CASE #035 | Rustic Mornings by Isabelo

I love you, Sabado. Pati na rin Linggo. Mas lalo na ang Linggo. Walang pasok. Walang school, walang office, walang trapik. Hay, Salamat!

Pero kumakalam ang sikmura namin at tinatamad kaming magluto. Good thing we lived in Pasig which is just a stone-throw away to this wonderful breakfast haven called, Rustic Mornings by Isabelo.

Rustic Mornings is located at 11 Isabelo Mendoza Street, San Roque Marikina City. This is near the Shoe Museum where the famous giant shoe of Marikina was displayed. 

If I remember the jeepney route correctly, you can ride jeepneys plying Amang Rodriguez Ave. with the sign Marikina Palengke or Marikina Stoplight. Just tell the driver to drop you off near the church or near the street going to the Shoe Museum. You can walk several blocks until you reach Rustic Mornings.

Kung ayaw niyo naman na maglakad pwede namang magdoble-sakay ng jeep. Get off at the Marikina Sports Center which is usually the end route of Marikina Palengke, then take another jeep going to Pasig. Dadaan ang ruta nito right in front of the Shoe Museum and Rustic Mornings which is just beside the museum.

But then again, for hassle-free commute, you can take a cab and use Waze or book a Grab car and let the driver locate it for you. Take note. The landmark is the Shoe Museum. Medyo mahirap kasi agad mapansin kasi nasa loob ng malaking bakal na gate iyong restaurant. Kaya ugaliing magbasa ng signages.

Ambiance ★★★★

Inside the gated compound was a spacious lot for parking. No need to worry if you are bringing your own car. Pero siyempre dahil hindi naman kami nag-park hindi rin namin alam kung may bayad ang parking. Hayaan niyo next time itatanong ko na. Promise!

Very nature themed ang Rustic Mornings. Ang peg niya ay garden breakfast. Al fresco. May mga tents and gazebo, may tables for big groups, may part na may bubong, pero majority outdoors. We were placed at a corner spot under a big tree. May green nylon screen that filtered the sunlight kaya hindi naman masyadong mainit. Actually, parang mga orchids iyong halaman sa paligid namin kaya greenhouse effect ang feel.

We got there at 9:00am and majority of the tables (which were in the good spots) have already been occupied. The customers were mostly families having breakfast together. There were kids, toddlers, babies, senior citizens, lahat na. For all ages.

Walang air-con sa pwesto namin pero hindi naman mainit. There were giant fans strategically placed in every corner of the place to provide ventilation. Madahon, mapuno, mahalaman, maugat, anything about nature. Pero malinis, maaliwalas, at tahimik. 

The place was secluded from the noise of the city by the high walls and gate. Atsaka iyong isang side naman ng restaurant is residential area. Iyong isang side lang naman ang fronting the main streets.

Sa pwesto namin bakal iyong chairs. Iyong pang-garden chairs talaga. But there were wooden chairs dun sa mga pwestong may bubong. Very vintage ang mga decorations, furnitures, and ornaments. 

Alam niyo iyong program sa radio na puro lumang tugtugan kapag Linggo? Ganun ang pakiramdam kapag tinignan mo iyong kabuuan ng restaurant.

Food ★★★

Their menu offers, of course, the famous Filipino breakfast: tapa, longganisa, daing na bangus. Tocino, hotdog, etc. They also have pancakes, bacon, ham, sausages, waffles, etc. Meron din namang meal na hindi pang-breakfast. They have salads, pasta, main courses, soups, etc. which you can enjoy any time of the day.

They also offer coffee in different blends and variations. Pwede brewed, cappuccino, latte, or iced. I think blended in ice din.

For us we ordered, tapa with egg and rice, tocino with egg and rice din, atsaka iyong No. 26 sa menu (pancake, eggs, bacon, and sausage). For drinks we had café mocha and brewed coffee for Hubby.

The tocino and tapa were good but ordinary. Nothing distinct. I have tried and tasted better ones. Mas bet ko iyong tapa over tocino. Pero kudos sa plating at sa servings kasi marami. Ang hirap ubusin. Nagmatakaw pa naman kami.

The bacon was great and crisp. Well, medyo biased ako lagi sa bacon kasi favorite ko ito. Although, sasabihin ko rin naman kung chaka ang lasa kasi favorite ko nga di ba? 

Iyong pancakes, as usual, medyo sandy or rough iyong feel. Alam niyo parang masyadong bubbles iyong batter kaya parang mahangin iyong loob. If you have tried those pancakes sold in the streets ganun. 

Hinahanap-hanap ko pa rin kasi iyong pancake sa Mcdo noong bata ako. (Wow, anong taon iyon?) 

Basta! Iyong pancake na super fine. Manipis lang pero siksik. Matagal na akong hindi nagpa-pancake sa Mcdonald’s so hindi ko masabi kung ganun pa rin hanggang ngayon iyong pancakes nila.

Pero hindi lang sa Mcdo eh. Meron akong hotel na nakainan na ang sarap at ang perfect ng pagkakagawa ng pancakes. Hindi ko lang maalala kung anong hotel. Kapag naalala ko, iba-blog ko rito.

Iyong sausage, sakto lang din. Nothing special. Ang standard ko kasi ng sausage iyong sausage sa Brazil, Brazil. Iyong juicy na malaki at masarap. Itong sa Rustic Mornings, hindi naman kalakihan pero hindi rin naman dyutay. Sakto naman. Maliligayahan ka naman… SA SAUSAGE! (Anong nasa isip mo? 😁)

Service ★★★★

Sakto lang rin. A staff was stationed at the reception who checks on available tables for guest. May nauna kasi sa amin so iyon muna ang inentertain bago kami. Then we were endorsed over sa isa pang staff who ushered us in that corner table.

Nagsimula lang ang struggle nung tatawag na kami ng waiter para umorder. Dahil medyo malawak iyong area at divided into sections, medyo mahirap mapansin ng waiter. Napwesto pa kami sa sulok na hindi naman usually nadadaanan ng waiters going to their counters or kitchen area. Kaya iyon, kailangan matatag ang braso mo sa pagkaway.

At kapag dumating ang waiters, orderin at hingin mo na lahat ng kailangan mo or else, magpapabalik-balik pa si Kuya. Either matatagalan siya, mababaon sa limot request mo, or titindi ang work out ni Kuya kakaikot para sadyain ang pwesto niyo.

It would also be good if you can make reservations para you can request for the best spot. Walk in lang kasi kami at iyon lang ang bakante at that time.

Sa serving time naman, medyo matagal din. Marami kasing customers and like I said, sulok pa ang pwesto namin kaya madaling makalimutan. Ay, may tao pala dun!

Hindi ko nga lang alam kapag umuulan kung paano ang diskarte nila. Green na nylon screen lang kasi ang tumatabing at nagsisilbing lilim namin. Effective din pananggalang sa mga dahon na bumabagsak mula sa puno. Pero hindi ko lang sure how effective sa ulan. Siguro meron naman silang available tents.

Hayaan niyo, try namin one time pumunta kapag bumabagyo. Kapag critical level na tubig sa Marikina River. Tapos gagawan ko ng VLOG. Reminiscing Ondoy while having breakfast. 😅

Rustic Mornings accepts both cash and credit cards. Again, hindi ako sure sa debit card kasi hindi ako gumagamit nito. Pero itatanong ko next time.

Pricing ★★★★

Sulit naman sa presyo. Maganda naman kasi ambiance, plating and all that. Marami ring servings. Mas mura kesa sa Denny’s. Mas masarap pati so viable option na. Maganda rin ito for dates kaso 8:00am to 4:00pm lang ito bukas. Afternoon date siguro pwede.

Over All Ratings = 3.75 ★

Hubby and I enjoyed our Sunday morning brekky at Rustic Mornings. Okey naman ang overall experience ko rito. 

Bagay itong place for mga titas kasi tahimik, payapa. Makakapag-usap kayo ng matino nang hindi niyo kailangan magsigawan. If you want to catch up with friends, okey rito kasi may ibang options na food at hindi lang puro kape at cakes. Mahaba-habang kwentuhan.

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All reviews are based on my own experience. My views and opinions may vary from others. If you have a different experience with this place, feel free to let us know through the comments section. The descriptions and prices mentioned are based on what I have actually encountered. It may vary from time to time or in different branches. Again, feel free to comment for updated information.