If you’re looking for a perfect place to enjoy good food and your date’s company privately without nosy waiters lurking around or other diners buzzing nearby, then My Mother’s Garden is the perfect spot to go to. A Garden of Eden in the city, My Mother’s Garden is surely a romantic paradise inside a bustling district.
Situated along a street where no one would have thought that such a good private dining experience awaits, My Mother’s Garden is a cozy spot that is sure to make your partner’s heart leap in bliss (*wink wink*).
Going down from MRT Taft station, you will see Metro Point Mall. Beside it is a small street where tricycles abound. The place is quite famous in the area so just mention its name to the tricycle drivers and you will reach that piece of heaven in the metro in no time.
The place looks like a typical subdivision-type house from the outside, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see a fine-dining restaurant which you might be expecting to see instantly. The gates were even closed when we arrived there, making me think that we might have gone to the wrong place. But just a few calls and it opened, and someone escorted us inside where the garden filled with tables and candles emerged from our view.
Around five to six tables were set in the garden while probably another half dozen were in the indoor dining area. We arrived there for dinner, and so to not risk being bitten by mosquitoes or other insects outside, we decided to settle for the indoor table.
While waiting for our food, we surveyed the place and eventually found out that the house was actually designed by national artist for architecture, Pablo Antonio Sr.
Antonio’s most prominent works include the Manila Polo Club, National Children’s Hospital, and the De La Salle chapel, among others. The bungalow style house was built in 1948 and was eventually turned into a private dining restaurant. No doubt the place was a feast for the eye.
Soon the food started pouring in at our table, where a fresh looking green salad came first, accompanied by a mango dressing. The salad was a great way to start the meal, and the mango dressing was a perfect punch with its slightly sweet taste.
It was then followed by a pair of flat and spaghetti noodles with a separate black olives sauce and a chorizo sauce. I tried the red chorizo sauce first and it happened to be my type, meaty and flavorful. The black olives sauce, on the other hand, failed to impress my taste buds with its strong olive flavor.
We really had no idea of what’s coming on the menu for the night so out of my hunger, I tried to eat more of the pasta and placed another spoonful of the chorizo sauce on top of it. But that, as I soon found out, was the worst move I probably did for the entire night.
A couple of minutes later, all hell broke loose as food literally started raining on our table. Four pieces of steamed prawns came in, white rice went next, and then brown rice with diced mangoes followed, and finally the mustard chicken. I thought the food assault would never stop, but hey, who’s complaining?
The prawns were fresh, and were even better when dipped in vinegar. The mustard chicken was succulent and tasty, with that indescribable flavor ranging from a chicken pastel sort to a chicken ala king. The chicken was also so soft that it almost came off from its bone.
By this time though, I was already feeling a bit full with the dishes, so I only tried a couple spoonfuls of the brown rice. The white rice, however, remained untouched.
The bottomless fresh fruit juice (with a bit of champagne I guess) did not fail to satisfy our thirst and provide a refreshing feeling every time I wanted to give up from eating.
But the food parade did not end there, as a variety of tarts came sweeping at our table. It was a perfect finale for a delectable and satisfying meal. However, we happened to try only one slice because of our already bursting tummies, and have brought the rest at home.
Overall, the dishes were not that exceptional to knock you off your taste buds, but they are delicious enough, particularly the mustard chicken and the pasta with chorizo sauce, to satisfy those craving stomachs. And for only P700 per person, it was well worth it with the quality and quantity of the food, not to mention the excellent service of their waiters.
The ambience, however, was at a different level. My Mother’s Garden was a perfect romantic private dining experience where you and your special someone could eat, drink, laugh, and enjoy together without having to worry or be conscious of the people around you. And unlike other private dining places which are often dark and gives you that sort of a gloomy feeling, the place is well-lit and well-designed making it a perfect romantic getaway to celebrate those special occasions.
My Mother’s Garden is located at 2650 Zamora St., Pasay City. And please do reserve even a day before you visit by calling 831-8407.
—mr. eaturista—
eaturistas 