Locavore Estancia — Restaurant in Pasig

I recently had the chance to dive back into Filipino cuisine, and overall, it was a pretty decent experience. After being away for so long, I wasn't sure what to expect, especially since my palate had become a little more accustomed to other flavors. That said, the meal was satisfying, and I ended up with a full belly, which is always a good sign.

The food itself was delicious, no doubt about it. Filipino cuisine has a unique balance of savory, tangy, and sometimes sweet flavors that I definitely appreciated. Even though I was away for a while, the dishes brought me right back to some comforting, familiar tastes. The standout for me was definitely the pork—tender, juicy, and full of flavor. It was cooked perfectly, with just the right amount of seasoning that made each bite incredibly satisfying. Whether it was the crispy skin or the tender meat inside, the pork was absolutely delicious.

That being said, I do have to admit that, after being away from Filipino food for so long, my taste buds weren’t as tuned to some of the stronger, more distinct flavors of the cuisine. Some of the dishes felt a little more intense or rich than I remembered, and while it was all still tasty, it took me a moment to adjust. I could tell that Filipino food has a lot of boldness, and for someone who’s been away for a while, it was a bit of a flavor shock at first. But once I got past that, I really started to enjoy it again.

The meal left me feeling full and satisfied, which is always a sign of a good dining experience. The portions were generous, and everything was cooked with care. The variety of textures and flavors, from the crispiness of the pork to the tenderness of the other dishes, created a really enjoyable meal. While I might need a little more time to get fully re-acclimated to Filipino cuisine, there’s no denying that the food here is well-prepared and full of love.

Overall, I’d definitely return, especially for that amazing pork. Filipino cuisine is one of those things that, even if you’re not totally in the mood for it, can still surprise you with its warmth and deliciousness. If you’re a fan of rich, flavorful dishes, this place will definitely...

Fusions are finicky things, and Locavore demonstrates this with some tasty hits and confusing misses in its Filipino fusion offering. Stopped by for dinner and got a number of dishes.

The Hits: Sizzling Sinigang: I get why this is one of their signature dishes. The beef is tenderly braised, and the sampaloc gravy makes the dish different and new. Fried Oyster Sisig: Some might find this too spicy but I loved the strong flavours. Was worried the oyster taste and texture would get lost but it wasn't. Pusit Kare Kare: While the peanut sauce could have been stronger and more generous, the stuffed pusit was tasty and well cooked (not rubbery) and the crispy noodles were a surprisingly delightful base.

The Misses: Salted Egg Gabi Chips: A mess. The chips were soggy and the gabi flavour was too indistinct. Also could hardly taste the salted egg since it apparently conjealed at the bottom. Street Food Platter: What I think was supposed to be elevated fish balls, squid balls, kwek kwek and kikiam just ended up being overpriced versions of the original without the same homey simplicity. Lumpia: Bland. Was expecting more from the promise of lumpia with salted egg and tinapa. Halo-Halo: Weirdest dish of the night. I get they were being inventive. But oranges, kiwi and corn have no place in halo-halo. Chocnut Shake: First sip was magic. then after that was meh, since the chocnut taste was too faint.

Service was pretty efficient. Space is lovely, albeit the music is a bit loud. Prices are high. I get why some people love this place...

Food was always a treat. It was not my first time here, but it was my first time reviewing the place. Filipino food with a little twist.

Ordered Oyster Palabok, Boneless Lechon Belly, Gising gising. Et al... The Oyster Palabok was the surprise of this visit, and it was very much our favourite, well-balanced flavours, and the texture is a palabok. Looking at it, it does not look like the palabok that you are used to as the colour was a bit off. But once we place it in our mouth, you know its palabok, but it tastes even better because of the oysters. A must try if you haven't

With regards to the 2 other ulams (Boneless Lechon Belly, Gising gising), nothing special, to be honest. They taste just like your regular dishes.

The atmosphere is cosy as the interior is adored with darker walls, and the lighting uses amber colored lights. Table spacing is not cramped and will not give you a crowded room feels.

Pricing is on the high side about p700 per pax. The quality of the food matches the price. Portions is a bit small.

Their staff are not as attentive to their customers as one could expect. From the time we entered to the time we were about to order to the time we will be checking out. We had to call out their waiters for almost a minute. They were so busy, most of the time, they were just too focused on what they were doing, and it is borderline ignoring us. They should have a extra staff/manager attending to what their...