Chito’s Café: Good taste in an ancestral setting

Discovered by chance this lovely old house along President Katigbak Street in downtown Lipa City, a mere 5-minute walk from the San Sebastian Cathedral, during a recent holiday break in the old town.

The 2-storey wooden house, originally built by Lantin family, has been preserved and reinvented as Chito’s Restaurant & Cafe, serving excellent Filipino dishes. It sits right next to an older sister restaurant, Sideway Grill.

That Wednesday evening, our family of four had Sizzling Garlic-Chili Bangus on a Platter, Laing, Crispy Pata, and Pancit Canton. Everything was in good taste and reasonably priced. In large servings, too.

Chito’s is run and managed by young couple Miguel and Stephanie Mayo, who also look after a coffee shop on the ground level, formerly known as simply silong. It was there where we repaired for coffee and ube cake that uses halaya as main ingredient.

Chito’s Restaurant offers a unique dining experience that blends nostalgia with modern comfort in a beautifully preserved ancestral house.

As an expansion of the original Sideway Grill, Chito’s opened in 2022, promising to elevate dining experience in Lipa with a touch of history and charm.

As one climbs up the concrete stairs, we are reminded of a journey back in time. One feels the warmth and simplicity of old Filipino homes, one that’s serene and welcoming. The feeling is a throwback to the familiar, familial warmth, that good, old look and feel of being in Lola’s home and savoring her cuisine that has long been missed.

The ancestral house itself is said to be more than a hundred years old. Talk of history, romance and gentle manners, with good food to match, in an elegant setting.

Chito’s has preserved and upgraded the outdoor areas, known as Gazebo and Silong, where guests can also dine, snack and sip their coffee.

Miguel says Chito’s began with a vision to cater to a broader audience beyond the clientele of the original Sideway Grill.

“We needed a new venue to accommodate larger gatherings and special events yet maintaining the concept of serving affordable and delicious meals that are perfect for sharing,” he tells us.

At Chito’s, guests are treated to the rich flavors of traditional Filipino cuisine with a modern twist. The menu features beloved classics such as laing, sinaing na tambakol, gising-gising, and kansi, among others.

Signature dishes include Sideway Grill’s crispy pata and sizzler dishes, manok ni Chito, dinuguan, and chili garlic bangus. There are also ube champorado and salted egg calamari, jacking up your dining experience.

Stephanie puts in, “Chito’s also offers home delivery, party trays for special occasions, and buffet packages for groups of more than 30 people.”

The restaurant also welcomes intimate parties and events for that vintage, homey feel in air-conditioned comfort. For updates, please check out

Facebook: Chito’s Restaurant and Cafe by Sideway Grill
Instagram: chitosrestocafe
Email: chitosbysidewaygrill@gmail.com
Phone: 09171735759.