OZARK Diner — Restaurant in Baguio

My 2nd time at Ozark and we experienced the same slow service that we had back in 2016. Since we were a big group, some of us anticipated this and pre-ordered, sending their preferences to one of the owners who was a friend. In spite of this, their orders were served an hour after arriving and we, who ordered when we arrived, waited even longer. Somewhere along the way, our order got messed up even though the server took note of it on their phone, presumably to send directly to the kitchen, as we were seated outside on the deck. The wait was so bad that our friends started to send their food over to us. Then, we found out that my husband's order was canceled and my daughter's food that she decided to wait for (in spite of the already long wait) and the server said was about to be brought out, was given to another table. My husband went to talk to the owners, one of whom was seated at the bar and the other in the kitchen. As he was explaining how upset he was about our dining experience, the owner at the bar exclaimed "If you're going to come in hot, I'm going to come in hotter!" My husband explained how he was just telling them how he felt about this disappointing experience and trying to figure out how our order got messed up. The owner behind the bar mentioned something about one of the chefs experiencing a death in the family, and while we empathize with him, it doesn't excuse what happened. The same owner said that they're friends with so and so, who also dined with us that day, but we were friends with them too, and still has nothing to do with what happened. He said they won't charge us for the order that was given away. But of course, since we didn't receive it! Wouldn't patronize an establishment whose owners were defensive, aggressive even, when we were voicing our disappointment with the situation--slow service, canceled order, order given away--and made excuses for these, even if their food was good.

Edited on 2/14/2024 to Reply to Owner's Response to my review. You can verify with RINA and Simon, that we were part of that group reservation and arrived together with them in a separate car. We were already resigned to the fact that the food would be late since the ones who pre-ordered had their food served an hour late, but the canceled order, food given away to another table and the aggressive response from the owners were just too much to take. We received the apology from your waitstaff and wanted to express our deep disappointment to you, being the owners, to make you AWARE, of what happened and how the whole situation made us, a group of families and family friends who were on vacation and out to eat a meal together feel, and to understand what happened so it can be avoided in the future. Do not make this about gender as that was not the issue. This is about your customer expressing their disappointment and you not empathizing with them and apologizing for the untoward situation instead of making excuses. That's not...

We went there for lunch and had a delightful time! We were greeted warmly by staff and seated in a lovely diner ambiance. As we walked to our table, my eye spotted some of the most tempting pies. Now, being from the U. S. Deep South (New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky) Southern cuisine is simply my thing! I’m always a bit skeptical, but the food did not disappoint. The menu is eclectic and fusion inspired. There are international and Filipino flares to many dishes - but never deviating from “that good ole southern taste.”

We had mimosas and biscuits and gravy topped with soft scrambled egg and delicious sausage. I think I finished in 30 seconds even though the portion was ample. 😀 it has been years since I sat in my Grandma’s kitchen and tested food like that. My spouse had French toast plate with some of the most delicious bacon I’ve tasted anywhere and cooked to perfection. I actually kept being interrupted with “ohhhh you gotta try this- it’s amazing. My spouse is a culinary school graduate and was a chef for Marriott for several years AND has eaten my own southern cuisine for years 😀 IMPRESSIVE.

But that’s not all. We were able to try the pecan pie (that’s pee-kahn since a pee-can is what you keep by your bed so you won’t have to go out to the outhouse in the middle of the night). It was so gooey and scrumptious with a rustic flakey crust.

The owners are so accommodating and friendly. When you go, and you must, be sure to talk with them. We live in Baguio, but would certainly travel to go to this diner. I’m sure the B and B rooms are the same quality. When we were there they were full and the guests we met were “celebrity-status” folks...

Initially, me and my fiance were just looking for the cheapest place to stay in baguio. Until we came across Albert and Chef Kevin's ad for Ozark. Being us, someone who loves food more than anything else, we went ahead and booked their place with no hesitations considering the owners were chefs!! We knew this trip is going to be awesome and it would be totally worth it for our hungry tummies!!!

We arrived a little bit early, a bit excited and a ton of hunger with us. They were kind enough to let us stay in their diner for a bit while they prepare our room.

The room was ok. Nothing that would higlight our stay. Youll prolly get a foggy view of the forest in the balcony from time to time but it is already expected.

What really made our stay special is our Hosts, the Food, and man i would defenitely say it again, their food is definitely 5 stars!!!! The conversation that went on in their diner. It felt like we had new friends!!

I will miss waking up in the morning excited for what the team will serve us for breakfast!! Hope to...