Place: ✅great ambiance ✅w/parking Must try: ✅cakes and pastries ✅Gamberoni - sauce is flavorful and serving is good for sharing (2). Service: ✅Good
Went to the new location for the first time and it still has the charm of the old place. Had Gene's Argentine special (very flavorful and meat was tender) and callos. For dessert I went with the chocolate cake which was moist and decadent. In the era of malls and fastfood, there is something to be said about standalone restaurants such as Cafe Ysabel.
We went to Cafe Ysabel on an afternoon, but I can only imagine the place to be a perfect romantic date spot at night.
The cafe wasn't that jam-packed, since it's kind of out-of-the-way from the Greenhills mall area. No server greeted us as we entered, but the staff was very attentive as soon as we got seated inside.
Our orders:
🔸Lobster crustacean bisque
🔸Cream of mixed mushrooms gratin
🔸Lengua sulipena
🔸Seafood paella
Everything was great, but the cream of mixed mushrooms gratin in particular got my attention. It was really creamy and cheesy, just the way I like it!
We will come back to this place to try out more of their dishes.
Classic San Juan eats. I like their Pasta Ysabel, complimentary bread with dip, Gambas and Strawberry Shortcake. (Must try). Theres parking but can get easily full.
Coming from a family with a passion for great food and a superb dining experience, it was no surprise that we found ourselves having a celebratory lunch at Cafe Ysabel. The ambience is comforting as it nostalgic, and the food that they offer is equally great! My favourites had to be their salad and their porterhouse steak (I looove me some good steak!!) This quaint place is full of wonders that will delight your senses and satisfy your stomach.
We visited the new location of cafe ysabel in paterno st, it was a great and amazing experience to dine in. we will visit again for sure.. kudos to their foods
Jocelyn Mendeguarin Batoy
+5
They said that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, it’s for us women too. Tried this limited specials of Cafe Ysabel, Black Paella with Garlic Mayo and Greek Style Sardines with Fruit Salsa. Something new on the palate, something worth trying. The paella is bursting with sea flavor. The salsa is very refreshing and complements well with the fish. Still craving for more.
I love coming back to Cafe Ysabel - they have spacious parking and more function rooms in their new location in M. Paterno! Their food never disappointed me. My favorite Porkterhouse is super juicy, thick and large special cut pork chop! Their classic steak ala pobre is also superb (i love the combination if crispy garlic and balsamic syrup on the side). And of course, we would not want to go home without trying their all-time favorite Capampangan ensaimada! It is so rich with real queso de bola! The staff are also accommodating. The interior is jaw-dropping too! Highly recommended! ❤️❤️
My first time to try this resto for a get together and it was value for money. Ambience was homey and we had a reservation in one of their function rooms. Tried truffle pasta and paella. Both were legit. Limited wines though. Only a choice of red or white. Parking can also be a challenge but overall pleasant experience.
Food 5; Ambience 5; service 4; price 4. We had the most ternder tenderloin, lengua, aglio olio pasta, peter pan pie and we loved them. The menu looks great and we are looking forward to return and try the other dishes. We just found the service a bit slow since we had to follow up orders and our bill twice. They seemed undermanned for a weekend, but that’s a management issue, not the servers’. It also took a while to tell us that the salmon was no longer fresh (they told us after serving all the other dishes). By that time, my preggy wife was no longer hungry or just was frustrated. Price was fair considering the quality of the food. But the fillet mignon was to die for. It was probably the best I ever had. I normally avoid ordering fillet mignon because I prefer a fattier cut, or I never experienced the hype that it was the most tender cut. But Cafe Ysabel served a thick round cut, and boy was it tender and perfectly cooked. For that alone, I will keep coming back. Sana hindi chamba.
A very nice atmospheric place, though they're not completely finished just yet. Their complimentary bread is great, toasty and soft and their dip is excellent. We had their lobster bisque and the sopas, and both were just okay, they didn't really stand out. I wanted to try their french onion soup but unfortunately it wasn't available. We tried their angry sauce and truffle pastas. The truffle pasta was good but a bit rich, one might have a hard time finishing it. The angry sauce was good, not so outstanding but definitely good. And last of course was their strawberry shortcake, which was great. The strawberries weren't very sweet, but the cake was very soft and moist, and it had a nice delicate flavor.
It's not some place that's really gonna blow your socks off, but it's a nice enough place to go to, the prices are just a bit upscale for the food they have.
Cafe Ysabel is back!! New location is at m paterno street just few minutes away from the original location. Just Waze it para hindi kayo mawala hahaha!
Anvil Publishing Inc., eleven time Publisher of the Year awardee by The Manila Critics Circle, adds to its list two books on pastries and desserts: Modern Philippines Confections and Breads, Cakes, Pastries and More authored by Chef Gene Gonzalez, founder and president of Café Ysabel Inc. and The Center for Asian Culinary Studies.
Glad to know that CafeYsabel is back after a long hiatus.
Was invited here yesterday at Chef Gene Gonzalez’ book launch by Anvil Publishing
We tried some of the sweet and savory products featured in the recipes in his book.
Cafe Ysabel was literally resurrected from a long sleep so much so that everything in the restaurant looks familiar.
Revisit your old haunt. They are still in their soft opening though so please bear with them as they iron out some kinks here and there.
Excited to return for a date with the handsome hubby soon.
See you there 😍
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Before they move to their new home, the Eatventurers decided to say goodbye to the legendary location of Café Ysabel.
The Eatventurers ordered Lobster Crustacean Bisque (P168), Silk Road Salad (P418) Angry Sauce (P378), and Wild Rice- Baby Prawn Risotto (P368).
Wild Rice Baby Prawn Risotto is our highly recommended dish. It took a long time before it was served though, so a little caution: risotto is made on the spot. Allot 20 minutes or more for this.
Overall, the food is reasonably priced and delicious but their service is disappointing. The servers were nice and polite but service time was too slow. Rendering of bills was slow and it took several minutes before we got our change. Servers weren't visible, although we understand that our seat was a blind spot. We read that a lot of people already complained about their service but they still haven't improved it yet. We hope that they will improve their service in their new home.
To sum it all up:
1. Think twice when ordering Silk Road Salad
2. Wild Rice-Baby Prawn Risotto is our must-try
3. Be patient, they have terrible service
4. We will miss Cafe Ysabel
5. It is worth visiting again
Read full review of Cafe Ysabel at: http://www.eatventurers.com/2017/07/cafe-ysabel-pguevarra-sanjuan-review.html?m=1 | The Eatventurers
It's moving to a new location by month end...
Food is still good as I remember. I really love their risottos here. I think the dishes are reasonably priced. I wouldn't order the cheese sticks though, not worth the price tag.
Can't get a decent photo because the place is a bit cozy (read: dark)
After our dinner in Finnians. Midz, Norman and I hop to another restaurant in Wilson Greenhills for dessert.
Cafe Ysabel is a well established and known restaurant for more than a decade now. You will fall in love with the beautiful landscape outside and the old Spanish Filipino set up of the restaurant inside.
We had strawberry shortcake paired with cappuccino and iced coffee. The strawberry shortcake looks pretty with strawberries on top of it. It is best paired with coffee. Minimize the sugar because it taste sweet already.
Strawberry Shortcake - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
The crew take our order well and provided good service.
#ilovetoeatph 😃❤️
My review for Azure Beach Club - Crimson Resort and Spa:
1. Food (taste, variety & presentation) = 4.5/5
2. Price (Is it worth your money?) = 4.5/5
3. Service (courteousness, promptness, grooming of staff) = 4/5
4. Area/Location = 4/5
5. Ambiance (exterior and interior cleanliness, design and facilities) = 4.5/5
I loved the variety of food and the ambiance of Cafe Ysabel. It's just like your travelling back through pages in history. Try their seafood pasta and their bestseller...the strawberry shortcake!😊
We have patronized this place for decades. The ambience is something you cant find anywhere else here. The staff are well versed with the food. Personal favorite: angry sauce and silk road salad.
Jenny Lives For Cheat Meals
+3.5
The ambience felt a little more worn down than I remember. Maybe because they're preparing for the transfer. The table felt too big.
The service was ok. Not bad but also not exceptional.
The gambas were perfect except it felt too pricey.
Aglio olio was bland.
Someone else had the pasta with shrimps and was very happy with it, but she didn't finish her order.
The carbonara needed more spices.
The fried mozzarella was not so pretty but tasted just right.
Our favorite was the free bread with balsamic vinegar appetizer.
Serving sizes were weird cause no one actually finished their orders but the leftovers were too little to be split for two.
All in all, as expected but needs improvement.
Food was good but a bit too pricey (small servings for the price, not good for sharing). Will try to come back to try their pasta, desserts, and other comfort food before they close in April.
Service was also great. (Read recent reviews about poor service and inattentive staff so I was a bit worried). Servers were very courteous and attentive. Serving time was also okay. Overall a great experience. :)
(+Excellent and convenient reservation booking through Zomato! First time to try booking a table online and it was so easy.)
Rei Michelle Hernandez
+5
This will always be ther best quiet hang out place in San Juan. I am an alumni of CACS but I never got tired of the food, or felt umay. This will always be my choice if I want to have coffee, a bottle of wine. I love all the pasta!
This Classic Bistro Restaurant is one of my favorite to visit whenever I'm In Manila. Food will always be great at It feels like home. Glad I''m Back.
So we tried this place although i'm quite hesitant because i was disappointed the first time i dined on this restaurant.
We ordered the following:
Burger steak - 2 patties of burger with gravy and caramelized onions on top. With 2 eggs and bacon on the side. I love the smoky bacon flavor and the gravy. Its really a hearty meal
Crepe ysabel - basically mango crepe with vanilla ice cream on the side and candied walnuts on top. Yummy
Callos - i don't like callos so it would be unfair to rate this one
Lobster bisque - doesn't take like lobster bisque. This one i rate this as 2.
Service is quite slow even on a Sunday. Food are pricey.
I made it a point to visit this place before it completely shuts down and moves to the wilson area. As you can see this place is an institution in the area with the exterior classic architecture of the house to the food that was serve that is truly worth the visit. Their appetizer bread complete with their famous sauce for dipping is a really good appetizer. We ordered some pasta staples like a lasagna and their truffle pizza and my my it totally hit the spot.
Of course I wont leave this place without ordering one of their specialties which is juan's sole roulade. This fish seafood course was a genius dish that has the components of crab meat stuffing prepared inside a fish roll complete with a little bit of pasta. Im happy with what I ordered as it made my possible last visit to this nostalgic place memorable.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Came here on a whim on our way to Shangrila. It was around 1:30 pm, but the place was still relatively full. The house was dim, old-fashioned, quaint, and a little dusty--I know the latter because my allergies started acting up. We ordered the Sopa Ysabel, the honey-glazed chicken, and the Lengua.
Staff and service: Poor, unfortunately. The waiters were not very attentive, they all seemed distracted and harried, and the simplest request (can I have my chicken chopped up, please?) took ages. Our food arrived after 30-40 minutes!
Food: Adequate, but expensive. Good portions, except for the bowl of soup, which was ridiculously small for something worth p188. Re the soup: it's supposedly a clam chowder, but it was more like a seafood chowder. It was a little too "malansa" for me. My husband enjoyed his lengua, but some of the cuts were tough. My chicken was also good, but we asked for it chopped, and it came whole. The request to have it chopped took another 7 minutes. On the plus side, there was yummy free bread with balsamic vinegar dip.
Summary: nice digs, ok food, slow service, expensive. Come if you like ambience and if you have lots of time and money to burn. Not good if you're ravenous.
Good restaurant for dates and celebrations. They also serve coffee which I would like to try next time. This gem in San Juan is worth the trip. We loved the bread and zatar dip! I would go to this place just for the chocolate soufflé, a must try! It is for 2 by the way.
Orders:
Trattoria pizza
Polly's pasta (grilled white cheese, calumpit sausage, basil)
Salpicado
Chocolate soufflé
Free bread and zatar
It's my special girl's day so decided to go here.What can I say, place is relaxing, romantic and very nature-y :) ordered Calamares for appetizer and it's good like 4 out of 5 especially the sauce, looks like a chili but it doesn't tastes like it but it's good. Pasta Ysabel and Honey Glazed Chicken for main course. The Honey Glazed Chicken is good too like 4 out of 5, there's like a hint wine in the sauce I don't know but for me there is haha. Serving is big like a small half chicken comes with Java Rice and sides with vegetables for the price of it, worth it. Now we go to Pasta Ysabel, from the name itself, came from their resto's name. I think I tasted the best Seafood Linguini (White Sauce) with shrimp, squid ever! 5 out of 5 for me. There's this certain taste then when I had another bite, they got bell pepper on it on a white sauce, odd but perfect. All in all experience was great, perfect for couples or just because. :)
Would definitely go back here for the frog legs. It's a great place with the homey ambiance, as if you were dining in your grandmother's house but with more grandeur than the usual. The service is a bit slow, but they are nice. Oh, and I also like the fact they serve bread with vinaigrette and olive oil (or was that just from last time I visited?). Wanna go back for the pastries!
We celebrated my Aunt's birthday here in Cafe Ysabel. Food was good, place is nice but their service is somewhat slow. Maybe, they should improve their service a little more. But all in all, we all had a good time celebrating my Aunt's special day. 😊
The first time i've been here was for a private wine dinner. And it was also the first time i fell in love with wine dinner. Food and wine pairing were beautiful. I really enjoyed everything.
I tried:
-sopa ysabel en croute
-Patty of roxas city crab meat with pan roasted sea bream in she crab and leek reduction cream & a garlic tuile, summer greens
-saucisson of duck in silk road spices in caramelized onion soubise
-two colored rice scented with duxelles and brown butter
-medallion of aged angus beef topped with a crepinala financiere with a bordelaise sauce, tarte des epinardsala bearnaise, potatoes dauphin,
duet of brazilian mango sorbet and raspberry ice cream
Tenderloin Tournedoes Rossini
Tenderloin Gene's Argentine Special
The Chef's Onion Soup
Baked Oyster with cheese
Tenderloin Steak and Shrooms
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Fried Mozzarella in Anchovy Dressing (PhP 198) for appetizer was fine but not upstanding. The anchovy on top brought a certain deep oceanic savoriness out of the almost tasteless cheese. Tender, stretchy and not stiff, the mozzarella was enveloped with coating that’s slightly thicker than the standard breading we have tried in other restaurants. It was nice though that the coating did not overpower the cheese or border on “batter-like.”
Ordering Café Ysabel’s Paella Sulipena (PhP 578) was absolutely best. Made with classic saffron rice, this paella contained a vibrant mix of seafood and mixed meats coming also into play. Seasoning tasted great and the dish was assembled with tender grains of rice which soaked up the saffron flavor very well. Arriving in a healthy portion, it’s a delicious and filling meal for two (or maybe three).
As if carbs from paella wasn’t enough, we had Polly’s Pasta (PhP 348) which turned out as silky spaghetti noodles coated in briny, garlicky flavor studded with grilled white cheese, Calumpit sausage, kalamata olives and basil. The combination of the ingredients just hit all the right notes. We added a touch of lemon zest which imparted sort of a discordant sourness but nevertheless worked so well in making the simple taste even more sublime.
The service is really good. So as the food. The glazed spareribs is actually a big serving. Their caldereta has a soft meat with a certain twist to our typical dish. Ambiance wise, this place is really romantic and classy.
This was THE date place back in the days of shoulder pads and tsunami hairdos. The ambience was that of an ancestral home with some offbeat spin to traditional Philippine cuisine. I had breakfast there this morning and it was a time warp experience for me. The ambience was the same and the food still had that same weirded out spin. I love the Alaminos longganisa!
First time I went here was with my late tita, who loved Cafe Ysabel's Fried Mozzarella in Anchovy Dressing and Paella Sulipeña.
Every dish that I've tried here at Cafe Ysabel's great. No below average whatsoever. The price is a bit expensive. But you're paying for the food experience, so just enjoy it.
Recommended:
▫FRIED MOZZARELLA IN ANCHOVY DRESSING
▫Callos
▫Salpicado
▫Double Pepperoni Pizza and Four Cheese Pizza
▫Everything in their cocktail menu. (Favorite part of the menu) - you can get a margarita/amareto sour/sangria/etc less than 180. Amen to that! 😊
▫Shortcakes ( strawberry )
Another batch of photos for my latest visit. 😊
A combination of the old and the new. I came here for breakfast with my officemates and we had a good time.
I honestly feel I need to go back to this place during lunch or dinner because I have yet to try their signature dishes. But for the mean time, I think their breakfast menu gives a lot of variety. From home made longganisa, adobo flakes to continental favorites like chicken fried steak, you're given a good selection of breakfast worth craving for.
Give their soufflé eggs a try and you won't regret it! Its a big omelette with the lightest fluff of breakfast goodness! It's good for sharing and it's worth every peso!
I was a bit sad with the cakes though. It was pretty common for me and the taste is just okay.
I hope I can go back so I can review it another time.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
There's an abundance of Instagram places in the Metro, but nothing quite compares to Cafe Ysabel--a Filipino-Italian restaurant in Addition Hills, San Juan. Everything from the food to the beautiful interior to the exceptional hospitality could not be any more amazing.
I was invited over for lunch at Cafe Ysabel and here are some of the items we've tried:
Jake & Christine's Crisp Smoked Fish Wontons in Salsa Verde - I have to say my favorite part of the meal were these little fried wontons. Every bite was crispy, and super juicy. The smoked fish filling is the bomb. Delicious, and definitely appetizing.
Silk Road Salad - This colorful salad is full of goodness, and is very attractive to the eye. It has a light flavour and the crispy chips(?) provide lots of great texture.
Bobby Chin Pizza - The crust on this one was incredible, cracker thin, crispy, and delicious. The Prosciutto was flavourful and I loved the arugula component on top of the pizza.
Juan's Sole Roulade - Very nice way of cooking the fish. I actually love sole for roulades because of its delicate texture, as sole fillets are thin. The crab meat filling is where the money at. It gives the dish another depth of flavour and at the same time complements the hollandaise sauce well.
Capampangan Caldereta - When it comes to Filipino food, I tend to be really picky. I don't prefer it unless it's really good and worth it for me to try. I must say that Cafe Ysabel's Caldereta delivered on all fronts. The sauce was rich, thick, a little spicy, and the olives gave the dish some depth. This was probably better than my mom's cooking... and that's saying a lot.
Cafe Ysabel Burger - The Burger wasn't bad by any means. Actually, it was good, but not good in a way that is commensurate with the pricing. I've honestly had better burgers that cost just a fraction of the CYB price. I thought the foie gras was underwhelming and a bit diminutive. This was my least favourite item on the menu.
The Peter Pan Pie and Chocolate Souffle were both delicious. These were the perfect desserts to end a good meal. Simple, light, and not heavy-tasting at all.
There's something just different and genuine about Cafe Ysabel compared to other Filipino restaurants I've been to so far. There aren't many Filipino restaurants in Manila, particularly ones that target a wider audience other than Cafe Ysabel and I'm glad that even after all these years, they still deliver.
Many thanks to Cafe Ysabel for hosting me.
I ate here with my boyfriend last Valentine's Day. For my overall review of my experience at Cafe Ysabel, they have very good food, presentation and service! The only thing that I would change if ever would just be the freezing cold inside.
Ordered Cafe Ysabel's "Iced Mocha Madness" and got easily hooked by its refreshing taste.
The restaurant ambience is nostalgic once you enter. The crew were ecstatic and courteous enough to greet us.
Celebrated my birthday here with my lovey.
Place: a little too dark for me but still ok
Service: ok.
Food: 2 thumbs up! I enjoyed their pasta ysabel and junjun's chocolate soufflé so much! 👍
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
I'm lucky to have been invited by Zomato Philippines to have lunch with my fellow foodies at Cafe Ysabel. The cafe has been in San juan for over 35 years now and has definitely made a mark on the Philippines' restaurant scene. The interior and ambiance feel nostalgic. We were served with Jake and Christine’s Crisp Smoked Fish Wantons in Salsa Verde, Bobby Chinn’s Pizza, Juan’s Sole Roulade, Capampangan Caldereta, Café Ysabel Burger, Peter Pan Pie and Junjun Chocolate Souffle.
Jake and Christine’s Crisp Smoked Fish Wantons in Salsa Verde - Perfect food to start our meal with. The smoked fish was good and complemented well with the bread and salsa.
Bobby Chinn’s Pizza - It was named after the internationally renowned chef when he made his visit here in our country and in the restaurant. The pizza topped with prosciutto and aragula (which makes the pizza special) was also good.
Silk Road Salad - I loved how the spiced dressing blend with the other ingredients. It was sweet, sour and spicy all at the same time.
Juan’s Sole Roulade - In my opinion, this dish was the highlight of our lunch. The texture and how the food was presented to us were a delight both in the eyes and taste buds.
Capampangan Caldereta - There may be nothing more to comment about this dish, as it was prepared and served exactly how a caldereta should be, but nothing more. Still, better to be safe than sorry!
Café Ysabel Burger - Overpriced burger (900php), in my opinion. The patty was a bit bland and dry. Also, they served only a little amount of foie gras.
Overall, It is a great place for families, friends and couples to dine at and enjoy.
I was invited in a special foodie meet up in a very elegant and rustic restaurant. This is owned by a popular chef, Chef Gene Gonzalez. Over 3 decades of serving his guests, he has formulated a wide variety of quality and delicious dishes. Here are the dishes I enjoyed with some of my Zomato friends!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
If you are planning an extra special dinner for your company, family, or friends then we most certainly guarantee an unparalleled Fine Dining Experience.
Located at 455 P. Guevarra Street, Addition Hills, San Juan. A cultural and architectural landmark in Metro Manila. The cafe is housed in a refurbished 1927 ancestral home furnished with period furniture and wooden ceiling fans in a glass enclosed porch overlooking a tree laden garden. You can re-live one of Manila’s most elegant eras -- complete with the heirloom recipes, doting staff, and family collections of china, glassware and silverware.
The restaurant has been consistently awarded, reviewed and included in the roster of top food institutions and international guides for more that two decades.
First invite I got from café ysabel was a food tasting for my cousin’s wedding. It was almost 2 years ago and now I’m back with a lunch invite from Zomato.
One of Cafe Ysabel’s best kept secrets that I will never forget was its personalized menu. Their chefs spend a lot of time in research and development to discover and perfect every theme that you can possibly think of. For weddings, parties or simply a romantic themed dinner for two, our chefs can give you what you crave or what your taste buds are curious about.
For our Zomato meet up we were served with these:
Bobby Chinn’s Pizza
Bobby Chinn has visited the restaurant on many occasions. This thin crust crunchy Pizza topped with a prosciutto and my all time favorite Arugula!
Silk road Salad
I didn’t find anything new with this one. It was ordinary and I find it overpriced.
Juan’s Sole Roulade
The roulade was cooked perfectly and was presented in an elegant way.
Out of all the dishes this can go a long way!
Capampangan Caldereta
I was looking for the cheese in the caldereta but there was no cheese. I had the expectations vs. reality situation when I tried their Caldereta. So sad it failed me.
Cafe Ysabel Burger
It was an ordinary burger priced at P900. I expected so much more from it. I’m sorry but I’d choose Big better burgers over this burger. I swear, I will not give you the value-for-money.
Peter Pan Pie and Junjun Chocolate Souffle
These two will do after a disappointing burger. I enjoyed both desserts because they were not too sweet.
Drinks: Mango Shake and Four Seasons
Both were really refreshing because it was made from fresh fruits although my comment with their four seasons, I find it weird for them to top it off with cream. I think it would be better if they’d just put a watermelon chunk or a pineapple chunk on the side of the glass.
The restaurant's magic for me is only its cozy ambiance. Special occasions are okay – I’m talking about weddings, where you can work closely and collaborate with the chefs. The Menu served to us was not their best seller.
What The F | TFC None Jay McLean Phantasm Darkstar The Young Culinarian Karl Legaspi Mara Navarro Neri Ann Mickey.
It was my first time to attend a lunch foodie meetup with Zomato and my experience was phenomenal. I used to receive invites but it always had a conflict with my schedule. It's a great thing that I was free on this time of day. . Zomato held a foodie meetup at Cafe Ysabel and it was an honor for me to be invited there; together with Zomato's top reviewers and bloggers.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
It was my first time to attend a lunch foodie meetup with Zomato and my experience was phenomenal. I used to receive invites but it always had a conflict with my schedule. It's a great thing that I was free on this time of day.
Located at 455P. Guevarra Street, Addition Hills, San Juan City, Cafe Ysabel is housed in an authentic 1902 ancestral home for about thirty years. Furnished with turn of the century tables and lamps, the restaurant gives a romantic vintage ambiance.
Cafe Ysabel offers an exquisite set of menu and these are what we had:
Four Seasons. Four seasons with whipped cream and midori on top. Fresh and creamy, made extra luscious with the whip and midori. Suits me well because I'm a whipped cream addict.
Vegetable Bread. This was a complimentary dish while we wait for the food to be served. It goes well with their olive oil dip. It was really good that we still asked for more throughout our meal. Smells enticing as well.
Jake and Christine's Crisp Smoked Fish Wantons in Salsa Verde. I liked how they came up with their variation of wantons; deep fried, the filling is fish instead of pork, and with salsa rather than the usual wanton sauce. It's a bit salty but good enough to stimulate your appetite.
Bobby Chinn's Pizza. A flat bread of goat and fresh cheese, smoked tomatoes, fresh arugula and red wine shallots and prosciutto. Tastes good and the arugula are really fresh and crunchy which give a contrast of texture with the dough.
Silk Road Salad. Crunchy and exotic textures of oriental sausage, noodles, apricots, smoked salmon, mango and greens in an apple spice dressing. We had a little difficulty dividing this among the group because of how it was plated, but it really looks beautiful. There is a mix of flavors that contrast each other: from the salmon, to the sausage, and the sweetness of the mango. Very creative but I find it average.
Juan Sole's Roulade. Served with crabmeat, spinach puree and hollandaise. This is definitely my fave pick. I'm not sure if it was 100% pure crab meat because it had more of those artificial crab sticks, but it tastes absolutely good. Soft and delightful; looks light to eat but totally satiating.
Capampangan Caldereta. Tender braised goat meat in red wine and olives served with saffron rice. I was surprised that they used goat meat for the caldereta so it tastes a bit different from the beef caldereta of which most Filipinos are used to. The taste of the saffron rice did not seem to differ from the plain rice, though.
CYB (Cafe Ysabel Burger). A double patty burger with foie gras, roasted onions and peppercorn gravy served with truffle fries. This luxurious dish, foie gras on the burger and truffle on the fries makes it expensive. I like that their burger and fries are not oily but it still tastes average.
Peter Pan Pie. Chocolate ice cream, butterscotch and Belgian chocolate in a cookie crust. They did not call this Peter Pan Pie for no reason. It reminds you of childhood and brings you to Neverland.
Junjun's Chocolate Souffle. Served with an amaretto sauce. I am not a fan of souffles but the almond taste of amaretto works well with it.
Thank you so much for the invite, Zomato. I had a great lunch time with you guys. Even if it was my first time to meet you (this group, though), I did not feel out-of-place and everyone was super friendly and with epic humor. I love this team! Yay! Looking forward for more foodie meetups.
FULL REVIEW AND MORE PHOTOS ON MY BLOG.
I was invited for a lunch foodie meetup at Cafe Ysabel in San Juan. It was the first time that they required us to "dress to impress". Yay! And I easily go with wearing a dress, just to be safe! He He He! Knowing me, I will be looking on how to commute going to any events or the like. But it was a challenge, I didn't manage to use my commuting skills. I tried to master the map a day before so I can plan my route. I decided to just drop off at Greenhills and took a cab to Wilson Street and instructed the driver to go left on P. Guevarra St. It looks so easy aside from the traffic that I've encountered in Ortigas! Yeah I was an hour late! Grrr! Good thing that they didn't started the lunch yet.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Thank you for this foodie meet-up, Zomato! I was initially hesitant to go because in the invite, there's a note: "Dress to impress." Well, I did wear a dress, not sure if I impressed anyone, though. :p Kidding aside, I expected the place to be classy and it did not disappoint. It's rustic, romantic, and simply beautiful.
I appreciate the time and effort put into the dishes that were served, I really do. A lot of them were stunning and photogenic, especially the Juan's Sole Roulade! That is also easily my favorite among all the dishes as the pasta alone was already a winner. It went well with the yummy vegetable bread. I also enjoyed the Jake and Christine's Crisp Smoked Fish Wantons, particularly because of the salsa verde. Citrusy and fresh, perfect for the salty wantons. Bobby Chinn's pizza was good as well, especially because of the generous heap of arugula!
The Cafe Ysabel Burger was so-so tasting, and frankly, I was shocked to know how expensive it is! It's supposed to have foie gras, but I don't know where that went. My guess is it's simply added as a spread on the patty? Not sure, but I would definitely not pay for something okay tasting at a costly P800-900! :(
I was also saddened by the Capampangan caldereta. I was expecting it to be really good because Pampanga is known for the culinary talent of its locals. Not sure if there's an authentic way of cooking caldereta, but this one really didn't suit my tastebuds. I would like my caldereta to be cheesy and spicy, and the beef to be flavorful.
For desserts, we had the Peter Pan Pie and Junjun Chocolate Souffle. Both were good, but not really rave-worthy.
Overall, I think Cafe Ysabel is worth one visit, just so you could experience its beauty. Nevertheless, many thanks still to Chef Gene and the attentive staff.
The ambiance was fine but I guess the lighting was too dark. But it was fine. The food was okay. Lasagna was a bit salty. But the service was perfect. Accommodating staff. A bit pricey tho
Seafood Paella and Callos are the best! The place is cozy and homy. Service is fair but crews are friendly. Cafe Ysabel is always my choice if I crave for something spanish.
This restaurant never fails to amaze me in every visit. From 2009-2012, this restaurant is my haven for a delicious cuisine and wine-drinking. I dine with my co-workers, friends and family in different occasions. Their service is really exemplary and very courteous.
Last October, I went back to Cafe Ysabel for the longest time since I moved to Japan. I have tried other restaurants around the San Juan area, but Cafe Ysabel never fails my taste buds. The ambiance is really comfortable. I think their menu since change from the last time I visited which is 2013. Overall, their gastronomic food selections would make any customer come back and relive the experience.
I specially like places that instigate nostalgic feels. Cafe Ysabel is one of those perfect places that seems to speak of rich history and excellence. It was a wrong move to go here full.. My friends ate pizza, salmon pasta and roast beef. And they really enjoyed it! Next time I go here again, I will make sure to order as many:)
Btw, their sangria is love! 😍
I loved the place and the service! The pasta in a parmesan basket was yummy and special. Didn't really like the Truffle Pizza that they suggested. Just took it home. :)
I ordered the truffle pasta and tiramisu. The portion for the pasta was too small for me considering the fact that it was rather pricey and the tiramisu was spot on but a little too heavy for a cake. I love the ambiance of the place and the servers were very polite.
I was hungry so I got the US rancher steak fillet. I was expecting a lot from this dish and when I got it it looked great but when I bit into it it was a tad tough. My jaw had a workout. Too bad because the flavors were spot on. I loved the fried potatoes but hated the creamed cabbage.
Who needs dessert when the Honey Glazed chicken can basically solve your sugar cravings. I say this in a good way. I loved the sweetness in this chicken so much. Its like eating candied pork but in a healthier manner. The only thing is I have to control myself as my rice cravings increases when I eat this.
Your Angry sauce was superb, seafood paella was great and the peter pan pie was awesome. Love the ambience, cozy and homey! Accomodating staffs..
I got the mozzarella in anchovy dressing for starters. I thought the anchovy would over power the dish as it usually does but it did not in this case. It just made the mozzarella a lot yummier. I then ordered the pan roasted halibut. The lemon zest was okay but the cilantro butter was the highlight of the dish for me. Bottomeline, I want more!
Love, love, love Café Ysabel. I have been here a couple of times already and for different reasons, whether to celebrate or to simply have a meal with the family as we live nearby. It has that old charm and feel to it and the place serves really good food. Service is okay and the staff is quite friendly. Love their Prawn Thermidor dish!
Café Ysabel already feels like an institution in San Juan. The place has been here ever since I could remember and the interiors of it gives off that same vibe as well. It looks old and classy yet it is comfortable and can be romantic during the night time. Love their food here as they offer a good number of dishes that taste excellent. Only thing here that is of concern is that service can sometimes be slow at times. But if it simply means that it takes long to prep the food, then I am willing to wait as some of their dishes are worth waiting for.
I think some people who have dine here mag agree sa sinasabe ko minsan poor ang service pero ang food is masarap i graduated in cacs 2012. The price is reasonable and the portions is marami and yung breakfast nila is less 100 pesos with tea coffee or chocolate for fine dining. Guys try the peter pan pie napakasarap and kung mahileg ka satruffle try the trffule pizza the best!! And sa lahat ng pagkaen nila the best ang lavoush and sauce!
Small but charming place. It's an old house converted to a resto. The place had intricate decors inside especially the murals.
The food was ok for its price.
I just think the place needs more lighting since I had quite a difficult time seeing what i was eating. :p
Romantic place and ideal for small intimate gathering. Huge and flavorful servings. Staffs were very attentive to our request. That night was full house but I never had a crowdy feeling, sign of a good management. Keep it up guys.
Finally got a chance to visit this 'ancestral home" resto in San Juan.
Overall comment: the place is a charming, old house but the food we ordered did not live up to our high expectations.
We ordered a couple of soups - gratin of fresh asparagus and cream of mixed
mushrooms. Both soups were good. We got a serving of fresh bread with what appeared to be a pre-mixed olive oil with balsamic vinegar.
For mains, we ordered the Pan-Roasted Halibut and the Chicken Fritta. The Halibut was too salty which really precluded us from appreciating the dish. The Chicken Fritta was good; just a standard fried chicken though and nothing to write home about.
The dessert - Gino's Molten chocolate cake - increased our overall satisfaction! The cake was very chocolatey and paired well with the gelato and berry coulis. From this experience, Cafe Ysabel has excellent desserts. Worth another visit for just desserts and coffee.
FisforFoodBlog - Timmy Castañeda- Chua
+3.5
This is a great place for breakfast. I will always come back for the truffled egg souffle. This souffle is soft, creamy and unctious best paired with their freshly squeezed orange juice. The ambiance is nice in the morning, you feel a certain calm in the cafe amidst the hustle and bustle.
Christopher Jacob Lee Mar
+5
Cafe Ysabel is one of the restaurants that you have to try out, it is a quaint ancestral white house owned by the late Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces. Their food is scrumptiously delicious, but you have to order fast since you have to wait 30 minutes before your food is served. If you want to learn how to cook and bake for your loved ones or be a 5 star michelin chef like Anthony Bourdain or Hell's Kitchen gordon Ramsey then this is the place to where you learn how to cook.i studied here way back 2007, Chef Gene Gonzales has inspired me to be more than i can be. Definitely 5 thumbs up also for their rustic decorations and ambience, i think the price speaks for itself because of their wonderful yet rustic paintings of Michaelangelo(looks like but not sure , i am just comparing it to michaelangelo), Definitely you will comeback to this place wanting more. They have a large collection of imported wines ranging from 200 to 2000++ pesos.
Cafe Ysabel serves the classic Filipino - Continental food. Some of their popular food items are Paella, Lengua Sulipeña, and their wide choices of pastas. Breakfast selections include Kapangpangan style Breakfast, Steak and Eggs and Pancake options. Dessert favorite is the souffle made with rasberry and chocolate as well as the strawberry shortcake.
Great place to unwind and hang out with friends. Not too crowded and service is best. Ordered paella, oglio, salad, soup and steak as we were a group of 5. Enjoyed the food, service and ambiance very much.
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