Isabelo, That Garden Resto in Marikina

I've lived in Marikina for the past 22 years. And never, have I ever thought there'd be a restaurant in my home city as lovely as this.

Isabelo Garden restaurant

Isabelo Garden Restaurant is located in the heart of Marikina. It's near the Our Lady of the Abandoned Church (where we used to hear mass since I was four) and Kapitan Moy Plaza and right behind The Shoe Museum- places I can get to with my eyes closed. If you're not from Marikina, you can tell the cab to bring you to any of these known landmarks and just ask around when your get there (it's super near, I swear). If you're bringing your own car, there's always Google Maps. Hehe. :)

Anyway, went there with my friend Dayen 'cause she's on leave and I'm... well, let's not go there. Haha.  The place is open everyday from 6pm onwards, but strictly by reservation only. They do accept walk-ins from 8am-4pm when they offer a totally different menu- Rustic Mornings, which we were able to try.

Who wouldn't wanna wake up early to rustic mornings?:)

We initially planned to go there for brunch, but we're both such night owls, woke up late and got there at 1pm. Hihi. But it's never too late to enjoy good food and good company, so chow away!

Sausage Platter. P215 

Bacon, eggs and herbed hash browns. P170.

Home brewed lemon iced tea. Yum and totally refreshing!:) Also comes in raspberry flavor. Glass/P50, bottomless/P80. 

The servings look small but they're actually very filling. :)

This was a real winner. Their homemade waffle is just gaaaah. :) Even their syrup is homemade!

Homemade waffle. Big enough to share. :) P150. 

Living up to their rustic feel. :) 

After that very hearty "brunch", and lemme just stress on the hearty 'cause I say nothing beats homemade dishes and everything here is just so effin homemade, it was time for coffee and dessert. And dessert can never go wrong, so there. :)

Everything has a perfect pair. || Sugar and milk.

Their Tiramisu cupcake is hea-ven-ly. :)  

Paired with Americano coffee and you have perfection. :)  

Just a spoonful of sugar makes the bitterness go down, bitterness go down. Sing with me! Haha.

With Yen, we can stay here and tai for hours. :))

Isabelo is owned and run by Portia Dee Baluyut who converted her lola's house into a beautiful garden restaurant, and her lola's homemade recipes into the resto's hearty menu. She says she used to work in advertising but've always dreamt of putting up her own resto. I say she did a pretty darn good job fulfilling that dream. :)

The food is great, the crew is super warm and friendly, and you can never be too shutter-happy in this place. Ah-ha!

The place really is a beauty. No two tables are alike in the whole restaurant, every set up has its own design, feel and rustic-ness (if there's such a term). What I also like about it is every table set up is placed a good distance from the others. So whether you're a couple, a big barkada, or a whole family, you'd be sure to get your own dining nook. :)

Making use of old wine bottles, scrap tiles and used McCormick bottles to turn the place into a beauty.

Indoor tables. 

I can't help it. Haha. || Staple vanity shot. 

"Isabelo was built on faith and love, and these very things are what my Mom and I would like everyone to experience and share every time they dine with us. " - Portia Dee Baluyut.

Yeah, she says it better. Haha. :)

Do drop by this place if ever you're in Marikina. :)

Roanni


Isabelo Garden Resto is located at #11 Isabelo Mendoza St., San Roque, Marikina City.
For inquiries, call 5106914 or 0917-8146824, or visit their website at http://www.isabelogarden.com/index.html. :)