As you may have heard in the news, one of the two branches of Cafe by the Ruins got burned down a few months back. This leaves us with only one branch, which is why despite the expensiveness of the dishes, we still decided to give this particular branch a go.
You may read about our experience in the other branch here (the one that got burned down): Popular Restaurant in Baguio called Cafe by the Ruins
Artsy and homey interior
Just like the other branch, Cafe by the Ruins Dua also featured an artsy interior with the comforting touch of home. This is attributable to the integration of several wooden elements and dimming of light.
There are bits and pieces of art elements spread across the interior providing something refreshing for the eyes. There might be a few that can weird you out, but still there is some form of bewilderment and/or amazement seeing these things.
Built for solo
Although you can unleash your creativity to share each dish, most of what you can have here in Cafe by the Ruins are good for one (i.e. single consumer). There is no option to upgrade dishes into a shareable size, which may be disappointing for some -- thankfully not much for us. Oh by the way, cuisine here is predominantly Filipino, so expect something familiar but comforting.
Rizal's Tsokolate-e (P145) might have lacked the thickness to make it stand out, but it definitely had rich chocolate taste to brighten you up!
Although technically not straight-forward Filipino, this Chicken Nuggets (P180) can make you remember your childhood (or even day-to-day) mornings. Rightly seasoned, but may seem tough.
Tia Olympia Fresh Lumpia (P200) may be a qualified lackluster with its plainness and lack of variety in the flavors. It didn't taste that fresh as well. It was almost disappointing.
The Pinikpikan (P340) is one of the few share-able dishes. Excellent taste and very heartwarming indeed with its rightly seasoned seafood goodness!
The Sinigang Bagnet (P340) is perhaps the better soup with its kilig-worthy sourness and subtle sweetness!
If you are not a fan of non-traditional carbonara wherein the sauce is fluffy and "mushroomy", you may want to skip this Pasta a la Carbonara (P240). Otherwise, you may enjoy this one.
The Baguio Bagnet (P340) is a classic dish you must try here in Cafe by the Ruins! Yes, it may be at times extra fatty, but the flavor is just lovable! Taste won't help but dance in your buds!
Cafe by the Ruins Dua - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
Place ★★★★★
Taste ★★★☆
Service ★★★★
Value for Money ★★★
Budget: at least P400 each for a moderate personal or sharing type of dining experience for a group of at least 4
No. of visits for this particular restaurant/branch - 1 || Date of last visit - June 23, 2017
Cafe by the Ruins is worth visiting especially with its wonderful ambiance and artsy interior. The food quality ranges from okay to great, but dishes has the tendency to generally hurt the budget. Servers are attentive and friendly which add to the experience. Overall, Cafe by the Ruins qualifies as a must-visit place, but may not be something you'll frequently visit.
Cafe by the Ruins Dua
Location: 225 Upper Session Road, Baguio
Service Charge: 10% on price