lui's but still won't beat the more senior one in terms of patrons. :0
E-republik - More eclectic menu, tried a safe vegie dish and was not satisfied, nothing special in my opinion
- It also has acoustics, and ah! it's a bar, and I'm not so big on that.
*Fresh Cafe - a bit pricey, with a pretty cool looking building, still have to taste the food though.
Itoy's Cafe - a bit pricey but tasty ;)
Jo's Chix - another grilled chix place, an alternative to Balin and Inato

Food chain branches along Rizal Ave. :
Shakey's - the only true American pizza place
Jollibee - need I say more?
Chowking - need I say more?
Mang Inasal - another chix house, this time from a food chain, they have unlimited rice option, the chix itself is has nothing very special for me though. Bacolod Inasal still tastes better.