Maria Luisa’s Garden

My lunch with the JSSP (Johan Strauss Society of the Philippines) was at 12:30 pm.   I couldn’t find the restaurant. According to Olga, it’s near the gate of Urdaneta Village.

We turned around twice and still we couldn’t find it. We went inside the Urdaneta gate and asked for directions. Then it suddenly dawned on my driver that there’s another Urdaneta gate very close to the corner of Ayala and EDSA. We made a U-turn under the fly-over.

I couldn’t believe that there’s a cute garden tucked away at the corner of chaotic EDSA and Ayala Avenue.

Amidst the bustling in its surroundings,  the Makati Garden Club sits quietly in a little corner.

There are two bungalows on the property owned by the Ayalas.   One is used as the office, board room and what have you for members and officers of the Makati Garden Club.

There’s a pond.  Edmund would love this place.  He likes ponds.

About 20 steps away is a quaint restaurant called Maria Luisa.

The place is so cute.  It’s like stepping into a French country home.

The chef was particularly proud of their bread.  It’s served hot, crunchy outside, soft inside, baked in house.

Swedish Chef Robert Lilja

The opposite gender would feel out of place here.   I was told that it’s a favorite lunching place of ladies.    If you need a quiet place to dine while discussing important things,  then come here during off hours.

Tessie, Lana, and Chona.   My lunch mates always look like they’re going to a party.   I wish I could be  that inspired to dress-up 20 years from now.

Olga would be  a little late.  She gave the go signal to go ahead and start eating.

I finished this whole salad plate.   What’s new?  I always finish naman my food.

The waiters were taranta from the instructions and requests of my lunch mates.    Natatawa talaga ako kasi what can you expect?   Put together 10 donyas, who are so used to have maids around them.  “Iha, I-distribute mo na lang  sa plates namin”.   “Waiter,  kunin mo nga iyan, doon mo I-portion sa kabilang table”.  “Miss,  ganito ang gawin mo….”.   “Paano naming hahatiin yung crabs?  Dapat hinati nyo na”.  “Iho,  dagdagan mo yan ng sauce”.  “Waiter,  come here,  change my plate”.

I was observing the food servers,  at times they looked confused.

The Chef came to greet us most especially Olga Martel.

Since there were about 12 of us, Olga pre-ordered our meals. We only paid P1,000 each.

Consul General of Monaco, Fortune Ledesma is in green.

This pot roast casserole tasted very good. The meat was tender and the sauce was just perfect over rice.

The ladies didn’t like the grape fruit.  Maasim daw.  Some of them said it’s mapakla.  They also didn’t like that the sauce was watery.  And it’s not orange.  Before they could even call the waiters to take away their dessert plates,  I have already finished mine.    I cleaned my plate.  In fact,  I took another one.

My colleagues chose this chocolate cake in place of the grape fruit.  I finished this too.  It had some crunch at the bottom and it wasn’t very sweet.

I’d like to come back here with my children.  I am sure they too, would like the food and the ambience.  Most especially my son,  there’s lamb here.   We’ll go for dinner instead.

Maria Luisa’s Garden Room opened in April 2013 and  is owned and operated by the Makati Garden Club.  In charge of the operation is Sandra Fernandez, head of the Food Committee.

Maria Luisa’s Garden Room

open daily from 11:30 am- 9 pm

Makati Garden Club

Rocaletos Street, in front of Urdaneta Village Apartments

Ayala Ave. corner EDSA

Makati City

It is best to reserve because they are always full of patrons.  Tel:  (632) 552-7051