Tapsilog Cantina — Restaurant in Santa Clara

Been supporting both locations since they've opened but this is the first time "reviewing" Taps Cantina. Been traveling lately so I've been on the road craving authentic good 'ol local Pinoy food. Right off the plane from my last trip I headed to Cantina. And it HIT THE SPOT. Just what i needed. As much as i want to try all the great new combos this location has (and there's plenty of choices) I always defer back to the 2 or 3 meat -silog combos. This time, went with Corned beef hash and Bifstek. The hash I ALWAYS get so it hit the spot as usual and the Bifstek they cooked perfectly, juicy and well marinated and seasoned. Thought I was going to need some sauce to supplement the beef but nope! It was perfect!

Another added bonus and recent observation - Uncle Ed puts a lot of thought into his businesses from the lights outside of this restaurant to give it an elegant lively vibe, the chill outside seating area with Island Reggae or Top 40 music playing while patrons dine, to the overall ambience of the place, its decorations and something as simple as ( i dont see alot of Filipino restaurants do this) its chalkboard menu display with its extensive offerings. Uncle Ed makes both restaurants cool, hip, inviting and most importantly delivers on great authentic (with sprinkles of modern fusion) Filipino cuisine. Job well done Uncle Ed and Staff! Always supporting!

**PS I wanted to give 4.5 stars but for some reason my phone or app wasnt allowing me to do so 🤷🏻‍♂️. I really like this location vs the original one mostly because its bigger and spacier and has a more extensive menu with combos. The original is still solid and the OG one so you can't go...

The restaurant has a small parking lot, which is convenient for those driving. The restroom is located in a different part of the building, but you can easily get a key from a worker. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating options. However, indoor seating is somewhat limited, so you might want to consider outdoor seating if the weather is nice.

I've been coming to this place for years, but I feel the quality has declined over time. The prices are unbeatable, which is a plus, but the flavor isn't quite there anymore. I ordered the kare kare lunch special, and it was very watery with mostly vegetables and not much meat. This was disappointing as I was expecting a richer, more flavorful dish. On the bright side, their garlic rice is still good and very garlicky, which I love! The lumpia that came with the meal tasted good, but it wasn't as crispy as I would have liked. It's a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to the food.

The service here is excellent! The workers are super friendly and attentive, always making sure you have what you need. I love the family-run business vibe they give off, which makes the dining experience feel warm and welcoming. It's clear that they care about their customers and want to provide the best service possible.

Despite the decline in food quality, I would still visit this restaurant to support small businesses. The atmosphere and service make it a pleasant place to dine, even if the food is just okay. If you're looking for a friendly, family-run restaurant with unbeatable prices, this place is worth a visit. Just keep in mind that the food might not be as flavorful...

The cashier who was taking orders was sooo RUDE!!!! I will NEVER go back here or recommend this place to ANYONE based on his horrible service alone! It was mine and my family’s FIRST time here and we were so excited to try this place for the first time but our excitement quickly turned into disappointment. I reached into a cooler where people were helping themselves to sodas etc. and I grabbed a soda as I walked to the counter… As I’m about to order, a beer can had fallen down inside of the cooler and because I was the last one to open the fridge I was quickly BLAMED for the beer can falling! The cashier was pointing his fingers at me and accusing me to my husband that I dropped the beer can in front of the whole restaurant I was so embarrassed! He was extremely rude to us and gave us dirty looks! Definitely not the way to handle that situation at all! It’s very sad that a place who serves great food has such a rude employee who lacks basic customer service skills.(Not even a HELLO, a smile, a welcome in, a what can I get for you, NOTHING) I suggest you get rid of him, especially as cashier/waiter because he is the “face” of your business and he is not the person you want to represent your restaurant! On your tables you have a sign that says “Welcome Home” Let me tell you that if you came to my home and I treated you the way I was treated yesterday, you would NEVER want to come to my home ever again!!!! I did not get a name but he might’ve been of...