Maimee’s Garden Café

A couple of Sundays ago in one of those spur of the moment late afternoon lunches, Bubba and I walked in the newest restaurant that’s making buzz in San Juan’s Little Baguio area.  Maimee’s Garden Café is a garden-setting restaurant situated in a converted portion of a 50-year old house of Maimee.  The home garden café to a degree reminds me of Lemuria –you know, partially hidden, somewhat secret, but open and eager to welcome guests.

Lemuria serves fairly sophisticated dishes while at Maimee’s, home cooked meals that bring comfort can be found.  Their menu doesn’t have one single theme of cuisine but dominantly has Filipino offerings like Kare Kare and Chicken Barbecue.  There are also salads, soups and pastas if you’re yearning for a light fare.

On the Table

Cream of Three Mushroom Soup PHP 100

Creamy bisque made with 3 kinds of mushroom, served with garlic bread

Lately, I’ve been craving incessantly for orgasm-inducing mushroom soup.  It’s a season for mushroom appreciation for me.  I even tried cooking mushroom soup from scratch last June.  Yea from scratch, like I want to scratch my eyes out for even going through the 4-hour long process –all for a bowl of mushroom soup, only to be asked by friends who ate it at home to get the salt shaker.  Good thing I don’t hold grudges or I would have given them sugar instead.  Or better yet, laundry powder. But that’s an idea! *scratches chin* Well, more of that mushroom catastrophe in another entry. 

Glad was I that there was no misfortune in Maimee’s mushroom soup.I was chirpy to know I don’t have to slave for 4 hours to get decent and tasty mushroom soup and Maimee’s Garden Café is so near my place.  My tongue is looking for the grainy semi-thick type with a variety of mushroom taste (I used 4 mushrooms in mine but Swiss mushrooms tend to be soooo bitter than woody pala) and although Maimee’s version is smoother and had more of that creamy satin than my weird very specific coarse desire, it satisfied abundantly.  

My tongue was still able to feel a bit of texture from the other mushrooms while I dig the chock-full of sliced button mushroom.  Cream was light and perfect for a Sunday lunch.  The crusty bread was toasty yet soft to the bite. 

Oriental Citrus Salad PHP 275

Fresh mixed greens with grilled chicken and mango strips, cranberries, mandarin orange and chopped pili nuts, in a special citrus, sesame seed oil dressing

Beautiful bright color specks of mango, cranberries and mandarin orange and white chicken meat spread out in the field of crispy fresh greens.  The citrusy sesame seed oil dressing has a tendency to be on the sweet side instead of counterbalancing against the acidity.  As long as my salad isn’t swimming in the dressing, I’m good.

Vigan Longganisa PHP 240

Vigan longganisa served sisig style, with fried egg and pickled vegetables               

I wanted to dissuade Bubba from ordering the vigan longganisa but he was craving for it so I let him be.  The vigan longganisa was chopped and minced but it initially lacked that browning meat usually get after dancing in sizzling hot pan.  Bubba asked if the kitchen can re-fire it again and it was nice that they gladly obliged to the request.  The re-fired longganisa was tastier when toasted and we finished the whole plate.

Boneless Barbeque Short Ribs (USDA) PHP 390

Grilled boneless beef short ribs basted in special marinade sauce

Bubba clearly had a bigger appetite that day (and I am really TRYING my best to be on restricted diet *key question: for how long*) and ordered another dish for himself.  Boneless Barbeque short ribs were tender and he liked the marinade basting and sauce.

Kinks are expected from newly operating restaurants so it’s okay to point out that service still needs a lot of improvement but all the male waiters were eager to please, albeit sometimes frazzled and slow.  They were friendly and approachable except for one female attendant, who pointed out to another table that she’s the cashier and not part of the wait staff –hesitating to take their order… prompting that table of four across us to leave after waiting for 20 minutes.  For us, it was still an enjoyable Sunday lunch amidst a relaxing homey setting.

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Obviously, there is appreciation for restaurants like Maimee’s Garden Café that serves delicious and familiar home-cooked dishes and is not really off the beaten path, but far enough from the overly crowded places.

Maimee’s Garden Café

20 E. Jacinto St., Little Baguio,

San Juan City, Metro Manila

(632) 724 1538 / (63) 917 500 6208

maimeesgardencafe@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/maimeesgardencafe