Photo Vlog: ISDAAN Floating Resto Fun Park in Gerona, Tarlac

Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 1

March 15, 2015


After a couple of hours traveled from the City of Pines we were now down to the last part of our itinerary, the Isdaan Floating Resto Fun Park in Gerona, Tarlac.




This place has been featured in a couple of TV shows, including Rated K, and has been popular since then. Every time we traveled to Baguio thru provincial buses, and we get to pass by this place, I have always wanted to drop off and experience what this place has to offer.

at the entrance from the parking lot 

And now, we did it already. We were able to enter this famous place.

So what does Isdaan Floating Resto in Gerona, Tarlac has to offer? Off course, as we all know this Resto's specialties as the name implies, are S-E-A-F-O-O-D-S! It's just so strange that in the middle of rice fields is a floating seafood restaurant, who thought of that? Oh well, leave it to the owner.

receiving area 

And since we are so hungry when we arrived here at around 4pm, and the only breakfast we take was a cup of strawberry taho from Baguio, we don't waste our time and immediately order a couple of dishes listed in their menu.


What you would notice in their menu was it's very Filipino, I think mostly we're Kapampangan dialect. To be really honest, their Menu, at first sight, is really expensive.


Below are the foods we have ordered:

Lechon tinupig na manok, it's a roasted chicken cooked in a traditional tupig(is a popular native delicacy from Pangasinan which is made out of ground glutinous rice and coconuts strips wrapped in banana leaves then cooked over charcoal.) way. I can say that we don't get the worth of our money for this one, I believe 498 pesos is way too expensive for a whole roasted chicken, with no specific kick on the taste, if we buy Andok's chicken we could afford 2 whole roasted chicken already, and that's the jumbo size.

Lechon tinupig na manok - 498 pesos 

Isang Kalderong Kanin, your typical rice cooked in the old way. Well, we are so disappointed with this one, we thought it was the normal pot our grandmas used to cook rice in the old times. But when it was served oh well my eyes almost dropped with the surprise of how big their kaldero(pot) is! With the price of 134 pesos, I could already buy 2 kilos of rice and that's already the high-class type of rice.

Isang Kalderong Kanin - 134 pesos

Isang Kalderong Kanin - 134 pesos, I guess in the picture it looks big already but you have to see it to believe it.


Ensaladang Mangga, a plate full of a combination of chopped mangoes, tomatoes, onions and bagoong (anchovies), I cannot help but order ensaladang mangga whenever I saw one on the menu because it's my favorite, so I ordered one even if it cost too much for 118 pesos per plate, though at first, I thought it's gonna be a bigger serving compared to other restos who offered this, but again, I am disappointed.

Ensaladang Mangga - 118 pesos

Leche Flan, our all-time favorite, my son's super favorite, so we didn't think twice and order this for dessert. I guess this is one of the few affordable foods in their menu if you could say that 79 pesos are worth your money for 2 glass tip size and a couple of macapuno (soft jelly-like coconut flesh) on the side. Well, this one really made our dining very much enjoying, this is really good, super yummy, especially the macapuno. I wish we just ordered a bunch of this so we could say our money is worth it.

Leche Flan - 79 

For drinks, we've ordered Isang Pitsel na Iced Tea for dandararan....253 pesos! Oh god, we were just so tired and the heat is really getting into our nerves that day that's why we don't have a choice but order something that could quench our thirst. The taste? The usual, nothing special.

Pitsel ng Iced Tea - 253 

That is all that we have ordered, for that 5 items, our total bill was 1,082 pesos and I don't feel it, well except for the Leche Flan, it's my favorite! We have to compliment them for not having a service charge though, even if they are famous enough to do so. But do we really don't have a service charge? Oh well, what's done is done, and it's our first time, might be worth the experience.

Before I forgot, they have served us additional mango with bagoong, for free, yes that's right it's free so you won't be bored while waiting because your food will be served a minimum of 30mins if I remember it right.

compliment of the house

But I know the chicken took so long to serve that my husband has already eaten too many tupig which we bought in Pangasinan to be brought home for our relatives as pasalubong. And he's already complaining that we have to ring and so that the red light will flash on and the crew will be notified.

our own cottage 

Done with my review on Isdaan Floating Restaurant's food, this is only the first part for this place. Check out part 2, for my review of the place.

Part 2: Isdaan, The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant - Gerona, Tarlac

Facebook page: Isdaan, The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant - Gerona, Tarlac

Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 2

March 15, 2015

You can see the Part 1 of my review for Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 1, just click on the link.

So after reviewing Isdaan: The halfway to the North Floating Restaurant (Gerona Tarlac) - 1 menu, I will now proceed with their facilities.

I like their idea of having separate cottages for each group of customers, so you'll have an exclusive (if that's the right term) time with your friends and families. So the idea is an A+ for me, because regardless of how big or how small your group is they'll surely have a place for you.

our cottage in the middle of the pond 

As most people know, this is where the famous Tacsiyapo wall is located. Just a few walks from where our cottage is located. I didn't have a closer shot because there are too many people here when we finish our dinner, and since we are so eager to go back home, we didn't find the time to at least have a closer look.


What is Tacsiyapo wall ("Release your anger. Ilabas ang sama ng loob)? For those who are not familiar with this famous wall, this is a spot where you can release your anger by throwing or smashing something on the wall. From 15 pesos, to smash a plate, bowl or a mug up to 1,300 pesos to smash a working television, yes a television if you're up to changing your 1,300 pesos just to smash a T.V. So if you want to release your anger for just a moment, you can try this.

A view from where our cottage is located. 

After releasing your anger, and to soothe things up, you will be entertained by singing staff's not sure if they are waiters as some say they have singing waiters here, the quality of singing is good, and you can request for any songs in your mind. Since the food takes a long time to be served these singing waiters will entertain you for sure, for a moment we forgot that we are waiting for our food and that we are so hungry already.

singing waiters singing our song "I'll Be by Edwin McCain"

My husband has requested I'll Be by Edwin McCain and they sang it very well, 2 thumbs up for them! We just forgot to get their names. Good thing they are the ones who drop by in our cottage instead of the one impersonating Ka Freddie Aguilar who looks like him and dress like him, I just can't imagine how he'll sing I'll Be to the tune of Anak, hahaha bad me! And so my husband is feeling a bit generous that time and he really likes their singing so he gave him 200 pesos for 2 songs...if I know I may have offered my singing instead :).

Hubby really looks happy with the singers. 

Just a thought, we noticed that in some tables with a few more heads than us, almost all singers are dropping by at their cottage to sing, and that's already a bit annoying to have 2 or more group of singers bugging you while eating and you have no choice and it's a bit uncomfortable if you can't give them even 20 pesos for their singing.


Just like the table next to us who have experienced that, one customer just uttered: "mamumulubi tayo nito, sa pagkain palang mahal na, dami pang sideline". Well, I also think so.


So as the name of this establishment implies, Isdaan, Floating Resto, literally, the cottages are floating or shall I say over the pond under. The place is surrounded by ponds and man-made lagoons with Japanese Koi fishes. The management will give you an option not just to watch the fishes swim all over, but also to feed them. But take note, one move, one more payment. That's how it works there. We don't spend money to pay the food of those fishes, the cottage next to us saw my son watching the fishes while they feed them, and so they hand him a pack of fish, and that's when all the fishes in this picture have circled around our cottage.

Koi fishes

After eating we decided to roam around to explore the place. So here's what we have captured.

Floating Island

Buddha is it? 

Pond in front of our cottage, with big fish statues that is really huge! 

A lot of baby's cradle on Isdaan's live band's stage 

See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil 

The famous See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil post. Like Monkey, like Mommy. 

And who would forget to take a post with the Obama's? 

Don't tell anybody, That's him! 

Thai already? Nah! We're just in Gerona Tarlac. 

Thai like Temple underneath. 

Unggoy, Unggoyan, for 1 kilo of free fish, survive the spitting, urinating monkeys. Gotta try this one. Good luck! 

Oh, the elephant..head... Thai, Thai, Thai 

Isdaan at night. 

Isdaan at night. The clearer version. 

Definitely, Isdaan is like a miniature of Thailand located in the Philippines, it's also like Thai+Phil in one. We really like the view and the whole package of the place, if we only have to consider the structure and design. This place is two thumbs up! You'll enjoy taking pictures with your friends and families. Actually, we weren't able to explore the whole place as we really wanted to get home the soonest that we can. As you can see it is already dark when we left the place.

I'd also like to commend how clean their restrooms are. Even if their restrooms are quite small, it is always clean, whatever CR you visit they have staff outside who is so willing to serve you.

And of course we wouldn't want to forget to commend and thank their staffs, they are really accommodating, respectful and super kind. From their receptionist to the staffs who takes our order, to their singing waiters, up to their staff in their comfort rooms, also a 2 thumbs up for all of you.

So to sum it up, we still have a great time visiting this place. And as I promise to my son, we still visit it again next time when we have more time to enjoy it and explore its beauty. Well regardless of how expensive their food is, we still want to try it the 2nd time around.

Happy Eating & Happy Planning!

Glenn 50's Diner (Baguio City)

March 14, 2015

It was the 1st morning of our road trip from QC to Baguio, riding a motorcycle with our son who is 6 yrs old only. After Checking out from Prince Plaza Hotel we opt to find the best place for breakfast where we haven't tried yet.

At first we were actually looking for PKNY Cafe, but unfortunately, the roads never lead us to PKNY, I don't know what happened but ever since we've started going to Baguio, for years now, we always passed by that cafe when going to Wright Park, but now that finally, we want to try it, we can't see it! Damn GPS!

50's Diner Entrance/ Front Area 

And since my husband is super hungry and it's already 10AM for a breakfast, we've decided that the 1st resto we saw along the way, that will be it, that's where we will eat. That's when we saw Glenn's 50's Diner. Though I was a bit hesitant to eat here at first, cause my impression was it's expensive since it is well known in Baguio, and that I was craving for pancake at that time,


Upon entering the resto, you will notice a very familiar place you will see on 90's movies, the ambiance is very 80's and 90's if I'm right with my calculation.

A vintage jukebox 

central dining area 

In every wall corner you will see different framed photographs of our oldies old time favorite Hollywood actors and movie posters, most pictures we're Marilyn Monroe, but on our side of the table is Bing Crosby's Holiday Inn, and Attack of the 50ft. woman, well I am really not familiar with those movies, but my husband says he has watched the 50ft woman! what an oldie! hahaha






So let's talk about their food. So here's their MENU:

And to my surprise, they've got pancakes! Yey! Since me and my son love pancakes so much, we got really excited 'cause they've had a couple of PANCAKE meals!

different pancake meals 

Well, this is not your typical pancake meals with maple sauce. For those who loved breakfast, you would really love to try 50's Diner.

And so we've ordered a couple of their Hollywood Inspired meals.
For my husband, he has ordered YOU and I; deep fried breaded ground beef and ground chicken, topped with tartar and mayo sauce ala Croquet, as stated on their menu :).

You And I 

and Butterfly Shrimp; battered shrimp then deep fried until golden brown served with potato chips.

Butterfly Shrimp 

For me and my son is the Pancake Sandwich; deckers of pancakes with chicken patties, crispy bacon & lettuce. Served with hot spicy maple syrup or BBQ sauce, but since the sauce mentioned in their menu is not available, we opt to have the usual maple sauce instead. This one is 125php, a lot more expensive than the new JB pancake sandwich, but I can tell you that this is very much affordable, with the veggies and patties and bacon alongside it.

Pancake Sandwich

and for me alone, will be Two Fresh Eggs, 'cause I saw it has bacon's, oh how I love bacon. Bacon and Hotdog and off course with 2 fresh eggs, with garlic rice served with ice tea, from their Budget Savers menu. This one is worth 105php.

Two Fresh Eggs 

the 50's mocha; I have also tried this beverage from their Coffee Awareness/Appreciation menu list, coffee beverage drink blended with fresh fruits infused with ice cream top with whipped cream. This is worth 100php, which is much more affordable than a Starbucks coffee.





You can see my separate blogs for their foods.


And let me just add, that they don't have a SERVICE CHARGE for your food!

The food is really affordable plus that fact that they provide big servings and no service charge at all.


Rating:

Price & Value of Money - 5 out 5 stars, you can see the reason

Cleanliness - 3.5 out of 5 stars, cause when we get in the table is not yet clean, but the previous customer has already gone out a few more minutes before us.

Service - 3 out of 5 stars, for the long time waiting for the food.

Ambiance - 4 out of 5 stars, I like the setup of their place. Very much Hollywood like.




So here are more photos: Taken outside 50's Diner, this vehicle is as well 50's Diner's property I supposed, best for photo ops.










Definitely coming back to try more of their food.

Location: Gen. Luna Road, Baguio, Benguet

Facebook page: Glenn 50's Diner