When in Bataan: Stregato Gelateria

It’s quite frustrating to be in a lovely city yet not know where to eat. I checked a bunch of sites but most of the establishments in the area have zero reviews. I remember though that a close friend of mine recently went to Bataan and took a photo of herself with a charming swing. I quickly checked if it has reviews in looloo; and it has an overall rating of four stars. Since it is just beside our hotel, we decided to drop by. 

Hello, Stregato Gelateria! 

The quaint dessert shop is located at the ground floor of Galeria Victoria Mall and it was a good thing that I asked The Plaza Hotel’s doorman for directions as we would have missed it and walked 15 minutes away as directed by Google Maps based on the pin in looloo. 

Entering the restaurant could be a bit unpleasant as kids selling garlands would tap and force you to buy. One kid even asked me to treat her a scoop of gelato. Though it is sad to see kids trying to earn money to survive, it could also be annoying to some customers who just want a nice meal, poke-free.

The showcase freezer of gelato is the first thing you’ll see once you set foot inside the charming restaurant. But since R and I were famished, we didn’t bother to check it and looked for the menu instead. After spotting some savory dishes, we headed to the second floor and took the table with a swing couch. After a while, we moved as the table is too small for dinner. 

We decided to go with Mushroom Soup (PHP97), Loaded Potato Skins (PHP145, add PHP10 for additional sour cream dip), Grilled Salmon (PHP185) and Eight-Hour Roast Beef (PHP220). For drinks, we went with Gelato Shake (PHP130) and Frozen Iced Tea (PHP85). I went down again as they have this pay as you order policy.

After placing our orders, I was informed that they were out of roast beef. I then changed it to pork belly but they were out of pork as well. I could sense that R was frustrated as he wanted to eat either beef or pork. Eventually, he settled with Pan Fried Herbed Chicken with Gravy (PHP178). 

Service was fast and our drinks were served after 5 minutes. 

The iced tea tasted like frozen Nestea while the gelato shake (I chose tiramisu) was slightly lighter than its dessert version. I was surprised that it was not as sweet as expected. It was a good thing though as it somehow quenched my thirst.

Mushroom soup was served next and it was the saddest bowl of soup I’ve tasted. It was so watery and quite bland. At least it was served warm. It would have been better if there were mushroom bits and sour cream for texture and taste. 

Our frowns were turned upside down though by the loaded potato skins. R and I loved it a lot!

The baked potato skins topped with crispy bacon bits and cheese were delightful! Each bite was flavorful and adding a dollop of sour cream further enhanced the dish. I loved the contrast in textures and the play of flavors. I wouldn’t mind placing three orders of this if only it won’t make my thighs bigger. 

My grilled salmon was quite good too though a bit too salty. I had to make sure that each spoonful had some sautéed mushrooms and leeks to offset the saltiness of the slab of salmon. Then again, for PHP185, this dish is a steal!

R’s pan fried chicken was also good. The chicken fillet was succulent and well seasoned. Stregato Gelateria was also not stingy with gravy. The chicken fillet was swimming in gravy! An order also comes with a small glass bowl of gravy for the gravy monsters out there. I also loved the slightly bland fried potatoes to offset the saltiness of the chicken. 

We thought of trying its gelato or cakes but we were already too full to have desserts. We just stayed a bit longer to check our mails and catch a Pokemon or two.

Overall, it was a pleasant dinner. Food’s not that remarkable and the place is a bit too dim for its cute interiors. Servers though were quick and nice. Stregato Gelateria is still a restaurant worth visiting when nearby. Also, make sure you get a photo with the cute swings!

Stregato Gelateria is located at Ground Floor, Galeria Victoria Mall, Bonifacio Street, City of Balanga, Bataan.