Balud Cafe — Restaurant in Cebu

Balud Cafe – Toledo City

We visited Balud Cafe on a Saturday for a quick day trip. Finding the place was a bit tricky—we initially thought it would be just along the main road like most cafes, but it’s actually located farther down a narrow road. Surprisingly, there's a toll fee before you even reach the cafe: ₱10 for motorcycles and ₱20 for cars. No expressway, just a private road. My guess? Someone owns the right-of-way and turned it into a small business. No one really knows.

The cafe is situated beside a resort—probably under the same ownership—and boasts a stunning view of the Tanon Strait with Mt. Kanlaon in Negros visible on a clear day. The scenery is undoubtedly captivating and perfect for a peaceful pause.

That said, the space itself is quite small—probably seats around 20 people max. The ambience is pleasant, but the staff could use more training. When we visited, we were the only customers, yet it still took nearly 30 minutes for our lattes and fries to be served. Fortunately, my partner was too mesmerized by the view (she’s been wanting to visit for a while) to really notice the delay.

Overall, it's a good stopover for the view and a quick drink, but don't expect exceptional service or food. Average quality, made better by the...

The view is definitely a highlight—serene and scenic, though take note that the café itself is a bit farther from the actual shoreline. Also, if you're eyeing those poolside spots for a photo op, those belong to other properties and aren’t part of the café.

As for the food: it’s okay. Not bad, but not exactly memorable either. Prices are comparable to most city cafés, so you’re not paying less for being farther out.

My main issue was the service. The staff member who took my order was visibly distracted, watching TikTok while I was ordering. Unsurprisingly, he got my order wrong. I ended up paying more than I should have, and when I brought it up, he insisted the mistake was mine. I didn’t want to cause a scene—I get that it might come out of their pay, so I let it slide. Still, it left a bad taste.

It would also help if they set proper expectations on wait times, or at the very least gave a heads-up when something is out of stock. Without a follow-up or update, you’re just left waiting and wondering.

I drove around 51 km from Mingla to get here, hoping for a chill experience, but sadly it fell short. The vibe just didn’t hit the mark. Not sure if it was an off day, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype—for...

No matter how good the ambiance is, if employees are lousy and service is poor, repeating customers will be unlikely. Came today because I was in Toledo and saw this one on tiktok and the place was really aesthetic. When I came in theres just no enthusiasm with the cashier/waiter They are alway in their phone.

Then I read some of the reviews here about the lousy service. A few customers have been reviewing and commenting about the service but sadly no action from the owner I guess.

Sad thing is, if there's no owner or management that attends the business, employees will likely to slack off.

Too bad there is no proper management in this establishment. This place could have easily been great.

Our food came in 45mins after we order. And we only order 3 foods that are very basic to cook- sisig,...