I don’t usually fall for the hype or rather fooled by the hype. I mentioned this even on my previous post. For new places around, I stopped reading reviews by sponsored bloggers and influencers, it’s credible to get recos from customers who actually pays for the food they eat becos the experience is more likely to be sincere and true, no sugar-coating at all. No offense meant to my co-bloggers but when you attend an event and eat for free it’s very rude to give a resto a negative feedback after all, more so event attendees are given a press kit so they can just copy and paste the whole thing.
Last June I started seeing photos of this new café in Tagaytay with a windmill as its selling factor to attract customers, it’s themed Dutch barn according to their fb page. Hillbarn Café and Restaurant is truly picture-perfect and very instagrammable, how can you pass? And then I saw a friend dined just days ago, so I asked her how was it? Food was ok to her and place was great. So, even if I had hesitations and buts I gave it a go. Hahaha. I booked our visit to celebrate my cousin, Irish, 35+ birthday. We planned to brunch but ended having something for lunch because everyone ordered mains (meat to be exact) except Sam who ordered a sandwich.
At around 10ish there were plenty of diners already occupying the 3 levels of the café. We were given a seat at the 3rd level, the least appealing dining area because it’s just table and chairs, I can almost hear my youngest niece say, not “aesthetically” positioned. 😛 When the staff handed us the menu, she informed us right away that almost half of what’s on the menu is actually unavailable that day, even a mean salad. So, at least that give justice why we were forced to order the expensive platters instead of the basics —light, brunch items.
Che & Irish ordered the Pork Chop. At P500.00 you get a big cut of porkchop, with cherry tomatoes and a very thin serving of garlic mashed potato beneath the pork.
Steak Fries P1,050.00. Sirloin steak, sautéed mushroom, French fries with peppercorn sauce.
I ordered the Steak Fries becos the staff said it’s good for two, I thought ze husband and I can just split the order but no, an average eater can actually wipe the plate so we ended getting another plate of Pork Chop. Good thing, I also got us an order of rice, it’s a separate order by the way unlike in most resto around Tagaytay (like Bag of Beans and Deli de San Honore, two of my favorites) rice or mashed potato always come as a side so you just have to choose. Even Marcia Adams they have rice on their main courses becos Pinoy loves rice, it’s life! 😊
Smoked Salmon sandwich P550.00. Smoked salmon, puff pastry, cream cheese, fresh arugula, sautéed tomatoes with fresh lemon wedge. (photo courtesy of our dear ati Sam kaya hindi masyadong estetik 😛 )
Sam skipped the main course and go for the sandwich, we didn’t really read thoroughly that the Smoked Salmon was an open-faced sandwich using a puff pastry. It was good according to Sam only that it’s too nakakasuya becos of the thick cream cheese plus she says it’s best served if there’s a side salad or something that can break the salty flavors. Apakatipid naman kasi nila sa pa-lettuce 😦
Che also ordered a Blueberry Cheesecake ice blended drink, at P270 I find it pricey. We skipped coffee & dessert because I’m not really impress with the food. Sorry but I was expecting something more, something similar but not actually the same to my favorite Tagaytay restos, you know.
Hillbarn is truly aesthetically built, pictures won’t lie. And the kuya who manages the parking knows the best angle. 😀
Salamat for volunteering to capture this one. ♥
Mandatory birthday photo 😛 me part 2 pa yarn. Happy Birthday, Empleng!
Not far from Hillbarn we drove to the neighboring town. Known as the Coffee Capital of the Philippines, Amadeo is close to my heart because this is home to my maternal families. I heard so many stories from my folks, their growing up in this quiet town and so much more. I wasn’t surprised as well that ze wandering husband was familiar with the place and he knows where Café Amadeo is without Waze. To be continued…
I’m cutting my monologue here becos it’s taking long for me to update this blog. I’ve been on a busier schedule becos it’s nearing quarter end again and work is too much even with a prioritised task list plus my domestic duties doesn’t seem to lighten. Gawd!
But despite being busy I managed to squeeze a quick vacay up North during the first week of August and I’ve been going out a lot, with family and friends.
Quotang quota ako last August! 😛 Btw, Manila traffic got really worst after the school started it’s face to face classes and I can’t imagine myself back in Manila battling all the hassles of the city life. I love my work, I love this set-up but I need some time off, I need a breathing space to get me thinking of what’s next. Ciao!
P.S. had another quarterly date with ze husband before the ghost month ended, a reminder to self to write very often hehehe…
Hillbarn Cafe & Restaurant
Daang Luma Rd, Kayabagal North
4120 Tagaytay City, Philippines
january 