After gallivanting the day away in Baguio City with my family last month, we whetted up a hearty appetite and found ourselves at Cafe By The Ruins, which was on my sister’s to-visit list. She told me that it was a popular place, so we crossed our fingers that we’d get seated quickly.
As you can see, there was no one there. We got lucky!
We basically strolled in there and got ourselves a table. I didn’t have time to do my research about the place, but sometimes it’s better to discover a place that way. You get to choose which items you’re interested in, not because someone recommended it.
Their light fixture caught my attention. But I did wonder about the ruins they referred to.
Then I noticed this (see below). As it turns out, the ruins refer to the ruins of the old governor’s house. Not sure which governor, but some governor. I’ll have to look into that.
Here’s the outdoor seating area when we went there. I would’ve wanted to sit and hang out near the fire pit, but it was cold. Not Connecticut kinda cold, but cold enough for the Philippines.
My mom ordered this dish that was perfect for the cold evening weather – Chicken Sotanghon! It had glass noodles, chicken and tree mushrooms in hot chicken broth.
I came across this delicious appetizer – Prawns in a Blanket – at the Cafe.
I ordered Rizal’s Tsokolate-e, “a hero’s cup of hot carabao milk blended with chocolate”.
I’ve never had Duck Mami. It had egg noodles, slivers of tender roast duck, dried mushrooms and bok choy.
My sister got Ernie’s BLT. I’ve no idea who Ernie is. According to the Cafe By The Ruins menu: “B is for bacon. We make it ourselves. L is for lettuce, organically grown. T is for tomato for just the right tartness. Served with Ruins’ garlic mayonnaise in canoe bread.” Still not sure who Ernie is.
Here’s their ensaymada. Don’t be deceived by the picture. It’s bigger than the typical ensaymada, plus it’s topped with butter, sugar and grated queso de bola.
Here are some of their baked goodies.
Verdict: I can see why this place is pretty popular among residents and visitors alike. The place has a nice vibe, plus you won’t go home hungry.
During our visit, we found parking easily and there was no wait time. Even better, they allowed us to bring in our little dog who was in his stroller. It was too cold to sit outside, so thank goodness for their consideration!
Combining art and culture with cooking and eating pretty much is a sure win. Not only are you stimulating the appetites of your customers, you’re also stimulating their minds. Who can argue with that? After visiting Cafe By The Ruins, you can add my vote to the hype that surrounds the place. It’s definitely one of the delicious places for good eats in Baguio City.
Address:
Cafe By The Ruins
25 Chuntug Street
Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines