The Restaurant: Garin Farm, San Joaquin, iloilo

The Restaurant

              We arrived at San Joaquin at almost 10 o'clock in the morning and we were very much hungry so we wanted to have brunch as soon as possible. After 15 minutes of taking pictures of the farm from the main gate, we hurriedly went to the restaurant to eat. Shown in this photo is the cozy, clean, non-air conditioned, simple but elegant restaurant overlooking the farm and the pools. Its  main entrance is facing the main entrance of the Pilgrimage.

This is the inside view of the restaurant

After 20 minutes of waiting, our brunch was finally served. On the left photo, we ordered rice, lechon kawali, steamed okra, and puso ng saging ensalada paired with a cold 500-ml softdrink and mineral water. All in all we paid around P250. It was actually cheap maybe because they cooked foods from their farms products. In the afternoon, we ordered steamed bananas, ham and cheese sandwich and unsweetened mango shake for our snacks which were definitely nice for the rainy afternoon.

Egg sandwich and mango shake

                  This is the outside setting at the back of the restaurant. It was very hot and sunny when we arrived here, so after our heavy brunch we roamed around outside the restaurant. Fortunately, even if it was sunny it was still windy and not humid outside. I even observed that there were plenty of people eating their lunch outside rather than inside. From here, you can view all the houses or cages of the different farm animals that are placed along the path starting from the main entrance going up to the restaurant. In addition, you can also take in an entire view of the landscape all the way to the sea.

The cages of the various farm animals that are seen from the back balcony of the restaurant

In the afternoon, we saw these goats, young and old coming out of the farm area. We noticed these goats were very much disciplined in that they went out in a line. I guess it was eating time for them and they were to be sent to an area where there are plenty of grasses to eat. Well, whatever it was, one thing I was sure of, there were none which were left astray along the way. After a few hours, I also noticed that the goats went back to their farm house and again, and to my surprise they came back in line.

That's me standing at the front balcony of the restaurant

                The restaurant for me is admirable, the entire structure is exquisite, the area is very neat and clean, the staff are very friendly and accommodating, and the service is good . My overall rating of the place is explicitly pleasant. Likewise, the foods are the typical lutong bahay, yet very delicious and enticing. The price of the foods are cheaper than those found in the restaurants in the city. In addition, they produce their own ingredients and most of the products, so I positively affirm that the ingredients they are using are always fresh and readily available.

                     More pictures to share and stories to confess next time!

Truly, more fun in the Philippines!

Until next time, God bless!