A Saturday ended with nothing much to do. I asked around if there was any nearby place I could hie off to, for the rest of the gloomy afternoon even until evening. Somebody mentioned Pasqualino's, so I looked for it! Not really a nearby place if you were in Tacloban, but, this is more than worth the effort!
This is in the town of Sta. Rita (Samar), 1.5km
after you cross the San Juanico Bridge from Tacloban.
No this is not a roadside joint. As you can see on the pic, this is on top of a hill with a nice view of the bridge itself (and other equally breathtaking sights)! Unfortunately, there is no commute to this place.
You can rent a car or jeep or the Lhuiller Taxi in the city. A tricycle won't probably be able to negotiate the ascent. But if you can hire a "singgol" (single) motorbike a-la habal-habal, that would be fine. Only issue is, there are really no habal-habal commuter rides in Tacloban. But no harm in asking motorists!
Let me tell you how I approached this though. The info would be helpful!
Listen to this... by strict instructions of some lovely advisers, I passed by this place in the city...
Yes that is Giuseppe’s Ristorante Italiano on Avenida Veteranos across the hospital. Why so and what for? To ask if Pasqualino's was open today - because they're not always open (yet). Both are owned by one and the same lovely couple. Uh, I could have called or checked online, but I was at a nearby cafe!
I learned Pasqualino's is open only on weekends (Fri to Sun actually) eh Sabado today, so GO!
I forgot to take a picture where you veer off the national road going left (coming from Tacloban). Then you just follow a dirt road passing by rural houses (be careful, children and animals play on that path).
That narrow path goes up a hill, concrete when you're almost there, until you reach this...
That's the main entrance. Park anywhere to the left or right or anywhere around this rotunda. Vehicles are not allowed inside (except theirs), but when you are alreay on the grounds, you'll understand why.
Take note of this entrance fee. But you don't pay for that anywhere at this gate. Just proceed inside...
Per person - that means including your driver. The amount will be added to your restaurant bill later.
Upon entry, you immediately feel as if you were in a park with lots of flowers and greens...
Shot this photo from the door. This is the foyer with sitting areas, and view of the San Juanico Bridge.
This red clay path goes around to the side and back of the house...
With fantastic views of course, of San Juanico Strait. You can even see parts of Tacloban City areas.
Out at the corner of the property, where the views are best, is this interesting pillar-like structure...
Whatever that is/was for, it adds character to the place. Don't lean your total weight on it. Plastic yan!
The pillars above ovelooks a lower level of the topography, still part of this property...
That's my driver who went to investigate what that round concrete platform is. He says its a helipad. I disagree, it's so narrow. But the area is wide yes, you can even land many polopokters there! In fact, to the left (not seen in photo) is the real parking lot of Pasqualino's. There's a stairway from down there.
Let's go iniside the house, shall we?
This is the restaurant's main door, taken from inside the "lobby"/"receiving area"...
Of course San Juanico Bridge is still seen out in the distance! That door to the right is the men's toilet and showers. Yes, there is! Left of that painting is "lady's room" - I don't know if there's a shower there!
From the door, you could immediately see this to your right... a "cocktail area"... sosyel!
This area would have been the dining room before this house was converted to a restaurant, di ba? So where is dining now? Teka... calma ka lang! Those high chairs at right face a floor-to-ceiling mirror. I'd like to have someting like that in my house hehe! After the girl in red (waitress) is their main kitchen.
Beware of that glass counter in front of her - that is where the sweetest sweets and other delectable irresistible things are found that your contrabida doctor says "bawal"! To her right, where the big plant sits is some kind of a bar where the drinks and shakes are concocted. And why is it pleasantly bright at that corner? Because the widow is actually also a bar with high chairs on the outside of the house.
Look! That guy in there is tending to my pizza order! Yep, that is a pugon in front of him - the oven!
Most everything served in this place are prepared just in that kitchen area. You can watch them do it!
So where is nga the dining area? Saan? Hain?! Ah eh... outside, sa likod ng bahay... sa labas... ito o...
O ano, laban ka?! Yeah, it's a mesmerizing place to sit and dine - with a grand view of the strait. Whoa!
Three steps down from your dining table is this kidney shaped swimming pool...
But what is a pool when you have a spectacular view of the narrowest navigable (by all kind of ships) body of water in the country? Restaurant crew told me its nicer to see when those big ships cruise by.
There is a "view deck" area at the edge of the property, just behind this, sino nga ito, si Venus?
She is positioneed as a nice accent at the edge of the pool. And water cascades from her feet to that red circular whatever and down to the pool. Yup, a good photo-op place for you mga IG & FB fanatics!
Thsoe two islets in the middle of the strait are also wonderful additions to the panoramic vistas...
My driver even referred to them as "parang design". I agree, for in fact they are, right? I also liked that big yellowish house down on the water's edge. I asked, but none of the crews know who owns that.
By the way, from this corner, not only the strait looks good, but even the restaurant itself...
Dining tables kind of surround this pool area - from behind and to my right (not seen in pic) all the way up to that end where the kitchen and pugon are located. Oh the building at left is... THE smoking area!
Ito yun sya o...
You can also dine there. Look, there are three tables. My favorite nook - especially the leftmost table!
Aha, speaking of tables brings us to food! Here was (one of) my pizza orders...
I like the crackly edges, and in general the dough! Manipis, marasa! With herbs just from their garden!
Yes they ahve their own organic garden below the swimming pool. I took this pic while at the garden!
They plant herbs there, even fruits. I saw "parsley", "basil", "oregano" and kung-anu-anong pampaano!
I'll tell you more next time, for surely I will be back!
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