Rediscovering Veranda: A Taste of Nostalgia

After braving a three-hour drive through SLEX traffic from Manila to Tagaytay, we arrived at Taal Vista Hotel’s Veranda, warmly greeted by a team of welcoming staff and a hearty spread of classic Filipino-Spanish dishes. The long journey was, indeed, worth it.

We need not stress over what to order—the TVH crew had carefully and thoughtfully curated our menu for the day. Our only task? Choosing our drinks. Of course, we had fresh mango juice and mango shake.

We kicked things off with a refreshing salad, a prelude to the flavorful feast that awaited us. We were served two kinds, each with its own distinct dressing—followed by warm, soft rolls paired with a tangy vinaigrette. Then came the tapas: beef salpicao and gambas, with the garlic flavor standing out. And these weren’t your typical shrimps—the gambas were huge, close to the size of a baby’s palm.

For mains, we had Seafood Pasta, a perfect blend of creamy and tomato-based flavors. Of course, the menu wouldn’t be complete without a taste of traditional Filipino cuisine. And no Filipino feast is complete without bulalo and crispy pata, both delivering the authentic, comforting taste we were craving. For dessert, we indulged in tropical halo-halo, delicately served in a coconut shell, and the Volcano Eruption—Veranda’s signature molten lava cake with a twist. This rich dark chocolate cake is topped with luscious chocolate ganache, vanilla ice cream, and a refreshing berry sauce for a change – a perfect balance of flavors.

As if they weren’t enough, Veranda’s breakfast spread the next morning was just as impressive. They take “most important meal of the day” seriously to another level—offering everything from hearty rice meals, a live omelette and egg station, and steaming hot soup broth to fluffy waffles, pancakes, assorted breads, taho, and champorado. Hands down, best. breakfast. buffet. ever.

The Veranda restaurant we’ve loved and known since childhood feels even more special now that we’re all grown up. As my brother and I reminisced about our fond memories of Taal Vista Hotel, we also noticed how the restaurant has evolved—renovated, redesigned, and expanded to welcome more guests. Wider, more spacious as it opens up to the patio outside. Yet, in the face of these improvements, it has remained true to what we’ve always loved: great food, a relaxing atmosphere, and excellent customer service.

Cultural shows are also held every weekend at Veranda, where visitors—both locals and foreigners—can enjoy watching and participating in traditional Filipino folk dances like Tinikling, Cariñosa, and Pandanggo sa Ilaw, among others. Cultural shows have been a staple at Taal Vista dating back to the late 1960s and 70s. What a pleasant discovery that the present management has decided to keep the tradition going.