Balay Dako — Restaurant in Tagaytay

Balay Dako in Tagaytay is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking a blend of nostalgia, elegance, and authentic Filipino cuisine. From the moment we arrived, the impressive traditional Filipino mansion-style exterior evoked a sense of nostalgia and grandeur. It truly feels like stepping into a piece of the Philippines' rich cultural heritage.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were immediately struck by its beauty. The waiting room is spacious and welcoming, with a quaint little shop on the side to browse while you wait. The staff at the front were plentiful and attentive, ensuring that all guests waiting for their number to be called were comfortable. The waiting system is particularly genius—receiving a QR code from the security guard in the parking area to join the waiting list even before stepping inside was incredibly convenient and efficient.

Our party of over 20 people was thrilled to be seated with a breathtaking view of Taal Lake. The restaurant's attention to detail in presentation is commendable. Despite the size of our group, the staff managed to provide prompt and attentive service throughout our meal. The variety of dishes we ordered showcased the culinary prowess of Balay Dako.

Here are a few dishes that stood out: Bistek Tagalog: Perfectly cooked with a rich, savory flavor that delighted everyone. Fried Chicken: The unanimous favorite of our group, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Sisig: Wonderfully seasoned and cooked to perfection. Binagoongan: While delicious, we felt it could have had a stronger bagoong flavor to truly stand out. Tawilis: Fresh and crispy, a true delicacy.

We also indulged in their desserts and shakes, which were creamy and satisfying. The ice cream was particularly noteworthy, though we were a bit disappointed that the Taho ice cream was not available.

The service at Balay Dako is outstanding. Despite the busy atmosphere, the staff maintained professionalism and a sense of urgency, ensuring our needs were met promptly.

Parking is ample but can become congested quickly, so arriving early or during off-peak hours is advisable.

One highlight I forgot to mention in my earlier review is the Piaya. Balay Dako serves the best piaya I have ever tasted, hands down. It was made fresh, and the moment I took my first bite, I was blown away by its perfect balance of sweetness and flakiness. The freshly made piaya added an extra layer of authenticity and delight to our dining experience. If you visit Balay Dako, make sure not to miss out on this exceptional treat!

Balay Dako offers a wonderful dining experience with its stunning location, excellent service, and delicious food. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Tagaytay and will definitely return the next time...

We arrived at 2:00 PM with a group of 15 friends. At first, the experience was promising—the parking attendants and hostess accommodated us immediately, and once seated, the waiters quickly set up our tables, utensils, and water. Wendell, our server, took our orders: Set D with leche flan (complimentary dessert), mais con yelo (to be served later), hot chocolate, and other items. One friend also ordered bibingka and piaya for takeout for her family. Wendell repeated the orders, and I confirmed them as correct. He advised a 30-minute wait, which we understood given our group size.

However, when the food arrived, it was Set B instead of Set D. Wendell insisted we ordered Set B and mentioned he had repeated the orders, but I believe the similar sounds of “B” and “D” caused the confusion. I accepted it as a possible miscommunication and moved on. Unfortunately, the service issues continued—our mais con yelo, hot chocolate, and leche flan (supposed to be served later except for the hot chocolate) were repeatedly followed up on with no updates. We eventually asked to have the leche flan packed and cancelled the other two items due to the delays.

The takeout order was also incorrect—my friend received turon and piaya instead of bibingka and piaya. She had confirmed the items on the receipt before leaving, making the mistake more frustrating.

Hoping to end on a positive note, we asked a staff member (name unknown) to take a group photo on the balcony. Unfortunately, he made no effort to check framing or lighting; the shots turned out poorly, and he walked away without a word.

We understand the challenges of working in the service industry—many of us have worked in it ourselves—but this was not a busy day, and there were plenty of staff. A simple heads-up or apology would have made a difference. Instead, requests were ignored, mistakes went unacknowledged, and at times, the tone was sarcastic. Especially to Wendell—if you wish to provide information to a customer, sarcasm will never help. I confirmed our order because I distinctly heard “Set D”—Delta, Dog, and, unfortunately, Disappointment. Your comment, “Ma’am, rinipeat ko po yun sa’yo and nag-confirm ka. Kaya po tayo nagre-repeat orders, ma’am,” came across as both sarcastic and dismissive.

For a place with a 10% service charge and premium prices, the experience was far from worth it. The view is beautiful, but the service quality and attitude need serious improvement. If you visit, be prepared for possible wrong orders, ignored follow-ups, and...

Great find! Classic Filipino Restaurant fine-dining style with a close-up of Lake Taal in the viewing deck. Situated in an ancient house, the inside has several large old paintings depicting the Philippines, it is worth the visit for the exquisite taste. Opens 11am-9pm, Mon-Fri, and 7am-9pm on Sat-Sun. It's best to be seated at the second floor right next to the viewing deck and outdoor area, but it also has an indoor area upstairs. But if you like paintings, be seated at the ground floor level, that's where the food and servers were stationed.

Place has a free wifi which is fast enough to play a mobile game, totally useful.

Waiting time is about 30-45 minutes on a Friday afternoon. Take this time to shoot your photos at the first floor viewing deck of the Taal with the store name.

Calamares Fritos. The perfect appetizer with just the right chewiness and you can slice it by piece or eat by hand. Lovely for the wait.

Tawilis. This is the best! This fried version of the local fish bred in the fish ponds in the area tastes right! You can eat everything from the head to the tail because it's crunchy. Make your dipping sauce of vinegar and add chili.

Kare kare klasik. Really rightfully called a classic. The taste isn't overpowering and the bagoong blends well, not too strong. Came with much vegetables, twalya, and really the usual in it.

Crispy pata. Good and crispy, really worth the munch. This is the classic taste matched with the sweet and sour soy sauce onion mix.

Homemade ice cream. The flavors are the ones seen at the ice cream cart. Mostly local flavors. I tried the Quezo ice cream. Creamy milky flavor is rich yet not too sweet. It definitely feels comparable to a Häagen-Dazs for the quality. Comes with a sealed small spoon in a 1 scoop cup.

Restrooms are clean, but some of the flush don't work in the female area, so the workers are doing it manually.

Overall if you want fine-dining with a feel of the old Filipino-Spanish style ambiance, this is a must-visit for both food...