Kainan sa Dalampasigan: Nasugbu's Charming Seafood Restaurant

Dalampasigan, a tagalog word which means "seashore" and it was something I was expecting to find when we arrived at Kainan sa Dalampasigan in Nasugbu, Batangas. There was no seashore nor a view of the sea but we weren't disappointed. Instead, we found a gem of a restaurant, like a secret garden, breezy and exuding with Filipino hospitality and charm.

Ambiance

Beautiful stained glass and capiz windows widely open to let the air in. A soothing sound of flowing water from their indoor fountain fills the spacious room. Beautiful rows of tables and chairs made from quality wood. And did I mention the lively plants inside the venue makes everything feel fresh. The touch of hanging fabric at the ceiling adds a feel of elegance to the place.

Filipino Comfort Food

We were excited for lunch but could wait a while for good food. For refreshments, I had a Sago-Gulaman (Php 50) with crushed ice which I had to mix through. Nice and cold and not overly sweet. Good start to get things going.

Large bowls of Bulalo (Php 450), a staple favorite beef shank soup with bone marrow in Batangas, were served to our table. In a drizzly kind of afternoon, to have a warm beefy broth was just really pleasant to have. The beef were tender and flavorful too.

We also had their famous Bilao sa Dalampasigan (Php 850) which had the following: baked tahong (mussels), inihaw na baboy (grilled pork), garlic fried shrimps, daing na bangus (marinated milkfish) and green mango salad beautifully spread out in a circular woven tray. I love the buttery tahong, evenly grilled and slightly crispy inihaw na baboy and the garlicky and juicy shrimps. We didn't have the green mango salad but we have instead some pickled minced gabi stalks which were surprisingly good in a tangy way.

Barako Coffee (Php 40) and Hot Tsokolate (Php 45)

To cap off our delightful lunch, I had a cup of Batangas Barako Coffee (Php 40). I had high expectations from their coffee and it didn't disappoint. I didn't even have to put milk or creamer. Just a couple teaspoons of brown sugar to enchance its already native flavor.