Lunch at Cafe Via Mare

I live in the province for more than a decade so there are things that I’m missing out because it is not available in our area. But if there is one thing that I’m happy about is, Alabang is not that far from where I live and hindi naman nagpapahuli ang Alabang. Festival Mall is expanding so there are so many new stores and new restaurants to visit.

Last weekend, we were in Festival Mall, I meet my friend because I bought insurance for my husband. Though my husband has insurance from his company, we decided to get additional insurance because we can’t predict the future. After that, we had a late lunch.

We normally eat at Landmark Food Court kung maggrocery kami but for a change, we ate a Cafe Via Mare. Though it is located at the Food Court pero at least hindi na kami pipila para mag-order. Hehehe! The price in Via Mare is a little bit pricey but the serving is big so my son and I shared on my order. We ordered Crispy Binagoongan P330, Ensaladang Bagnet P200, Rice P35 per cup and Bibingka with Laguna Cheese and Salted Duck Egg P135 + Service Charge.

Ensaladang Bagnet has crispy roasted pork with mustard leaves, tomatoes, and shallots in calamansi and bagoong dressing. Crispy Binagoongan Meal has rice, crispy pork bellies, pinakbet and sauteed bagoong so good for sharing kung hindi naman malakas kumain.

Two years ago was the last time that we ate at Cafe Via Mare and I remember that I was not able to taste their Bibingka because nagcheck-out na kami sa St. Lukes BGC. So last week, I really ordered Bibingka kahit 15 minutes pa ang waiting time. Hehehe!

If you like bibingka, go to Cafe Via Mare because you can eat yummy bibingka all year round, di mo na kelangan maghintay ng Pasko. Food and service are good so for sure may next time ulit. Care to share your favorite at Via Mare.

Update September 2018

We were in Landmark last weekend and we had lunch at Cafe Via Mare again. While checking the menu, I asked my son what he wants and said “yung dati ko order”. Oh well, naging favorite na niya yung liempo, so we ordered Kare-Kare P480, Crispy Binagoongan P330 and Shooters P145 + Service Charge.

We’re supposed to order extra rice but the waitstaff informed us na may kasama ng rice yung Kare-Kare. After several minutes, they served order order. The funny thing is they served it all, pati shooters so mabilisan ng kain at matutunaw na yung dessert namin. Shooters is refreshing combination of Halo-Halo, Guinomis and Mais Con Hielo.

This is perfect for our family of three. According to their menu, Halo-Halo has sweetened fruits, yams, pulses, egg custard, milk, and crushed ice. Pero more on gulaman ang nakain ko sa halo-halo. My son loves corn so he enjoyed his Mais Con Hielo. My husband ate Guinomis, it has sago, pinipig, gulaman and gata. The taste is creamier compared to my halo-halo because it has coconut milk.

Update: June 2019

We were in Landmark last weekend and when we went to the Food Court, ang dami ng tao so I told my husband, mag Cafe Via Mare tayo for sure may upuan tayo. So we ate at Via Mare, napamahal tuloy lunch namin ng dahil sa upuan. hehehe! We ordered Kare-Kare P495, Inasal na Manok P230 and Extra Rice P55 + Service Charge. Both viands include 1 cup of rice kaya one extra rice na lang order namin. I noticed na nagtaas na price nila, I've read my post above P480 lang yung Kare-Kare last year. The taste of the Inasal na Manok is just okay.

Cafe Via Mare offers Salu Salo Set Menu that is perfect for big groups. It is served with five cups of rice and a beverage of your choice. Valid for Dine or Take-Out. Since we are just a family of three, we did not order the set menu but here are the choices.

Set A for P2450

Crispy Pata
Sinigang sa Miso
Ensaladang Suha
Bam - I - Guisado
Tortang Alimasag
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set B for P2500

Laswa
Crispy Pata
Rellenong Talong
Pinalutong na Tilapia
Bam-I-Guisado
Puto Bumbong with Cheddar Cheese
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set C for P3450

Crispy Pata
Inasal na Manok
Rellenong Bangus
Sinigang na Hipon
Bam-I-Guisado
Fresh Lumpia
Laswa
Bibingka with Salted Egg Duck Egg
Puto BUmbong with Cheddar Cheese
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set D for P1900

Bulalo
Pinalutong na Tilapia
Bam-I-Guisado
Fresh Lumpia
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

Set E for P2100

Rellenong Bangus
Inasal na Manok
Sinigang na Karne
Ensaladang Suha
Puto Bumbong with Cheddar Cheese
Bibingka with Salted Duck Egg
Option of Coffee, Salabat or Iced Tea

March 2020 

We were in Festival Mall last weekend to get my laboratory test and because of the SLEX heavy traffic, lunch time na kami dumating so we ended up at Via Mare para may pwesto lang kami. Via Mare has so many dishes but whenever we eat here, halos pare-pareho lang order namin so we easily noticed the price difference. We ordered Kare Kare PHP520, Inihaw na Liempo PHP340, Extra Rice PHP55 and Puto Maya PHP240 + Service Charge.

We always order Crispy Binagoongan so for a change, we ordered the Inihaw na Liempo. The meal includes a vegetable dish and vinegar dip. All dishes include one cup of rice so we just order one extra rice. My son enjoyed his Inihaw na Liempo, I tried it and the meat is tender so hindi siya mahirap kainin.

You know that I love mango sticky rice so I ordered Puto Maya, it is glutinous rice steamed in coconut cream. Serve with ripe mango and coconut jam. The taste is just okay, I don’t know parang may after taste siya, hindi ko alam kung ginger or star anise so I guess I won’t order this again. Good thing that the mango taste sweet so nasulit na rin ang dessert.