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.
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
[…] Casas can be just as rewarding. We dined in at both restaurants and you can read the review here: Café Marivent in Casa Unisan and La Bella Teodoro in Casa Binan. I hope you’re […]
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. 😀
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.
oh my!! The Kare-kareng Laman Dagat is making me feel hungry right now! I might check this out on my trip to Bataan. 😉
The Kare-kareng Laman Dagat was not as appetizing as it looked. I thought many more Filipino restaurants serve more delicious versions of this dish.
oh my! sobrang nakakagutom ung photo ng kare kare.. pero hangang photo lang pala haha
The pinakbet with bagnet looks good too 🙂
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.
I should visit Bataan soon when I come home in Nueva Ecija.
Anyway, I think the place is a bit near to us.
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!
Judging from the looks the Pinakbet+ bagnet is captivating, good fusion of Ilocano food.
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.
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.
Oh yes, Noli Me Tangere setting is somewhat like Las Casas’. You can probably shoot scenes here as if you’re in the olden times.
wow you had me at Bagnet..i love it that you make your food posts so appetizing with your amazing photos
My friend loves bagnet very much and she ordered this dish because of bagnet. I can’t understand that haha. Thanks Leira. 🙂
The place feels like eating in an ancient restaurant. This is quite the experience.
Yup. Hopefully after a few years more, the spirit of “being ancient” would not leave.
I have not been to Bataan yet, but I’ll check this out when I visit the province. The Kare-kareng Lamang Dagat seems yummy! ♥♥♥
The decor and the backdrop of the place will make you feel like you’re in the old century. Go with an appetite and you will like the food. 🙂
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….
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.
I love the interior of this place! lakas maka sina-unang panahon! sobrang elegant. 🙂
Yeah. We only have a handful of restaurant which can exemplify in this kind of setting. Thus Cafe Marivent poses to have a warm spot in my heart.
The food looks fantastic! I especially liked the longganisa and the kare-kare. This restaurant looks like a great place to eat.
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. 🙂
The place is superb for dining in the 18th century-style…and the food also, is great.
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.
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.
All points taken. I quite agree. They have dependable classic Filipino and Spanish food – great for family or just a nice romantic date.
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!
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. 😉
The place has a classic ambiance..Nice 🙂 The food also looks great! I think I like the pinakbet best, based on your post picture 🙂
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.
I’d love to try this place and I hope I don’t get bad service as you did
I would suggest coming for an early meal as the place fills up quickly the later it gets.
very informative!!!thanks for blogging about this and for sharing this with us your readers
Thanks, Leira. I’m glad you learn something out of this post. 🙂
i love the whole place it is simply amazing and all the interiors lt looks so elegant to be eating in that place!
Yes. I could not stop looking at the walls especially that one side wall where a family figure is sculpted.
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.
The theme is a steal for a restaurant that is usually more expense account-friendly than budget-minded.
Love the place!!! so vintage.. it’s like dining in the Spanish era.. 🙂
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.
Wow! Will definitely be visiting this when I visit Bataan, I hope soon!
Even if you don’t stay in their hotel rooms or tour in the heritage resort, I believe you can dine in their restaurant as a casual guest.
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.
Sometimes I wonder how I’d like living in a province…to relax and breathe in fresh air and stay in this barrio-like ambiance. 🙂 Nice.
Hi is there a number that we could call to make seat reservarions to the restaurant?
I think you may inquire via Las Casas admin: (02) 332 5338
can i get the cp number of this restaurant pls.. thanks
Sorry, I can’t find it online. You may contact Las Casas instead. I think they can transfer the call to the cafe.
[…] Casas can be just as rewarding. We dined in at both restaurants and you can read the review here: Café Marivent in Casa Unisan and La Bella Teodoro in Casa Binan.4.Enjoying SceneryBefore setting foot on Bagac, Bataan soil, I […]