Leslie’s Restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in Tagaytay City because of its famous bulalo and fabulous ambiance. Situated at the edge of one of the best spots in Tagaytay, this restaurant will let you enjoy an incredible view of the Taal lake and volcano as you gorge at their savory hot soups and sizzling meals.
Dazzle your eyes with their wide variety of delectable Filipino dishes and desserts. Whether it’s meat, seafood or veggies, they’ll have something to delight everyone! Popular Pinoy favorites like sisig, crispy pata, lechon kawali, alimasag, sugpo, kare-kare, chopsuey and more will make you drool and overly succumb—you’ll forget that you’re on a diet.
Like what its tag line says “Great food. Great ambiance.” This gastronomic paradise definitely lives up to that.
Our Experience at Leslie’s Restaurant
Our company had a visitor from New York and as his main contact in the Philippines, I took the responsibility of making sure that he’s well accompanied and will enjoy our Filipino hospitality. After a fun tour at the People’s Park in the Sky, my father recommended that we take our lunch at Leslie’s Restaurant before heading to the Picnic Grove.
I wasn’t really impressed by the modest name of the restaurant because it sounded like your typical eatery. But since my father said that he already tried eating there and liked their food, we went ahead to visit it. Another factor for coming here is that we’re looking for a restaurant that accepts credit cards and he knows that they do here.
Customer Experience
We were lucky that one of the cottages was available when we got there so we went straight to it. There were seven of us but the capacity of the cottage is for six people only. The waiter immediately pointed it out in a condescending manner before we can even sit down. As we were requesting for an option, he told us to move to the main dining area in an insisting tone.
Our visitor from New York didn’t like the way he sounded so he asked me if we can perhaps go somewhere else but I told him that it’s okay and I’ll take care of it. Since we really love the spot because it gave us an exclusive area that is far from the other visitors—I guaranteed the waiter that we won’t use the cottage beyond its capacity because I’ll just eat after one in our group is done.
I also told him that it’s our guests first time in the Philippines so he finally agreed. The waiter tried to make up with the tension by bringing an extra chair so that all of us can eat together at the same time. I won’t generalize about their level of service just because one of the waiters screwed up. But I hope that they provide better training so that even their new hires can provide great service.
Food Quality
We asked the waiter for their specialty and he recommended their special bulalo. Looking at how it was presented in the menu, it is clearly their most celebrated dish. We also added a saucy barbeque chicken and soup. To give our meal a better Filipino look and taste, we ordered their fresh coconut juice for our drinks.
After a rough start, I wasn’t really expecting much about the quality of their food. We’ve been to other restaurants with a great ambiance but the food is mediocre. To my surprise, everything tasted great. My colleagues and parents were making the same remark about how they liked the food. The thick and flavorful soup of the hot bulalo was really tasty and the tender meat of the barbecue chicken was just perfect. Its red sauce was sweet and succulent.
Ambiance
This place has all the elements that made our nature-tripping wonderful. This spot is actually closer to the Taal lake and volcano compared to the Picnic Grove. Seeing it from the perspective of our guests from New York: Eating a delicious exotic food inside a cozy nipa hut while enjoying the wonderful view of a volcano, lake and the mountains that are brimming with lush green trees—this is paradise!
What made our nature experience greater is when a mild earthquake suddenly shook us. We saw the water inside a nearby jug go wild as the land was shaking. It made us very concerned but it was good that it stopped after a few seconds. I joked to them that their visit here in the Philippines really rocks. That earthquake made our visit here more memorable.
Website: https://lesliesrestaurants.com/
Address: Aguinaldo Highway, Silang Crossing West, Tagaytay City
Tel No: (046) 413 0488 / (046) 483 1065 / (046) 483 4271
Email: admin@lesliesrestaurant.com
Leslie’s Restaurant Menu
Experiences ko working sa Leslie’s:
Pros:
1. Matitikman mo nang libre ang mga iba’t-ibang putaheng Pinoy at desserts sa menu nila (pang-hotel o luxurious na barko ang kaledad at lasa) na iluluto ng mga internationally or locally experienced chefs na ihahire nila whether sa kitchen ka o dining (pero sa umpisa lang yun) o everytime na nasa commissary ka nila.
2. May mga tip ang customers. Ang naranasan kong matanggap, P150+ sa isang araw. Centralized ang tip dun meaning kapag nakatanggap ang Leslie’s, iipunin at ipapamigay sa lahat ng naka-assign sa section na yun nung araw na yun.
3. May service charge daw dun pero di ko na inabutan.
4. Mababait, maaalahanin, mapag-alala ang mga chefs pero palautos.
5. Full view ng Taal volcano sa main branch.
6. Provincial rate of P373 per day ang starting. Tataas daw pag napromote.
Cons:
1. Nalelate sa sweldo
2. Overtime is P20 only per hour.
3. Sasabihin nila sa interview na stockman ka pero kailangan mo ding mag-dishwashing. Kapag inilagay ka na sa schedule ng dishwashing, aabutin ka ng 6 months or less bago ka mapromote as stockman although uutusan ka rin sa mga gawain ng stockman/maglinis ng ref at chiller, stockroom sa commissary kahit na dishwashing lang ang position na binigay nila sayo. Walang rotation ng position assignment as stockman/dishwasher on your probationary period.
4. Kadalasang reklamo ng mga customers ay mga ipis na naiiwan o namamatay sa ceramic plates and bowls.
5. Paminsan, sasabihin ng mga chefs na wag nang sabunin yung meat pans na pinaglutuan ng bulalo o pork ribs dahil gagamitin uli within the day at baka nga naman maglasang sabon yung pagkain at para tipid sa sabon. Pero di mo malaman at di nila sasabihin kung anong oras kailangan na syang sabunin. Kasi kadalasan, pag di mo na sinabunan yun, naisasantabi na at di na magamit within the day, tumitigas yung sebo nun sa meat pans at inaamag pag tinabi.
*Ang mahirap sa stockman/dishwasher/kitchen helper ay yung paglalabas ng basura, nababasa yung harapan sa dishwashing, pagbubuhat ng malaking kaldero na pinaglutuan ng bulalo na may lamang bulalo at sabaw para ideliver. Masisipag ang mga chefs dahil paminsan sila yung mga naghuhugas ng pinaglutuan nila o nagma-mop ng floors sa kitchen.
Hi Kai,
Good evening! Salamat sa detalyadong comment tungkol sa experience more sa Leslie’s Restaurant. At least alam na nga mga plano magtrabaho sa kanila ang posibleng mga magiging extrang trabaho at benepisyo.
Cheers!
-EJ
This is for the awareness of everybody. We didn’t enjoyed the food because of what happen last night. It was a traumatic experience! Be aware of the modus of the security guards at the parking area. It is not safe there. WILL NEVER COME BACK AGAIN!
#LesliesTagaytay