Park, Rest & Dine is an eclectic and quirky restaurant located along Marcos Highway (Marikina-Infanta Highway) that serves pretty good meals. During road trips, I always prefer eating in places with character and these are few and far between along this highway. There are lots of small carinderias and a couple of resorts that have their own in-house restaurants along the highway if you’re not too picky about meals, but Park, Rest & Dine offers a pretty good selection of affordable meals in a pleasant setting.

Previously a family owned resthouse, owner Melody Sayaman converted the space around the farm into a estaurant that caters mostly to road trippers, motorcyclists and mountain bikers who pass along the route. They don’t claim to be a fancy restaurant, but this 5-month old establishment is a relaxing pitstop.

The main dining space is a rustic stone cottage with wide windows located on an elevated portion of the grounds. I immediately liked the vibe of the place and the eclectic touches, from the purposely mismatched furniture to the knick-knacks all around. The garden area is pretty relaxing too. There are hammocks strung up on the trees, so guests can relax and even take short naps if they want.

There are several seating areas including a table for 2-3 in the porch, a dining table good for 6 people, a cozy nook with a mosaic tile table good for 2-3 people, and a living room style comfy sofa with lots of magazines you can browse through. There’s a larger table at the side of the restaurant with a nice view, that can accommodate bigger groups and a few gazebos in the garden with tables. All in all, the place can probably accommodate 20 or so people at a time.

Most of the meals on the menu are ideal for big groups (2-4 people per order), but there are also combo meals for solo travelers. Most places along this route only serve simple meals like tapsilog and corned beef, so I was surprised to see their extensive menu. I ordered Tanigue steak with vegetables, which was really good. Very nice presentation as well. Other bestsellers include tapsilog, lumpiang shanghai, pancit and other rice meals. [Sample dishes on their Menu]

The restaurant owner made me feel at home at once and was very hands-on with managing the resto. If you’re in a large group, you can pre-order in advance so that the food can be prepared beforehand. Tip: a cup of brewed coffee here costs P50/unlimited refills. In fact, you can have coffee here on your way up, and if you pass by on the same day (within 24hrs), coffee is still free. Pretty good deal. They also serve beer here (45/bottle).

All in all, Park, Rest & Dine is a good pit stop with pleasant surroundings, good food, affordable prices & friendly staff. For motorcyclists coming from Manila, the place still feels a bit near since it’s located between km 40 and 41 along Marcos Highway about 300 meters after Foremost Farm. But if you’re just on a quickie ride, this is a good place to stop on the way back to Manila for breakfast or early lunch. It’s also a  good destination for mountain bikers, who want to have breakfast on their way up to Sierra Madre.

The grounds here can also be used for camping, and I saw a tent pitched from a couple who stayed the night just to go stargazing. The place also has rooms for rent for those who want to stay the night (P1,500/room, “kahit ilan na kayo diyan”). According to Melody, there’s a look out point from here where you can get a great scenic view. However, it’s quite a workout since you’ll have to climb 600+ steps to get there. I may check it out next time.

LOCATION:

Park, Rest & Dine Coffee Shop & Restaurant. Sitio Corazon De Jesus, Pinugay, Baras, Rizal.

• Facebook page: Park, Rest & Dine
• Contact: info: 09494151440 / 09393932530