Rustic Mornings in Marikina

It was a whole new ball game for me to head towards the east for the sake of eating. With all the new restaurants popping from left to right around the busy areas of Ortigas and Makati district, I don’t actually have to change my direction elsewhere. However, at one point, I wanted to move my game and try the side of Marikina, for a change.

I figured it’s too late for me to follow the route to Rustic Mornings by Isabelo. But I still need to experience the lovely sanctuary and take this out of my food bucket list. On a weekday during my birthweek, together with my family, we celebrated the morning of my birthday at Rustic Mornings by Isabelo.

The Food:

Gourmet Hotdog Sandwich with Chili con Carne & Sunny Side Up Egg (Php 250)
Rate: 4/5

I was in a mood for messy, slimy and scruffy plates. Call it greater than cheat day, ‘cheater day’ perhaps. My greasy plate of Gourmet Hotdog Sandwich with Chili con Carne & Sunny Side Up Egg was nothing compared to messed up burgers if we talk about being extremely greasy. But I was satisfied with the combination of complex ingredients as a whole. Its chili con carne viand jazzed up my morning.

Beef Tapa (Php 280)
Rate: 4/5

The Filipino breakfast I grew up with, which is famous in our household. Seeing my mom order tapsilog from almost all breakfast places we visit made me duplicate that activity unconsciously. Whether it’s a casual restaurant or an upscale one, I wanted to know if their tapa is worth discovering or not. At Rustic Mornings, I didn’t find the best beef tapa in town but I could say it’s worth ordering to match up the countryside morning ambiance. Beef tapa will always remain as one of my staple Filipino breakfast favorites.

All Cheese Pizza (Php 350)
Rate: 2/5

From a cheery mood to a dismayed face. All Cheese Pizza pulled the energy down from the minute I sliced the hardened semi-thin crust. I had to stand up and slice the crust with full effort. The cheese toppings didn’t leave a good impression too. Sayang! 🙁

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake (Php 120)
Rate: 4/5

One of the servers engaged us to order Rustic Mornings’ Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake. Enough moisture inside that allowed its texture to be smooth and gentle. Outside, its chocolate covering and caramel sauce enticed me to scrape off the chocolate for a generous amount of rich chocolate when it shoots down to my tastebuds.

Frozen Brazo de Mercedes (Php 150)
Rate: 4/5

So far, none of the the Frozen Brazo de Mercedes I’ve tried failed me, including the version from Rustic Mornings. It’s always a wise decision to end our savory palate with a sweet, fluffy and frozen Brazo de Mercedes. Frozen Brazo, like thick ice cream, always has an edge over regular chilled brazo cake.

The Ambiance:

I believe the ambiance is the climax of enjoyment at Rustic Mornings. It’s not a surprise to see dating couples choose their own spot and enjoy the beat at their own pace. Slow, relaxed and at home, three things that will welcome you upon stepping out of the car and walking to your chosen spot. I prefer staying outside, especially on cooler days. But for the sake of my parents, I think it’s best to let the air conditioned room, do the work.