First Bite: Tagaytay Highlands Sports Center Veranda

I have lost count on how many times I visited Tagaytay last year. R and I head there whenever we need a quick getaway from the busy Manila life. Though it is sometimes traffic in Tagaytay, at least we get to enjoy the slightly cooler and fresher breeze. And last Christmas, my family opted to head there too and we decided to stay in Tagaytay Highlands for a much needed family bonding.

Hello, Tagaytay Highlands Sports Center Veranda!

Whenever R and I visit Highlands, we would head to The Highlander Steakhouse for some of its delectable prime ribs. But this time around, my family opted to try the restaurant in the Sports Center Veranda for some casual comfort dishes.

The menu is extensive and a mix of different cuisines. I went with Breaded Pork (PHP280) while my sister ordered Mac and Cheese (PHP280) and cheese quesadillas for my mom. I also ordered a glass of buko shake and a bowl of mango caramel ice cream for dessert.

Service was quite fast as food was served in less than 10 minutes. I guess it also helps as we were the only diners that time.

I didn’t get to taste my mom’s quesadillas but it was a bestseller with the kids. I guess it was really cheesy for kids to love it.

My sister’s mac and cheese was quite good. Not as flavorful as Borough’s or Kettle’s but it was savory enough to delight my taste buds. 

It had a nice tart to it thanks to the generous dose of cheese and the macaroni was cooked firm, just the way I like it.

I had the teriyaki sauce of my breaded pork on the side as my sister wanted to get some too and she prefers tartar sauce over teriyaki. Odd.

The first thing I noticed was the thin cuts of pork and I instantly felt tricked as I do not get much pork. Good thing though that despite its thinness, the pork remained juicy. It was an okay dish. But it was not worth PHP280. I could get a better deal elsewhere.

I was surprised that they served the mango caramel with the meals. In my head I was thinking, “what were you guys thinking? That we’ll eat this along with our meals?! Are you serious?” I was able to keep my cool though as the servers quickly took back the dessert.

And when it was served again, it was… slightly icy. I guess they placed it in the fridge as is. If I remember it correctly, it is priced at PHP220. I was hoping that it would be at least an artisan ice cream but… it tasted like your usual Magnolia or Selecta ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with mango bits. I was not impressed and stopped after a spoonful. My cousins finished it halfheartedly.

I guess I’ll stick with Highlanders Steakhouse.

Tagaytay Highlands Sports Center Veranda is located at Tagaytay Highlands, Tagaytay City, Cavite.