Café Juanita

To say that this restaurant has very interesting interiors is an understatement. Some may find the whole concept enchanting, while others may think it kind of creepy. My big question is how on earth do they keep each lamp shade, each figurine or curiosity item dust-free?

Anyway, we only had two main dishes because the servings are really huge, so they're ideal for a group of officemates or a big family with balikbayan relatives. The Deep-Fried Lapu-Lapu with Tamarind Sauce is one of the bestsellers but for me it's just alright. Same goes for the Two-Way Pork Adobo Ribs. The desserts for me were the saving grace. The Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Special Cassava Cake were both yummy. Personally, I think people come here for the ambience more than the food. Overall, it's worth a try for adventurous foodies. Only major turn-off would be the parking space, or the lack of it.

Im not a big fan of Filipino-Spanish food so i wasn't at all excited when i first visited this place. Upon entrance, however, the interior looked wonderful. The gypsy like ambience with soft lighting is perfect for a romantic date. The place sets out a distinct feeling so if you, like me, has never been a follower of Filipino-Spanish food then at least go there and enjoy the ambience, its like a magical experience.

Crème Brulee
For Karen, desserts come first. This was the first dish that came out. Only Carla and her touched it since I didn’t want to easily ruin my appetite with sugar.

Catfish and Mango Salad
I almost finished this dish, as this is also a usual order when I’m dining here. The catfish meat was crunchy and meaty and it wasn’t oily at all.

Kare-Kare
The sauce can be thicker but no other complaints.

Pork Binagoongan
The bagoong had the right balance of salt and sweetness. The pork was fried to make the skin crispy as oppose to the usual way of cooking it, which is broil.

Stuffed Laing
A must-order on my next visit

Two-Way Adobo
I didn’t touch the meat but I ate a lot of the pork flakes/floss on top, which is the “other way” to cook it.

The elegance and Filipino-Spanish charm is displayed in the interior elements of the restaurant, Café Juanita. This refined place serves wonderfully creative dishes, which is a unique mix of cuisines and offers service that is professional and attentive. Illuminated only by soft lighting, the restaurant might just be owned by a gypsy. It had several items like lamps that are up for sale –some looked antique. The distinct pieces feels like it has heritage.

There is not one dish yet that I’ve tried in Café Juanita that I did not love. It is one of the top three Filipino restaurants that I’d go to in a heartbeat. They use combinations of ingredients that complement each other and open the senses to something new and magical.