Balikbayan Restaurant - Santa Ana

We stopped by this restaurant for lunch and enjoyed a delicious omelette with potatoes. The portion size was generous and my wife had a tasty sandwich as well. However, the downside was the lackluster service. The staff didn't seem interested in serving us, despite us being the only customers in the restaurant.

Their 149-peso sets, which include a main course, salad, banana, and cola, are excellent. I highly recommend the squid adobo set.

I ordered two set meals at this restaurant. Unfortunately, the pork and fish were not seasoned at all - not even with salt and pepper. There was no salt or pepper available to add. The pork was also very dry, and the included bananas for dessert were not good quality. I had a much better meal at a local grill on the street. I will not be returning to this restaurant again.

My adobong pusit was good but my daughter's pasta carbonara was not even close to what it should taste like.

I have heard so many good things about this place so i expected to be rendering a great review. Sadly i am unable to do so. Though the setting and ambiance is really nice the food, pricing and service are a crime. We ordered a selection of Filipino specialties, including: local scallops (dry, sour and only 8 pieces on the plate for 200 pesos, i can buy a kilo of the same scallops for 40 pesos) Crispy pata that was basically deep fried pig feet for 400 pesos (local markets sell pig feet for 80 pesos a kilo. Sweet and sour shrimp (again 8 pieces in ketchup and vinegar) Spicy crabs (1 small crab in soy and a couple of peppers again only 40 to 50 pesos worth of ingredients) You would expect a Filipino chef to at least be able to get the sinigang right ... But no, it tasted like they has washed seafood in it and they were obviously trying to save money on their tamarind expenses. I hate being exxcited about going to a restaurant and experiencing complete disappointment. We spent 2400 pesos on a completely substandard meal. I approached the owner and in return was told "Sorry" Sorry is a good word to describe this place. Avoid like the plague. There are so many better places to eat for a fraction of the price on this stunning island.