A farm and restaurant he only heard from his friends in Tacloban and mere 30 minutes drive from Tacloban City center, Rafael Farm and Restaurant was visited by Tutubi on his way back from his visits to Caluwayan Beach Resort in Samar before heading to the Tacloban Airport to catch his return flight to Manila.

Pictures of Rafael Farm and Restaurant, Babatngon, Leyte:

the souvenir shop of rafael farm where you can buy t-shirts, mugs and other mementoes
the main restaurant of Rafael Farm with the reflections of the placid man-made lake where you can also ride boats for rent

Tutubi can't give you a full-blown review of Rafael Farm for he merely stayed there for about thirty minutes to take a few pictures and briefly enjoyed the view of the farm in the tree house that overlooks the man-made lake and lush greenery of the garden hideaway.

there's a bridge across the lake resembling San Juanico Bridge and the distinctive S and L forms symbolizing Samar and Leyte
another look at the lake and bridge with Tutubi's friend, that he later learned, is also a photographer

When the guard at the gate noticed that he and his group didn't order from the restaurant, even the halo-halo as recommended by his friend, the guard asked for P20 entrance fee to the farm that they were able to haggle to be gratis since on the premise that they're in a hurry and will come back someday.

Tutubi will be back at Rafael Farm indeed and will surely order their set meal claimed to be good and reasonably priced as well. He foresees another trip to Leyte in the coming months, that's for sure. Much better if they can offer overnight accommodations at their relaxing place.

the toilet and washroom with refreshing color

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Rafael Farm and Restaurant
Address: Brgy. Pagsulhugon
Babatngon, Leyte Province

Telephone Numbers: +63.53.325.0729; +63.53.325.0729
Mobile No.: +63.918.669.9909; +63.915.920.0325

Email: inquiry@rafaelfarm.com; reservation@rafaelfarm.com

For reservations and inquiries, menu prices, events (weddings, baptism, and other parties), and promos, please call their published contact numbers or send an email inquiry. Rafael Farm apparently has no working official website.

Related Leyte Links (or click the Leyte category on the navigation pane:

Ocho Seafood and Grill
Tacloban Delicacies: Binagol and Moron
San Juanico Bridge

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Leyte Restaurants

Tutubi visited Tacloban City and parts of Leyte province three times in a span of three years and was treated by his three different hosts to this restaurant thrice making it probably the most recommended restaurant in Tacloban for visitors to the new highly-urbanized city of Eastern Visayas.

Ocho Seafood & Grill is themed like Cebu's famous sutukil though there's a "stupid" policy of prohibiting taking of pictures at the counter where seafood are to be ordered and cooked according to your preferences. Picture taking of the dining area and of course the food is however allowed.

Sample photos of the restaurant in downtown Tacloban taken by a hungry Tutubi eager to eat rather than taking better photos.

the interior in typical dim-light setting

lapu-lapu (grouper) in sweet and sour sauce
kilaw/kilawin/kinilaw na may gata

grilled squid

baked scallops

Brief review and comments:

Ocho's claim to fame probably is the speed of delivering your orders without compromising quality. The usual orders came in about 15 minutes in all times Tutubi visited the place. Budget for each person is about P400/meal (typical, no menu, just point the main ingredients, sutukil-style, and the way to cook it). Reservations are needed if you plan to go on Friday night dinners and weekends.

The toilet, during Tutubi's initial visit, needs a little cleaning due to urinal drippings but squeaky clean during his second and last visits.

It's also here that Tutubi encountered tuna skin chicharon, healthier alternative to the evil pork skin kind.

Should you ever find yourself in Tacloban City, this restaurant is sure to be the one first to be recommended "where to eat in Tacloban" list. Tutubi however loves the pakdol (bulalo) of Calle Z (Calle Zaragoza Cafe) and the homey ambiance and budget-friendly price of Yolanda's Seafood near Tacloban Airport. For coffee addicts, there's no Starbucks branch in the big city (thank goodness) but there's Jose Karlo's cafe downtown near Sto. Nino Church.

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Leyte Restaurants, Tacloban City

One of the places Tutubi ate out in Ormoc reminded him of Jo's Chicken Inato on Jupiter St. in Makati and the original one in Dumaguete City.

Chicken inato, literally meaning "our chicken" or "homely chicken" in English is special marinated chicken bar-be-queued to golden brown appetizing goodness.

Upon getting the menu, he ordered chicken thigh for only PhP65.00, cheap by Manila standard where a similar meal costs aboout Php100 or more.

a noisy picture of the chicken at ISO1600...'twas too dark inside

the bahay kubo ambiance of the place is good, though the lights are too dim for practical photography of food if you don't have additional light with you.


Tutubi did what he saw locals eating there did: eat with bare hands :P

Chicken Ati-atihan's tagline: Mapapasayaw ka sa sarap!

What's your favorite bar-be-qued chicken? Chicken inasal? chicken inato? or your own secret chicken bbq recipe?

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Chicken Ati-atihan
Aviles St., Ormoc City, Leyte

There's another restaurant in Ormoc by the same owners of Chicken Ati-atihan serving the same chicken inato (and also offering franchise) but Tutubi forgot the name.

Other recommended Ormoc Restaurant:

Chito's Chow Bar & Restaurant
(Filipino/Chinese Dishes)
(Near Veteran's Park and Ormoc City Coliseum)
Tel. No. +63.53.255.3520

Labels: Eastern Visayas, Leyte, Leyte Restaurants, Ormoc, Restaurants