La Granja Café Restaurant — Restaurant in Tagaytay

I rarely write negative reviews, but my recent experience at this restaurant was so disappointing that I feel compelled to share. While the place itself is nice and the food is good, the service and overall treatment of guests were absolutely unacceptable. Unwelcoming Arrival – From the very beginning, the atmosphere felt uninviting. The guard at the entrance asked where we were going as if checking if we had reservations, even though this restaurant doesn’t even accept reservations. It immediately set the wrong tone. Event Questioning – Upon entering, the staff asked if we had an event. I initially thought it was part of their hospitality spiel to celebrate with guests, but instead, we were bluntly told they don’t accept events. I clarified we were just here to dine like any other guest, yet the exchange made us feel unwelcome. No Consideration for Guests’ Needs – We had a small 8” round cake with us (not for the restaurant, just a personal item). We were told we couldn’t bring it inside, which we respected. I politely asked if they could at least keep it somewhere so it wouldn’t melt in the car during lunch. Their answer was a straight “no,” with excuses that others might see—even though we were seated alone on one side of the restaurant. I even suggested placing it discreetly in their pantry, but they said they had “no space.” This showed zero consideration for guests. Service Failures – When I asked about available sodas, the server said he would offer it to everyone. No one came back to do this. Later, instead of following through on our set beverage options, they offered everything, which unnecessarily inflated our bill. Unreasonable Rules on Photography – We brought a friend who happens to be a photographer. He had no bulky equipment, just his camera, and was simply taking personal photos for us. Staff told him to stop and even asked if he had a permit. This was ridiculous and again made us feel like we were doing something wrong, when in reality we were just enjoying our meal. Double Standards – Throughout our experience, staff were extremely strict with us, yet on the other side of the restaurant, they were clearly hosting an event—with loud music and a full program that disrupted our dining. So apparently, events are allowed—just not for ordinary paying guests like us.

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Final Thoughts: To the owner: I sincerely hope you look into how your staff are trained to treat customers. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the food is good, but the way guests are handled is downright inhospitable. Rules seemed selectively applied, service was careless, and basic requests were refused without empathy. Honestly, it felt like the message was: “Just don’t eat here.”

Until these issues are addressed, I cannot recommend this place to anyone looking for genuine...

I see that some of the reviews doesn't seem good. We only went there once and we had a great time. We arrived at around 11:30 AM on a Sunday (pay day weekend).

Experience: Upon arriving, the parking attendant immediately radio-ed the front desk about how many we were. There was a good amount of parking slots. The place wasn't 100% full when we got there though. When we got to the front desk, we were asked to sit and wait for our table to be ready. We waited approximately for a minute or two.

When we went to our table, menu was provided immediately. When I called for the waiter, we were attended immediately as well. Placing our order was a breeze.

We ordered Classic Bulalo, Fried Boneless Bangus, Dinakdakan, French Fries and Mango Shake. Wasn't able to time how long it took the food to arrive but my estimate is somewhere between 10 and 15 mins. I usually have short patience and I didn't feel that it took them long.

When we asked for the bill, it didn't took them long either to hand the bill. We paid in cash. They don't accept card payment but they accept GCash.

We took home our left overs. They packed it well.

Food:

Everything we ordered was great. Portions were big. What we ordered can fit for a group of 4. We were only two.

The beef in bulalo was tender. The flavor was great.

The fried boneless bangus was superb. It was crispy on the outside which seems to have some light breading. The meat was flavorful. The fish doesn't have muddy taste. I'd say this is my favorite among what we ordered.

The dinakdakan was great also. I can't distinguish if its mayonnaise or real pig's brain but the flavor was on-point. It had the right acidity which one expects in an authentic dinakdakan. The smoky flavor was there as well becuase the meat and liver was grilled. It could use a bit more spiciness but I guess that can be easily adjusted if you ask for extra chilis.

The fries were think and cooked just right. There was a light crunch on the outside and the inside was soft. It was seasoned just right as well.

Mango shake was fresh. It was real mango and not just some powedered flavoring.

Price: Paid 3,600 for our meal (including 3 cups of rice). For the ambiance, service, quality and protion of food, I'd say the price equates what you get from them.

Will definitely go back if we are in tagaytay. Hopefully, we get the same level of service and...

La Granja Cafe Restaurant is situated in the heart of Tagaytay City. It is quite far from the city proper, and not located in the usual main road. It's a fine dine in restaurant that focuses mostly on Filipino delicacies. The ambiance of the place is cool, cozy, and family-oriented.

Price is ranging from PhP250 to PhP3000+ per dishes that are good for sharing. They offer a variety of food selections. We are 13 in the gathering, and we ordered the following foods:

Mango Salsa with Tortillas - underrated. If you like spicy food, it's a good one. Ensaladang Mangga with Bagoong Classic Bulalo Pork SInigang Family size crispy pasta Their signature laing with crispy magnet - highly recommended. Their style is almost like a "Bicol" one so you know that it's quite spicy, but at good level. Fried boneless bangus Pork sisig - a tasty one! A must try! Sweet and Sour Tanigue Whole Fried Chicken (quite salty but tastes fine) Veggie Kare kare with crispy bagnet (so - so) Bagoong rice Steam Rice Tuyo Fried rice

It's a lot, and we still have some leftovers which we take out. They are charging 10% service charge as well, but their service is recommendable. From the time that you entered their restaurant, the security guard will assist you with a full smile. The receptionist as well will greet you nicely, up to the servers who will ensure that they can cater to all your needs / requests.

Their mode of payment is only through cash, GCASH, or Maya... during our visit, credit card or debit card payment isn't available. I hope they'll have it soon.

All in all, it's quite a good experience, especially if you are looking for a place that is quite quiet, far from the city proper, or for family / friends...