The plan to go and eat eat here at the popular Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac materialized late June last year. This was where Sis was supposed to celebrate her birthday but due to some odd but not so important reason, it was cancelled. Then there was another plan to go here in October but was again cancelled due to a killjoy typhoon.
Thank God for the 17th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival, we were finally able to see this beautiful place and taste its fine dishes.
We’ve been hearing a lot about Isdaan for quite sometime–the raves about the food and we’ve been seeing the nice photos. Because this is very much the halfway point between Metro Manila and Baguio, it has become popular stopover for a lot of motorist..
In our case, it wasn’t a stop over. We had to travel farther than where we are. We took the bus from the Dau for an hour and a half to get there.
It was already 2pm when we arrived and were already starving. For safety purposes, they made the kids wear some life vests as the fish pond where the restaurant is floating on is 6-9 feet deep.
After taking our orders the waiter gave the kids some Angry Birds balloons and a small bag of candies. They also gave us four small bags of fish food to feed the fishes around.
Fresh Mango Juice {P270/ $6.40}
Our drink was first to arrive…
..a refreshing sip of mango juice, I took in the refreshing atmosphere, the native ambience and the Mayan statues. I love the whole concept of this restaurant even the light switch has decorative switch plate covers.
Isdaan is owned and operated by the same family that owns Barrio Fiesta, Singing Cooks & Waiters, Atbp. and Bakahan at Manukan.
So naturally, you’d expect somebody to break into a song.
And there were groups that go from table to table, serenading guests with songs. You have to give them a P20 tip. One of them sang Super Bass, it was funny the way he sang it.
We ordered Pinatolang Baka and Kuhol sa Gata which both came inside a “Buho” or Bamboo sealed in rolled banana leaves.
Pinatolang Baka {P382/$9}
Pinatolang Baka is their version of Tinola but instead of green papaya they put in patola or sponge gourd. Slurping the soup would instantly remind you of how they slow-cooked the beef to perfection. The beef is very tender and the fat on it’s side, buttery and ambrosial.
Now, the patola is a different story.
Patola is my most hated vegetable. It is the only vegetable that I don’t eat but I ate three pieces in this dish. The first two bites was okay… the third one reminded me why I don’t like it. No, I won’t elaborate.
Kuhol sa Gata {Escargot in Coconut Cream} {P259/kg}
Slurp. Suck. Pick with a toothpick. Another slurping and sucking scene here….
Tacsiyapong Gulay{P104/$2.40}
Tacsiyapo is Tarlac’s local curse word. This dish are different kinds of veggies in spicy fish paste. I guess that’s where the name came from. You’ll be cursing because it’s both spicy and delicious.
Marinated Inihaw na Spare Ribs{P261/half kg}
This is the best grilled spare ribs I’ve tasted. The marinade is very tasty and it was cooked perfectly. This is the only dish that Ykaie ate and she ate a lot of rice.
BSK or Bagong Saing sa Kaldero {P99.50} & Green Mango with salted egg, red onion and shrimp paste {P73}
The rice in that cute pot is good for two to three persons. Need I say more about this Ensaladang Manga?
Pinukpok na Manok {P295}
This is Chicken in Coconut milk and it is really good. The sauce is thick and creamy.
Grilled Squid{P172/half kg}
The grilled squid was a little overcooked but it still paired well with the Ensaladang Manga and with all the deliciousness going around, who would really notice?
Mango Sago {P70}
The meal ended with Mango Sago. Their version is good old Mango Shake with mini-tapiocas. Not quite the Mango Sago I’m in the mood for but it did give a sweet ending to a great meal.
These are the other open-air bamboo huts surrounded by the 6-9 feet deep water.
More photos of Isdaan at The Wandering Peach.
11 Responses
nagutom ako! 🙂 sarap din nung mango sago ah!
Karen Phoebe H. Cruz added 12 new photos — with Luth Petines and 12 others at Isdaan Gerona Tarlac.
16 hrs · Gerona ·
Sharing with you a very unfortunate experience earlier today.
We were on our way home from Baguio and we decided to eat lunch along the way. We chose to eat in ISDAAN thinking that this is a good place for us to treat a friend from New York. We arrived at the restaurant past 1pm. We left our van in the designated parking near the front entrance where two guards were on-duty.
Food wise, we were less than satisfied and felt we didn’t get our money’s worth. Imagine a sisig that costs more than 700 pesos an order, Calamares that’s full of breading, a very fatty spare ribs barbecue, and the list goes on.
After paying, I went in our parked van with my baby and turned on the ac so we can rest while waiting for the others. When my cousins went in the van, they noticed that the backpack in the front seat is missing. It was just then that i realized, my own bag that I left in the van is also missing. My bag contained 50,000 pesos that I recently withdrawn from the bank and some personal items. Fortunately, i brought my wallet in the restaurant with me which had all my cards, license, etc., and my cellphone. Then things just got worse after we checked the back of the van because they also took a travel luggage, 3 backpacks, and a duffle bag.
I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I started screaming inside the restaurant telling the other customers to check their vehicles as well since we just got robbed.
We asked for the manager and talked to the guards on-duty. All they were telling us is that they didn’t notice anything. Even if we are parked in front (check the photos), with 2 guards on duty, and a parking boy, in broad daylight. Its really hard to believe that they didn’t see anything since the bags that were missing are not small bags. They were big luggage, big backpacks and a travel bag.
The manager then came. She informed us that the same incident happened last week. We asked if they have cctv and she answered “Wala po mam. hindi po kami high-tech!” Wow! A restaurant this big? Serving a sisig worth 700 pesos doesn’t have a cctv??? But thats besides the point. Anyway, the manager called the police to have the incident investigated. A customer informed us that there was a man who happened to be their parking boy there. We looked for this man and when he arrived, we asked him where he was all along. He said he went on a break and left at around 1:30PM, almost the same time we arrived and never came back after his 1 hour break. The manager had to send someone to get him and when he returned it was already 3PM which led to our suspicion of his involvement.
The police arrived, they interviewed us and I saw the manager whispering to the police but I didnt hear what they were talking about. When I asked them if there’s anything they can do, all they said was “WE ARE NOT LIABLE!” I mean, I do realize my mistake of not taking my own bag that contained cash with me but are we supposed to bring all the backpacks, luggage and travel bags inside the restaurant??? Besides, what were the guards on-duty doing while they were all at the same spot the whole time we were there! After an hour of arguing, as usual, nothing was solved. We told them we do not have the time, since we got children and an infant with us. And if all they can say is “WE ARE NOT LIABLE” then its pointless arguing with them. The police then confirmed to us the same incident happened last week with a toyota revo.
This post is meant to inform future customers of the ISDAAN RESTAURANT in Gerona, Tarlac to be more careful of their belongings. The management will not help you and maintain that they are not liable, since the sign on their parking lot says so. Might as well get rid of the security guards on duty and the parking attendants since it beats the purpose of their non-liability.
I refuse to show the faces of the manager, security guards, parking attendant, police for their security and to be fair to them as well.
Remember to be extra vigilant as there are always people out there who will take advantage of you. Its just an unfortunate and sad reality in life.
PLEASE SHARE TO SPREAD AWARENESS!!!
#isdaantarlac
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#insidejob
we had an awful exprience here. i guess we picked the wrong restaurant and all.. the service and food is not worth it from where we chose to eat 🙁 but the whole place is awesome! plus the free kayak/boat riding.
Food looks great! Especially the kuhol sa gata!
Love the ambiance here! 🙂 and their challenges too 🙂
Wow all of this delicious food is making me hungry!
hi peachkins… whtt a fun and adventurous holiday. i like this kind of decor..very oriental..we also use banana leaves for that authentic look..
your daughter is so cute . have a nice day.
sorry, many times i came here, but my week net connection, makes it difficult , your discus box wont show..
Nice post. Everything about your trip is interested..the place and the food looks fantastic. I especially love to listen to a Phillipino band as I think that Phillipino has many great singers. You have a beautiful family.
napost na pala to kelan ang balik natin jan?
Wow ang sarap naman kumain diyan! I am keeping note of all the restaurants youve been to. Pupuntahan ko sila pang bisita ko sa Pilipinas
sarap balikbalikan dyan….di namin natry ang
Pinatolang Baka….pagbalik naman must try ito sa aming hapag