Patio Isabel is one of the unique restaurant

in Cebu. They are located in old Banilad

Road, Cebu City.

  Patio Isabel somewhere in the Old Banilad

 Road. Banilad is known to have a lot of

dining places, fastfood chains and restaurants

 that I haven't explored yet. I was so excited

 because it was my first time to visit the

 place. My expectations were really high

 after knowing that this is a Filipino restaurant

 offering old Filipino specialties. That adjective

 "old" made my expectations soar really high

because I was looking forward to eating a lot

 of Filipino dishes that I haven't tasted and

tried in my entire life.

  When we get there, I was impressed by

 the facade of the restaurant because it looks

 like an old-Filipino house by just looking at

 the designs of their windows, curtains and the door.

  we get inside, the more I was amazed by

 the furnitures and fixtures because it is just

like I'm at home. The ambiance was really

nice and never intimidating. From the framed

old paintings down to the well-crafted tables

 and chairs that are made of wood and

 beautifully polished, everything was homey.

  While my friends were busy choosing and

 picking what they wanted to eat, I was also

 busy observing their food if it really

 exceeds my expectations. Unfortunately,

 I wasn't impressed with everything. What

 they had on the table was purely Filipino food

 that are served everyday in some carenderias

 and even at home. Eventhough they didn't

surpassed my expectations on the food prepared,

 I managed to convince myself to try it to see

 the difference. I was hoping that there would

 be a difference in taste. Let's start talking

 about their food that I've tried...

  When it was time for us to eat, I noticed

 the buffet table was perfectly designed and

arranged especially the decoration in the

middle which was some kind of a fountain

without water. I'm sorry for the lack of better terms.

The kare-kare pata was not really a game-changer.

 I thought the meat was tender and it tastes

 good even with the string beans and eggplant

plus the bagoong. However, I was wrong. The

meat itself was odd, I haven't eaten a decent

 meat from this specialty, it was all pork skin.

 I didn't get to finished the portion I got because

 it didn't impressed my taste buds.

The sisig was a so-so dish. Same old sisig

made with pig's head and liver seasoned with

 calamansi and chili peppers. I did not dwell

 too much on this because I was trying to

 avoid my hypertension.

They say, Patio Isabel's crispy crablets is

one of their specialties but for me, it was so

 dry. It didn't taste really good. I was even

 excited to get a lot of this. Good thing because

 the sauce that was made of vinegar with ginger,

 garlic and chili enhances the flavor of the

 crablets. In fairness, the crablets' texture

was friendly to the mouth. It was crunchy

and easy to chew.

Their mixed vegetables was so ordinary

 without even the taste of butter. It was just

 cooked like what we have back in our province.

 My mom's mixed vegetables tastes even better

than theirs. 'Nuff said.

When I checked the desserts table, I was

 already thinking of native delicacies and

I was right. They served biko and maja blanca

 and as always, it tasted ordinary. Nothing

 special though.

My attentions was caught by another table

 near the entrance. It was the halo-halo table

 wherein you get to make your own iced

dessert. On the table where choices of boiled

 sweet beans and friuits as well as shaved

ice and evaporated milk. I enjoyed looking at

the kids amking their own halo-halo so I decided

 to make one for myself to compensate my

 dining experience and so I've comed up with

my own version of banana con yelo and my

gulaman at sago version.