The only reason we discovered Café Marivent was we were touring inside Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and we had to take lunch half for nourishment and the other, for bliss. Café Marivent takes a traditional approach to Filipino and Spanish cuisines, offering popular items such as  Gambas Rebosadas, Salpicao con Setas, Paella Valenciana, Paella Negra, Puchero, Crispy Pata, Kalderetang Baka, Pork Binagoongan, and so much more.

Café Marivent in Casa Unisan is one of the two main restaurants in the heritage resort, so how could we resist? How could anyone? You’ll know the answer when you get there yourself. 😉 This is a review of food we ordered for lunch on Day 1 and breakfast (complimentary) on Day 2.

Review of Café Marivent in Las Casas (Bagac, Bataan)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Café Marivent is a good-looking place whose walls and ceilings are entirely carved stones. I liked the first-rate pieces of wooden furniture and quaint decorations. The restaurant was not air-conditioned but natural air from open doors and windows and the ceiling fan sufficed.

Service: ★★☆☆☆

Food was served about 10 minutes late. An additional 10 minutes after the half-hour waiting time can be acceptable during peak overload hours and when customers waiting for food are not as hungry as us. But that was not the case. There were only a few active tables so staff members were not at all outnumbered, and we were extremely hungry for lunch. Another devastation point was that waiters were not attentive to our calls. The water pitcher cannot be placed on our table so we had to request them to refill our glasses with water every time.

Food: ★★★☆☆

We were particularly smitten by Paella Valenciana (PHp 990) on the menu. One of my friends’ friend had already eaten this specialty at this restaurant and recommended us to try the same dish big time. With a strong recommendation like that, we knew we just have to follow. Café Marivent’s Paella Valenciana is cooked with sauteed rice in Spanish Concasse and tomato puree mixed with assorted seafood and meat for 3-4 people. The description is totally a good selling point. The bad news? The staff said that cooking time is about an hour and we should have called ahead for them to prepare the paella. 🙁

Anyway, many other exciting dishes on the menu await behind their fanciful names. Let’s take Pollo San Bernardino (PHp 440) as example. It consisted of grilled chicken breast fillet with mango sauce and demi-glazed mango slices. The chicken with sauce was sweet and savory, best accompanied with plain white rice, as it was imbued and bursting with so much flavor.

Another one that’s hard to eat without rice was the Kare-kareng Lamang Dagat (PHp 550), a seafood version of “the epitome of Philippine comfort food.” The stew was not as thick as I expected, and the usual nuttiness of the so-called “Philippine Peanut Stew” was not found here. It came with almost no taste; without stirring bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) in, this kare-kare won’t be considered as a satisfactory dish.

Off the vegetable section of the menu, the Pinakbet with Bagnet (PHp 530) looked promising. It was bright, colorful and made with ingredients that remind us all about home. This pinakbet was extraordinarily simple but the bagnet (chicharrón made of fried pork rinds) made it taste unique in a positive way. My friends loved it so much and I bet all you bagnet-lovers would like this as well.

For breakfast, Louie had Longganisa with rice, scrambled egg, watermelon and orange juice.

I, on the other end of the table, had Daing na Bangus with rice, scrambled egg, watermelon and coffee. The texture of the egg was perfect! It was fluffy like a custard all the way through. The fish dipped in vinegar with onions was predictably great, too. 🙂

Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

Our meals at Café Marivent may be closely described as like eating at a home of a well-intentioned Filipino-Spanish family. Perhaps this is not the greatest café in the world or in Bataan, and perhaps the tastes of their food run simple, but the dishes were warm, fresh and friendly stuff. If you’ve got room in the stomach and some extra cash in hand, Café Marivent’s selection of Filipino and Spanish food can be worth the splurge.

Café Marivent in Casa Unisan
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Barangay Pag-Asa, Bagac, Bataan
Date Published: 12/02/2013
13 / 20 stars

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Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.

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52 Responses

  1. Aki Libo-on

    The interiors remind of Adarna Food and Culture in Kalayaan Avenue. But in terms of service, I can’t recall that we’ve waited that long. Still, I would like to pay Cafe Marivent a visit if ever I’ll get the chance to tour around Bataan. 😀

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      I have not been to Adarna Food and Culture – it’s so far from my house. 🙂
      When you’re staying in Las Casas, you either go to the Italian restaurant and/or this Spanish-Filipino restaurant.

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      The kare kare alone was tempting enough to keep a table enjoying happily. I, however, suggest opting for three or four more viands, because, well, they’re all good.

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      They both belong to Central Luzon. I’ve never been to Nueva Ecija and I’m not any familiar with the tourist spots there. Recommendations will be appreciated. 🙂 You know better!

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      I wonder why bagnet receipes are getting popular nowadays. Here in Manila, there are so many restaurants and booths offering dishes with bagnet when it’s just like the typical lechon kawali I know.

      Reply
  2. Ericleen

    Elegant Place – Eating in CAFÉ MARIVENT IN LAS CASAS seem s like going back to the time of Noli Me Tangere. I want to try the Karekareng Lamang Dagat.

    Reply
  3. leira

    wow you had me at Bagnet..i love it that you make your food posts so appetizing with your amazing photos

    Reply
  4. Pal Raine

    Yummy the PINAGBET with BAGNET and KARE-KARENG LAMANG DAGAT!!!! Salivating now seeing all the photos. I feel like I am like a drooling puppy wanted to eat all the food. I AM HUNGRY! Hahahahaha….

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Wow haha it really seemed like you were craving A LOT. The food is good. Note: If you’re a BDO cardholder and you use the credit card upon payment from Mon-Thu, you can get some 10+% discount.

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Prices are fair for such large portions of food but the “delicious level” was just not at par with my expectation of the taste/quality. Nonetheless, I can agree with you. This restaurant/cafe is a great place to eat. 🙂

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      The entrees we ordered were more than enough for 5 people – we were all absolutely stuffed! Still, I can’t deny that price is quite hefty in this old-style Spanish restaurant.

      Reply
  5. Orly Ballesteros

    Panalo! I like to be back again in North to travel places like this. The food and ambience are historically significant. Being in this resto is eating a piece of history.

    Reply
  6. My Entertainment Nook

    Nakakagutom na post! And the place looks cool..

    Never been to Bataan! And you post made me want to go there!

    Though you just rated 3 for the food, mukha namang masasarap mga eto!

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Hehe masarap naman pero di kasing sarap ng mga nasubukan ko na same dishes in other restaurants. The only thing that others can’t copy is the dressed-up, but totally unpretentious ambiance here that surely boosts up the overall dining experience of dining guests. 😉

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Well, it tasted just like the regular pinakbet but the presentation would make you drool more and think that it’s way better. 😛 Anyway, the ambiance of the cafe will make up for another notch higher. This place is what it is, and I’m a fan.

      Reply
  7. jane

    i love the whole place it is simply amazing and all the interiors lt looks so elegant to be eating in that place!

    Reply
  8. papaleng

    Wow! perfect ang ambiance ng resto. A if nag time travel ka back to the Spanish time. The food, type since i love Fil-Spanish dishes.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Yup. That’s why it’s not only good to eat here but also to book a pictorial. 😛 Aim to shoot in the morning to get natural lighting that’s best for photography sessions.

      Reply
  9. ralph

    love their setting for a coffee shop… reminds me of when we used to visit our grandparents in the barrio… and drinking coffee while it rains or during early morning. Yahweh bless.

    Reply
  10. Nix

    Hi is there a number that we could call to make seat reservarions to the restaurant?

    Reply

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