The Aristocrat Restaurant - Tagaytay City — Restaurant in Tagaytay

After reading mixed reviews, we decided to give Aristocrat in Tagaytay a try—and we deeply regretted it. We visited on a Sunday afternoon around 2:30 PM, and the restaurant was packed. However, the crowd wasn’t due to popularity but rather poor management. The staff seemed overwhelmed, bumping into each other, with many tables still waiting for their bills. No one was managing the queue, greeting guests, or taking down names, resulting in complete chaos.

We understood that it was a soft opening, but given that Aristocrat has been around since 1936 (as their posters proudly claim), we expected better organization. Despite the disorder, we decided to wait—over 40 minutes—for a table. Unfortunately, things only went downhill from there.

Service was painfully slow. It took forever just to get cold water, and we were only given one menu, which was carelessly thrown onto the table. We waited another hour for our food, constantly having to follow up on our drinks and dishes. Plates arrived inconsistently instead of all at once, making it impossible to enjoy a proper meal. To make matters worse, we noticed a table with staff acquaintances receiving priority service—seated immediately and served much faster than everyone else. Other diners voiced their frustration about the unfair treatment and general disarray.

The seating was uncomfortable, with mismatched table and chair heights. The outdoor area was unbearably hot, as sunlight poured in through the plastic ceiling panels, making the experience even more unpleasant.

On the bright side, the food was okay, and the parking staff were helpful. However, that wasn’t nearly enough to redeem the overall experience. If you’re visiting Tagaytay for a short getaway, don’t waste your valuable time here—there are plenty of...

As a foreign senior citizen, I’ve had the pleasure of dining at many restaurants across the Philippines, and I’m consistently grateful to those that honor the senior citizen discount. I make it a point to return to these establishments often two to three times a month, with my family of six, not just for the food, but for the respect and hospitality they show.

The Aristocrat Tagaytay used to be one of those places. We’ve dined there six times since their opening, spending an average of ₱3,000 per visit. However, during our most recent visit, I was informed by the cashier, not even the manager, that they would no longer honor my home country senior ID for a senior discount without a Philippine Senior ID. I found this surprising, especially considering the discount amounts to just ₱150, which we typically return to the staff as a tip.

I spoke with the manager to understand the sudden change. His response: “That’s the owner’s new policy.” I asked if he was aware of the cost of customer retention, but he admitted he wasn’t. I requested to speak with the owner, but they weren’t available.

I understand that Aristocrat Tagaytay has many customers. But I also have many choices. I expressed my disappointment and let them know I would not be returning. Some might say, “All this over ₱150?” But it’s not about the money. It’s about customer service, and the short-sightedness of a policy that disregards loyalty...

A Detailed Review of The Aristocrat Restaurant - Tagaytay (mahaba po 'to)

For starters, the restaurant is beautiful with outdoor/al fresco dining and provides good shelter and amazing exposure to air, so even when it's THIS hot, you'll somehow still feel alright.

Food wise, this place is incredible when it comes to it. It's mostly Filipino food but you'll find some other Asian inspirations here and there. One thing I will commend is that in their menu they mention whether or not something has shrimp, which is really helpful considering that a good majority of my family is allergic to shrimp. The taste of the food itself is amazing and will make you want to go back for more even if you're full. It is very clear that the food is cooked and made with love and the shakes are so incredibly fresh (note: The Banana Mango Shake tastes a lot like Banana unfortunately. No hints of mango detected for me.)

Service and Atmosphere wise—the atmosphere is nice, it makes dates or family bonding time memorable with the whole setting and decor. When it comes to the service, every table has a button you can use to get a waiter or to get the bill which makes paying a lot easier. Another thing is that they provide a receipt of what you ordered which is nice too.

Kudos to you, Aristocrat! You are truly worthy of the high 5 star...