Limbaga 77's Classic, Iconic and Homey Restaurant
It’s not too often that I find myself exploring the North. It’s not intentional, but I just find it not that convenient to visit. So, one day when my sister asked my mom to drop her somewhere in Tomas Morato, I took it as an opportunity to finally go on a foodie-exploration there. However, at the same time, I didn’t want to spend too much, so we limited our option to Zomato Gold restaurant. That’s how we stumbled upon Limbaga 77.
When I finally said to my mom that I chose Limbaga 77, she mentioned that this restaurant used to be very popular even years back. I felt assured of my choice, so we set this restaurant as our destination, and Wazed our way there.
The architecture was intriguing. It looks like a modernized “ancestral” home. Looking at it built up an imagery in my mind of a place where families and relatives gather together. Even from afar, it cast a spell of enchantment on me. There's also a portion on the right side of the restaurant where you can enjoy drinks (cocktails and etc). It's so hip!
When we entered, I was amazed with the interior. It’s very modern, but still maintained the homey feel. This further enforced the image that was painted in my mind, which then made me realized that Limbaga 77 is a great candidate to hold special occasions and even dates, or intimate celebrations in general.
There is however a part of the restaurant which I’d like you to avoid. The area with a wooden floor right beside the staircase. Aesthetically, it was beautiful. However, if you are sensitive to trembling, you won’t find it enjoyable sitting there. “Been there. Done that”. Even the slightest step would make the floor shake, and it’s something you’ll not get used (well, for me).
Now, as for the dishes, they have a considerably lean menu, but have an ample variety to choose from. They categorized the menu into types of meat, appetizers, drinks and desserts. Each category has about 3-4 selections. For the night, my mom and I just ordered two dishes – Spicy Seafood Adobo (P577) and Beef Kare-Kare (P577). Both does not come with rice, so we ordered at P47 per bowl.
Notice, that “77” is prominent in their menu, going in line with the name of the restaurant.
The Beef Kare-Kare was intensely heavenly right on the first bite. The sauce was rich in peanut essence, and the texture was very creamy, gliding in my mouth as I eat. It also came with a special bagoong paste, that was refined in such a way that it’s liquid-ish. Together, they gave my palate an ultimate kare-kare experience!
Like most heavy-flavored dishes, the Kare-Kare may tire off your palate quickly halfway through. Hence, I suggest pairing this with a mildly-flavored dish to prolong the endurance of your buds. Also, while the overall taste was amazing, the beef lacked the quality that will do the sauce justice. Still, it wasn’t enough to pull the dish down.
The Spicy Seafood Adobo, like the Kare-Kare had a sauce that sparked in the mouth. The spiciness really did the trick in making the gingery-sweet-soy sauce goodness more pronounced. The only buzzkill was the lack of “freshness” in the seafood given the lack of tenderness in the meat.
By this time, it was no question that Limbaga 77 did great when it comes to sauces. However, it may still have some room for improvement when it comes to meat handling. Our experience could have been exception if they were able to ensure optimal freshness of the meats.
Limbaga 77 - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
| Ambiance: | ★★★★★ |
| Taste: | ★★★☆ |
| Service: | ★★★★ |
| Price/Value: | ★★★★ |
| Budget: | at least of P350 each for a sharing type of experience for a group of at least 4 |
Limbaga 77 still captivates with its homey ambiance and dishes. There are definitely points for improvement, but it’s clearly evident how much they provide warmth through their service. Dining there felt peaceful (except for the tremors I felt from the wooden floor). Also, my mom and I were thinking that maybe we didn’t order the true specialties here in the restaurant, which is why if you are reading this and you have an idea, maybe you can share it with us.
Overall, I recommend Limbaga 77. It’s iconic, and an epitome of Filipino-family dining!
Again, dining here with Zomato Gold allows you to have one complimentary dish per member. Use my code "ANOTSP" to get 20% off your membership.
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Limbaga 77
Location: 77 Sct. Limbaga St, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Service Charge: 10% before VAT
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