Manduto Cafe and Restaurant at Pinewoods Gold and Country Club

This is the view from the restaurant. It has tables available outside so that's where we chose to sit. I'm not sure if they manage the restaurant by the skating rink at the park where we usually go but it has a different name. However, I see the same people running both restaurants.

It was a gloomy morning when we went to Manduto for breakfast. There were only a few tables occupied, a big group inside and another smaller group on the table next to us.

I tried Googling for Manduto and what it means but I'm coming up with nothing. I'll keep that in mind to ask the meaning of the word the next time we go there. This is my first time to dine here in this restaurant.

Pinewoods is a subdivision but also has a golf club. A road runs in the middle of it which is accessible to the public and it serves as a diversion road, a quicker route for those who live around the area. It's also frequented by health enthusiasts and it's where I go for long walks before.

If you notice in the photo above, our apartment is located behind the mountain in the background, probably 4-5 kms away.

From the main road, the driveway to the golf course goes downhill. The restaurant is on the left.

Here's something for #alwaysaflower. Young trees line up the driveway along with other flowering plants.

This is the restaurant's driveway and entrance.

Personnel waits by the foyer where you need to register and have your temperature checked. This was a time when establishments just started opening up again.

To the right are shops just like this RTW shop. A small display of other goodies is displayed in front of an empty office.

Reminders for golfers can also be read on this notice. Sorry but no pets allowed.

I didn't go exploring that area. We went straight to find a seat instead.

The dining hall is wide and spacious. Natural lights flood the area which is nice thanks to the glass doors and walls facing the golf course. I also like the cove lighting. I can imagine how this place looks like when it gets dark.

I was hoping to get more shots for #reflections but failed.

If you notice in the photos, the other diners are photographed on the right side of the photos.

Different kinds of furniture can be seen but most are made of wood. I like how simple and minimalist the interior is. So clean and neat.

Here's the menu of the restaurant.

The opposite page lists the drinks and desserts they have but I forgot to take a photo of it. We opted for Binagoongang Bagnet (crispy pork belly with shrimp paste), Laing ([ˈlaʔɪŋ] LAH-ing) with Fried Dilis (taro leaves and meat cooked in coconut milk with anchovies) and steamed rice.

While waiting for our order, I took the photos above and more.

So tempting desserts! It's always a struggle to choose which one but we settled for cookies and cream. I mean, not me but my partner did. I just took a spoonful or two enough to satisfy the palate.

It wasn't a long wait before our order arrived.

Look how crispy those are. Crunchy and delicious. I also like that they added eggplants and chili in there and garnished it with leeks. All of these are laid on a sea of shrimp paste.

This is a perfect combination. Imagine the texture and taste coupled with hot steamed rice.

I enjoyed every bite of that.

Then finish it off with something sweet. I would have wanted to have coffee there but we decided against it and went in search for a place for coffee.

For the pork belly, it costs PHP345.00 (USD6.25) and the taro costs PHP275.00 (USD4.95). The food serving indicated in their menu stated one serving is good for 3. If you are stretching it, yes, but this is only good for 2 or possibly just one. It is expected that prices at this kind of restaurant will be pricey but I wasn't expecting the portion to be like that. I am used to serving of other restaurants with the same quality of food yet their portion is almost double, if not double.

There's always a good side and a bad side in everything for most of the time we can't have it all. Was I satisfied and would I recommend it? Yes! It's still a great place to dine but not for those who are on a budget. I don't know if it is not as busy as the other hours of the day but this would be a perfect spot for sunset viewing on a good day if you want to make your experience here more memorable. I have passed the road here many times and chanced by sunset on some of those times.

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