Known mostly as a transit town and a gateway to the 8th wonder of the world, Nueva Vizcaya is now making a mark with its ever growing attractions and development. My last visit to the province surprised me with world-class dining restaurants while offering exciting exotic delicacies. Nueva Vizcaya definitely deserves a stop or even an overnight stay even just to try out these exciting Nueva Vizcaya eats.
Mrs Baker’s Restaurant and Pastry Shop
A surprising find in Bayombong, Mrs Baker’s offers a mix of FIlipino and international fares. I won’t hesitate to say that their food taste a lot better than some of the fancy restaurants in Manila. They got a homey ambiance and the service is prompt and friendly. My favorites were their Bagnet, Pepper Fish with Grilled Vegetables, Mushroom and Tofu and their Chicken Kebab.
National Road, DTM Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
Contact: (078) 805-3500
Operating hours: 10am-9pm (Tue-Sat), 9am to 9pm (Sun)
Kaboodle Grill and Restaurant
Boodle fights? Well Kaboodle Grill can give you that in a restaurant setting. Don’t worry, you can eat with your bare hands still if you prefer. What’s important is all the goodies on the huge banana leaves and eating together with friends or family. Kaboodle Grill and Restaurant have tasty boodle variant sets like the Pork Madness (Php 1199), Chicken Lovers (Php 1149), Seafood Overload (Php 1299) and Kebaboodle (Php 1049) all ready to serve 4-6 persons in a group. Dining solo? Try their Boodle Solo (Php 160).
National Highway Polloc
Brgy Roxas, 3709, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
(There’s also a Santiago branch)
Contact: +639178969088
All Day Exotic Resto Bar
Adventurous foodies looking for something local and exotic would be at home at All Day Exotic Resto Bar. Must try are the crispy Abal-abal (slagubang beetle), Tateg (salagubang larvae) and the fried frogs. Goes really well with a cold beer inside their native house inspired interior complete with capiz windows ans stylized table with sewing machine legs.
68 Lumabang St. Poblacion North,
Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
Contact: 09238342065, 09362473298
Branch: Top Hill, Brgy. Bangot,
Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya
Contact: 09364779777
Governor’s Garden Merienda Buffet
There’s a little gem of a buffet in Solano not many people are aware of. Every Friday at 4-6pm, Governor’s Garden Hotel offer’s an extensive offering of kakanin (rice cakes), fresh and fried lumpia, pancit and dinuguan. They can also offer the merienda buffet by request for a group minimum of 30 pax.
J. Manzano St., Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
Contact: (078) 326-6049 / 326-6053
Cafe Angelo
Situated within the grounds of the private resort, Balai Gloria, Cafe Angelo serves up sumptuous foods from Filipino, Chinese, Japanese and Italian cuisines in a very nice garden ambiance especially int he evening. I only got to try their Filipino offerings like Kare-kare, ribs and honey chicken and they were all very good.
Washington St, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
Contact: (078) 326-5009, +639228596449
G&B Buko Pie
If there’s another brand of buko pie that can rival the popular ones in Laguna and Batangas, it is G&B Buko Pie in Nueva Vizcaya. They had been in production since 1993 and makes about 2000 pieces per day which are usually wiped out. Their buko pie are smaller in diameter but has really tasty crusts and tasty filling. Best served fresh from the oven.
Tuao North, Bagabag,
Nueva Vizcaya
Contact: (078) 332-2136
These are just some of the interesting Nueva Vizcaya eats but I’m pretty sure there’s more in this province.